SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Notice in this column does not necessarily preclude subsequent revics.1
THE MAY MONTHLIES.—The Nineteenth Century opens with an excellent article on " The King and the War " by Mr. Sydney Brooks, who describes the King's unceasing labours, and says very truly that " his manner, his tone, the whole atmosphere that surrounds him, proclaim an immediate and tuunistakable sincerity of character "—the ono quality above otters which all British people instinctively seek, and do not always find, in their public men. Mr. J. R. Fisher contributes a brief but important article on " The Unreasonableness' of Ulster," and opportunely quotes Grattan's remark—" You do not start to mend your roof in the hurricane season "—oot:nst the wild scheme for demolishing the Union in the most critical days of the war. Miss Jean V. Bates recalls the history of Protestant Ulster, and reminds Americans that Ulster has sent them twelve Presidents, including Mr. Wilson, while Celtic Ireland has not given them one. Sir George Magill, in an article on " Th-s Law and the Alien," examines afresh the very dubious activities of many naturalized Germans who in 1913 professed their " love to the Fatherland " and their " respectful devotion to the Sublime
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• Rabat Si :custom. By W. J. Dawson. London: John Lane. MO Personality at its head," but in 1915 professed their " sincere devotion " to Great Britain. Captain Swinton, in connexion with the proposed Forth and Clyde ship-canal, boldly suggests that the State should build an ideal industrial city on the canal-banks, and thus solve the housing problem at the same time. Colonel A. C. Yate's article on " The Russian Debacle and the East " is another readable item in a very interesting number. —To the Fortnightly Captain Cecil Price contributes an inter- esting and useful article on " The Spare Time' Force," showing how the Volunteer Force came into being, how it is organized, and what good work it has done. Captain Price, writing before the Military Service Bill became law, suggests that the older men, unfit for duty abroad, should be drafted to the existing 'Volunteer units, which will be deprived of a very large proportion of their members if the efficient men up to fifty-one are called up. He urges rightly that, as the Volunteers will be undertaking a large share of the work of Home Defence, they must strive to increase their efficiency, but he points out that a willing man can get his training in his snare time. The force will not be embodied unless invasion is imminent. Mr. John McGrath's eulogy of " Mr. Redmond as Irish Leader " is curious reading. He thinks that the Nationalists would have followed Mr. Redmond in agreeing in 1917 to the exclusion of the Six Counties if they had understood his reasons, and that he showed weakness in repudiating his agreement. Mr. McGrath suggests that Exclusion, imposed by Parliament, would be accepted placidly in return for Home Rule, but without Con- scription. Exolusion, in his view, is " the only practical policy," as the Convention has failed. Mr. Edwin Evans's appreciation of Debussy and Mrs. Woods's charming article on La Granja, the Spanish palace burnt last winter, are well worth reading.—In the Contemporary Sir Donald Maclean, writing on " Man-Power and the New Military Service Act," repeats and reinforces his warning that the military value of most men over forty-one is not great, and that it would be a serious misfortune if more unfit men were sent into the Army. Baron Hoyking, the late Russian Consul- General in London, has an instructive article on " The Aftermath of Revolution and the Future of Russia," in which he argues that nothing can be done till the mad fire of Bolshevism has burnt itself out. Senor de Madatiaga describes the Spanish political turmoil, and Mr. Grahame Richards gives an account of the hopeless anarchy in Mexico. Mr. E. D. Simon's article on " Labour from an Employer's Point of View " is worth reading, though he differs from most employers and most workmen in viewing State control with no unfriendly eye.—The National Review contains an in- teresting article by M. Andre Cheradauae, who is a pronounced Easterner," on " The Fundamentals of the Situation." He attaches great importance to the supplie; that the enemy may got from Eastern Europe; but the battle in France has surely proved that in a military sense the war must be decided on the Western Front, and victory there will undo all Germany's temporary successes on the Eastern Front. Mr. Maxse's attack on the Government, " The Tragedy of It," is all the more forcible because it is unusually re- strained in tone. " We have a War Cabinet which is not merely fundamentally ignorant of war, but despises the judgment of its chosen professional advisers. Such is the tragedy of the times in which we live." An American naval officer contributes some lively letters on " A Destroyer on Active Service," and Lady Bang describes " A Flying Visit to Flanders."—Blackwood has a most interesting account of " An Escape from Turkey in Asia," by Captain E. H. Keeling, who with three comrades escaped from prison at Kastamuni and traversed the wild hill- country to the Black Sea. At the coast they were caught and sent back under guard. But three of them were rescued by Turkish outlaws, who gave them shelter and accompanied them on a perilous voyage to the Crimea. Mr. Wallace Ellison begins a narrative of his escape from Germany, which is far more painful reading. " Through the Door of the Masai," by " Batouri," is a record of the toilsome march of the northern column in General Smuts's first advance into German East Africa. Of all countries in the world, Central Africa seems to present the greatest difficulties to a transport officer. The marvel is that large forces can be moved and fed at all.
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