31 AUGUST 1918

Page 1

Another sign which may be mentioned in this connection is

The Spectator

the fact that the Germans who surrender in many cases use a new phrase in declaring their willingness to be taken prisoner. They no longer say " Kamerad ! " but " War finis ! "...

The British attack between the Ancre and the Somme, which

The Spectator

was in progress on Thursday week when we went to press, was completely successful. Albert was cleared of the enemy, in the course of a two-mile advance on a six-mile front, and...

During last Saturday the tide of victory continued to flow.

The Spectator

Early in the day enemy reinforcements failed to check our troops, who had pushed on in the high ground south-east of Albert overnight, and were by Saturday night astride of the...

Let us return to a simile which we used very

The Spectator

early in the war when people were profoundly discouraged by the spectacle of an apparently complete deadlock. We compared the circumstances with a tug of war. One sees, for...

Although there may be danger of being almost too optimistic

The Spectator

at the moment, one cannot possibly be too optimistic about what will happen when the full Allied strength is brought to bear. Already, although only a small proportion of the...

As we know only too well, when our Government reduced

The Spectator

the numbers of the British Army on the Western Front by about a quarter through failing to supply the men, training became almost impossible. All the men were required for...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The Spectator

T HE news from the front has been so consistently good that the only danger is that we may become too optimistic. The feature of all the fighting during this month has been that...

THE PAPER SHORTAGE.

The Spectator

TO OUR READERS.—It is now necessary for readers to place a definite order for the " Spectator" with their Newsagent or at one of the Railway Book- stalls. Should any reader...

Page 2

On Tuesday the British advance was maintained on the whole

The Spectator

front, while on its right General Debeny, pressing the enemy back on both sides of the Avre, occupied Laucourt on the Montdidier-Roye road and captured Roye and seven villages...

It is with the greatest regret that we record the

The Spectator

resignation, owing to ill-health, of the American Ambassador, Dr. Page. We scarcely know whether to admire more the Ambassador's work when his country was still a Neutral, or...

While French troops were pushing on rapidly at Noyon, the

The Spectator

Canadians were heavily engaged throughout Wednesday, south of the Scarpe, clearing the enemy out of some important trenches, and taking Pelves, six miles due east of Arras....

Rumour still concerns itself with a general election in November,

The Spectator

but - nothing on the subject has been said by the Prime Minister or by any member of the Cabinet. Our own impression is that the more the nation looks at the prospect of a...

On Wednesday week Lord French made an important speech in

The Spectator

Londonderry. He declared, according to the report in the Times, that his statements must be accepted as " a correct expression of the Government's Irish policy." The most...

On Wednesday, while the enemy's retreat was forcibly hastened along

The Spectator

the front between the Scarpe and the Aisne, the battle lime- light swung southward to illuminate an important advance by the French. Their victorious troops took Chaulnes and...

The Ulster Unionist Council published, on Friday of last week,

The Spectator

a full and convincing reply to the preposterous manifesto recently sent to President Wilson by the Dublin Mansion House Conference on the subject of Compulsory Military Service...

On Monday Sir Douglas Haig extended his operations northward some

The Spectator

five miles, and by noon had taken Wancourt and Monchy le Preux, a height important in turning Bapaume from the north. Monchy overlooks the Hindenburg line. Our men were...

North of the Somme British troops took Hardecourt and Quirt

The Spectator

after heavy fighting and pushed on towards Maurepas, five miles north-west of Peronne. South of the river the Australians, thrusting with their usual vigour, reached Herbecourt,...

North of the Scarpe other Scottish troops on Tuesday took

The Spectator

Roeux and Gavrelle, about five miles east and north-east of Arras. At Arleux-en-Gohelle English troops had the satisfaction of establishing themselves in what was the German...

Page 3

His labour policy in America is remarkable for two things.

The Spectator

He has never associated himself with any political party, and he is a determined enemy of the principle of " ea' canny." It is only natural that the various sections of British...

A message from Kharbin, published on Tuesday, describes a raid

The Spectator

by Bolshevist and their German prisoner-battalions on the lines of communication behind the Czecho-Slovak advance, along the Vladivostock Kharbin railway, to the relief of...

Spain has apparently reaped the proper reward of her decision,

The Spectator

long delayed, to stand up for her rights as a neutral against U-boat outrages, by which she has lost twenty per cent. of her mercantile marine and over a hundred Spanish lives....

We offer a most hearty welcome to Mr. Samuel Gompers,

The Spectator

the president of the powerful American Federation of Labour, who has arrived in England. The power of Mr. Gompers in the United States is said to be second only to that of the...

Mr. Edward N. Hurley, the chairman of the United States

The Spectator

Ship- ping Board, wrote to the Times of Monday a most interesting letter on the delicate question of the decline of the British Mercantile Marine and the rise of the American...

Signs of Bulgarian war weariness are to be noted. A

The Spectator

Bulgarian soldier, who deserted to the Serbian lines, stated recently that M. Malinoff became Premier on condition that all German units should be withdrawn from Old Bulgaria,...

Last Saturday a reinforced concrete sea-going barge of a thousand

The Spectator

tons was launched at Poole, and we hope that she may be the first of many such vessels. Sixteen slip-ways are nearly completed at Poole, designed for the construction of ships...

Meanwhile Mr. Havelock WiLson is receiving a most encouraging response

The Spectator

to his attempt to form a Trades Union Labour Party free from pacificist influences. Particularly strong approval has come from the Navy and the Army. A bund le of 727 signed...

This condition has certainly not arrived when our Arms are

The Spectator

making such splendid progress as they are making now, and the heart of the country is as sound as a bell. If it be pretended that it is possible to hold an election on the...

Bank rate, 5 per cent., changed from 51 per cent.

The Spectator

April 5, 1917.

Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

The Spectator

THE TWO IRELANDS AND THEIR LESSON. O N week, too late unfortunately for us to notice, th e re e i reappeared one of the most important and significant State Papers that have...

Page 5

NO PEACE CONFERENCE. T HE ideas which we expressed last week

The Spectator

about the great dangers of a Peace Conference have had the good fortune to receive strong support from converging lines of argument on both sides of the Atlantic. In the...

SOME FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS.

The Spectator

B EFORE we leave this very important document we may note one or two points which, if the authors of the Ulster manifesto had thought it advisable to take up more space, would....

Page 6

ITALY AND THE YUGO-SLAVS.

The Spectator

S OME weeks ago we wrote expressing gratification at the agreement which appeared to have been reached between the representatives of the Yugo-Slays and the Italian Government....

Page 7

THE SACRED BROTHERHOOD OF THE SEA.

The Spectator

X / R. HAVELOCK WILSON'S spirited and timely appeal 1111 to the Trades Unions on behalf of the League of Seamen gives us an opportunity which we have long desired to say what we...

Page 8

A BUNDLE OF OLD LETTERS

The Spectator

T HE very high prices of antique furniture, china, coins, books, and prints have placed these almost beyond the reach of those of modest income. Pictures of any merit have long...

Page 9

THE MONTAGU REPORT.

The Spectator

(To THE EDITOR 07 THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR, — When I was in German East Africa I used to fee! that I had met an old friend when I chanced to get hold of a copy of the Spectator,...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Spectator

[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.] AMERICA—THE WAR—IRELAND. (To...

Page 10

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS AND THE WAR.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] EIR,—The letter from a young Quaker officer at the front in your issue of August 24th probably expresses the views of a large minority—if it...

GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECUTOR."] Siu, — Possibly it will be conceded that one born and reared in England, but who has for long been a citizen of the United States, has some...

SLAVERY IN GERMAN EAST AFRICA.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—Your last issue reprinted the memorial addressed to the Colonial Office by the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines' Protection Society; and...

Page 11

" THE GERMAN CHARACTER AND BRITISH APATHY." (To THE EDITOR

The Spectator

or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sat,—I agree with every word of your able article on " How Not to Do It." My previous letter (August 3rd) was a plea for some sense of proportion on the...

HERR LIEBKNECHT.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OP TIRO " SPECTATOR."] 8111,-1n a recent number the Spectator is led to do a grievous injustice to Herr Karl Liebknecht. the leader of the German Minority...

TELEGRAPHY, AERONAUTICS AND WAR.

The Spectator

[To THE Faaroa or THE "SPECTATOR.") do not know whether your reviewer is unfavourable, on principle, to all books which happen to mainly consist of collected addresses and...

PENSIONS ADMINISTRATION. (To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")

The Spectator

SIL—For those who turn away wearied from comic opera some relief may be obtained from a study of the lucubrations of the Ministry of Pensions, particularly if sidelights are...

Page 12

HORSES' RATIONS.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I was glad to see a letter in your paper last week re the above. I fully endorse what "C. H." -says on the subject, and think it would...

THE LOTTERIES (WAR CHARITIES) BILL.

The Spectator

[To THE Erma or TH1 " SPECTATOR."] Sta,--Lady Poore's letter is, like all that she writes, charming, amusing, and delightful; but is not her persiflage rather illogical and a...

A PROUD SWAN.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] Storrington, in Sussex, a pair of swans have a family of six cygnets. This is an unusually large number, for although the hen can lay from...

DOGS IN BATTLE.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—It may interest some of your readers if you would care to publish the following letter I have received from my son : "There were two...

THE COAL SHORTAGE. [To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR. "]

The Spectator

SIR,—If Ireland does not fight, why should Ireland have coal ?-

GRAPE-JAM.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I shall be very grateful if any of your readers can tell me whether it is possible to make good jam from ripe grapes, white or black,...

AN ELECTION CRY.

The Spectator

[TO THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sea,—It is said that Mr. Lloyd George will go to the country with the electioneering cry, " Will you win the war ?" There is, of course, an...

Page 13

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Szn,—I do not

The Spectator

know whether the two appended " howlers " are chestnuts or not, but they are certain& among the funniest I have met. Their source is an examination-room, where Pas de deux was...

BOOKS.

The Spectator

THE DAWN OF THE FRENCH RENAISSANCE.* Ir is one of the sorrows of growing up that the world (tenses to appear arranged in the neat parcels beloved of childhood. Onco the...

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]

The Spectator

Sze,—The following may be worthy of mention. t` What were the Sicilian Vespers ?" an examiner asked in a history paper. And one of the answers was : "It was the Sicilian Vespers...

AUTHOR WANTED.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—These lines are on the tomb of a Canadian eadtit in the military cemetery at Aldershot. I have long tried to trace their authorship,...

TRANSLATIONS.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR."] SIE,—In your very interesting article in your issue of August 17th upon " Translations " one reads of there having been many attempts to...

"HOWLERS."

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sut,—" What price" these ? Delicta majorum immeritus Lacs- " The delights of our ancestors were unmitigated filth." Classi- cunt cani aubk—"...

POETRY.

The Spectator

THE HUNTER OF HEAVEN. (To Nancy.) A PISTOL cracked in the enemy trench And the flare-light curved and rose, While the lone patrol stopped short in their tracks And each man...

IRISH EXPRESSIONS.

The Spectator

[To TEM EDITOR, or THE " SPECTATOR."] think I can explain the origin of the word "pamphrey " to your correspondent "H. M. W." The home of the cone-shaped or pointed early garden...

NOTICE.—When " Correspondence" or Articles ar•e signed with the writer's

The Spectator

name or initials, or with a pseudonym, or are marked " Communicated," the Editor must not necessarily beheld to be in agree- ment with the views therein expressed or with the...

Page 14

BISMARCK.*

The Spectator

Ma. GRANT Roaearsores able and brilliant study of Bismarck appears opportunely. He declares that it is not a product of the war, that he began it long ago and formed his...

Page 15

MY WAR DIARY.•

The Spectator

IN some ways the reader will be inclined to agree with the writer of the Preface to the present volume, that it is the comparative triviality of the events experienced which...

NEW ITALY.•

The Spectator

THE aim of the authors is to show us Italy as she was at the beginning of the war, as she is to-day, and as she is likely to be after the declaration of peace. Concurrently, as...

Page 16

War Lettere of a Public School Boy. By Paul Jones.

The Spectator

(Cassell and Co. (ls. net.)--A clever boy's letters from the front, such as are given in this book, are always interesting. It is sad to think of the promising career cut short...

FICTION.

The Spectator

FOE -FARRELL.* Tux great majority of novels take account in some form or another of the tender passion, but here we have a romance, whioh is at the same time a highly edifying...

Service Corps shows that life in the Alaosdonian. Expeditionary Force

The Spectator

is not nearly so uninteresting as we might infer from the curt bulletins issued at intervals. Mr. Seligman had a conversation with M. Venizelos, and took part in the operations...

The Soul of Lee. ByRandolph H. Maim. (New York :

The Spectator

Longman. $1.50.) — This interesting andenthusiastio little book bya Confederate veteran gives a brief account of General Robert E. Lee's life. All his °warp:nen to-day are proud...

drunken sister-in-law.—The Stairs. By Mrs. Stanley Wrench. (Duckworth and Co.

The Spectator

Os.)—The grandfather of the heroine is certainly the pleasantest person in this country story. The readers will hardly sympathize with the conduct of the same lady with regard...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

The Spectator

[Notice in this column does not necessarily preclude subsequent review.] The Boyd Navy, 1815-1915. By the Marquess of Milford. Haven. (Cambridge University Press. 2s. 6d....

Page 17

Living Water : being Chapters from the Romance of the

The Spectator

Poor Student. By Harold Begbie. (Headley. 2s. 6d. net.)—This is a remarkable book which deserves the serious consideration of our pastors and masters. It is made up of " true...

The Crime. By the Author of J'Accuse. Translated by A.

The Spectator

Gray. Vol. II. (Hodder and Stoughton. 10s. 6d. net.)—In this newly translated volume the German author whose denunciation of his Government for forcing war on Europe has made a...

Selected Papers on Social and Economic Questions. By Sir B.

The Spectator

C. Browne. (Cambridge University Press. 75. 13d. net.)—The late Sir Benjamin Browne was an employer of the best type, and many people outside the engineering and shipbuilding...

Everybody's Plower Book. By F. M. Ramsay. (Simpkin Marshall.) —This

The Spectator

attractive little book deals with the fascinating subject of the cutting and arrangement of flowers for room and table decoration. The arrangement of flowers being an art, Miss...

Private Peat. By Harold R. Peat. (Hutchinson and Co. 13s.

The Spectator

net.)—This is a spirited narrative of the experiences of a young Canadian, who enlisted in the first Canadian contingent and fought in the desperate Second Battle of Ypres,...

Transactions of the Jewish Historical Society of England. VoL

The Spectator

(Spottiswoode, Ballantyne, and Co. £1 lie. 6d.)—There are as usual some very able papers in these Transactions. The most interesting of them, perhaps, is that in which Sir...