BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 68, 14 December 1918, Page 11

BOOKS OF THE DAY

A Stirrinn "Escape" Story, q • By this time we .have hud quite a number of stories of the escapes from the Hun prison camps of British soldiers, but that .told, by Captain .T. A. I/. Cannier, of the First Battalion of the Gloucestershire Hegimcnt, under the titlo "Thirteen Pay's: Tho Chronicle of an Escape from a (jerinaii Prison" (George Bell and Sons), is n specially interesting, indeed exciting, narrative. Trit his preface the author emphasises the fact, that the Gorman mentality is very different- from that of Englishmen. "There is only one % way," lie says, "of touching the Merman mind, and that is by th,e employment ..of brute force. It is what ho believes'in as the medicine foT his enemies, siihply because he judges others by himself, and knows that he respects that, and that only, and therefore opplies it whenever possible to others." After stating, that the Germans were peculiarly sensitive to an nir raid, Captain Caiinter says that " t,ID bombing of K:\rlsr\iho and Freiburs caused a scream ail. through ..Western Germany. , " ' When I pugge'sted that London had nlso hnen bombed, and many innocent lives lost. they, simply, said that twit was "different." Thus, in their minde, there are two kinds of law, one for England, tho other for Germany. I was very aleased to notice how much less ivas tho effect of air raids on our civilian population than, on the..Germans. There is, no doubt whatever that the fear of air bombardments is much stronger in Germany than over here."" ■ Made prisoner at Gheulvelt in October, 1914, Captain . Caiinter. was taken first to ■'«.. prison-ramp at Crefeld, being thence transferred, 111 May, 11)17, to a now'..camp near Sehwarmstedt, a small town in ■ Hanover, where' ho remained until his escape in June last year. Hβ gives mi interesting and instructive description of the treatment of the British prisoners at the two cenips. The haviour of the officers and guards followed, he says, a scale whicli was parallel to tho gradual ebb ..'.nd (low of. Oermiui hopes and confidence as to the final result fit .tho rfar." ...■■:' .

. It. -was extremely'interesting (he says) to'-''observe the gradual taming of the Bocho. In 1914 he war, intoxicated with victories,! actual nnd prospective; 1915, confident, but a litle more calm, the bis talk of capturing London, etc., had died down by then; 1916, general - depression, and, towards the end of tho year actual and open fear;" : f6r.' the future tmib to be observod among the soldiers and civilians of tio lower .oi'dprs. ' By tho spring of 1917, -real anxjety■.β-bouf tho coming. Eiim-mer's-nßhtinß besan'to be evident, which was partially'; relieved by the evcnt3 in Russia, and the. great promises and hopes :hcld out :to.them vtjy. their. Jubmarino, warfar.e.v/Their:;.behaviour. towa.rds us follwve^. 1 /the.• Gamer 'gradual scale. At first, : 'buUymE,: truculentj .and •■brutal, they bccamo on, until, .when we left,"Crefeld:-'in May, 1917, , their behaviour was : : not :bo --yfery' far romoved from Ysat"-on;ft''-'hWV'ik'.-V'e!rt to expect :from prison guards .arid;' ofilciala towards their officer jfisoucriC ~-:; '"J.'Captairi.Caunter's stoty of his thirteen days' jouxney ..from t;lie Sehwarmstedt Camp to :tlv3 friendly haven .of Holland ie told with simple directness and.agiw able modesty. It is none the less an intensely interesting,, indeed, quito fascinating, narrative, which, proves-the author to. be a man of eplendid pluck and quite remarkable . physical endurance. -To reach the Dutch frontier he had to travel' about 170 miles, as tho ciiow flies,' and cross no fewer-than five ■rivers—the Aller, (Leine, Weser, Hunte, and Ems-all of them fairly large 'streams.;. '.Fortunately,.the, author seems to have beeiv a good swimmer'.. He had several almost hairbreadth escapes' from recapture, but his, luck held good, and after a series ot exciting, experiences he succeeded; in company .with another otii-. cer; in reaching :Dutch territory, where,-, as he says; he. "met with nothing but kindness," a tribute, by the way, which seems to be alirfost universally expressed to the Dutch people bj" British oflicers and soldiers who lwvo succeeded in racaping from Hun prison camps. Captain Cannier has a happy gift of humour, and somo of his character sketches of German official officers are decidedly en- ,' tei'taining! The book is "illustrated by re- ' productions of pen and ink sketches by I tho author. (Price lis.).

Twelve Sonnets.i. ■ ;. ■I have to thaiik Mr..Bartlett Adamson, a young Wcllingtouian,' whoso vw-se is well known to readers of the Sjdney '•iJiillotm " for an advance copy of a little, booklet, entitled "Twelve Somiete," which is about to bo published by Messrs. Wlnt- . combe and. Tombs. . Air. Adamson evi- ■ duntly possesses a good command of the sonnet form, a form peculiarly" suitable to' the themes, for the most part serious and even 'grave in 'tone, to which he has given poetical expression. The soniiet entitled -.''Peace" has to-day, Heaven be thanked, a special and glorious significance: — Ths filthy. _mad magnificence of war Die'u- with a last fanfaronade of guns; And now thoee lean, brown lads, thoae laughing ones, Who.-long to hear the southern breakers ro&r, . Turn from the shivering north and-Bail once more Over the long sea-track that billowing .runs Into the light of Australasian suns, Home to their own' sun-Baturafed shore-. While those who diced,with Fate and lost tile throw, And died that, peace might live, they .thrill' and rise "••' . Dare-devil ghosts . with Keen . oontantod. . eyes, And lightly wave the world "So Long," .' and go. To try their luck along tho western sk'eß, Out where .the camp-Urea of tho sunset glow. . . There is a fine fancy expressed in the final sonnet,'."Eoses";^. . Tho ladies walk the garden pair and pair, lioiter, .and nod to this and that great : i'ooe .. And eoftly say. how boauteously it.grows, And move away, content and unaware What 'deeds of death awoke those bios- .•'."•' soitiß there;. ■ ■ , ■ What l.W'ee are squandered where tho ' ■. . gardener, goes; What insect town's ho. sacks and overthrows, Oliriuz- for naught if that his flowers be ■\ fair. •-.;.' - ' So War goes .gardening, and men are '■■■•.■ torn,', ■'•:','. '"'., .... '. : And-towns are-Backed, and nations overthrown;- ' : While pair and pair, in parks of paiadiso The goddesses go Biiunt-ering through tho morn,' - ■ " And .praise tho roses that old War lifts grown;. Hoses.'.of courage and eelf-Bacriflco. Mr. Ailamsou's verse V full of promise of still , better'things to ..omo, and 1 Shall await:.with- Interest a further sheaf of verse from his pen. - - - ~

"Auction Bridge." Mr. K. F. Foster is a'world-recognised authority on that universally popular latter-day'«ird-game,-.bridge.'■• Mr. Foster's most recent work, "Foster on Auction Bridge" (E. P. Button and Co.; per Angus and Kbbertson and Wliitcombo and Tombs), affords a complete exposi-, tion of the latest 'developments of ouction bridge,'with the full code of tho official laws, and no fewer than a. hundred and thirty deals from actual piny. It lias been said that the secret of success in modern auction is to know 'exactly what any hand is.worth as a trick-win-ner. In his new book; Mr. Foster, oxplains an entirely original and remarkably ■•■■•simple system ■' of'translating any combination of cards.into tho number of tricks'they will , ;win in play, .as a bid, an assist,-or-n double; at any declaration, at any position at the table. Tho chapters, oil Assisting Bids will, ■ it is claimed, be a revelation to many who now consider themselves experts. An excellent and most useful feature of the work is tho guide given under , the title of general index, , to tho illustrative hands. Ail bridge players who desire to attain'excellence in. one of tho most interesting variants, of . thoir favour-

ite «ama should make a.point : of securinga copy of Air. Foster's work. "Ordeal By Sea.". ■ Uγ. Archibald lliird, well known as an authority oil Hie'history of the British Navy," has made, more than one notable contribution to the splendid story .of "tho Navy's-achievements during'the Great War.' fn his latest,took". "Ordeal By Seii:' the Story of tho British H.?afiiMi's l!'i?ht for Freedom" (London, .larrolds), ilr." lliird 'gives us a series of Btirring chapters dealing with the splendid courage, the unswerving devotion i,o an often danger-laden duly, and Iho sujierb heroism of th l ? officers and men of rhe British merchant service, who, as lie puts it in hin dedicatory preface, "have exhibited -unsurpassed courage, resource.and. loyalty'; and have stood in the forefront .of live war by snli against a ruthless foe." Here we have, retold v.-ilh a dramatic force which never descends , ill to the melodramatic, but is instinct with a grave dignity well /befitting Hie serious mid often' pa I ji.p tin eharactei-'of the in■cidonts dealt with, the utory of how that four crime, Iho destruction of the Lusitaniaj took place; of the sinking of the Ancona, the Arabic, and the Hesperian; 'of the torpedoing of tho Sussex, of the murder of that fine British seaman, Captain Fryajt, and of many other horrible deeds enshrined in the blond-red calendar of Germany's sea criimv Of that peculiarly abominable deed, the sinking .of the Belgian Prince' arid the deliberate .murder of some of her escaping crew, Mr.- Hurd writes in terms of special and deepest indignation. Mle makes it clear that all these crimes were part and parcel of a demoniacally' inspired, officially planned and ' ordered progranimd. Ho says:— ■ i . •The torpedoors o£ the 'Lueitania. tho Htsperiuu, aim ilie Ai-auic uiu'iniii.ci's <.. me liohijiiai, .siiisjs eainii o ' urnie.- uit! in» . tection ui me nud uiute; tat conimaiiuitf who turned a woman loiu- luontiis i>.iol uie agony m cimdoinli, witn her passwmuuyluveu little one in hue aruu, 10 iaca i,..0 liLUi'un Aiiaiine in ;'ii Ojtn oosi', ih.'ue nuiiurea aim iivtmy miles irom land; tho oiucer-ti'iio lollea ia nia coiiuinii-LOuer wlniu nuiiuiu. wans.-) wu.-u ».i.b u..i w i,i..^ u uuaor, his-vuo , . eyes; Uic uu.iii.urci: o. inu. jitigian i'l'iiii.j, awiooiatuij- u«i urew.oi hoipiebs sauorr, of Weir last means of aatcty.iiim 'iliuu i««e.u..i...... upon Jtii) tteoK, euDiuerging so-that they lnust lncviKiuiy w uiu»-lu-u..i~ not all out) liuiii, JUid lLCii uevii to/ wno.u Ills uovenmu'lil iiLciiii.nuil runpuiisiiuiuy. 'racy lvuro jiavul onicers, unu suppofeilly geuilonien, carrying out me udioeruio poijcy. of an ainyeu Onrisiiaii couiury, unit a country wnofce'i'Hier ciainis 10 oe an Jwnperor uy.the (uvlne oruinance ot jiuuigiuy iNu wonder Admiral Deaity and his ofucers reiused in« outstretc-iicd namts m uie. iiun naval men—tnosc liauils vi'liion a loiv wbl-ks preMousiy weie \\oc with the hlcod of the innocent. Sir. iiurd's book gives' instance niter distance .of tho lieroio beluwiour 01 tho iiicn, of the ijritijjli lneroliant service. In tne chapter dealing with the sinking or the Lusitania •is given a reproduction of tho medal whifn ivas # strucfc in G«rniany to comiheinorate, 'as the Cologne newspaper., put it, "a success tor our submarines, which- must be placed basido the -greatest aehievemenvs in this naval wav •' ■. . u success , tho moral significance of. which is still greater thaii the material success. With joyful . heart wo. contemplate this latest deed of our glorious navy." It is. doubtful, today whether the Hun is as proud of the Lusitania , crime ae lie was in May, 11)15. .Mr. Hurd'is book should be read by every Vriton, whether' of Hie Homeland or the Britain, of the overseas. (Price Us.) .-:.

Miscellaneous. - 'Messrs. Cassell continue to make additions to their useful series of handbooks on hobbies and home industries.' "Poultry arid Profit" is : the" titlo ofa wellIjrinted, handy little edited by Mr. W.' W. iirondliead, editor of "The Poultry Club Handbooks," and vice-presi-dent of tho British Poultry Club. Mr. 'Broadhead tells his leaders that l.ia object hn.s'bee'ii to' give usdul ndvicu to the home poultry-lceeper, or '-'small mon" as he is often called, and to disprove tho alleged impossibility of making profit out of poultry-keeping. There may not, he says, , 'bo. a-fortuno in it, but the editor claims that poultry can be' turned to very good account under the right conditions. His book, which is essentially practical, has some excellent plates, and should be specially ivelcomo to Mihurbnn residents . who keep"• fowls." (Price 25.) Review copies, tier Whitchombe arid .Tombs and S. (ind W. Jlackay. • -Messrs?. Cnfsell and , Co. send rae (per S. and \V. Mackay) copies cf the September issu-es •of their uonulnr monthlies. "Cassell's Ifa'gazine of Fiction'" rnd the "New 'Magazine." In both there is a liberal supply, of new fiction by wellknown writers. .'Amon.'sfc. I'm --Hithors represented are Princess Eadziwill, Agnes and' Egertou C'jstle, 'I. l<. W. Wylie, Alfred Noyes, Hob'evt Cl»imbern, Olive Wi'<W«y.' Valerie Sntton. ' Jcm.M Oliver Cunvood, Koland Pcrtwee, and Frank 11. Shaw, lixcellent light literary fare \ for iv railway journey ,or eteamer trio. From Mr. T. TVerner'Xaurie, Ltd., London,, romes a lit.tlft''vo!um» ent'tl".'] " T r>'nocerit Amusements," tnles r»iid elcctches by that now well practised and always entertaining writer. Miv. Bin-ry ' Pain. Mr:\ Pain is always amuiing,. and his skill in'the invention of humorous situations shmw no sign." of 'dpoliiio. in thn volume before, us, . Thpr? .is rm? slory in ..particlilcr, wjiic'i.'.rep.nim'fs Ihe <vr\acomio revongo of nn Ttclian waiter rpon hi- -bij?lvins" eiunloy'.!r l ;..wl,' i eh I" quito in-esistibly funny. - ?riee Is. Cd.)