5 FEBRUARY 1916

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Mr. Pemberton-Billing, like a new Elijah Pogram, goes on to

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advocate a policy of attack and defiance and of " fearless aggression," and we are treated to a fine example of invective by ironical question : " Ingenuity and the skilful...

The German official telegram describing the raid is more futile

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and absurd than usual. It represents our assailants as dropping bombs on " the docks, harbour, and factories in and near Liver- pool and Birkenhead, on Manchester factories, on...

.. We should like to register our protest against the

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preposterous article on the raid published by the Daily Mail of Wednesday from the pen of Mr. Pemberton.Billing. A more ridiculous piece of injurious and inflammatory balderdash...

In the Western theatre of war the lull still continues.

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Wo say this in spite of the fact that the Germans made an attack on a considerable scale on a part of the French line, and claim to have taken a long stretch of trenches. - In...

A hurricane, a flood, even a small earthquake, would have

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done far more damage than was done on Monday. Even if, instead of defending ourselves, we do nothing but shrug our shoulders, Zeppelin raids are, from the military standpoint,...

Every sensible person in the country must be very much

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in favour of the peroration in the Daily Mail's Wednesday leading article. We have not forgotten, and are never likely to forget, " that most famous of Pitt's sayings :...

In fairness to the Daily Mail, we ought to add

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that we fully recognize the great public service it did in years past by forcing the need for aircraft preparation on our Government. It is a pity that this fine work should end...

We have dealt with the whole subject elsewhere, and will

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only ' repeat hero that the failure of the German raid—and failure it . was on a great scale—is most satisfactory. Though all the air conditions were ideal, though the raiders...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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O N Monday evening the Germans made an air raid on England on an extensile scale, in which six or seven airships are said to have taken part. No attacks wore made on London and...

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

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case.

Page 2

From the • Russian front comes no news, and this

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probably, nay, almost certainly, means preparation for new advances. It should be noted, however, that the position of our allies in the Caucasus continues to improve. Erzeruni...

Very possibly the Germans may try to anticipate the attack

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on them by an attack on the Allies. But even if they do, we and the French will be the real attackers. The Germans will he on the defensive, just as are those who make a...

On this statement we have only two remarks to make

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: first, that if Germany thinks there will be no more important battles she is reckoning without her enemy ; and secondly, that if she seriously hopes to embroil Britain with...

We are glad to be able to record that the

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latest news of the Tigris campaign is of a reassuring character. On Thursday was published an official ecrnmvnique from the Indian Government stating that General Aylnier's...

At a luncheon given on Tuesday at the House of

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Commons - to Mn Andrew Fisher, the new High Commissioner for the At a luncheon given on Tuesday at the House of Commons - to Mn Andrew Fisher, the new High Commissioner for the...

The Dentsches Journal of New York has published some important

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opinions of the German Chancellor on the war which have been communicated to it. The Chancellor said that Britain was the one obstacle to peace. She hoped to starve Germany,...

In the House of Commons on Thursday week Mr. Runciman

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stated that the Government have decided either to prohibit or greatly to reduce various imports in order to leave more freightage available for the carrying of necessaries. The...

We should not, however, be human if we did not

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notice the strange fact that, though freightage cannot be found for paper, the raw material for newspapers or books, space as usual is evidently going to be found for the sugar,...

A Zeppelin dropped bombs on Paris last Saturday night, killing

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twenty-three persons and injuring about thirty. Several houses were wrecked. The electric lights, the Times correspon- dent says, were suddenly extinguished about 10 o'clock,...

It would not be right for us to talk as

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if we might be one of the papers to go under, should the- Government insist on forcing their proposals on the Press. ,We shall be able to hold our own, though in all probability...

Page 3

On Monday, continuing his campaign for preparedness, he seemed to

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take back what he had been understood to say about the German danger; "There is no sudden crisis. Nothing new has happened. I am not upon this errand because of any sudden,...

President Wilson has made some very . remarkable speeches which seem

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to show a change of conviction as to the possibility of avoiding war. The speeches are, however, extremely puzzling. One reads like the declarations of a man on the very brink...

The United States Government has sent a protest, dated January

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10th, against interference with American mails to Europe. It is stated that British authorities removed seven hundred and thirty-four bags of mails from the Danish steamer...

The United States Government has sent a Note to the

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belli- gerents warning theni that unless they accept the conditions Propsed for the regulation of submarine warfare, armed merchantmen may be denied entry into American ports...

Sir Edward Grey's speech in the House of Commons on

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Wednesday week about the blockade and the rights of neutrals has been very well received in Sweden. The Times correspon. dent says that the Swedish Press notes with satisfaction...

As Mr. Wilson had just rejected Count Bernstorff's prepos- terous

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offer to disavow the Lusitania.' crime if the United States would undertake to try to make Britain concede what is called the " freedom of the seas," most Americans regarded...

Lord Wimborne's Report on recruiting in Ireland has been published.

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It shows that (exclusive of Irishmen recruited in Great Britain and serving in English and Scottish regiments, but inclusive of those who were already with the voleurs and of...

Last Saturday Mr. Wilson spoke at Pittsburg and Cleveland again

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on behalf of preparedness. " The world," he said, " is on fire and sparks are likely to drop anywhere." According to the Times report, he continued :- " Let me tell you very...

Bank Itate f :5 per.cent., changed from 6 p.c. Aug. 8th., 191.4.

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE FUTURE OF SYRIA. T HE lull in the war has given opportunities for discuss- ing the future. A good deal of late has been said behind the scenes in regard to the fate of...

THE CASE OF THE APPAM.'

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A GERMAN commerce destroyer is once more at large ; : shehas done a good deal of damage, and may do more before she is rounded up, as she certainly will be, Her name is said to...

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THE APPEAL TO THE SMALL INVESTOR.

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A MONG the many Reports issued by multitudinous Committees since the war began, few have been more important than the Report of what is known as the Montagu Committee, appointed...

THE ZEPPELIN RAID.

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T may sound strange to say that the result of the _I Zeppelin raid on Monday night was, on the whole, very satisfactory. Yet that is a perfectly true statement. It is...

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wr A f t MEMORIALS.

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E nation should be grateful to the Lord Mayer for finding time in the multitude of his duties to encourage the work of the Civic Arts Association. But though this is true, it is...

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THE TEACHING OF PATRIOTISM.

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N one sense it may be true that patriotism cannot be taught, I since you cannot teach what you cannot define. If you could rationalize patriotism, it would be very plain sailing...

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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A QUESTION AND AN ANSWER. (To THE EDITOR or ras " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—You refer in the Spectator of January 22nd to an inter- jection made by another Member, while I was...

A SIVDENT, HIS COMRADM AND HIS CHUECTI.

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E T is with many misgivings that " A Student in Arms" offers the present article to the readers of the Spectator. it is so horribly egotistical, being frankly a record of...

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(TO THE EDITOR 07 THE " SPECTATOR:A

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SIR, —It is curious how violent and how illogical a pacificist can become when he is asked an awkward question which he is unable to answer. Mr. T. E. Harvey in the course of...

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR:1

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SIR, —A few days ago, in the House of Commons, a man of some courage asked a question of the "conscientious objector to warfare." Unfortunately, owing perhaps to our national...

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:A ,SIR, —We to whom

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conscience forbids military service are quits ready to bear patiently the odium of an unpopular cause. There is, however, one taunt frequently levelled against us of so unfair a...

CONSCIENTIOUS • OBJECTORS.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR:A SIR,—Seeing the letter • signed " Without Prejudice " in your issue of January 22nd, may I, as a- Quaker, protest against the Mint which I...

WOMEN AND FEAR.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:A 8111,-111'a recent article, " Women and Fear." you contrast the attitude of American and English women towards war :— " Is it not a curious...

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THE SPECTATOR'S " ECONOMIC CONFESSION. tie THE EDITOR Or run

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SrECTAT03.1 are all devoutly on our knees, and no organ such as yours, with such traditions, will be pontifical in the days at hand whether as to politics or economics. But...

"DOWN GLASSES !"

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR, — Kindly permit me to bring to the notice of your readers a requisition form now being used in Londonderry in connexion with the " Down...

THE CONSCRIPTION OF WEALTH.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 Sra,—The writer of an article under this title in your issue of January 22nd advocates the imposition of a heavy tax on petrol and heavier...

AN AMERICAN ON THE ORIGIN OF THE WAR. [To mr.

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3:orron OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Su:,--Mr. Booth Tarkington, the well-known American novelist, in an article in the Metropolitau gives the following brilliant summary of the...

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THE LATE SIR. CLEMENTS MAla:HAM. [To THE EDITOR. OF THE

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"SPECTATOR."' Sin,—May I recall to memory the words spoken by Charlea Kingsley at the introductory meeting of the Clifton College Scientilic Society, founded on June 25th, 1869...

THE INFLUENCE OF THE MOON.

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[To TOE EDITOR or THE "BrECTIT.13. 6 1 net the tote as to the varying influence of the" moat be due to the offee:g of the greater aMount of light When she la Oaking than when...

THE LATE COUNT LUTZOW.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 Bun,—May I venture to say a wind about an eminent Bohemian nobleman just deceased, Count Ltitzow ? Ho was well known in London and in these...

MUNITION-MAKERS' HOURS OF WORKING.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") the article entitled " The Privileges of 'Aristocracy ' " the writer, speaking of overtime and Sunday working in munition factories, states...

• flow that perhaps you will allow me to suggest

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a concrete instance in which, in Ireland at ally-rate, and possibly in England also, .such a lead might be given. Would it not • be well if High Sheriffs of counties could agree...

Page 14

POETRY.

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THE REFUGEES. PAST the marching men, where the great road runs, Out of burning Ypres three pale women came : One was a widow (listen to the guns l)— She wheeled a heaped-up...

A HORSE'S RECOGNITION AT THE FRONT OF AN OLD FRIEND.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 Sin,—The enclosed little story was told in a letter sent to one of this household, and on being shown the passage, I thought it might be as...

THE CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER TRAINING CORPS.

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PRESIDENT : LORD DESBOROVICH. Hex. SECRETARY : PERCY A. HARRIS, Esq. READ Orricss : Judges' Quadrangle, Royal Courts of Justice (Carey Street entrance). The aims and objects...

B 0 0 K S.

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GEORGIAN POETRY, 1913-1915.* WE congratulate " E. M." on having given us a continuation volume of his original anthology of Georgian poetry, published some four years ago. The...

A BELGIAN BOY'S BIRD ESSAY.

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[TO THE EDITOR. OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 Sax,--i Nile British soldiers have been writing home of birds seen from the trenches in Flanders, Belgian children have been learning...

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

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or initials, or with a pseudonym, or are marixd "Communicated," the Editor must not necessarily be held to be in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the mode of...

Page 15

SIR GEORGE WHITE.*

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LORD ROBERTS said that Sir George White was the most chivalrous man he ever knew. Sir Mortimer Durand's biography of the defender of Ladysmith gives ample warrant for Lord...

Page 17

WAR-TIME LETTERS.* Fon the last eighteen months English men and

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women have lingered with pride and interest over the graphic letters published by the newspapers in which many of the actors in the present titanic struggle describe in manly...

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SOME WAR BOOKS. * It - , war honours aro the test of

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a regiment's right to have its history written and rewritten, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers r stand the test in one sense better than any other regiment in the Army. No other...

THE PAGEANT OF DICKMcS. * Tnoucal this book is by no

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means an anthology, it has something of the stimulating qualities that we associate with almost any kind of collection by means of which our competitive instincts arc roused and...

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PETROGRAD, PAST AND PRESENT.*

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Ma. SrEVEINI has been unfortunate in the moment at which his book has appeared. A description of Petrograd as it is now would count among " Books relating to the War " and take...

FICTION.

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THESE TWAIN.* Wrrn his new novel Mr. Arnold Bennett completes the trilogy introduced and developed in Clayhanger and Hilda Lessways, and thus affords an occasion for measuring...

BATTLES OLD AND NEW.?

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.The Story of the Highland Regiments' is full of the fitscina.tion and glamour of war. Mr. Frederick Watson is a thorough ;master of his subject ; and has written a most...

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The Impostor. By David Whitelaw. (Hodder and Stoughton. 68.1—There is

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some virtue, after all, in a story which is quite conventional. When we are told that the hero " rose from his chair with a smothered oath " we know our whereabouts to a nicety...

We have received a copy of the third edition of

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the Official Regulations of the Volunteer Training Corps (Wyman and Sons, and Smith and Sons, 6d. net). The new edition contains certain additions and improvements, including...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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[Notice in ais column does not necessarily preclude subscluent review.] The Jego-Slav Committee are issuing in London a series of pamphlets, " The Southern Slav Library " (J....

Building of Whispers. By the Author of Leaves from a

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I.4(e. (Heath; Cninton, and :Onseley. 66.)—A sad and wise and delieately . writtenoteryei the dwellers in a house, of the making . and, the, ending of .a home.----My friend...

Boors OF REFERENCE.—Whitaker's Almanack, 1916. (12 Warwick Lane. 2s. &d.)—Whitaker

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is out, and by this time in most offices and houses, where it can be consulted upon almost every conceivable subject. It is no blame to the editor that the naval information is...