I The question that every man is asking is, What news of the Fleet? As we write on Friday it is almost impossible to answer this question. All we lnow is that our Fleet is in...

We notice with great satisfaction that Lord Roberts bas I placed the whole of the organization of the National Service League at the disposal of Lord Kitchener and the...

It is vital to Italian interests that Germany and Austria- I Hungary should be beaten. But if that is so, would it not be wise for Italy to make sure that Germany and...

W We deeply regret to have to record the loss of the British cruiser 'Aniphion,' which occurred on Thursday morning. It bad been announced the day before that the German...

It is unfortunately impossible for us to be able to give any I definite story of the wvar, so quickly does the kaleidoscope I change. The only definite action has been the...

I Nothing could be more hateful to us than to abuse our enemies, for, detest as we must the German Government, we feel, and always have felt, a deep sympathy for the German...

I As we write the twenty-five thousand men of the Licgs garrisons, to whom not only the rest of the available Belgian Army, but also the French, are hurrying in support, are...

Though not a finger must be lifted to interfere with the flow of men into the Regular Army, which, we judge from Lord Kitchener's first demand for a hundred thousand men, is to...

Tbere were rumours on Thursday, which were unconfirmed I on Friday, that the Germans had actually sent an ultimatum to Italy. That they will do so before very long we can...

In this context we may mention that at the present I moment the Italians have a very difficult problem before them. The German Dreadnought cruiser 'Goeben' and her consort the...

THE WAR AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. I W TE are not going to write pompous flatteries about N - v our noble selves, and as to how well the nation, and every section of the nation,...

"'HOW CAN I HELP? " "T[ OW can I help ? " That is the question which is being 11 put by millions of men and women throughout the country. We do not propose to answer the...

It is characteristic of German diplomatic methods - " Please dispel any distrust that may subsist on the part of the British Government in regard to our intentions by repeating...

After stating obvious reasons of self-interest why Britain could not stand aside, Sir Edward Grey went on to say that he Lad the day before given France the following...

I 'Klf Aswlnflth P.osed his sDeech bv declaring that we must make sure that all the resources of the kingdom and of the Empire shall be drawn into the scale. India is prepared...

On Tuesday Mr. Asquith made the momentous announce- ment that the Government bad sent an ultimatum to Germany requiring her to respect Belgian neutrality, and that the time...

On Wednesday Mr. Asquith announced that Lord Morley, or. Burns, and Mr. Trevelyan bad resigned their offices. Lord Beauclhamp has succeeded Lord Morley as Lord President of the...

Sir Eclward Grey said further that, if war came, no decision I as to sending an expeditionary force would be taken until we saw exactly bow we stood as regards the safety of...

In the House of Commons on Thursday Mr. Asquith made a speech which those who heard it agree rose to a height of eloquence, and also of convincing persuasiveness, never...

The French Government then said that, if there were a likelihood of help being given, it would be advisable for ffrencl and British naval and military experts to discuss the...

In the Commons on Monday Sir Edward Grey made an I extremely important statement on the crisis. The effect upon the House of this masterly speech was extraordinary. The...

I Mr. Asanith proceeded to point out that we are fighting to fulfil a solemn international obligation, and next declareda declaration we read with intense satisfaction-that we...

TOPICS OF THE DAY. THE ORIGIN OF THE WAR. THE great war has come. " Why has it come? " is the T bewildered question of all English men and -women. How does it happen that...

I it is so difficult for even the most gluttonous devourer of verse to keep in touch with the voluminous output of living poets that one should be grateful to the anthologist...

A Primer of Library Practice. By G. E. Roebuck and I I W. B. Thorne. (Grafton and Co. 2s. 6d. net.)-This work was originally published ten years ago; so many advances have...

IThe Book of Genesis. With Introduction and Notes by I Herbert E. Ryle. (Cambridge University Press. 4s. 6d. net.) -The admirable " Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges"...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK. -4[Under this heading us notice such Books .f the week as have otw bye reserved for review in other forms.] I Astronomv. BY Camille Flammarion....

, I The growing sense of the need for organized education in I the duties and responsibilities of married life is reflected in four earnest and sensible books which we can...

Tae English Borough in the Twelfth Century. By Adolphus ' Ballard. (Cambridge University Press. 3s. 6d. net.)-Two lectures delivered at Oxford by the Town Clerk of Woodstock,...

The Family Chain. By J. Hopkins. (Watts and Co. - la.) I -This analytical study of the evolution of relationships among the Australian natives tells us that the foundation of...

Harrinaton and his Oceana. By H. F. Russell Smith. a (Cambridge University Press. 6s. Gd. net.)-Harrington is generally acknowledged to have created a striking Utopia, but 2...

A Garden of Girls. By Mrs. Thomas Concannon. (Long- mans and Co. 3s. 6d.)-Thesc charming sketches aim at "I a reconstruction, as faithful and accurate as careful research...

Tho Ars,71th of the North American Indians. By Lewis Spence. I C (Harrap and Co. 79. 6d. net.)-Longfellow familiarized us with much of the folk-lore of the Redskin in Hiawatha,...

The Town-wall Fortifications of Ireland. By J. S. Fleming. . . I. . * .. (A. Gardner. 5s. net.)-KEvery one who is interested in the architecture of old times will welcome this...

The Re-making of China. By Adolf S. Waley. (Constable I and Co. 2s. 6d. net.)-This brief account of the Chinese Revolution depicts Yuan Shih-kai as the chief exponent of the...

News of a Country Town. By James Townsend. si- I Milford. 5s. net.)-These extracts from Jackson's Oxford Journal throw light on the business, social life, and amusements of...

Aircraft in War. By J. M. Spaighb. (Macmillan and Co. I i 6s. net.)-" The fighting aircraft has, beyond all question, arrived and come to stay." In this very interesting and...

T.,nn to Swint. BY H. R. Austin. (Methuen and Co. I8. I net.)-To learn swimming on dry land is a proverbial example of fatuity. Yet eome useful hints can be given to the...

The County of Durham. By W. J. Weston. (Cambridge University Press. Is. 6d. net.)-In mediaeval days Durham was known as " the patrimony of St. Cuthbert," and a great part of...

.Tapanese Government Documents. Edited by W. W. I McLaren. (Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. Yen 6.)-Tbis col- lection of translated documents, which forms the first part of the...

I The Universal Bible Dictionary. Edited by the Rev. I A. R. Buckland and the Rev. A. L. Williams. (Religious Tract Society. 3s. 6d. net.)-This cheap dictionary of the Bible...

Ile Shot Gun and its Uses. By " East Sussex." (Simpkin, | I A Marshall, and Co. Is. net.)-This manual, by a well-known - expert, is " published at a popular price and intended...

I SCHOOLMASTERS AND SCHOOLMISTRESSES. THERE were real tyrants on the earth a long time ago, but we have forgotten what they were like. They were succeeded by very much lesser...

THE MAGAZINES. THE rapidity with which the political storm-centre shifted last week from Belfast to Berlin is reflected in the August magazines. The first place in the...

TRUE PATRIOTISM. [TO THE EDITOR O THE " SPECTATOR."] SiR,-At this grave crisis in our national history I venture to think the following extract from a work published at Boston,...

MO TEE EDITOR OF THB ' SPrCTATOR.'"I SIR,-There are large numbers of loyal citizens anxious to help their country in her hour of need. No doubt they can do so negatively by...

OUR FRENCH ALLIES. [To THa EDITOR OF THU " SPECTATOR."] SiB,-Some of us, even now, Eeem to doubt whether we have done wisely in not placing ourselves on the side of the...

The whole nation, we are sure, feels a genuine sense of pity I for the large number of poor Germans, many of them women and children, who are stranded in our midst. It is, of...

In this context we may express our intense satisfaction I that even in the confusion caused by the mobilization and by the national peril every effort is being made to help the...

I The second thing that the pessimist, should remember is that, though our Army may be small, it containsr in officers and men the very best material in the world, and that now...

WANTl NOTES. E VERTBODY at the moment is inclined, and it is a HIE pleasant trait, to praise everybody else for the splendid way in vLich they are behaving, and undoubtedly...

I It is impossible to mention all the various points that throng in upon us in regard to the war, but we should likse to remind any of our readers who may be inclined to be...

The attacks made upon Lord Haldane have been not only unfair but ridiculous. Lord Haldane was an excellent Secretary of State for War, and though we think, as probablyV Lord...

Whether the expeditionary force should sail at once. or wait for the decision of the great naval action which presumably must soon take place-we cannot conceive that the...

We are delighted to note that Lord Kitchener has under- I: taken the duties of Secretary of State during the war. We ; have always been against a military War Minister in peace...

We say this without the slightest suggestion of comparison I between his attitude and that of his Ministers, for Russia and France have never been without Ministerial sympathy....

A MOTTO FOR LONDON. [To iTx EDITOR OF THU "SPLFCTATOR."] SiR,-Why not "Righteousness Exalteth a People," or simply "Rig'hteousness Exalteth"? (See Proverbs xiv. 34.)-I am,...

THE CIVILIAN FORCE. [TO THE EDITOR O THE $SPECTATOR."] WIR,-National military service first, but national public service can be rendered by all, men and women. An appeal is...

THE PREVENTION OF INSANITY. [To TE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,-The deputation which waited upon Mr. Herbert Samuel on July 16th, to present a recommendation with reference...

HOWLERS. [To T1X EDITOR O0 THM " SPECTATOR."1 SIR,-The enclosed, which I cut out of a newspaper some time ago, is a good specimen of the " howler."-I am, Sir, &c., J. W. R....

[TO THE EDITOR oF THU "SPrCTATOR."] SIR,-I was recently examining a girls' high school, and met with the following " hfowler ": Q. " What is an abstract noun? " A. "An abstract...

RECOLLECTIONS OF A MINISTER'S WIFE.* I MADAME WADDINGToN has laid her English readers under a fresh obligation. She has supplemented her Letters of a Diplomat's lVife by a very...

We have another thing to say to the prophets of evil. A good many excellent people are talking now as if the present war would mean the destruction of all civilization. That,...

Thank Heaven, the men of our own flesh and blood in I I America are realizing this with that instinct for justice and I for the right which is common to the race. The temper...

The same may perhaps be said of the American Civil War. Or take again that microcosm of Europe, the Balkan States. In the Balkan War a far greater proportion of the inhabitants...

We have asked and answered elsewhere the auestion: I "What caused the war ? " Here we may epitomize our answer. Germany was ready and determined, and thought we and Russia and...

NEWS OF THE WVEEK. THE great war has come, and come exactly as all sensible I people knew it would come-very suddenly, without I apparent reason, or, at any rate, without...

I We have dealt fully with the finance of the war else- where, but we should like here to muake one point in regard to the Mrs. Gummidges of finance, who seem positively to...

THE HUSSITE WARIS.t COUNT LtTZOW published a year or two ago a work on T7he Life and Times of Master John Hus, which has taken its place as the standard English book on the...

CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL.v WE are compelled to wonder at the growth of a hospital, as at the growth of a child, to marvel that this little person, of tentative, unskilled powers,...

THE RIDDLE OF EASTER ISLAND-FIRST IMPRESSIONS. IT was in the grey dawn of Sunday, March 29th, that the schooner yacht 'Mana' sighted Easter Island, one week in the year earlier...

WAR AND COMMERCE. THERE has been a general chorus of approval of the action of the Government in taking steps to meet the immediate effects of war upon commerce. These steps...

CORRESPONDENCES THE BAND OF BROTHERS. [To THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR."] SinI,-Englishmen are fairly familiar with the constitution and numbers of our Fleet; but, although we...

THE REVELATIONS OF THE BLUE BOOK. I W5/ HEN Sir Edward Grey made his statement in the VT House on Monday he said that the diplomatic correspondence to be published would prove...

LETTERS TO TIlE EDITOR. LORD CROMER AND THE WAR. [TO THE EDITOR OF T11 "SPECTATOR."] SIR,-A septuagenarian may perhaps profitably remind his countrymen of events which...

A JOURNEY FROM WIESBADEN. [To TuR EDITOR OF Tx " SrECTATOR.'] SIR,-A short account of the adventures of a little party of Englishwomen between Wiesbaden and Dover on August 1st...

POETRY. THE DEAD VOLUNTEER. HIERE lies a clerkwvho. half his life had spent Toiling at ledgers in a city grey, ,Thinking that so his days would drift away With no lance broken...

BOOKS. THE GREAT SOCIETY.* THE industrial linking.up of the world which we see to-day has been termed by economists the Great Industry, and Mr. Graham Wallas applies the...

BOTANY: SERIOUS AND POPULAR.* BOTANISTS, who have been awaiting a new, comprehensive, and authoritative work on British plants, will not be disappointed with the first...

RESTATEMENT AND REUNION.* WE are always specially grateful when a Christian scholar, whose main effort is spent upon problems of theology, turns aside to write with simplicity...

KEEP YOUR TEMPER. W HEN a nation goes to war the policy of the GovernN _ T ment nearly always fails to carry with it the convictions of a minority. It is, of course, very rare...