9 AUGUST 1919, Page 2

The Daily News of course bewails the perversion of Mr.

Baker from his original uncompromising opposition to compulsory service. The Daily News correspondent in New York talks of the Praseihnisation of America, and so on. All this was to be expected. For our own part, we have no doubt whatever that Mr. Baker has been converted, not by the "powerful interests" which favour "militarism," as the Daily News supposes, but by the strong evidence of feats. He not only recommends such a light-scheme of training as we-have long adeocated in the Spectator, but among his arguments he uses one whichhas seemed to us the most cogent. He points out that compulsory military training is, if we may repeat our own phrase, an Automatic Register Of National Health.