SOME RECENT WAR LITERATURE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2354, 9 January 1915, Page 5

SOME RECENT WAR LITERATURE

( By liber.) The Reality of War. Everybody has heard 1 of Clausewitz's famous treatise "On War," admittedly, in the opinion of military experts, the most profound and. enlightened 6tudy of war ever written, Join's almost equally famous book not excepted. But to read the whole work in its English translation it runs into three stout volumes—is rather a severe task, and for the layman much of the technical detail is unnecessary. Two or three years ago, however, an English officer, Major Stewart L. Murray, produced a. very useful digest of, or companion, to Clausewitz, in which are embodied the most striking' - and important passages of the original work. Major Murray's book has now been republished at the popular price of half-a-crown, by Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton (per S. W. Mackay), a ne>v preface being added by Mr. A. Milliard Atteridge, a. well-known writer on military subjects. A supplementary. chapter headed "Changes since. Olausewitz," is a specially interesting addition to the book. . One good rear son why the work should be read by the nono-military public is afforded in tho importance, upon which Clausewitz insists in a singularly convincing passage, of the fact that "one of the main objects of a nation waging war is to force the . enemy' 6 population into a 6tate of mind favourable to submission." As' Mr. Atteridge significantly observes,. "This fact is sufficient proof of the importance of public opinion being well informed, not only as to the course of events, but also as to the principles" that give to these events their real significance." A perusal of Major Murray's version ,of Clausewitz should give the reader, a clear idea of the real character of modern war, and the principles vpon which success or failure depend.

"Imperial -Germany," For many years Prince Von Bulow, the ex-German Imperial Chancellor, directed the foreign policy of the Empire. Even now, although no longer in the;position which Bismarck made bo famous, Von Billow is a man specially esteemed hy the- Kaiser for his diplomatic ability,.as witness his recent and. fortunately for the Allies, unsuccessful mission to Rome. The cheaper edition of his hook, "Imperial Germany" (Cas«el and Co., per S. and W. Mackay) should he widely read, for we have it on the authority of Lord Cromer, no meani • judge., that -it "affords a perfectly truthful account of. the present German aims and policy." A specially interesting feature of the book, in view of what has happened since 1 July last, is the almost oynical frankness with.which Von Billow ohampions the Junker and War Party, and explains how small an influence the German people actually exercise upon the haute politique of the Empire. Ono passage, in the concluding chapter, seems to me to he invested with a peculiar significance when we rememher it was written three or four years ago: Through-the foundation of the Empire we;. acquired national life as a State. ■ In so doing our poli- . tical development, embarked on a , new and a safe course. But it has not yet reached its goal. Our task, which has.heen begun, but is by no means yet completed, must he the : . jUnity of our ; -intellectual and poli- ' • tical life, that is-the fusion'of the Prussian and the German spirit.

What, I wonder, does Prince Von Bulow really think in his heart of hearts to-day, of that "new and safe course" upon which Germany has embarked? He has championed the cause of Militarism versus Democracy j he will not hear of any good coming out of representative institutions, such as other nations are rightly proud of. But to what a dreary goal or failure and misery, for the German people, is that "new and safe course" now so Burely, if slowly, proceeding I The price of the book is 2s. 6d. It is a work which should be read by all who have read Bernhardi's. hooks. Von Bulow exposes the real aim of German diplomacy, and the Imperial autocracy. Bernhardi, as a soldier, shows how that aim should, and as he* Jias so erroneously thought, could he attained. Both have curiously underestimated the extent and strength of the forces which each should have seen must ,be massed against Germany when once she attempted to reach her self-allotted goal of world supremacy.

Two Bernhardt Books. A popular edition (price 2s. 6d.) of General F. Von Bornhardi's book, "Cavalry in Peace and War," a work originally published at 7s. 6d., has been published by Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton (per S. and W. Mackay), and will, no doubt, find many interested readers. To the English translation, by Major • Bridges, an interesting introduction is provided by Field-Marshal Sir John French, whose special knowledge of the mounted branch of the service is so famouß. Although written, in the first instance, for cavalry officers, the book will be found of interest to all who wish to understand what cavalry is called upon to do and how it does it in the war of to-day. There was a big run, a fow weeks ago, on the condensed Bernhardi, "How Gormany Makes War" (Hodder and Stoughton), in which the contents of Bernhardi's "War of To-day" are set forth in abbreviated form, with much of- the technical- military detail of the original either omitted or condensed. Fresh stocks of the book have now arrived and are on sale locally. Messrs. S. and W. Mackay forward a copy of the book, which was reviewed in these columns about a month ago.

The Humoroiis Side of War. "Keep Smiling: More News by Liarless for German Homes," is the title of a very clever skit, on collection of skitß, by \Valter Emanuel and John Hassali (London, Eveleigh Nasb). The author and artist set out to show that "we can be every bit as romantic as the Germs when we like—can, in fact, beat them in their own lyin'. All goods manufactured in Germany can be made just as well here." Mr. Emmanuel's letterpress is very funny. Here are a few eamplea;— "The much-advertised Canadians turn out after all to be mere boys. Proof of their tender age is afforded by the fact that it is stated in the English Press that these warriors have brought their nurses with them. _ "Owing to the stoppage of supplies of Christmas cards from Germany, Christmas will not be held this year. "It would seem to bo impossible for the English to take anything seriously. One would have thought that War was, in all conscience, a 6erious enough matter, but we hear that many English regiments took thoir bats, wickets, goals, etc., with them -to Franco to play football! "An interesting commentary on the charges of cruelty which have been brought against our bravo troops is the fact that the animals in the Zoological Gardens are being trained to attack our men when thoy invade Loudon. Dummies of German soldiers filled with sausages are now thrown to the beasts each day." Mr. Hassall's illustrations are delightfully funny.' Tho book is a wonderfully good sixpenny worth, and is worth preserving carefully as a proof that even so grim a subject as war can have its lJ— uaaroUß side.