19 MAY 1917

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On Tuesday in the Reichstag the German Imperial Chancellor met

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demands from both the Right and the Left that the Govern- ment should disclose their aims in the war by refusing to say any- thing. The Junkers complain that he is controlled by...

The weekly return of British losses from submarine attack, issued

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on Wednesday night, shows a further improvement. The number of railings and arrivals was higher than in the previous week, though not quite so high as in the week before that....

With much pleasure and pride we record the arrival in

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British waters of a flotilla of United States destroyers to co-operate with the Navy. Rear-Admiral Sims of the U.S. Navy is in general command of the .American naval forces...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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T HE news from the Western front is a record of eentinuous counter-attacks during the week delivered by the Germans and successfully resisted by our troops. The weight and fury...

On Friday week the Germans attacked three times in a

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few hours between Lens and Vimy. We were compelled to yield a portion of ground as the result of- the third attack. Sir Douglas Haig diverted some German attention from this...

All this was discouraging, but a great improvement came when

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the Socialists consented to join the Provisional Government. The composition of this Coalition was annoa need in the papers of Thurs- day. Prince Lvoff is still Prime Minister....

All that Herr von Bethmann Hollweg said on Tuesday was

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a heavy blow to the beliefs of Pacificists. They had persuaded themselves that Germany, having " learnt her lesson," was ready to come to terms. But there is not a trace of this...

The struggles of the Russians to establish their new Government

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have been watched with deep sympathy here, and we are glad to say that events point to success in spite of the disappearance or threatened resignation of statesmen and Generals...

We have to congratulate our Italian Allies on the success

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of their new blow on the Isonzo. They have taken not only some important tactical positions, but three thousand three hundred and seventy-five prisoners, including ninety-eight...

THE PAPER SHORTAGE--We trust that readers of the "Spectator" will

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give definite orders to their newsagents for a copy of the " Spectator" to be reserved for them each week till countermanded.

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The fact that the newspapers have been permitted to publish

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these words unties our tongue. For the last two years we have been wondering why the attacks on Zeebrugge have always been so tentative and so half-hearted in character—why,...

We do not think that much good is likely to

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come of newspaper writing in regard to the engineers' strike, or from discussion of what are the various causes at work. At bottom the movement is due to the desire of a certain...

Somewhat to our amazement, the Figaro has been allowed to

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publish, and Reuter's Agency to despatch here, the following very frank and, in our opinion, well-justified criticism of the Zeebrugge bombardment :— " Foresight would have...

As to the proposed alternative of a Convention, we can

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only say that though we have not much hope of any result from it, no sensible English Unionist would raise any objection to the proposal. On the contrary, if it offered any...

The Council of Ireland is to be composed of two

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delegations consisting of all the members from the excluded area and a delegation of an equal number from the Irish Parliament. This Council by a majority of votes of each of...

An Admiralty communique issued last Sunday night announced that an

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important area at Zeebrugge had been heavily and success- fully bombed and bombarded on the morning of Saturday, the 12th. We may add that a Zeppelin of the latest type was...

The Government, Mr. Lloyd George states, in proposing the establishment

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of the Council recognize the profound sentiment in Ireland for unity. But though they are prepared to introduce a Bill on the above lines, they feel that it would be idle to...

What the Nationalists, with the views of the Sinn Feiners

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on the one side and the majority of the Roman Church on the other, will say to this proposal, we shall not attempt to guess. Again, we shall express no opinion whatever as to...

Thursday's papers contain the text of a letter addressed by

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the Primo Minister to Mr. Redmond, giving the Government's general proposals for an Irish settlement. A copy was also sent to. the acting leader of the Ulster Unionists. The...

A great many of the Chatham workers showed the best

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possible spirit, and the Woolwich correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, writing in Wednesday's paper, states that in a London district, apparently Woolwich, where the members of...

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In spite of the inflamed state of public opinion, Mr.

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Gruban did not assume, as many men would have done, that it would be unsafe to bring an action alleging fraud against a powerful Member of Parliament, in which his origin would...

We have many things to b3 proud of as a

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nation in the history of the war, but perhaps of nothing more than of the part played by a British Judge and jury and a semi-judicial tribunal, the Ad- visory Committee on...

Nothing could have been more free from bias than the

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Judge's summing up, no attempt being made to influence the jury in either direction. As we have said, we must refrain from editorial comment till we know whether the subject...

Bank rate, 5 per cent., changed from 51 per cent.

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April 5th.

General Foch is the hero of the Marne. It was

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ho who, with the true commander's eye, not only saw that a gap had appeared between the two German armies opposite him, but instantly realized what could be done, and therefore...

Monday's Times contains the following very interesting item of

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news:-- " For tho purpose of economizing the food supply, the United States Senate has adopted an amendment to the Espionage Bill for- bidding the use of grain in the...

Equally renowned as an advocate, a diplomatist, and a brilliant

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and witty orator, Mr. Choate, whose death took place last Monday night, made friends innumerable during his tenure of the American Ambassadorship in this country, and since his...

We do not wish to be hypercritical, but, looking at

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the Admiralty changes generally, we are bound to point out that what matters is not so much the soundness of the principles in the abstract as the manner of their application...

These changes are intended in the first place to establish

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what has long been wanted at the Admiralty—a true Naval Staff—and to free the First Sea Lord from serving tables and doing adminis- trative and routine work rather than brain...

How far the omnibus strike is really connected with the

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engineers' strike remains obscure. In any case, the inconvenience caused to the public is a good deal less than one might have anticipated, and it is being met distinctly with a...

To this item of American news we may add another—namely,

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the uncompromising declaration by Colonel Roosevelt at a recent meeting of a Farmer's Club on Long Island. He told them that, in his opinion, the United States "should see that...

In the House of Commons on Monday Si Edward Carson

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an- nounced that Sir John Jellicoe was to have the additional title of Chief of the Naval Staff, that Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Oliver was to become an additional member of the...

We note with satisfaction the very great success already achieved

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by the King's Proclamation. It has unquestionably done far more to bring home the need for food-saving than any other means yet adopted. We are glad to say that that most...

While we have been making changes at the Admiralty, the

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French, but with a bolder hand, have been altering their high military commands. At the French Cabinet Council on Tuesday General Petain, who was lately made Chief of the Staff,...

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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LORD ROBERT. CECIL'S SPEECH. I T is very seldom that one- is able to feel whole-hearted 1 admiration for a speech in the House of Commons. We feel it, however, for Lord Robert...

r rf I a nt ation

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W E, being persuaded that the abstention from all nn- necessary consumption of grain will furnish the surest and most effectual means of defeating the devices of Our enemies and...

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GENERAL SMUTS. T HOSE who had the privilege of hearing General

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Smuts's speech at the dinner in his honour in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords are not likely to forget it. It was a speech not only eloquent but full of ideas and of...

THE NEW REFORM BILL.

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W E sincerely hope that the new Reform Bill, when it comes to be considered in detail by the House of Commons. will be discussed, and dealt with generally, in the spirit of...

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REVOLUTION AND MONARCHY.

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N O one who bears in mind the events of that annus.mira- bilis of revolution, the year 1848, needs to be told that revolution has something infectious in it. Having appeared in...

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THE ETERNAL ATKINS.

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W AR-HOSPITAL patients are of many sorts. It is a common mistake of the armchair newspaper devourer to lump all soldiers together as quaint, bibulous, aitch-dropping innocents,...

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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[Letters of the length of -one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective, than those which fill treble the space.] NAVAL POLICY. (To THE...

THE FIRE SIGNALS OF POLYBIUS.

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TNmodern war the Signal Servic) is equipped with all that Science can provide, so that, at first sight, it would appear unlikely that any lessons of value could be learned from...

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OATS AND PETROL.

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[To site EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."' SIR,—There was an important announcement in the Times last week in reference to the feeding cf horses, to which all true Englishmen will...

AMERICA AND IRELAND.

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[To THE EDIT0a OF THE " SPECTATOR."' Sis,—Your article last Saturday on " America and Ireland" con- tains some home truths and much good sense, but it is vitiated by ignoring...

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATO:12]

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SIR,—The argument of President Lincoln as to the Virginias, quoted in your admirable article of last week, is unanswerable. By constant repetition of the phrase " on the...

[To THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR."] SIR,—When American statesmen enter

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upon the task of per- suading Nationalists and Sinn Feiners " to be reasonable and not to demand the heads of the people of North-East Ulster on a charger," as you very properly...

[To THE EDITOrt OF THE " SPECTATOR."]

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Six,—As a reader of the Spectator for over forty years, and as one who has always considered its judgments well thought out and reasonable, perhaps you will allow me a protest...

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WANTED, A COMPROMISE.

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(To Tag Barrow or THE " SPELTATOVI am greatly indebted to you for the manner in which you have criticized my letter of the 12th inst. Permit me to join issue at once with your...

CORN PRODUCTION BILL.

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(To THE EDITOR or THE n SPECTATOR.") SIR,—I observe that you call attention in your issue of the 5th inst. to an account given in a letter by Mr. J. Hay Thorburn in the Morning...

WORKING MEN AND THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

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(To THE EDITOE OF THE " SPECTATOR."' SIR,—I am sorry to see you still persist in repeating that calumny about the working man being responsible for the drink traffic being...

NATIONAL LAND COUNCIL'S APPEAL FOR SUMMER WORKERS.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIE,—The Land Council wish it to be known that they are now appealing for five thousand strong women willing to take up the summer season's...

THE ALBERT HALL MEETING.

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tTo THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."] have pleasure in enclosing copy of the two resolution.; to be moved at the meeting at the Albert Hall next Saturday "That, in order to...

REPUBLICANISM.

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(To EDITOR or THE '" SPECTATOR."1 Sie,—Mr. Atkins's collier would doubtless regard with the utmost respect the opinion of a Republican like Garibaldi on the above. subject. Here...

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FOOD FOR DOGS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Replying to your correspondent on the above subject, she will be able to get a leaflet about it from the National Canine Defence...

INTERCHANGE OF PULPITS.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] Stre,—May I call the attention of your clerical readers to the suggestion which the Principal of St. John's Hall, Durham 'University, makes...

"CHRIST IN FLANDERS" : A TRIBUTE. [To THE EDITOR OP

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111E " SPECTATOR.") Sra,—On May 7th died at Leeds, after a long illness, most bravely and patiently borne, Mrs. Lucy Whitmell, writer of the poem, Christ in Flanders,"...

DEW PONDS.

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[To THE EDMOR Or THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Do any of your readers happen to know any one who has written about dew ponds in a practical way, giving particulars how to make theM,...

POETRY.

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THE PATROL. Five men over the parapet, with a one-star loot in charge, Stumbling along through the litter and muck and cursing blind and large, Hooking their gear in the...

BOOKS.

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ECONOMICS AND CITIZENSHIP.* IN publishing his Newmarch Lectures (delivered at University College, London, in November and December, 1916) Mr. Henry Higgs ) describes them as...

HELP FOR THE BELGIAN BABIES.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Yon were so very kind, some months ago, as to allow me to call attention to the work of the Vestiaire Marie-Jose, an under- taking...

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A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN.*

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Ms. DUFF, who has already given us an excellent rendering of Aksakoff's Years of Childhood, has added to our indebtedness by this translation of what is generally admitted to be...

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A SOLDIER'S MEMORIES.*

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THIS book is very good company. It is simply the entertaining talk of _ a soldier who has seen much active service, who has gained a wide • A Soldier's Memories in Peace (ad...

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FICTION.

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CHANGING WINDS.* Changing Winds may perhaps be not unfairly described as a set of variations on the theme of Mr. St. John Ervine's book, Sir Edward Carson and the Ulster...

THE LIVERY OF EVE.* Bars is a little ashamed, it

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seems, that just now, when Skanda, the fierce and ruddy son of Rudra, has put the Three Worlds in a turmoil of savage slaughter, his smiling genius once more bids him tell us...

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SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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[Notice in this column does not necessarily preclude subsequent review.] Enforced Peace. (New York : League to Enforce Peace.)—This little reprint of the proceedings of the...

Russian Court Memoirs, 1914-1916. By A Russian. (Herbert Jenkins. 12s.

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6d. net.)—Much of this book seems curiously pro- phetic to-day in the light of the events which have marched so rapidly in Russia during the past few months. The author writes...

READABLE NOVELS.—Contraband. By Randall Parrish. (Eveleigh Nash. 5s.)—An account of

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the adventures of a party of people who go for a cruise on a yacht in the early days of the war.— Teddy, R.N.D. By Edith Mary Moore. (Hodder and Stoughton. 5s.)—A sentimental...

Major-General Sir Henry Hallam Parr : Recollections and Corre- spondence.

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Edited by Sir Charles Fortescue-Brickdale. (T. Fisher Unwin. 15s. net.)—General Hallam Parr's letters and diaries contain interesting references to the Zulu War, on which he...

The Street of lnk. By H. Simonis. (Cassell and Co.

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7s. 6d. net.)— If any layman turns the pages of this gossipy book about Fleet Street and " the provinces," he will suggest as a motto for it the old music-hall refrain, "...

In Good Company. By Coulson Kernahan. (John Lane. ffs. net.)—Mr.

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Kernahan writes pleasantly in this book of friends so diverse as Swinburne, Watts-Dunton, Whymper, Oscar Wilde, and the Rev. S. J. Stone, who wrote " The Church's One...

A Supplement to the Forty-fifth Annual Report of the Local

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Government Board, 1915-16, contains a Report on Child Mortality by Sir Arthur Newaholme, Medical Officer of the Board (H.M. Stationery Office-, Is. net). This is the fourth...

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The National Food Economy League have issued a new and

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enlarged edition of their Handbook for . Housewives, How to Save Money in War Time, copies of which can be obtained at the offices of the League, 3 Woodstock Street, Oxford...

Napoleon and the Artiste. By Hama Grant. (Grant Richards. 10s.

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6d. net.)—Any book about Napoleon is bound to be interesting, more or less, and Mr. Grant's chapters on the great man's dealings with literature, the drama, art, music,...