the amazing improvement in the French Army. So great is that improvement, and so magnificent a fighting machine has the French Army become, that it seems almost like an imperti-...

is to procure that concentration of national energy, that arraying of the people as a whole, which alone can ensure us victory. Every man in the nation must be at the disposal...

T HE National Ministry has been formed. It is perhaps a good omen that there has been no outburst of admira- tion over its composition, for who does not remember the fate of "...

not so often recognized. He gave us the National Reserve. It is true that the initial idea did not come from him but from the Surrey Territorial Association ; but Lord Haldane...

the political situation, has been marked by a great deal of anxiety and pessimism of a very unworthy kind. Yet there is no real cause for grumblings and lamentings, but strong...

as we have so often stated in these pages, at the war from the German point of view. The German who is not hypnotized by the action of his Government and who looks the facts in...

to say a word as to Lord Haldane's resignation of the Great Seal. Nothing has become him better than this act of katriotism ; hut Lord Haldane has never hesitated to spend...

case.

better was the news published on Thursday morning. The British official communication, dated Wednesday night, stated that the First Army was continuing to make good progress...

Saturday's paper the extraordinary new formation which the Germans adopted on the eastern front, and which resembles the ancient Macedonian phalanx. The phalanx, solidly...

of the Thames. On Wednesday night a Zeppelin passed over Southend and discharged a considerable number of bombs, with the result that two women were killed and one child badly...

of the huge German phalanx on the San seems to have spent its force, and the gap which it at first made in the Russian line has been closed and our ally's armies stiffened by...

of the submarine • E14,' which recently dived under the Turkish minefield and entered the Sea of Marmora. On the passage to the Sea of Marmora she eank a Turkish gun- boat. In...

Austria, Germany, and Turkey. There ie no doubt of the whole- heartedness, the clearness of conscience, and the high motives with which she has entered the war. On Thursday week...

are permitted to hear it, appears to be quite good. The casualties involved in the landing and actions while our troops were making good their positions were extremely heavy;...

good. It is true that on Monday there was a very determined attack on part of our line east of Ypres and some of our trenches were taken, but they were for the most part re-...

a liner of 4,400 tons in ballast, sailing under the American flag to America, had been torpedoed off the Irish coast The crew took to the boats, but the vessel did not sink, and...

upon the table were known in outline last week, but we must take a point or two from the fuller summaries now before us. Italy complained at the beginning of the war that the...

ferring extraordinary powers on the Government which the Chamber had passed on the previous day. The Italian Ambassador in Vienna presented a formal declaration of war last...

political, military, and naval leaders of Italy. Signor Salandra, a man of firm character and great intelligence, is an Apulian. Born in 1853, he studied law and became a...

Bishop of Pretoria showing that the men at the front do not think that they are receiving enough support from home in the provision of high-explosive shells or of men for the...

place on Monday. Austrian aircraft and ships raided various points on the Adriatic coast of Italy, including Venice, Ravenna, .Ancona, and Barletta. Such raids were expected,...

has ever happened in the United Kingdom. Three trains were involved in the collision, which took place last Saturday morning on the Caledonian line at Quintinshill, a mile north...

in his sixty-fifth year. He became chief of the General Staff last year. His writings are widely known and admired, and he is credited with a profound knowledge of the frontier...

Aug. 8th.

THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. T HE now Government is in every sense a National Government, and not a Coalition. Gossips and quidnuncs may say what they like as to " the real origin...

T HE more the entrance of Italy into the war is con- templated the more romantic and gratifying it seems. Italy has joined the forces of Freedom with whom her heart has long...

W E went to press last week too early to comment upon the outrageous attack made by the Daily Mail upon Lord Kitchener. In condemning Lord Northcliffe for his action in this...

T HE intervention of Italy closes a door through which Germany has hitherto been receiving probably the larger part of her oversea supplies. It is stated that in the fortnight...

A FTER Easter I was allowed to describe hi the Spectator the training of one of the Volunteer Corps which had spent four days in field exercises and musketry. I desesibed not...

E CONOMY is just now a fashion set by necessity. The professional class are eagerly reducing their outlay, and the most obvious thing to save on is the rent. The immediate...

COMPULSORY SERVICE. [To rex Eorror or rxr "Bramaros...] Sin,—As a constant subscriber to your paper, I know what patriotic efforts you have made in the past, and are still...

I N early life Frederick the Great wrote a refutation of Machiavelli entitled Anti-dfachiavel, which Macaulay describes as an "edifying homily against rapacity, perfidy,...

up unmarried shirkers, but such men will not " stick it" with the same patriotic persistence as do those who have voluntarily come forward. They should be formed into separate...

[TO Ten Mee. 07 Tee "srsrrsroa."] Sin,—The wasteful expedient of universal service may be unavoidable, but I submit that loss will outweigh gain if we compel boys under twenty...

SIR,—I have heard no more manly or moving appeal for recruits than that delivered by the Commander of the Scottish Coast Defences at a meeting held in connexion with the Church...

Stn,—For twenty years I have read the Spectator regularly, and always been impressed with the sound common-sense which has been a feature of its pages. We are all living just...

of this question that I have not seen noticed. We have on one hand the very flower of our population, the bravest and the best, giving their lives for their King and country at...

ire 777 Eorrox or en •Sreemtux."] SIR,—May I suggest that the Zeppelin raids hitherto attempted, although in the nature of trial rune so far as flight-endurance, discovery of...

[To ran Esrros or an .Sescr.tros.”] SIR,—I feel that some of the statements contained in the grotesque letter of Mr. Archibald Pratt in your issue of April 24th ought not to go...

rT. ras Ranoa or ass "SrsorAroan Sre.,—Some weeks ago we were told by Mr. Lloyd George that drink was our worst foe, and mainly reepousible for the criminal shortage of...

Snt,—Whilst every one will appreciate the generous impulse of the Ryland. Trustees, to which you draw attention in your issue of May 16th, in contributing to the formation of a...

[To nu Earns 07 TE17 "8cxosre."l SIR, — I am in the habit of turning to your columns to read the final confirmatory word on "things that matter," but found your note in last...

Sze.,—A great deal may turn on the use of gas as a military weapon. The subject is so repulsive that the publio shrink from contemplating it, and opinion is all but silent,...

[To rim Eorros or ram "Snow:roan Sin,—As a constant reader of your valuable weekly, I have been much interested in your consistent advocacy of the Volunteer movement, and...

.8recra7os.'] Sur,—Will you kindly allow me to appeal to the generous public for recent magazines and picture papers for hospitals and hospital ships in the Dardanelles P My...

“Serararos.”) Sur,—In last week's issue you Bay truly that "the past fort- night has brought to us an entirely new aet of emotions" in reference to Germany. That once noble...

ere en Bones OF TER .. 13Pscrana."1 Szn,—Will you give me leave to ask a further sacrifice of those who have already given their best for tur P After Native Chapelle the...

rao ni3racraroo."3 Sts,—Perhaps the following extracts from a letter from "somewhere in France" and within sound of the guns will be of interest to your readers :— "I saw a...

[To ran Earroa or nun "Sracraxon."] SIE,—In your article of last week beaded "The Crafty, Briny River " you speak of " Seamander and the Kanthus that Achilles choked with...

Passim= LORD DESBOROUGH. Lim SECRETARY PERCY A. HARRIS, Esq. Haan Omens: Judges' Quadrangle, Royal Condo of Justice (Carey Street entrance). The aims and objects of this force...

TO JOAN OF ARC. [The Maid of Orleans was burnt at Rouen May 30th, 1431.] Twine was the flesh of purest clay, Save His, who moved in Mary's side, And hers, within whose womb He...

[To ran Horton or THL "Smormoo.1 Ste,—I read the excellent critique on the above in last Saturday's issue of your journal, and also Mr. Oscar Parker's letter giving the details...

(To ran Zenon or ram "Srecreroa.") Sta,—Being engaged in collecting material for a biography of John Gay, the author of The Beggar's Opera, I venture to beg the hospitality of...

[To 777 Lanes 07 V= SPLC7l707..] Sts,—Some months ago, through the kindness of Rev. J. H. Harris, I learned that a statement had appeared in the Spectator of November 29th,...

or initials, or with a pseudonym, or on marked "Communicated," the Editor must not netemanly be held to he in agreement with the views therein repressed or with the mode of...

Suzann-norm for this Fund should be sent to the Spectator Office, or direct to Messrs. Barclay and Co., Goslings' Branch, 19 Fleet Street, London, E.O. Cheques should be made...

PATRIOTIC PROSE" MAwr compilers of anthologies start with an attractive plan, but fail in its execution. Mr. Frederick Page in the little volume before us is to be...

Tax connexion of Ireland with Belgium has been long and romantic; the names of Fontenot and Landen bear witness • The /rid Rune at rpm an &puede of Its War. By D. M.. C., O.S.B....

"WE sufficiently have had Experience, that the carriage of that sort of people is ridiculous, and is capable to bring dishonour to our Nation, besides other inconveniences, that...

clear conception of the public for which be writes. It is that large class which is interested in the out- come of the historical process, but has neither the time nor the skill...

than a good allegory, for it has to satisfy so many requirements. To begin with, the story must be able to stand upon its own legs, so to speak, without relying on its...

placed at the bead of this article are often quoted as Horace Greeley's advice to Americans wishful of material success. As a matter of fact, they were put into Greeley's month...

Six ROBERT Bum was so brilliant and lucid a "popularizer" of astronomical science that the public at large were perhaps inclined to overlook the abstruse researches which...

MISS BILLY'S DECISION! THE British novel-reading public ought to be, and we trust is, duly grateful for the variety of the entertainment provided by American novelists. When...

really surprising how easily Richard Lyddon took to the ways of a " traveller's " life. With all respect for the doctrine of freedom from conventions and all delight in damp...

6s.)--" Richard Dehan " in the preface to her latest book makes apology for her choice of subject. "The Germany of 1870," she says, "was not the Germany of 1915. . . . The plan...

— By the time we had reached the end of the second part of Nicholas Freydon's "record," and had followed with mild interest the account of his childhood in England and his...

and died in 1909. Towards the end of his life he wrote a series of three dialogues upon War, Progress, and the End of History, which have now been translated into English by Mr....

us, and, according to the medical authorities, is likely to be more dangerous than ever this year in its disease-spreading habits. Major Hurlstone Hardy's Book of the Fly...

Documents relating to the Outbreak of the European War. It includes a reprint of the British White Paper, together with the official translations of the French Yellow Book, the...

mystic, whose writings in Middle English have received considerable attention. He also wrote a number of Latin treatises, but none of these has been reprinted in modern times....

only on account of its scenery, but also on account of the legends of its past. Mr. J. Henry Harris in Cornish Saints and Sinners (John Lane, 2s. 8d. net) has profited by this...

Co., 15e. net) Mr. W. F. Trotter has made an attempt to discuss the effect of war upon contract, with special reference to present circumstances. Mr. Trotter gives full reports...

but with no other changes, of Mr. Havelock Ellis's volume of essays, Affirmations (Constable and Co., 6s. net). It was originally published in 1897, and contains papers upon...

[&ties m Mi. nisinn don nal Immoral/ yrsstude subsopisni mina.] The Jane number of the Bound Table has just been pub- lished (Macmillan and Co., 2s. 6d.). Its first article,...

(T. Fisher Cowin, 5s. net), is he reality a new edition of a book published as long ago as 1886 under the title of A Short History of the Netherlands. The last chapter has been...

and Sons. 6s.)—Mr. Roland's stories of mystery and adventure on the road are full of vigour and open-air freshness ; their period is un- eertain.—Whiripool Heights. By Julia...

of reference, Crockford'e Clerical Directory (The Field and Queen, Ltd., 26s.), has just reached us. Among the subjects mentioned in the preface to the new issue are Prayer Book...