SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
(Notice in this column dxs not necessarily ',stelae stamp.' ruins.] THE Aram MONTH:LIM—The first place in the Nineteenth Century is given to an article on "The British Empire and the League of Nations" by Bishop Fredsham, lately Bishop of North Queensland, who warns us that Australians are by no means pleased with the mandatory system, under which they may have to administer Northern New Guinea and the former German islands, and that there is danger in a contract between a self- governing Dominion and an external authority like the pro- posed League. The mandate theory has evidently not been thought out. Mr. G. A. B. Dewar's article on " The Decay of the Wage System" is attractive and relatively cheerful ; he "sees ahead a great and interesting age," in which, he thinks, some form of co-partnership will prevail, abolishing the workman's chronic fear of unemployment, which leads him, most unwisely, to restrict output, and thus to injure himself. Colonel Dormer, writing on " Our Post•Bellum Army," criticizes Lord Haldane very severely for reducing the strength of the Line. Colonel Dooner would revert to seven years' service, of course at higher pay, and would aim at having an 'Expeditionary Force of seven divisions ; he would also encourage the Territorials, who, though they had been sadly neglected by the War Office, saved the situation in the autumn of 1914. Colonel Dyke Arland contributes a notable article on " The Future of the Tuberculous Soldier "—a very serious problem that has to be faced. Mr. Frederic Harrison's eloquent essay on " Greek and Elizabethan Tragedy " and Mr. T. W. Rolleston's learned and engaging article on "St. Patrick," who was not an Irishman but a British mis- sionary, deserve reading.—In the Fortnightly Mr. Archibald Hurd has a lucid article, " The Truth about the Battle of Jut- land," commenting upon Lord Jellicoe's account, and concluding that the Admiral's tactics were fully justified. " It may be said," he remarks, " that almost every battle which the British Fleet has fought has been the subject of subsequent controversy " ; but there is, he adds, no doubt as to what happened of Jutland, though opinions differ as to what might have happened. " Politicus," discussing "The Future of Austria," questions whether the Austrian-Germans are really anxious to join with Germany, and whether they will not be absorbed by the neigh- bouring peoples. Mr. Walter Ford's account of " German War Finance " as a stupendous gamble ends on a note of warning ; Germany, he thinks, may, by suddenly reducing the surplus of paper money, bring down prices and enable her exporters to undersell their foreign competitors. Mr. M. H. Spielmann, writing on " The Inner History of the Bronte-Heger Letters," says that the daughter and son of M. Heger, Charlotte Bronte's teacher In Brussels, brought to him the remarkable letters from Charlotte Bronte which he published in the Times in 1913. It seems that M. Heger intended to destroy thew romantic epistles when he received them, but that Mine. Heger rescued them from the waste-paper basket, kept them, ana bequeathed them to her daughter. M. Maeterlinck contributes a curious paper, " Of Gambling," based on a study of the records of the Monte Carlo tables. A friend of his, a British naval officer, has, he says, a system " which yields astonishing results." But M. Maeterlinck concludes that " these apparent laws, which tend obscurely and uncertainly to instil a little order into Chance, are, like Chance itself, but inconsistent and ephemeral summaries of results from unknown causes."—The Con- temporary Review gives prominence to an article on " The Indus- trial Unrest : a New Policy Required," by Mr. Arthur Henderson, who seems to be still very sore about his defeat at the General Election, though he must know that he owed it mainly to his Pacificist tendencies and not to his views on domestic. policy. Mr. Henderson has nothing new to say, but we are glad to notice his casual remark that "national interest demands increased national output," for that is the sole basis of any real advance in the standard of living. Mr. Edwyn Bevan's article, "Germany Tries Democracy," endeavours to show that there is a definite change of system in Germany. Unfortunately Mr. Bevan'a recent book on German Socialism during the war proved that there was little to choose between Herr Seheidemann and the Pan-German militarists, so that the advent of a Socialist Govern- ment means little to Germany's enemies. The truth is, as Mr. Bevan says, that the question, "Did Germany really become democratic ? " is quite different from the question, "Did Germany become good ? " Mr. Bevan suggests that, though the old familiar figures of Herr Erzberger and the rest still represent Germany at Spa and elsewhere, the central direction is changed. But in the French Revolution, which was a genuine revolution, it was found necessary to bring an entirely new set of men to the front when the Monarchy fell. Mr. F. D. Acland's article on " The Prospects of Starting State Forestry " deserves serious attention ; now, if ever, the question is urgent. Mr. Edward Foord, discussing "The Dissolution of the Russian Empire," questions whether the Russians, whose historic tendency is towards disintegration, can ever be reunited save by a strong central despotism—The National Review prints in full the important speech delivered by Senator Borah of Idaho in the American Senate on February 21st, attacking the proposed
League of Nations mainly on the ground that it would abolish the Monroe Doctrine and compel America to depart from her traditional policy of isolation. The Senator described the draft Covenant as "the greatest triumph for English diplomacy in three centuries of English life." He expressed admiration for Great Britain, but said that. "when we come to deal with England, we must deal with her intelligently and with a due regard for our own interests and our own rights, for one of the distinguishing characteristics of that proud nation is that England always looks after England's interests." Lord Eustace Percy comments on and defends the draft Covenant. Mr. Maxse criticizes Mr. Lloyd George and his fellow-Delegates severely in an article entitled "Selling the Pass in Paris." A well.deserved tribute is paid to the King by " Privy Councillor." Dr. W. E. Collinge has a notable article on The Plague of Starlings," which seems to be a serious matter. --Blackt000d's is still almost entirely occupied with the war. Mr. Douglas Walshe, under the title of "Obstruction's Gentle Art," describes how King Constantine's agents politely hindered the operations of the Franco-British forces at Salonika in 1915, commandeering all local supplies, seizing suitable camping- grounds, and of course sending full details concerning the forces to the enemy. Even now it seems incredible that the Allies could have endured so patiently the obvious bad faith of the Greek King. " Klaxon's " further instalment of " The Story of Our Submarines" contains some interesting new details from afficial sources. Thus "H8," while diving off Ameland, hit a nine which blew off part of the bow; nevertheless, the submarine rem to the surface and made her way home to England. The dory reflects high credit on the officers and crew ; it shows also hat the Admiralty had reason to be cautious in presuming that damaged '-boats were really lost.
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