19 FEBRUARY 1916

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Though we find no special significance in the German attacks

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of the past week on the Western front, it must not be supposed that we are not fully aware that the Germans mean business in the West. In our opinion, they are preparing for the...

It is too early to say what effect the Russian

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victory will have upon our campaign in Mesopotamia. We do not doubt, how- ever, that it will have far-reaching results. Unless we are mistaken, Enver Pasha will soon find...

We are not surprised to hear that changes of an

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autocratic nature are to be made in the Turkish Constitution. They will be needed if Enver is to remain in power. Further, the Central Powers—in other words, Germany—will be...

The news from the Western front, though it is full

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of sound and fury, does not for the moment signify much, except that the Germans think it in their interest to make fierce though futile attacks upon the lines of the Allies....

The military aspects of the situation are no less memorable

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and important than the political. In the first place, Erzerum was a great and powerful fort, crammed with guns and munitions of all sorts, and also at the moment crammed with...

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

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case.

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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A PIECE of news of the first importance in itself, and of excellent omen for the future, reached London late on Wednesday night—the news that Erzerum had fallen. The Russian...

Nevertheless, and in spite of the belief that they must

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at all costs keep up their spirits, and persuade themselves not only that they are going to win but are winning, they cannot resist the scientific habit of constantly measuring...

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Turning to the " sinews of war," Mr. Asquith commented

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on the unprecedented nature of the problem. It was not a question of gold, but of all commodities and of shipping. Another very large vote of credit would be necessary. The...

We note with interest that 'the Times in its Thursday's

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issue sets Lord Derby a new task, that of unravelling the whole tangle of our official relations with the American Press. Probably the tangle is not now quite as bad as it is...

In a word, all the signs point to the Germans

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hurling them- solves upon the Allies. That they will make:their grand hammer- stroke upon the Western front seems also logical. Experience has shown them that they can overrun...

On Tuesday the new Session of Parliament was opened by

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Royal Commission in the absence of the King. The King's Speech said that the spirit of the Allies, united by ever- strengthening ties, remains steadfast in the resolve to secure...

Mr. Asquith said that thanks mainly to the Italians, the

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Serbian Army, to the number of a hundred thousand, had been reorganized and refitted, and he hoped it would prove an important element in the future fighting. The campaign in...

There have been rumours that the Germans are massing in

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great numbers in the neighbourhood of Salonika, and that an attack may be expected before long. That is possible, but it is ntuch more likely that these rumours are spread about...

Russia, France, and Britain on Wednesday made a solemn declaration

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to the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs at Havre, in which they not only renew their previous engagements, but supplement them by assuring the Belgians that when the proper...

Quito apart from the fact that that never has been

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and never , will be the spirit of our people under disaster, all the old dread of invasion has passed away with the development of trench fighting. We know that if the Germans...

In the House of Commons on Wednesday the much. talked - cif

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eeir tiebete took place. The Government anal:Nutted -9F.bUkill the mouths of Mr. Balfour, Mr. Tennant, and Mr. Samuel that the defence of London against air raids was...

In the House of Lords Lord Midleton's speeoh was in

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the main a series of questions, and Lord Crewe in replying promised a day for discussing the blockade. A discussion on Salonika would be unprofitable and dangerous. The number...

There remains, therefore, only the West, and on the West

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they will fall. In all probability the attack will go hand in hand with some grandiose naval venture—somo attempt, bylinkingup huge fleets of Zeppelins and submarines with...

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It was • entedi by Dr. Jean Casnus, of P

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Thousands of Among the latest. 'wonders of medical seience. is the " whirl- pool: bath," which , was. described in the Times of Tnesdaiy.

There has been some liveliness lately in the North Sea.

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The German-Admiralty have stated that on Thursday week German torpedo-boats met "several British cruisers " on the Dogger ;Bank. The cruisers " at once fled." The torpedo-...

The Washington correspondent of the Times reported in Tues- day's

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paper a curious story that the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations have received' documentary proof that before the war the Germans were trying to acquire rights to build an...

resources—that is the truth of the matter. That our resources

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are so miserably inadequate is, of course, part of our whole want of preparation. We did not know we were going to be at war in 1914. The Germans did. If it is urged that...

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induce Europe to intervene in Mexico two years ago simply ,

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meant that- she wanted troubled waters to fish- in—waters moreover, which are out of bounds for all peace-loving men.

gone 'saves the islands from fatal race - feuds and chaos. The

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• corresponaerit also names as a possible reason disapproval of Bank Rate, 5 per cent., changed' from ff - p.c. Aug. 8th, 1914. the Lusitania' settlement. Whatever the reason...

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE TEMPER OF THE PEOPLE. E wonder whether any section, however small, of the German people really understand what they are " up against " in fighting the British...

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FULL CIRCLE. T HE wheel has come full circle. The submarine

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con- troversy is back where it was when President. Wilson first began to protest against German practices. Last week, in discussing the alleged Lusitania ' settlement, we Wrote...

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LAND SETTLEMENT AND PISS DE TERRE.

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V ARIOUS schemes of land settlement are in the air, some national and some Imperial, some official, some amateur. All of them, however, must be concerned with cheap building....

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WAR THE LEVELLER.

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M R. WALTER LONG has done valuable service to his country in pointing out to an American interviewer some of the good sides of the present war. The bad sides are sufficiently...

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THE SPIRIT OF YOUTH.

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TN a hundred ways the youth of Britain proves the spirit _IL that moves it. The spirit of adventure, the spirit of sacrifice, the spirit of enthusiasm, the spirit of simplicity,...

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WAR MEMORIALS.

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W RITING in the Spectator of April, 1711, "Of Monumen's and in particular of Sir Cloudesley Shovel's," Addison offers some very sound and seasonable advice and criticism upon...

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A QUAKER INSCRIPTION.

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THE thought of the gallant band of Friends who have, 1 already laid down their lives for their country, and the warning that we should begin to consider how to ensure that the...

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A SENSE OF THE DRAMATIC. E NGLISHMEN have a horror of

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being- thought theatrical or poseurs. If a man is described as "theatrical," they immediately picture a person of inordinate -vanity and no real strength of character striving...

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THE BREWING INDUSTRY.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 Sra, — You appear to entertain an uneasy impression, supported by researches on the part of the Economist and the Daily Chronicle, that the...

" ' WHY NOT A GENERAL TARIFF ? '

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY EXPRESS!] Stri,—I am afraid ion have done the Spectator an injustice in your subleadcr of this morning. I have carefully read through the Tariff...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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WHY NOT A GENERAL TARIFF ? [To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sin,—As an old and convinced Free Trader, I should like to say that I agree generally with the article...

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")

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Sia,—I enclose a letter I sent to our Daily Express on the subject of your article of the 12th, and the editor's reply, in which he says that the English Press understood you in...

TAXATION.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") S13,-1 am living on a moderate " unearned income," derived from money saved during a life of hard work, but owing to the war it has been...

COMMERCE AND PHILOSOPHY.

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[To THE EDITOX OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sin,—I find that you say in your issue of January 29th : " Ex- perience of the war has left us as absolutely convinced as we were before...

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.']

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Sra,—The Spectator has given such consistent support to the Volunteer movement that I feel no hesitation in calling attention to one very serious consequence of the failure of...

RELIGION AND THE WAR.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."' wrote the enclosed in answer to a circular letter of a friend who occupies a public position, and lately showing a copy to others who like...

THE UNSEEN BOND.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPUTA-MR..1 Sra,—In your last issue you state that it was " Sir Edviard Seymour who threatened to interpose his ships between Admiral Dewey's Fleet in...

THE PROHIBITION MIRACLE IN RUSSIA.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sra,—I believe that your readers might be interested in the following. Mr. Ernest Gordon, author of The Anti - Alcohol Movement in Europe,...

A QUESTION AND AN ANSWER.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR. " ] SIR, —The letter of Mr. R. W. Walker in last week's Spectator suggests that William Penn had no Indians to deal with but the Delawares, a...

THE NATION'S ODD - MAN.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I read with much pleasure Mr. Strachey's speech in your last issue under the above heading, but I greatly fear that, so far as my. part...

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SUNDAY LABOUR FOR MUNITIONS:

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[To TEE Eritrea or TEE " sprereent.") am quite convinced' that it is a great-mistake to expect tient° work seven-days a week for.a longaeriod'and:do'•justfce to themselves and...

THE NAPIERS AND THE PRIVATE SOLDIER. [To THE EDITOR or-

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THIS " SPECTATOR"] Era,—At a time like this .we ought to feelgrateful to Sir Evelyn Wood- for reminding us of what the three .Napiers, Charles, William, and George, did for the...

FROM AN AUTOGRAPH- COLLECTION: [To vim EDITOR OF TER "

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SPECTATOR:1 have been passing some idle moments between services looking at my autograph collection, and it has occurred to me that the three quotations from it I have copied...

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THE POULTRY INDUSTRY AND LAND SETTLEMENT.

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[TO TUX EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sut,—The recent scarcity-of eggs and-the abnormally. high prices ruling have drawn attention, as .nothing else would, to the enormous extent...

EXPENSES OF HIGH SHERIFFS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " srecrvres..1 Sut,—In reference to this subject, although all colleagues sympathize with the High Sheriff in the expenses he has to bear on their behalf,...

THOUGHTS IN A SOLDIERS' HUT.

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[To TRH EDITOR OP THE SPECTATOR."' SIR,—It has boen my fortune to spend a few nights recently in one of the soldiers' buts provided for the lodging of service mon passing...

BELGRAVIA WORKROOMS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1 Stn,—Will you allow me to put briefly before your readers the claims of the Belgravia Workrooms and War Hospital Supply Depot? Sir Edward...

FORGED NOTES IN WAR.

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[TO'THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."' SIR, —Your correspondent " E. S. J. M." asserts .it to be an " absurd accusation " and an " exploded calumny " to say that, in our war with...

[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. "' SH4-110 Irish Grand Juryman

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who writes to you on the above subject (Spectator, February 5th) is somewhat behind the times. He has evidently not read -the numerous letters which have appeared from time to...

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POETRY.

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DIMANCHE. UNE mesange toque du bee sur les carreaux De ma fenetre. C'est un dimanche de tout repos Et de bien-titre, Un dimanche de Londres, brumeux et assoupi, Voile de...

THE CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER TRAINING CORPS.

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PRESIDENT: LORD DESBOROUGIL Hoy. SECRETARY : PERCY A. HARRIS, Esq. HEAD OFFICES : Judges' Quadrangle, Royal Courts of Justice (Carey Street entrance). The aims and objects of...

NOTICE.—When "Correspondence" or ArticleT are signel with the writer's name

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

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BOOKS.

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THE MORALITY OF NATIONS.* Mn. DELISLE Belem is manifestly of opinion that the times are out of joint. With several millions of civilized men dealing death and destruction to...

MUSIC.

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THE CRITIC. In music, as in other matters, each generation draws nourish. ment from traditions which are vital, by which may be under- stood those traditions which hold a...

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THE EPIC SONGS OF RUSSIA.* Tins is a very timely

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reissue of a remarkable hook, which appeared thirty years too soon, and we owe a real debt to Mr. Mackail for securing the consent of Miss Hapgood to its re- publication....

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AIRCRAFT IN WARFARE.*

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Mn. LANCHESTER is so well known as a scientific experimenter in aerodynamics that his book on the uses of aircraft in war will be read eagerly, as coming from one who speaks...

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SOME WAR BOOKS. * " PLaToolt COMMANDER'S " 3 descriptions of

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trench fighting and trench life on the Aisne and at La Bass& have already attracted attention in various journals, and here we have them in a volume. The chapters form a...

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NORTH AND SOUTH.*

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Ma. Muses Guide to South America I is somewhat belated in publication, as may be seen from the chapter on the Panama . Canal. The author's apology for a fact of which he is...

FICTION.

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IN THE HIGH WOODS.t SOME of the very best fiction that comes to us from the Now World is inspired by local °ratite affection. Thus one associates • Lilt lip Your Hearts. Edited...

" THOSE WHO MOURN."*

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TIME alone can heal the wounds of " those whom the war has put in mourning," to whom Mrs. Mayhew dedicates her book. Yet there are moments when it is not only a comfort but. an...

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READABLE NOVELS. —The New Dawn. By George Wouil. (John Long.

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6s.)—Mr. Wouil writes with discernment of the Valley of the Clyde, of the Pastor, and the Pastor's wife, and the other folk who live there.—Drifting Waters. By . Rachel Swete...

" K." By Mary Roberts Rinehart. (Smith, Elder, and 6s.)—Here

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is- a book-which is essentially pleasant. Even when it is dealing with unpleasant people, or with those whom it calls " not good," it does so with a slightly apologetic air, and...

Three Sermons. By the late Rev. J. Spence Johnston, B.D.

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(Roffey and Clark, 12 High Street, Croydon. is. 6d. net.)— These three sermons by the late Mr. J. S. Johnston (who made his mark while he was still domestic chaplain to the...

The Individual. By Muriel Hine. (John Lane. 6s.)-- Elizma Lee

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was a violinist who possessed a " sensitive artist soul." We are given to understand that she was a musician of no mean order—the could even play the barcarolle from the Tales...

SOME BOOKS OF THE • WEEK.

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[Notice in this column does not necessarily preclude subsequent revival Egypt of the Egyptians. By W. L. Balls. (Sir I. Pitman and Sons. 6s. net.)—Mr. Balls gave nine years'...

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Plays. By Anton Tchekoff. (Duckworth and Co. 6s.)—The eight plays

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in this book and the four published by Messrs. Duckworth in 1912 represent the whole of the dramatic writings of Tchekoff. It is matter for congratulation that all his plays can...