30 MARCH 1918

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Monday found our centre fighting on the old Somme battlefields.

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The enemy, who had by now brought seventy divisions into action, was still delivering incessant assaults of the utmost violence. Our left or northern wing still held fast, but...

Our troops, fighting all the time, effected their retirement in

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good order on Friday night and Saturday, to a maximum depth of about fifteen miles. They evacuated the region from which the enemy retired early last year, after the battle of...

Time serves us in the circumstances better than it serves

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the Germans. In other respects they have had all the luck. Sir Douglas Haig would have dispensed with several battalions over and over again as the price of such weather and...

Last Sunday the enemy, who had been heavily reinforced, delivered

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a series of violent assaults on our new line. To the north of Bapaume he failed ; the 17th and 40th Divisions are commended for beating off repeated attacks with great loss. But...

Continuing his onslaughts without a pause throughout Thursday night, by

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the light of the moon, and again on Friday morning, the enemy on Friday afternoon succeeded in breaking through our main positions to the west of St. Quentin. This involved a...

The German offensive opened at dawn on Thursday week with

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very heavy bombardment from German and Austrian guns along sixty miles of our front from the Scarpe, east of Arras, to the Oise at La Fere. At eight o'clock dense masses of...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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7 HE frantic battle which is now being fought means that 1. the Germans have staked their all upon a decision. The numbers of men which they have been throwing into the...

The enemy's masses, attacking with great determination, over- whelmed our

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outpost lines by sheer weight of numbers. They were mown down in thousands by our rifles and machine-guns, and our shellfire from batteries firing at point-blank range. But new...

THE PAPER SHORTAGE.—We trust that readers of the " Spectator"

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will give definite orders to their newsagents for a copy of the " Spectator" to be reserved for them each week till countermanded.

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The struggle north of the Somme died down on Tuesday.

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The Bavarian Crown Prince's armies had for the moment exhausted themselves against our stubborn defence, and our men estab- lished themselves more firmly on a line running...

The Dutch ships in American and British porta, of about

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700,000 tons in all, were requisitioned on Wednesday week for the use of the Allies. President Wilson issued a statement justifying this measure on the ground that Holland, in...

Sir Douglas Haig reported on Tuesday that our troops on

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all parts of the battle front had shown the utmost courage. He singled out for special praise the 8th, 18th, 31st, 41st, 61st, 63rd, and 66th Divisions, besides those already...

General Allenby in Palestine, having secured his new line from

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the coast north of Jaffa to the Jordan, began a new move on Friday week to the east of the Jordan. Our troops crossed the river, in the face of considerable resistance, and by...

" We bombarded the fortress of Paris with long-range guns,"

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said the laconic and matter-of-fact German reports of March 24th and 25th. Last Saturday twenty-four shells were lobbed into Paris, and last Sunday twenty-seven, apparently at a...

A fuller account of the destroyer action off Dunkirk on

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Thursday week has shown that eighteen German torpedo craft left Ostend before dawn to bombard Dunkirk. The British destroyers ' Botha and ` Morris ' and three French destroyers...

It was in August, 1917, that the Government evioted the

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private owners. " So far," says Lord Inchcape, " not a single ship has been laid down, and there is very little more, if any, plant or machinery on the place than there was when...

Sir Douglas Haig reported on Wednesday morning that the enemy's

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attacks late on Tuesday on both sides of the Somme had forced our men back a short distance in the neighbourhood of Bray. South of the Somme his night attacks were repulsed...

The Times of Monday published a letter from Lord Inchoape

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in which he fully bore out what we said in the Spe,etalor of March 16th about the National Shipyards on the Wye. We pointed out that, according to our information, the...

British and Australian airmen took a most active and brilliant

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part in the battle. They dropped many tons of bombs on the enemy's masses, which were ideal ground targets. They skimmed over the heads of the men in close formation, and fired...

On Monday, it may be noted, the War Office began

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to issue a special communique, emanating no doubt from General Rawlinson, on the Versailles War Council, which is known to control the Allied reserves. From this source we learn...

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The War Office abides by its decision to disband Section

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D of the Volunteers. Only a slight mitigation has been introduced to the effect that each corps may retain ten members of Section D for special duties such as clerical work....

Since the publication of this letter Mr. Isaacs has taken

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steps to proceed against Sir Charles Hobhouse. In these circumstances we can make no comment on the subject., except that we are extremely glad that it is to be brought into...

" He Died for Freedom and Honour " is the

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apt, succinct, and sufficient inscription upon the memorial plaque or medal in bronze which will be forwarded in due course to the next-of-kin of every member of the King's...

The papers of last Saturday published a letter from Sir

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Charles Hobhouse in which he gave Mr. Godfrey Isaacs, the managing director of the Marconi Company, the pretext which Mr. Isaacs sought for bringing an action for libel. Sir...

The same thing will undoubtedly be true of the Volunteers

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if the time ever comes for employing them on active service. The War Office ought never to lose sight of men who have trained themselves, and who in the event of a great...

On February 1st the area of land under wheat in

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England and Wales was 2,504,000 acres. At the same date last year the area under wheat was only 1,725,000 acres, though this was larger than the average wheat acreage in the ten...

Mr. Lloyd George on Thursday week delivered some very plain-

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spoken and trenchant remarks to a deputation from the Executive Committee of the Miners' Federation, which had placed before him figures showing a majority of 29,570, on a poll...

Sir William Goode, who serves as the connecting-link between Lord

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Rhondda and Mr. Hoover, the American Food Controller, has warned us that Peace will not bring Plenty in her train. He pointed out in a speech on Friday week that the food...

Mr. G. K. Chesterton, having been blamed by the Nation

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for hating the enemy, made a very conclusive reply in the Illustrated London News of the 16th inst. We all, he said, had hated the enemy for their cruelty to Belgium, and he for...

In the by-election on Friday week at Waterford, occasioned by

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the death of Mr. John Redmond, Captain William Redmond, the son of the late Nationalist leader, was returned by a majority of 479 votes over Dr. V. J. White, the Sinn Fein...

Bank rate, 5 per cent., changed from 5i per cent.

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April 5,1917.

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE GREAT BATTLE. S INCE our last issue by far the greatest battle of the war has developed—a battle to which, for significance and size, history affords no parallel. This...

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THE DEEDS OF THE MERCHANT NAVY. F VEN at a moment

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when all our emotions and prayers are engaged on behalf of the Army, even when thought tends to narrow itself down to a small but intense focus on the fields of France, it...

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THE APPEAL TO ANARCHY.

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O N few occasions has Mr. Lloyd George shown more political courage than in the speech which he made to the representatives of the miners at the end of last week. He was dealing...

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THE NOBILITY OF LONDON.

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y ONDON and the Home Counties, which are London's iJ dormitory, may be justifiably proud of the success of the rationing scheme. It is the latest proof of the steady patriotism...

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STOCK-POTS AND POTATO-PIES.

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T HE cook has become a person of national importance, for the problem of the kitchen has become the nation's problem. Solve the one and you solve the other. In the widest sense...

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A HAPPY SHIP.

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T , ISTEN to those two Blues leaning over the Bar. " Was she a 'appy ship, Bert ? " " She was that. A proper 'ome from 'ome." Notice the past tense. It is a well-known and...

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THE CHURCH FRANCHISE.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] view of the discussion now going on in England with regard to the Church franchise, it may be a matter of interest to some of your readers...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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[Letters of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective, than those which fill treble the space.] THE SANCTITY OF INTERNATIONAL...

THE DANGER OF UNCONTROLLED ZIONISM. [To THE EDITOR OF THE

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" SPECTATOR."] desire to correct a few errors in the letter of Mr. Brodrick in your issue of the 16th inst. Your correspondent states that the names of the President of the...

THE HARD CASE OF PONTIUS PILATE.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECFATOR."] have often thought that the character of the distinguished public servant, who in the time of Augustus was for some years Roman Governor of...

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SUPPLEMENTARY RATIONS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIlf,—Last week saw the promulgation of a remarkable scientific discovery. In a statement dealing with supplementary rations, the Ministry...

THE VALUE OF ARTICHOKES.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Nearly two years ago you published a letter from me advo- cating the extension of allotments. The importance of that move- ment is now,...

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CHILDREN ON THE FOOD SHORTAGE.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Ent,—The Liverpool Food Intelligence Committee offered prizes of War Savings Certificates to children in the elementary schools for essays...

LECTURES FOR SHALL FOOD PRODUCERS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sia,—Those who have been interested by your insistence on the importance of private food production may like to know that in connexion with...

THE ABOLITION OF THE POOR LAW. [To THE EDITOR or

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THE " SPECTATOR."] Sta,—Please allow me to echo the hope (as expressed by Mr. Ellis in your edition of the 16th inst., and again by Lord Bryce at the Charity Organization...

EMERSON AND A HASTY PEACE.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—At a time when we are all called upon to practise the utmost economy, which the Pacificists are trying to exploit to persuade us that...

THE PRUSSIA.NS IN 1870.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—) came across this passage in the Life of Pasteur. It occurred in the Franco-Prussian War, and shows that even then the German was...

THE BRITISH WORKERS' LEAGUE. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "

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SPECTATOR."] SIL—A correspondent has sent me a copy of your issue of February 16th, containing an article entitled " The Basis of Industrial Con- cord." In the course of this...

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POETRy.

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ALL SOULS' FLOWER. A etowea hath blossomed in this land, 1 wis, was planted by no hand, A flower so fair, so clear of hue, Ever its leaves are fresh and new, Come Lords and...

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR, —I cannot

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help thinking that this word is derived from the Persian har.kara, which is still used in India to describe a post runner. Its real meaning is " jack of all trades " (her =...

BURKE AND CLIVE.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sia,—The very interesting article .on "The Kaiser's Napoleonic System" in your issue of the 23rd inst. ascribes to Burke a self- complacent...

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")

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propos of mistranslations, is chacun a son goat—"every- body has the gout "—too much of a chestnut for you to reproduce? I have seen myself "Put down the blinds, "Baisez les...

WANTED, AN AUTHOR.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Can any of your readers give the author of the poem of which I quote one stanza? The poem is set to music by Blumen- thal, and is said...

"ANGARY."

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sra,—In his letter " Student " has omitted the most apposite of all references to angary—that in the Sermon on the Mount (St. Matt. v. 41)....

TRANSLATION " HOWLERS."

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,— send three " translation howlers " as pendants to those of you orrespondent "J." in the Spectator of March 16th. An Item once appeared...

BOOKS.

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MR. ASQUITH'S ADDRESSES.* Mn. Asnurrn's volume of occasional addresses will be read, we are sure, with great interest and pleasure. We all know him as the statesman and the...

THE SUNKEN ROADS OF THE SOMME. [To THE EDITOR OF

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THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—In reply to your correspondent Major Stuart Love, I think the sunken roads in the chalk and other formations must be due to attrition, an important...

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 " Communicated," the Editor must not necessarily be held to be in agree- ment with the views therein expressed or with the...

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THE MERCHANT SEAMAN IN WAR.*

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Ma. COENFORD has written a wonderful book, which every landsman ought to read, and a copy of which should be placed in every school library beside Hakluyt and Purchas. It is a...

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IRISH POETS OF THE INSURRECTION.• THE number of Irishmen in

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whom the poetic or literary impulse was strong who took an active part in the Easter Rising of 1916 is remarkable. Of the four discussed in Poets of the Insurrection,' three...

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WATER-COLOUR PAINTING.•

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THERE are few more difficult things than to succeed in writing a treatise on the technique of an art. Seldom does the writer attain to more than a statement of well-known...

FOUR CHILDREN.•

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LADY GLENcornma's new book is a treasury of delightful vig- nettes. Some of the stories in it are very funny, some very charming, and some—must we say it I—a little sentimental....

FICTION.

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" MR. MANLEY."t Tars is a novel on an old theme, with a scene in which old-fashioned traditions linger on in surroundings not immune to modern influences, but it is handled...

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The Life and Friendships of Catherine Marsh. By L. E.

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O'Rorke. (Longmans and Co. 10s. 6d. net.)—Miss Catherine Marsh, who died in 1912 at the great age of ninety-four, was, in the Primate's phrase, " the veteran pioneer of women's...

What Industry Owes to Chemical Science. By R. B. Filcher

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and F. Butler-Jones. (Constable and Co. 3s. net.)—In this little book the authors cover a very wide field, showing briefly how every in- dustry, including agriculture, has...

Germany, 1815 - 1890. By Sir A. W. Ward. Vol. II., 1852-1871.

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(Cambridge University Press. 12s. _net.)—The Master of Peter. house has continued his learned and very dispassionate history of modern Germany from the temporary triumph of...

The Commemorative Medal in the Service of Germany. By G.

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F. Hill. (Longmans and Co. 6d. net.)—The Keeper of the Department of Coins at the British Museum gives an instructive account, with illustrations, of some of the hundreds of...

READABLE Novma. — A History of Departed Things. By Mrs. Henry Head.

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(Kagan Paul, Trench, and Co. 3s. 6d. net.)—There is a certain grace about this story of cultured people and their doings in pre-war days. But the heroine's marriage, at the end...

Transactions of the Royal Historical Society. Third Series. Vol. XL—There

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are several important papers in this volume. Professor Firth's presidential address, reviewing our relations with Austria, is timely, and emphasizes the fact that " no temporary...

Messrs. Dent have added to their admirable new edition of

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Mr. Joseph Conrad's novels that very able and disconcerting story Nostromo (5s. net). The author in an introductory note says that it was " the most anxiously meditated of the...

A Celtic Psaltery. By Alfred Perceval Graves. (S.P.C.K. Os. net.)—The

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first half of this interesting volume contains verse render. ings of Irish and Welsh poems, while in the second half are col- lected some of Mr. Graves's original verses, in...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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[Notice in this column does not necessarily preclude subsequent review.] The Alexandrine Gospel. By the Rev. A. Nairne, D.D. (Longmans and Co. Is. 6d. net.)—Canon Nairne has...