25 APRIL 1958, Page 32

MACMILLAN have published (at 25s.) an edition by Mr. A.

A. Zeman of captured documents, Ger- many and Russia 1915-18, bearing on Russo-Ger- man relations from 1915 to 1918. The documents provide a good illustration of the differences of outlook in any country between the military and the political arm. The generals, for example, who usually prevailed, were sceptical of everything except military victory, while the Wilhelmstrasse were in favour of negotiating with all elements in Russia at the time of the Revolution and before. The book has something to say about Lenin's mysterious 'sealed train' journey to Russia in 1917. And it shows how, at the height of their military success, the Germans were thoroughly outwitted by Russian diplomats at Brest-Litovsk.

, DESMOND WILLIAMS