THE INDECISIVENESS OF MODERN WAR. By J. Holland Wise. (G.
Bell and Sons. 10s. 6d.)—Professor Holland Rose opens his new volume of historical essays with two challenging papers on the indecisiveness of modern war, whether by sea or by land. It may be objected to his thesis that the late war was not indecisive. since Germany was unquestionably defeated in her attempt to dominate Europe. But the advocates of the. super-Dreadnought and those. who believe in armed nations with masses of heavy guns will find Professor Holland Raw a severe critic. " The climax of scientific warfare proves, in practice, to be a reductio ad absurdum." He protests against the idea that the civil populations are to be attacked in future wars. Yet will not that dreadful prospect tend to make democracy less bellicose than it often is ? Other notable things in a very interesting book are an essay on " Napoleon and Sea Power " and an account of successive " Plans of Invasion of the British Isles " from the days of Henry VIII. The author, like many other people, is at a loss to understand why the War Office feared the landing of a German army during the late war. Nothing was less likely.
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