ex-War Minister is, at least chiefly, responding to the literary offensives of BETHMANN-HOLLWEG and TIRPITZ, in connection with whose books his should be read, if the many references are properly to be understood.  As every reader will know, however, Lord HALDANE could hardly have delivered his apologia before the accuser without the gates and not at the same time had an eye on the critic within.  Fortunately it is here no part of a reviewer’s task to obtrude his own political theories.  With regard to the chief indictment, of having permitted the country to be taken unawares, the author betrays his legal training by a defence which is in effect (1) that circumstances compelled our being so taken, and that (2) we weren’t.  On this and other matter, however, the individual reader, having paid his money (7_s_. 6_d_. net), remains at liberty to take his choice.  One revelation at least emerges clearly enough from Lord HALDANE’S pages—­the danger of playing diplomat to a democracy.  “Extremists, whether Chauvinist or Pacifist, are not helpful in avoiding wars” is one of many conclusions, double-edged perhaps, to which he is led by retrospect of his own trials.  His book, while making no concessions to the modern demand for vivacity, is one that no student of the War and its first causes can neglect.

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It is not Mr. L. COPE CORNFORD’S fault that his initials are identical with those of the London County Council, nor do I consider it to be mine that his rather pontifical attitude towards men and matters reminds me of that august body.  Anyone ignorant of recent inventions might be excused for thinking that The Paravane Adventure (HODDER AND STOUGHTON) is the title of a stirring piece of sensational fiction.  But fiction it is not, though in some of its disclosures it may be considered sensational enough.  In this history of the invention of the Paravane Mr. CORNFORD hurls a lot of well-directed bricks at Officialdom, and concludes his book by giving us his frank opinion of the way in which the Navy ought to be run.  It is impossible, even if one does not subscribe to all his ideas, to refrain from commending the enthusiasm with which he writes of those who, in spite of great difficulties, set to work to invent and perfect the Paravane.  If you don’t know what a Paravane is I have neither the space nor the ability to tell you; but Mr. CORNFORD has, and it’s all in the book.

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A stray paragraph in a contemporary, to the effect that the portrait of the heroine and the story of her life in Baroness VON HUTTEN’S Happy House (HUTCHINSON) is a transcript of actual fact, saves me from the indiscretion of declaring that I found Mrs. Walbridge and her egregious husband and the general situation at Happy House frankly incredible.  Pleasantly incredible, I should have added; and I rather liked the young man, Oliver, from Fleet