BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3088, 19 May 1917, Page 11

BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

(By Liber.)

A BUNDLE OF WAR BOOKS

The Rattles of the Soinme and Jutland. In ."The Battle of the-Somme, First .Phase" (Nelson and Son, per Whitcombe and Tombs), Mt. John Buchan, whose "History of the War" has attained such' widespread fame, gives us a detailed and most, enthralling narrative of tha first, pbasa of that, truly Titanio oonfliot, which, commencing in July last year, is still being waged on the rolling tableland intersected by the upper waWs of the River Somme ant! its tributaries, tho Ancre, the Scarpe, and other streams whose names are now so muoh on tho public tongue. Mr. Bnohaii's stirring story is on a well-ordered plan, and'read with a gwd, map at, hand, will give the rend ■■•■ ', comprehensive grasp of the out.

ing features of a- conflict probably 'inparalleled in ancient or modern history for unbroken strenuousness. The story proper is interspersed with copies of letters from officers and. men, giving personal snap-shots of tho fighting, and there ate several excellent maps and sketch plans and some well-chosen illustrations. From Mr. Buchan's concluding chapter J. take tho following passage, which, written, as I presume it was, some time in October last year, us singularly prophetic. After declaring that Germany is to-day the Allies' inferior, Air. Buclmn says:—

It is a law of life and of war that in such struggles i.bo power of tho stronger grows pari passu with tho weakness of the less strong. That is tho security for the continuance of the Allied plan. Eepeatedly in tho last two months Germany announced that tho offensive on tho Sommo must slacken; repeatedly slio declared that it' had ceased; but tho beginning of September saw tho assault as sternly maintained as - in tho first days of July. Like some harsh and remorseless chemical the waxing Allied energy is eating into the waning German mass. There is thought and care in tho plan, and that resolution which is so strong; that it can dare to be patient. The guarantee of the continuity of the Allied effort is its orderly' and accurate progress. The heroic dash may fail and bo shattered by tho counterattack, but this sure and methodical pressure is as resistless as tho forces of Nature. It is attrition, but attrition in tho acute form—not like tho slow erosion of cliffs by tho sea, but like tho steady cntmbliug of a- mountain to which hydraulio engineers hnvo applied a mighty bead of water. The time must como when tho far-flung Gorman lines will bo exhausted by tho strain and will seek to retire. In that fallinff back, with the Allies all round the salient at their throats, may be fought tho decisive action of the war.

I warmly commend this little book to the attention of my readers as a most useful and timely contribution, to the history of the, war.. (New Zealand price, Is. 6d.). From Nelsons (per Whitcombo and Tombs) I have also received a copy of Mr. Buchan's story of the Battle of Jutland, in which the main features of that memorable engagement arp set forth with all that combined clarity and dramatic force which characterise tho author's historical efforts. Tho little booklet contains several interesting portraits of British commanders, and illustrations of the fight from photographs. (Price (3d.) Nelson's History of the War. The fifteenth volume of that invaluable publication Mr. John Buchan's "History of the War" is to hand from the publishers. Nelsons, per Whitconibo and Tombs. The struggle on the 'Western front has no part in this volume, the contents of which are almost entirely devoted to the Russian summer offensive, the fino counter-attack of the Italians, which resulted in the fall of Gorizia, and to the general progress of the war as it affected the Balkans, the final chapter bringing tho reader up to Rumania's entrance into the war. There is also a well written, compact, and useful summary of the goneral position of tho combatants as it stood at the end of the second year ••of the war. The revolt against Turkish authority in Arabia and the fighting in the Desert last August are also dealt with. As in previous volumes of the. history, the sketch maps are numerous and most useful in enabling the' reader to grasp the full significance of the events so tersely yet clearly described in the text. No one who follows the course of the wan with any care can afford to be without the one end only really satisfactory history wo have had, and this is undeniably Mr. Buchan's excellent chronicle. (N.Z. price, Is. 6d.) A Handy War Atlas. Nelson's Map-Book of tho WorldWide War (Nelson and Sons; per Whitcombe and Tombs) is not only a most useful supplement to Mr. John Buchan's admirable "History of tho War," issued by tho same publishers, but should be welcomed by the vast, army of students of the war who confine their studies to-the columns of the daily Press. The maps include all the various fronts, general maps being succeeded by others of a sectional and more detailed oharacter. The linos of the opposing forces are defined, rail-, ways, rivers, canala, and ' the main roads boing also shown. The printing is excellent, the colouring, where necessary, never garish. Within the limitations of their size these mops could not well be bettered. A happy thought was the addition of a Diary of the War, brought ut> to September lfi. (N.Z. price, 2s. fid.). i Will Dyson's War Cartoons, • ' Will Dyson, a, young Australian artist, must be credited with having proI duced tho most effective war cartoons (outside those of the Dutehman, H«»maekers) that havo yet been published on the side of the Allies. A selection from Mr. Dyson's grimly dramatic drawings has now been published by Messrs! Hodder and Stoughton (per Wbitcombe and Tombs). Humorous treatment of war is not for Dyson. To him war is so grim, so ■ dread, so -macabre a thing that, his nearest Approach to "lighter vein" is a satire so sardonic, ,fo savage, that the ordinary meanings of humour and satire do not apply. Death, in tho shape of a grisly skeleton stalks through most these designs. Death, jeering at. the Kaiser, jibing at the deluded German people. In .one drawing, "Losses," Death is shown as the croupier at a. gambling table, at which is seated a horrified German, aghast at his losses, whilst behind stand tho figures of the Kaiser and Hindonburg, urging llim on In a further and hopeless contest with fortune. Below is the legend: High Command (to the dupe): "Go on! Tim system must win." In another a grisly skeleton, clothed in black, and wielding a huge sickle, appears before the Kaiser. "Any more orders to-day, Sire?" In a third tho Imperial Champion of Teuton Kultur is climbing up a colossal mound of skulls; the blazing lowers of a French or Belgian church in the background. Tho title :s "Stepping Stones to Higher Things." Do .scriptive letterpress to each cartoon, is furnished by various writers, the contributors including Arnold Bennett, f{.

Give a. man a pipe, he can xmoke, Give a man a bonk he can read; And his home is bright with a calm delight Though the room- be poor indeed. —James Thomson.

K. Chesterton, tho Rev. Dr. John Clifford, tho Bishop of Birmingham, Lord Wear-dale, and others. (New Zealand price, Is. 6d.) ' International War Cartoons. Eighteenpence could not be better spent than on a copy of "International Cartoons of the War" (Utaawo and Windus; per Whiteombe and Tombs). When the war is over the collecting ot tho cartoons issued during tho straggle will probably become, a popular hobby. An immense numher are being published all ' over tho .world, and a selection of some of tho best, and most, striking drawings is decidedly welcome. In t.he publication under notico we Jiave war cartoons by Messrs. F- H. (of "Punch'"), Will Dvson, the Australian, Sir Ji\ Carruthors'Gould, and some delightfully funny drawings by W. K. Haselden and W. Hea.th Robinson. • Now Zealand is alone amongst the Dominions to be represented, the drawing chosen being one hy that clever draughtsman ""Bio," which appeared 'in the Auckland "Observer. '. Italy, Argentina. America, (including tho famous "Iron Cross" picture which appeared in "New York Life"), and Japan all furnish contributions. _ Holland is represented by four of the famous Kaemaekors' most effective drawings. Several pages are devoted to French cartoons, !,he best being hy Steinloin, Leandro (a delightful picturo of Jotfro), lbels, Som, and that prewar chronicler of Bohemian .Parisian life, Willotto. Willette is no longer tho gay Pierrot of tho pa<t. . Ho is grimly, terribly in earnest. His most effective drawiug, "At tho Gates ol the Vatican," depicts a priest, crucifix in hand, knocking at tho closed doors of tho Vatican; beside him a halfinsano woman with a dead ohild. Below run tho words: "Open! openl It is unhappy Belgium." "Tho Popo's neutrality," says the editor, -'was not popular in Franco, oven before ho refused to pronounce an opinion on tho violation of Belgium that had happened in his predecessor's time." Many people consider that by this attitude tho Vatican lost a pricoloss opportunity of recapturing France. It is significant, that this moving cartoon, from "Lo Riro Rouge." is signed, "A. Willetto, Oatholiquo." A few Gonnan cartoons, in which, of course, England is handled severely, conclude a collection which is well worth preserving. (Is. 6d.) Tho Saintly Hun. Those who know Mr. W. Heath Robinson's ingeniously humorous drawings which appear in "Tho Skotch," "The Bystander," and other weekly publications, will be glad no doubt to possess a selectionoorf r them in booklet form. Under tho title of "The Saintly Hun, a Book of German Virtues." thore has beon published (Duckworth and Co., per Whitcombo and Tombs) some fifty or so of theso mirth-compelluig_ and inimjtablo drawings. Mr. Robinson's fertile imagination enables him to conceive eomo quite riotously funny situations. As examples of clever black and white work, tho drawings aro well worth preserving. Mr. IJobinson seems to be equally at homo in using silhouette effects as in i that quite delicate work which he found so effectivo beforo tho war, in tho. illustration of fairy tales. "Enough to make a cat laugh" was the brief but highly expressive criticism of a Philistine man in the street to ! which I showed this amusing book. (Prico not stated.) The Hun Hunters. In "Tho Hun Hunters: Cautionary Tales from the Trenches" (Grant Richards, per Whitcombo and 'Tombs), an anonymous artist and verse writer unite in producing somo very comical sketches and satirical lines. Thoy poke fun at all and sundry* and sonio timos some good horse-sense can bo detected beneath their playful satire. Thus, in the rhymes entitled "People whom wo have no business to criticise," thoy hit hard atthe.appointmcnt to responsible positions of retired gonorals who have quito outlived all possibility of. usefulness. Thus, General Augustus Moore O'Toolo, Who'd lived retired from public scrutiny, Since just before the Indian Mutiny, hears "the trump of war." For months in vain he haunts Whitehall, They did not want him there at all. Eventually, through influence, he secures a position. The result is thus summarised -.— The aim for which each General strives | Is loiing other people's 1 lives. And no exception to the rule j Was General Augustus. Mooro o'Toole. When they had no moro men to spare, They sent him to St. Ouier, Where he counts mules all afternoon. Though they have promised,, very soon, To let him, as a mild relief, Count countless tins of Bully Beef. Hardly a job—as you'll agree— Consonant with his Dignity. And also just a trifle dear At some Three Thousand Pounds a year. Tho authors of these sketches and verses are careful to tell us, however, that It's all a jest, And add, For both of us have been there, too, And learnt tho rulo they act upon: "Laugh at yourself, and 'Carry On.'" (Price not stated.) Stray Leaves. Tho March number of "The Bookman" (Hodder and Stoughton) has a well-written, and interesting appreciation of the works of F. Anstey, who, twenty years or more ago, scored suoh a hit with that delightfully amusing story, "Vice Versa." Mr. Anstey Was also the author of that clever novel, "The Giant's Robe," the story of a man to whom literary fa.me comes through a novel Mother had written. Mr. Locke, it may be remembered, utilised a somewhat similar idea in his novel, "Jeffrey." Anßtey is also well known as a clever contributor to "Punch," for which he wrote those amusing skits, "A 7 or.es Populi," "The Man From Blankley's," and "Model Music Hall Songs." Other contributors to the number aro John Drinkwater, Frank Swinnerfcm, Lewis Melville, George Sampson and John Boattie Crozior. _ The Anstey article is illustrated with reproductions of "Punch" drawings, and as usual the number includes portraits- of several rising authors, oto. Lord Nortloliffo ahonld bo shivering in his shoes, and with him —most, curious combination—the peace-at-aiiy-prico theorists of the "Daily News," and the "Nation," for Hilaire Belloo, who has nnvor concealed his contempt for tho shrieking sensationalism of tho "Daily Mail" or the peaceful maimderings of what Mr. Chesterton recently called "Tho Cocoa. Cup." has written a. now hook, entitled "The Present Position anrl Power of the Press."

Boyd Cnble must have done very well since, ho left Australia to try his luck in Fleet Street. His war correspondence ho a been almost an popular an that of Philip, Gibbs, and he must Jmvo

roade a. nice little "pile" out of Tilß book, "Between the Lines." Cable hap a new war novel, "The Grapes .of Wrath," coming nut very shortly, with Smith, Elder. Robert Hichens's latest, novel, "In tlip. Wilderness," just publisher! by Methuens, was written in such moments' as ho could snatch ais-M his duties as night patrolman for tho London Special Constables Corps; member of tho Volunteer .Fire Brigade, which is called out whenever Zeppelins are expected; and head of a squad of twenty of the forces for defence in case of invasion. Only three weeks' escape from his heavy duties has Mr. Hichens had since tho war began. On that, occasion he was forced by illhealth to leave, England, and wont lo th'e desert of Sahara. "There," says he, "I found perfect peace. The Arabs of Biskra and Touggourt were dreaming in the sunshine, and advised mo to stay with them and 'forget tho war.' My short stay in the sands was HSe a dream. I returned te Paris when the first fury of the fighting was going on. at .Verdun, and was immensely struck hy the magnificent spirit of the French. Everyone I met said grimly 'lis no passeront pasl' . and so it has proved." |