NEW BOOKS REVIEWED.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16174, 27 December 1924, Page 11 (Supplement)

NEW BOOKS REVIEWED.

CURRENT LITERATURE New Zealanders In Mufti. This is a pubbcation issued by I. W. Raymond, who was chairman of the New Zealand War Contingent Association and the New Zealand Red Cross Society (London Branch), over the period from 1914-1918. The work deals in reminiscent manner with the writer's personal observations in connection with the part played by New .Zealand residents in London from the outbreak to the close of the war. The surve„ deals mainly with the voluntary helper, with occasional reference to the operation of the military where the work of the two organisations converged next to the outstanding heroism of the boys throughout every engagement in which they took part, what impressed the writer most was the quiet and unselfish efforts, particularly of the women folk, in ministering to the care and comforts of the men in dedicating for the time being their livesyto making every effort to smooth the lot and lessen the suffering of those who crossed their path in the Old Land. Some interesting observations in regard to patriotic funds and some home truths in regard thereto are expressed by the writer in a publication which will be of interest to "the ex-digger" particularly.

Triad Christmas Number.

The Christmas number of the Triad, which has reached us from the publishers, Castlereagh Street, Sydney, is a particularly fine production, 'both in regard to colour work and letter press. A.notable feature is a causerie on Australia and New Zealand by twenty or thirty of the most brilliant writers of the day, such as: George A. Birmingham, H. A. Vachell, H.,L. Mencken, Hillaire Belloc, A. A. Milne, John Masefield, N. L. George, Arnold Bennett, Arthur Pinero, Sir Harry Johnston, Upton Sinclair, W. Pett Ridge, Bernard Shaw, Thomas Burke, John Galsworthy, William Archer, Gilbert Murray, Alfred Sutro, David Belasco, E. V. Lucas, Stephen Le.acock, Frank Harris, Augustus Thomas, and Frank Swinnerton.

A specially fine reproduction of a remarkable picture "Cats," exhibited at the. Paris salon last year, is particularly choice. i

The Diary of Lord Bertie. —1914-18. Edited by Lady Algeron G-ordon-Lennox, with a Foreword by Viscount Grey. Two vols.

The diary which Lord Bertie, the British Ambassador at Paris, kept during the war will enhance the reputation of that wise and devoted diplomatist. These two large volumes are of extraordinary interest and of first-rate historical value from the light which they shed on almost every phase of the .war. The earlier chapters show that Kitchener interfered much more often and more unwisely than the general public were aware. Thus on March 12, 1915, there is an entiy to the effect that: "There is continued interference on the part of Kitchener (with Sir J. French) in plans and details, and consequently strained relations." Sometimes Kitchener was dangerously indiscreet. On December 1, 1915, there is an entry: "The French considered that Kitchener's conversations with the King of Greece had done much harm; they had encouraged the King to think that we would gladly withdraw from Salonice on terms which the German Government desired." Yet Lord Bertie was not blind to the immense services Which Kitchener had rendered to the Allied cause. He was filled with indignation at the cruelty, and brutality of the Germans and his evidence on this point is of particular importance at the present time. On January 17, 1916,, is the entry: "What retribution can we exact from them, even if we bring German to ,her knees? Our pacifists would plead the German cause against the cries for atonement of our own people who have lost those who are dear to them by German calculated atrocities." That the tank, which was to change the methods of war on land, did greatly impress him, is shown by this entrv on October 3, 1916: "I gather tuat of our 13 tanks used on the Somme none has been captured by the enemy, and most of them are only wounded. They failed in the expectations held of them in front of the Guards owing to the sLcky ground into which they sank. . . . With all their failings they have created a funk among the Germans." He could not know that they had been ordered to attack over precisely the kind of ground where the tank experts said that they would be well-nigh useless. Lord Bertie has continual entries about British busybodies who came to Paris and went back to London declaring that the French were "rotten" or easier for peace. His generous faith in "France and in her courage and determination shines through his pages. Again and again he insists on the necessity of a close Anglo-French alliance. On September 24, 1917, in this entry: "A conference with Germans would be like playing cards with people who are card-sharpcrs. To talk of appealing to the conscience of the German people is rubbish. They have no conscience, and those who pretend to have such a thing make it obey the dictates of inhumanity." He was particularly; indignant at President Wilson's constant interferences and mistakes. He wrote on October 28, 1918: "If we make peace on the German interpretation of the Wilson commandments it will be only a short peace, and if we want a really durable one we must go on until the Germans are really on their knees." On January 18, 1919: "Foch is splendid. If the Entente Allies carry out his views all will be well. . . . Politicians are generally very ignorant and very short-sighted." And, not without reason, he was alarmed to learn that "Lloyd George has been pressing for the abolition of conscription in France"—for if France had been left without a great Army peace would not have been worth a year's purchase.