27 MAY 1916

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The question of attrition is a very difficult one, and

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much may be said about it on both sides. It is quite possible to maintain with a show of reason the apparently mad paradox that Verdun has not been a very bloody battle. No...

This may seem to be a rather cold analysis of

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the battle of Verdun, but we can assure our readers, British and French, that we have never for one instant forgotten the splendid heroism of the French soldiers, their...

We confess that we wrote too pessimistically of Italy's open

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door. The splendid gallantry and enduranc3 shown by her troops prove that she can shut the dour, but that dons not alter the fact that when Austria holds the heights the door is...

But though at first sight a general survey of the

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week's war seems disappointing, only those who judge at short range can really be disturbed by the recent setbacks suffered by the Allies. Take the case of Italy, in which the...

Some two years before the beginning of the war we

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attempted to show what that danger was by describing the view seen by the tourist who looks out from the railway carriage window at the bridge of Peschiera. That passage we may...

The news from Verdun is also superficially disappointing, yet fundamentally

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good. Last Sunday began a new battle, or rather a new chapter in the three months' struggle which promises to be the most desperate and most bloody of them all. The Verdun...

NEWS OF THE WEEK

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• IF we judge matters superficially, the week has been one of disappointment—we had almost said of encouragement for the pessimist. On the Italian front, at Verdun, and on the...

*** The Editor cannot undertake to return Manuscript in any

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cane.

TO OUR READERS.—One of the chief ways in which our

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readers can help us to meet the Paper Famine is by informing the Newsagents, Booksellers, or Railway Bookstalls from which they are accustomed to purchase their paper that they...

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President Wilson, speaking in North Carolina last Saturday, referred to

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the possibility of mediation in the war :- " Lots," he said, " would like to think that the spirit of this occasion [the hundred and forty-first anniversary of the Mecklenburg...

We have received the following telegram from Moscow : "

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The Polish colony and exiles in Moscow, assembled in the Polish Theatre at the Shakespearean Festival, have thrilled in union with literary England celebrating a time-honoured...

On Friday week the Commission heard the evidence of Mr.

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Birrell. He made some remarkable statements. After tracing the development of the Sinn Fein organization from a literary to a seditious body, he declared that the outbreak was...

On Monday, the Washington correspondent of the Times tells us,

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Mr. Roosevelt came a long step nearer to being nominated as the Republican candidate when he accepted the offer of a Committee of Republicans from thirty States to work for him....

The British official communiqués in regard to the fighting during

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the week on the Vimy Ridge have been so reticent that it is exceedingly difficult to say exactly what has happened. All we know is that at the beginning of the week we lost a...

The Royal Commission inquiring into the circumstances of the Irish

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revolt began its sittings in London on Thursday week. The members of the Commission are Lord Hardinge (Chairman), Mr. Justice Shoarman, and Sir Mackenzie Chalmers. Sir Matthew...

Whatever may happen now—for ourselves, we believe that what will

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happen will be the maintenance of the French line practically intact—the French at Verdun have fulfilled the duty set before them. If by losing another hundred thousand men,...

To make successful attacks on lines entrenched in the modern

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fashion celerity is essential. You must not only break the line, but you must break it quickly, and then push on so rapidly that the enemy cannot make new defences. The...

On Monday the Commission heard Lord Midleton and Lord Wimborne.

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But first a letter was read from General Macready denying t hat Mr. Birrell had ever asked . for troops to overawe the San Feiners. He had only asked for troops to encourage...

As we write the frenzied attacks of the Germans, said

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to number seventy-five thousand men altogether, still continue around Dead Man's Hill, Curnieres, and the Douaumont Fort. Monday and Tuesday were the great days, but the news on...

In an " interview " published in the New York

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Times, Lord Hardinge pointed out that early in the war India was practically stripped of British troops. At one time there was hardly any artillery from one end of India to the...

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We have dealt above with Colonel Churchill's speech in regard

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to the process of combing out the Army in order to change men who are now non-combatants, mere hewers of wood and drawers of water, into true soldiers. Especially do W3 agree...

As we go to press on Thursday evening comes the

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news that Mr. Asquith has announced that Mr. Lloyd George, at the unanimous request of his colleagues, is to act as mediator between the various Irish parties. Clearly the first...

We are glad to say that Mr. Tennant refused absolutely

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to yield to the wicked outcry that we should starve and ill-treat German prisoners in our hands because our prisoners are treated inhumanly by the Germans. The prisoners in our...

In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Acland warned

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the country that every precaution must be taken if there was not to be a failure in the home production of food. The " danger- point " had already been reached. " As things are...

Mr. Birrell's evidence leaves us amazed that any rational person

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mould have expected that such half-hearted and colourless methods ma were used in Ireland would end in anything but disaster. We have ma desire to write vindictively of a fallen...

In the House of Commons on Thursday week Mr. Chamberlain

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gave strong and valuable support to the Finance Bill. No other country, he said, was meeting so large a proportion of war expendi- ture by taxation. It was now evident that we...

In the House of Commons on Wednesday Sir Edward Grey

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made a memorable speech in answer to the foolish and malignant reproaches of Mr. Ponsonby and the whinnies of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald. To represent him as sacrificing the interests...

In the House of Commons on Tuesday Mr. Asquith moved

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the eleventh Vote of Credit for the war. He asked for £300,000,000, which will last till the beginning of August at the estimated rate of expenditure of £4,750,000 a day. He put...

We regret to record that in the House of Commons

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on Wednesday Mr Tennant made the very serious statement that he felt bound to correct an announcement made by him on May 3rd to the effect that the scale of rations authorized...

Bank Rate, 5 per cent., changed from 6 p.c. Aug.

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8th, 1911.

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE " CREDO " OP A FREE TRADER. " It was common ground among people who were widely divided in the old days that the Government must come in to help, organize, and support, to...

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THE VOLUNTEERS. T HE enrolment of the Volunteers is still delayed

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by what is euphemistically called " the settlement of certain technical difficulties." We hope most sincerely that those difficulties will soon be surmounted, for as it is they...

BEING JUDGE IN ONE'S OWN CAUSE.

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T 4 ORD KITCHENER was right in saying in the House of Lords on Monday that there was " considerable anxiety " about the question of conscientious objection to military service....

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FOOD DICTATORSHIP.

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T HE decision, or reported decision, of the German Govern- ment to appoint a Food Dictator is an undoubted proof that the German people are feeling a serious shortage of food....

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THE SCEPTICISM OF THE PLAIN MAN.

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W HAT was the plain man's religion in the Middle Ages ? There is no more interesting historical question, and none, we suppore, more difficult to answer. Mr. G. G. Coulton has...

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THE PEOPLE AND THE WAR.

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P RESIDENT WILSON is reported to have said a few days ago that though Germany apparently desired peace, it would be obviously absurd to suppose that there was any similar desire...

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CORRESPONDENCE.

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STATE CONTROL OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.—IV. (To THE EDITOR OF T® " SPEOTATOR."1 Srs„—The extent to which the State should monopolize the manufacture, as well as the distribution...

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THE PEOPLE AND THE WAR.

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[TO THZ EDITOR OP THY " SPECTATOR-1 Sra,—I have been carrying out a house-to-house visitation in my forme* . Registration district, explaining the nature and advantages of the...

THE IRISH REVOLT. [To THE EDITO2 OF THE " SPECTATOR.,

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Sra,—I send you an extract from a letter of a friend, whose home is in King's County, and who has just returned there, in case you care to make any use of it, or to allud.: to...

IRISH ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER TRAINING CORPS. [To THZ EDITOR OP

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THZ " eszereeceal SIR,—The Executive Committee of the Irish Association of Volunteer Training Corps feel that they owe you a deep debt of gratitude for your generous...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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THE SECOND REPORT OF THE CENTRAL CONTROL BOARD (LIQUOR TRAFFIC). [TO VIZ EDITOR or THZ " SPECTATOR.") Sne—The second Report of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), just...

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COLONEL CHURCHILL TO THE EDITOR Of TUE " SPECTITOR.1

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Sra,—I was sorry to see in your number of May 13th a violent attack on Colonel Churchill. You give him the credit for keeping the Fleet mobilized, but you neglect to mention how...

HOME RULE AND THE PHILIPPINES.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."' Stn,—" Washington has been seething with gossip about one of the most extraordinary occurrences in the history of the American Congress, an...

THE PRIME MINISTER.

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'To THE EDITOR OF THR " SPECTATOR:1 Sia,—Your admirable article on the Prime Minister (in the Spectator of the 20th inst.) suggests the quotation of some verses previously...

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THE OCEANA CLUB.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " spwyreTou.1 Snt,—It may interest some of your readers to know of the Oceans Club, which has been organized by the Victoria League for the convenience of...

CANADIAN SOLDIERS IN ENGLAND.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR. " ] Fatt,—As a Canadian, and a Western Canadian at that, I cannot take too strong exception to certain portions of a letter published in your...

MR. LLEWELYN DAVIES

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. " ] Prn,--The death of Mr. Llewelyn Davies in his ninety-first year deprives the Church of England of a foremost figure among her clergy. As a...

PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. [To THE EDITOR OP THE SPECTATOR."] Sin,—The

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generous response made by your readers to my previous appeal on behalf of my Fund for Eng ish prisoners of war—Lady Burghclero's Prisoners' Fund—encourages me to address to you...

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VOLUNTEERS.

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[To TEE EDITOR OF THE " SPROTATOR.") SIR,—May I draw attention to a way in which exempted men (con- ditional and absolute) may still make themselves of use to their country—...

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.") SDI,—In all the recent controversies for or against the ‘. conscientious objector" one rather important point seems to have been omitted....

V.T.C. AND SHOT-GUNS.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR. " ) SIR,—Have you not made a slip in your last issue, p. 619 ? Would shot- guns be allowed, under the Hague Convention, in the trenches ? I...

LETTERS TO CHILDREN FROM THE TRENCHES.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 Sim —Enclosed is the very last of Uncle John's letters to Muffle.— " In the Trenches, April 28th, 1916. MY DEAR WEE MITFFID,—Whit a great...

THE FIGHT FOR RIGHT MOVEMENT.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. " ) SIR,—A few months since you w re good enough to allow a description of the principles of the Fight for Right Movement to appear in the...

LADY ROBERTS'S FIELD GL ASS FUND.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPEOTATOR."1 Sia,—You have been good enough from time to time to draw attention to the scheme my father, Lord Roberts, started for securing the loan of...

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" BRITISH INCOMES AND PROPERTY. "

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sin,—In a review of the above appearing in your issue of May 6th, it is remarked that Sir Leo Chiozza Money appears to have " written so...

LOTUS-EATERS.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " EPEcrATort.1 Sin,—Has not Tennyson curiously anticipated, for his Lotos-eaters, the " policy " of more recent lotus-eaters in a more responsible...

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " Srsererea."1 Sra,—Your correspondent may

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be glad to know that all waste-paper is collected by " The Crusade of Rescue, " 48 Compton Street, Goswell Road, on receipt of a card asking them to call.—I am, Sir, &c., L P.

WASTE-PAPER.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR "] Sra, — In your last issue there appears a letter signed " M. E. A. " com- plaining of difficulty in getting waste-paper collected. Would you...

curious fact that the phrase Peace with Honour, ' which he

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was to bring forth with suoh enormous effect at the time of the Treaty of Berlin in 1878, was invented by Disraeli in 1855 to sum up the character of the peace which he then...

ECONOMY AND DOMESTIC SERVANTS. [TO THE EDITOR OF THE "

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SPECTATOR1 Six,—May I point out several inaccuracies in the " Statement " attached to " J. M. ' s " letter in your issue of May 13th ? With the object of imbuing his servants...

NOTICE.—When " Correspondence" or Articles are signed with the writer ' s

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name or initials, or with a pseudonym, or are marked " Communi- cated," the Editor must not necessarily be held to be in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the...

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POETRY.

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Yet hide my tombstone not beneath its shade ; I would that it should be for all to view Engraven—" PASSER-BY, who here hath stayed, Learn from my fate . The Envious Gods forbade...

BOOKS.

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THE ROMAN EMPIRE.* SEVERAL methods may be adopted in narrating the events of the past, but the most widely read and popular historians have unquestionably been those who have...

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THE NAVY LEAGUE ANNUAL.*

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WE heartily welcome the continued appearance of The Navy League Annual. In the absence of Captain Alan Burgoyne, the creator and editor of the Annual, who is on active service,...

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RECENT WAR VERSE.*

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IN any survey, however imperfect, of recent war verse, a reviewer is inclined to give priority to those writers who have laid down their lives for their country. But quite apart...

A BOOK OF HOMAGE TO SHAKESPEARE.*

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Norman' could well be more impressive as a sign of the universality of the appeal made by our great English poet than this Book of Homage which Professor Gollancz has gathered...

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CANTERBURY AND ITS GEORGIAN ARCHBISHOPS.*

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Tan Lives of eight Archbishops of Canterbury, covering a period of one hundred and twelve years, might be expected to give a fairly repre- sentative picture of the general...

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The Handicap of British Trade. By W. H. Hooker. (John

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Murray. 2s. ed. net.)—Mr. Hooker is an exporter to East Africa. There is not much literature about his special business, wherefore his book has some novelty as well as an...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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[yolks in this column does not necessarily preclude subsequent resins.] record of the past year could be dull, and certainly The Annual Register is not, although comment is...

FICTION.

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ABYSS.* Tnis evolution of the novel in America has been and is being influenced to an extent quite unparalleled elsewhere by the alien elements which for the last seventy or...

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Printers' Pie. (Offices of the Sphere and the Tatter. 1s.

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net.)—One of the best things in Printers' Pie for 1916 is Sir Henry Lucy's "The Bull Ring at Westminster," relating various " bulls " perpetrated by mem- bers of the Lords and...