WAR AND WOMEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1972, 31 January 1914, Page 9

WAR AND WOMEN.

In "War and Women, from Experience in the Balkans and Elsewhere" (George Bell and Sons; por Whitconibe and Tombs), Mrs. St. Clair Stobart, thv founder of the British Women's Convoy Corps, gives an interesting and instructive account of the splendid service dono by the British Convoy Corps which went out to the. Balkans at an early stage of the- hostilities between tho Allies and tho Turks. She describes the experiences which she and her fellow members of the corps—doctors, nurse, cooks, etc., numbering in all sixteen persons—met with 3uring their ten weeks in Bulgaria, discusses tho general subject of "Women in Warfare," and attempts to answer the question: "Ought women to take a practical share in national defence, and to be included as an integral portion ol the Territorial Service?" This question, etc claims; has been answered in the affirmatives by tho practical demonstration Riven by the Women's Convoy Corps of the capacity of women to be of independent, service in warfare, the author expressing a hope that her account of tho work done may. help in proving "tho expediency of allowing women, nbt only to work in hospitals of war, but to take a. responsible position in the Territorial service-' of their country." Tho book contains not a little matter which is highly contentious. There will be, for instance, many who may question the views the author expresses on tho aims and methods of tbo Red Cross Societies—but hn pictures of tho effects of war, as studied at- close quarters, are vividly picturesque and grimlv; fascinating. The author speaks in high terms of tho courage displayed by the wounded soldiers ,of the . rivalarmies. "Our doctors, nnd nurses," she eays, "all declared that amongst tho many whom they had healed at home, no patients had ever shown greater courtesy, chivalry nnd delicacy than was nhown by these Balkan peasant soldiers. Tho bonk is one wliich specially deserves tho attention of women readers. The illustrations, which are numerous, revarious phases of the war, with special reference to hospital work. (Now Zealand prico, 4s. 6d.)

That ablo critic, and always illumtnating and .-informative writer, Mr. Charles Whitley, has, I see, written a long introduction or appreciation for a new ono-vohimo edition of the complete poems of Arthur' Hush dough., which is published by Macmillans. Clotigh is, I {ear, little read nowadays, Like Matthew Arnold, his .verso is found too didactic by present-day readers. And yet there are some fino passages in some of his poems. Tho new edition costs 7s. 6d. Just beforo Christmas thoro is always a decided lull in tho publishinß ■world, and tho lists of new books published in tho English papers to hand by the last two mails, contain few items of any outstanding importance. Several important new works are, however, promised for publication in Februarr.