NEW BOOKS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16406, 28 December 1918, Page 7

NEW BOOKS.

"NEW ZEA LANDERS IN SAMOA."

Under this title Mr L. P. Leary,! M.C., R.F.A. (late N.Z.R.), h as given a very racy account of the capture and; occupation of Samoa by the advance J guard of the New Zealand Expedi- i tionary Force. Some details uot. hitherto published are given in a thrill- j ing account of the visit of the Scharn-' horst and Gneisenau to Upolu during the occupation. The writer describes the troops being marched down the beach road to oppose the landing, the column exposed in its entire length to the enemy. "Like clockwork," we are told, "aU the great eight-inch guns on both vessels swung slowly round and pointed direct at the colonials a» they marched along the water's edge." > The Germans could practically have annihilated our force, and why they did not do so is not yet explained. "It may be," says Mr Leary, "that the Germans took pity on those colonials. It may be that they were conserving ammunition. It may be that' they were afraid of wounding natives who would, in terror, make reprisals on the German residents. At any, rate the five hundred lives they held; in the hollow of their hand were j spared."

Referring to the early stages of the occupation the author says the Germans got on very well with the troops and the authorities. The colonel showed groat clemency .towards them, and gfive them full citizen rights. In some cases they disobeyed the trifling restrictions put upon' them and were court-martialled and deported to NewZealand. They gave their parole not to 'ea v e the island. One man, reported to L. the schoolmaster, broke his word and escaped to a neighbouring island. He was caught and brought back. " 'I did not give my word.' '' 'Yes, you aid: you promised not to leave the place.' " 'Show me the writing.' " 'The . writing? . Tiiere was no writing. I had your parole.' " 'It is : not binding unless written.' "This was too much for the Colonel. His blood rose, and he roared out: 'Is that your German honour? You must write a promise ?' . " 'Yes.' , "'Well,' - said the Colonel, 'can • you tell me any reason why I should not shoot you at sunrise?' " 'No, I cannot,' said the German never flinching. ' That's the best answer you've given me yet.' "He was not shot, but interned in New Zealand." Speaking of the German residents in general, the author says:— "The greater number of Germans settled down under the new rule and contented themselves with fierce arguments on the subject of/the war. They of course believed that Germany would win, but they were also convinced that they could never have reached Paris, as they attempted at first. When it was pointed out that the Germans were at one time about fifteen miles, 60 the papers said, from Paris, they. answered that that was only some young cavalry leaders who had ventured too far. _ They thought the violation of Belgium totally. insufficient ground for .England's 'treachery/ and considered that Britain had 'come in to obtain Germany's colonies—a very pointed argument under the circumstances.. The troops informed the Germans that ' they needn't -.worry about • that —Britain would take and hold 'em all right— • to which the Germans replied that that would/be decided in. the Treaty of Paris, 1915." The book is brightly written,, and affords t&i excellent pendant to the "History of Samoa," written by Mr Watson, and rocently reviewed in "The Press" ,■ by. Sir Robert Stout. (London: William Heinemann.) SOME GOOD READING. Even those who think they Have had enough of war literature will, we feel sure, enjoy "Over There/' by Captain R. Hugh Knyvett. The author, who was an intelligence officer in the Fifteenth Australian Infantry, made a great name for himself as a scout. He was in Egypt, at Gallipoli, and on the Western front, and of his experiences in .each of these campaigns he writes with great vivacity and no little humour. He gives some thrilling descriptions of the work of a 6Cout, which, so .far as we are . aware, has not previously been described, with bo much detail. Captain Knyvett was wounded in the battle of the Somme,' and afterwards did some splendid work recruiting in Australia and America. It was in the United States that his book was written. (London: Hodder' and Houghton. Christchurch: L. . M. Isitt, Ltd.)j

Another war book which may be commended for its interest is "English; man, Kamerad!" by Captain , Gilbert Nobbs. Captain Nobbs was, as he tells us, five weeks in the firing-line, four weeks mourned as dead > and three months.a prisoner of war. He was blinded when he was wouflded at. the Battle of the Somme, but he says:—-"I do not deplore the loss of.my-sightj-'for I can say in all sincerity that I was never happier in my life'than I am to-day." The story of the author's captivity which is told in such detail is especially interesting. Captain Nobbs contrasts the industrial use made by Germany of prisoners, with the British -method' under which "the only part of the community which has no anxiety or participation in the problem of living and daily sustenance is the German prisoner in our midst." Some interesting narratives of prisoners interviewed by Captain Nobbs are given. He himself. was treated better ~ than most?, probably owing to his blindness. (London: William Heinemann). Mrs Alfred Sidwick lived for many years in Germany, and is one of the best authorities on the' social life of the people. She has now written a novel entitled "Karen," which gives a vivid picture of German life and character in the early days of the war. The heroine of the story goes to Germany in 1913, to attend the wedding of a girl friend. She herself married a Gorman officer who had been a great deal in England, and was more English than German. There is, of course, tragedy in the story, and the more repulsive features in the German character are sketched, with a relentless touch which never fails. (London: W. Collins and Co., Ltd., 48 Pall Mall).

Two charming booklets, very suitable to send out as souvenirs at this season are "Wanderings and Otter Fairy Stories" and "•Marlborough Sounds," both by Tikiith Howes. (Christchurch : Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd.)* NEW NOVELS. Jessie X>ouglas Kerruish is very convincingly Oriental in the story presented under' the attractive title, "The Girl from Kurdistan." Shah and Sherbet, Persian Hakims and Moslemah childwives, Kerbela caravans, camels, lavishes', and other Eastern properties pursue one another through her pagesin breathless cinematograph style. JWlgousha, the Kurdish heroine, is possible just because, as she herself explains, "Y* Allah, I am a Kurd. • Kurdish women don't act Khadijah. and 6it behind a curtain and a eunuch all their livesj Allah forbid!". There are two agreeable girls of non-Eastern race, one a Scotch Janet, renowned for independent adventure in strange lands, the other an "English" Perdita,, who couldi

behave with excellent {p"flc© through, eomo verv trying times in the Persian hiJls. The storv has a salt of humour and of lively Euro-Persian anecdote. Ifc will certainlv not discredit the successful author o'f that prize volume, "Miss Haroun Al-Raschid."' (London; Hodder and Stoughton. Chnstchurch: L. M. Isitt, Ltd. 65.)

Berta Ruck is the delight of all novel-readers who enjoy a book up to date, more or less frivolous, yet not without literarv charm. Her new story, "The Years for Rachel," fulfils all these needs. Gwen, the heroine, tells the story of her long engagement, with the most vivid presentment of such an affair, from Rachel's side. The true hero, bv the author's art, is kept extraordinarily in the background, until he rushes on, with great effect, in the later scenes to take up his rignt role. Though Berta Ruck can invent a dilatory lover, she naturally prefers the "lads with wincrs." In contrast with the toopatient Gwen, we have Hilda, the pretty rebel, who runs away to be married at seventeen. It is all very romantic. and girlish, and readable. (London and New York: Hod dor and Stoughton. Christchurch: L. M. Isitt, Ltd. 45.)

"On the Knees of the Gods." by an Australian writer. Mabel B Brookes, begins with a highly interesting sketch ■of life on board ship during a Voyage Home in war time. The heroine's_ experience of a toroe'lo scare, the incidents and friendships, made of deeper value by the ever-hoverine cloud of danger, all are very cleverly touched: and quite equally well described are the scenes following, the landing at Marseilles, the passage through France, "France on guard, France armed, watchful, self-reliant," and the arrival amongst the changed war-conditions of London. The writer is indeed far more expert in descriptive work than in dealins with the more imaginative necessities of a plot. Still "On the Knees of the Gods" is quite up to the standard of many war novels produced in England ; and its pictures of convalescent Australians in London have a life-like touch that should commend the bcofe to hundreds of Australian homes. (Melbourne: Molville and Mullen Pty., Ltd. 4s (3d; posted 4s Bd.) AUSTRALIAN VERSE. "Digger Smith," a new hook by the author of "Songs of a Sentimental Bloke,'' continues on the same vein of humour and pathos intensified by slang. Bigger. Smitn has come back from France, maimed and "only 'arf a man," as he says of himself. "Judged be 'is nerve, I'd say 'e was worth two uv mo an' you." And apart from 'the outward results of war ,_ the man becomes at times a puzzle to his old neighbours. "E's got m 9 beat, 'as little Smith, I knoo 'im years ago I knoo 'im as a reel tough boy 'Oo roughed it up with 'oly joy; But now, well, I dunno. An' when I ask Mar Flood Bh© sighs— An' sez 'e's got the Anzac eyes." In "The Boys Out There'' ail attempt is made, from what can be leanied from "Digger Smith, "An' other soldier blokes like 'im," to explain why amateur Australians contrived to astonish old hands at the fighting game. Mr Dennis holds that it was partly education. "Yeh've got to take the kid at school Gettin' is 'ist'ry lesson learned— : Them tales uv Nelson an* uv Drake Uv Wellin'ton an' fightin' Blake; 'Is little eart 'as burned To got right out an' 'ave a go, An*" sock it into some base foe." Partly it was the inheritance, from the pioneers: "Our Gran'dads, and their woihen, too, That 'ad the grit to face the new." Something was due also to the Australian climate and good feeding. "To Bill an' Jim an' every son Gettin' three good meat meals a day, An' 'eaps of chance to go an' play Out in the bonzer sun." But with all these explanations, the singer fails before his final difficulty. There's somethin' yet; an* there I'm beat. Crowds uv these lads I've kriown, but then, They 'ave got somethin' from this war, Somethin' they never 'ad before, That makes 'em better men. Better? There's no word I can get To name it right: There's somethin' yet." Digger Smith refuses to talk much of his war experiences, hut he is coniniunicative about his time on leave.

"Us Aussies was tho goods in London town When I was there. If they jiat twigged yer 'at, The Dooks would ask yeh could yeh keep one downv • An' Earls would 'ang out "Welcome oa

the mat, . An' sling yeh invites to their stately ails ■: For fancy. balls." So it happened that he amused a Duchess, with such success that the account of it, given in "A logger's Tale, should bo a jewel not cast away for many seasons from the reciters treasury. To borrow some of Digger Smith s best-used words, this is a dinkum book, to be passed round in holiday time from, cobber to cobber. (Sydney: Angus and! Robertson, Ltd. 45.)