DR FITCHETT ON THE WAR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 696, 19 August 1914, Page 6

DR FITCHETT ON THE WAR.

No one knows the battlegrounds of Europe better than Dr Fitchett, the author of "How England Saved jcj'urope," etc., and his summary ia "Life" for September of the events of the present calamitous outbreak among the nations is deeply interesting and instructive. Taking the AutHrhn atlask upon Servia as the starting point, he emphasises the folly a? the aged Aubtrian Emp«ror in forcing Austria's quarrel with Servia und kindling among the great nations so gigantic a conaflagration. "But behind the personal caußes of the war stand the two dim vast shapes of a Pan-Siav League and a Pan-German League," writes Dr Fitchett. "This is the real cause of the conflict, tho inexpiable feud betwixt Slav and Teuton." Maps and diagrams add to the interest of this nummary, and a powerful cartoon by Nuttul! lends force to it. "Life" is devoting a portion of its space to a diary of the war, and announces.this as tho first of a number of war issues.

Had it not L<een for the war, which, of course, crowds almost every other interest to the background, tho main feature of tho issue for September would huve been the story of Mawson's Antarctic Expedition. There can bo no doubt that Mawson's famous march, in which his two companions lost their lives, ranks by itself as an achievement in Antarctic exploration. Tho outline of this wonderful feat has already been given to tho world, but the full story in detail, as published for the firßt time makes most fascinating reading. Altogether, the September number is one of the best issues of this invaluable sixpenny magazine.