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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1916-9-14, Page 6[A.Marvellous Cure Looking straight ahead of him, a rather curious expression ori his face, Leslie Joyce came out of bhe recruiting alike, H i d failed tothe medical He to pass 're rile aa, test. The doctor had regarded him with obvious surprise, when he lead pro- faned himself unable to read the let - Went back for the mater's bag, You remember, don't you ? You were laid fret. No, dou'f•toueh that bandage, old chile.,, Joyce had put one of his hands up to his head. He had on a bandage cover- ing his eyes, Jim caught his hand and moved it away, "Better keep that on till Muirhead comes and has a look at you," Ile au- vised soothingly. "Muirhead ?" asked Joyce. . "You don't mean Muirhead the eye -roan ?" There was just a trace or anxiety in tern an the card on the wall, but he the question. can newspaper that in looking over made n0 eorumenf Ile was a busy eves," admitted Jim Leigh, We some old papers he found a copy of Man, with no time to give to special thought we'd bettertry and get him, the Saturday Evening Post, dated tests, and, beyond a little grunt, he as he's got your cash in hand. You November 19th, 1898, containing an were telling us at dinner how you went article headed What is prophesied exereesed no sign of dissatisfaction, up to see him, and how he said he concerning the Kaiser." From that Joyce ,showed one of the sergeants couldn't quite make out your trouble, article he clipped the following ex - waiting outside tea room his blue f^^^ dropping their beastly bombe au my Moeda and me without doing, seine- t'hing in return ! If they. won't take me for a aaldter at one place, I'll t'ry another. I'11- -" "Gaud man 1" Said Jim apifrovinglY+ —London Answers. "BRING RUIN TO NATION." Prophecy • Concerning the Kaiser is Being Fulfilled. A correspondent tells au Ameri with the ward "Rejected" scrawled you remember. Annabel is trying to across it ; and then, picking his way f.find itis number to get through en the through the crowd of determined -1 trunk 'phone to him.'' Leslie Joyce, fully conscious now, I astonishing his photographers by the looking waiting young men, he reached considered matters swiftly foe sem-o rapidity with which he changes his the street. 1 moments. dress. The other day he had no As he stopped for a moment to light fewer than forty separate portraits taken of himself in his pilgrim's dress. As if this were not enough She was a pretty girl with coppery „0•h, then, I've only been knocked put he had a couple of cameras simultan- hair and big, wide-open hazel eyes, and about half an hour 1' He seemed to eously levelled at him, the Empress the simple holland frock she wore think for a couple of seconds. "I say, seizing the opportunity while her suited her slim young form admirably. husband was in the view to secure "Hallo 1" she called out gaily, catch- you know, I hardly think it—it peen - "Hallo portraits on her own if account. ingsight of him. She slowed down, sary to send to town for Muirhead. g The imperial pilgrim, if tradition and jumped off her machine. "I was ! He's frightfully expensive, isn't he 7" Yes ; but in the matter of this sort goes for anything, should enjoy him- batman to hal just wondering if I should come across • Self while yet he can. It is an oldoOur wounded soldiers have little to P me back again to day you. Well, is it Private Leslie Joyce) "Jusiuggey d kik however. Still,tradition of the house of Hohenzol- or infernal hot orer to the t aTheyrentered Stu light There wasn't a living goilth b found in the trench so I n tract: "The German Emperor is very fond of being photographed, and is a cigarette, a girl on a bicycle came round the corner. "What's the hour ?" he inquired, "Just' half -past nine," Jim told him. "Half -past nine ?" repeated Joyce. li IS THE ' 0,57 IMPORT i TIT U Y©U2 GROCERY ORDER --SEE THAT YOU SET 1T STS NO il' ,ORE D !ilgAflVJ T E,ORDINARY RODE PICK -A -'RACK ON CAPTURED HUN BATTLE ANECDOTE TOLD BY A YORKSHIRE OFFICER, This German Dugout Was Decorated With Most Luxurious Taste. bunks. Never saw anything like it, "There were three cases of beer very good stuff too. I had a bottle myself right away. There were about a hundred eggs, two cut hams, pate de fate gras in little jars, sausages, several boxes of cigars, a case of champagne, a gramophone, and las- bins of cakes and chocolate. There were an electric bell, a smart type- writer, and in one of the bunks I found a lot of ribbons and things from ladies' dresses and a pair of ladies' gloves. Pick -a -Back on the Hun. "I took a despatch case and all the loose papers on the table, and got the now . as you e, lern that three Em erors of the e He raised his straw hat and took his don't you think you'd better see some- p the present offensive in the spirit oP batman to take me pick -a -back an one ?" house will reign in Germany in one good sportsmen. Prom their point of carry the despatch case while I stile cigarette out of his mautn. , year, and that the third will have view the push is a "Great do," "As to my rifle. "Well," he said hurriedly, "I've been Why interrupted the other, a seven sons and will bringruin to "He made quite a good job or carry little nervously. You don't think— good a show as ever I saw," "Soma ing me till we up before the doctor, and—Sud they think there's anything seriously wrong, the nation a well as an end to his shindy, I can tell you," "I•Iot stuff," or got close to the old sap won't have Inc." empire. The first portion of the pre- "A little bit of 'all -right." we used to call 'Rimm•el's' because o do you ?" "What do you mean ?" asked the sent Emperor came to the throne, a ors re battalion, who before ne a chance er through plied Jim diplomatically, "I've had a the war gave hi his left knee—rather a narrow shave girl quickly. She seemed genuinely look at yours, and although Fin not an his father, the Emperor Frederick, and his leisure to outdoor sports and for my own leg—and simply crumpled well—er—" p having ton es a stretcher case, by reason of meant for war, that batman. aren't you ?" within the year prior to his acne- the sharpnel wound in his right thigh. NI a lot of trouble dragging him His floundering speech frightened „ She looked him over as she spoke. Joyce, and once again he put his hand sion, To all outward appearance he was al to the bandage. perfectly healthy, well-built, strong) Good lord 1" he exclaimed, a sud-WAR TO END THIS YEAR. young man. He was tall, finely set up, den dreadful thought frightening him. broad -shouldered and, judging by his „— GIVE SHIELDS TO SOLDIERS VERY THIN STEEL WILL STOP A POINT-BLANK BULLET. Sir Conan Doyle Argues That Attack Should Be Put on Level With Defence. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the fam- e ous English author, writes the fol- d letter to the London Times: - To the Editor of the Times: Sir,—It is a year now since you were good enough to allow me to ex - f press some views about body armor in your columns. Since then, so far as I know, nothing has been done, but now we have got so far that the Min - later of War admits that sometle of the kind may some day come along. To me it seems the most im- portant question of any, and I ear- nestly hope that you will use your influence to keep it before the notice of the authorities. ' Upon.July 1 several of our divi- sions were stopped by machine-gun fire. Their losses were exceedingly heavy,, but hardly any of them were from high explosives. The distance to traverse was only about 250 yards. The problem, therefore, is to render a body of men reasonably immune to bullets fired at .that range. The German first-line trenches were thin- ly held, so that once across the open our infantry would have had no dif- ficulty whatever. Like That of a Roman Soldier. Now, sir,'I venture to say that if three intelligent metal -workers were put together in consultation they would in a few days produce a shield which would take the greater part of those men safely across. We have definite facts to go upon. A shield of steel, of 1-16 of an inch will stop a point-blank bullet. Far more will it stop one which strikes it obliquely. Suppose such a shield fashioned like that of a Roman soldier, 2 feet broad, and 3 feet deep. Admittedly it is heavy—well over 30 lbs. in weight. What then? The man has not far to go, and he has the whole day before him. A mile in a day is good pro- gress as modern battles go. What does it matter, then, if he carries a heavy shield to cover him? Supgose that the first line of storm- ers carried such shields. Their only other armament, besides their hel- mets, should be a bag of bombs. With these they clear up the machine guns. The second wave of attack with rifles and possibly without shields then comes along, while the heavily armed infantry, after a rest, advance upon the next one. Men would, of course, be hit about the legs and arms, and high explosives would claim their victims, but I venture to say that we should not again• see British divisions held up by 'machine guns and shrap- nel.' Why Can It Not Be Tried At Once? Nothing elaborate is needed. Only so many sheets of steel cut to size and furnished with a double thong for arm -grip. Shields are evidently better than body armor, since they can be turned in any direction or form a screen for a sniper or for a wounded man. The present private contrivances1 seem inadequate, and I can well un- derstand that those who could afford, them would shrink from using a pro- tection which their comrades did not possess. Yet I have seen letters in, which :neat have declared that they owed their lives to these primitive shields. Let the experiment be made of arming a whole battalion with proper ones—and, above all, let it be done at once. Then at last the attack will be on a level With the defence. Yours faithfully, ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. For some reason he averted his eyes. diction was fulfilled when the pre- Take the case of a second lieutenant its high scent, on our own front. And Eyes aro very Funny things" re in y g there he got i bullethr s days to office work surprised. Wont have you . Why, and his grandfather, the old Em- p• up like paper. He wasn't expert, it seems to me that—that— surely amusements. He landed at Southam really sursly you're quite fit and strong eros William both h i died This is how he sees bis own particular into our lines, my thigh being rather bit of it : nasty just then. But I got him into "There's no doubt it's a great show. cover at last, though by that time he There's bound to be ups and downs, had another bullet in his shoulder, of course, and in some of the Bache and weeping from sheer funk. Then lean brown hands and sun-tanned Pace,! Good lord, man, you don't mean to' Peace Will Come Suddenly, Asserts regiments there's a goad deal of snap one of our own bearers got us, and tell nee I'm -1"m blind ?" left. But, on the whole, I think we've I was all right, and ah was the bat- he was in excellent physical condition.) Mme. de Thebes. man." '•It's not that I'm all right in one The other did, not answer. got 'em now ; I don't fancy they'll The Paris correspondent of the ever get the upper hand again. I don't • way," he said. "It's my eyes. Can't "I wonder—that is—would you mind taking this bandage off ?" Joyce whis- Berlmgske Tidende, of Berlin, has had want to brag about our chaps, but they understand it, but I couldn't manage pered in a voice which struck him as ! an interview with Mme. de Thebes, are immeasureably superior to any the test at all.' well known French clairvoyant and Sauerkrauter. They're real sports - f singularly unlike his own. astrologer, in which she emphatically He appeared to find something awk-1 I men. You can't make them throw their ward about the ea -planation. Leigh stood up, and leaning over states that the wartwillend before hands up and cry 'mercy !'—they real - "Your eyes ?" she said. "But I him began without a word to undo the the new year. She it was who said ly don't know how it's done. thought your eyesight was quite all bandage. There was a suggestion of in 1913 that the year 1914 would be The Rest Went On. right ? It has never worried you at' reluctance about the way he set to the year of great heroism, and de- "It was as we climbed out over their cricket, or tennis. or anything like work. that, has it ?" There you are!" he said quietly, He shook his head. when it was off. Leslie "That's just it. My eyes are all right es a Joyce uttered a cry of horror. in some ways, but apparently in others His worst fears were confirmed. He they're not." could not see anything at all. She nodded. "My heavens !" he exclaimed frau- following message, without the person who had bones de - "It must be. But what about glass- ticaily, siting up. "I'm blind 9" "Germany has opened the eyes of sergeant, and wounded two or three Blaring that he had known it all the es ? They take men withglasses now, i He began to struggle off the bed. the world and has more. My platoon sergeant wanted to given us all a stay with me, but of course I wouldn't time ; that she had Pelt it in her you know. Besides. if you can't get' Tim Leigh gripped him by the arm. great lesson in military efficiency , have that. What he really wanted was bones• in as a fighting man, why not try an- "Stop where you are 1" he ordered and preparedness. We will always to get on. 'You get on, an' give 'em If the bone barometers could have other branch—the Medical, the Army authoritatively. "Can't you see any- have war. Of course, it is nice to bell 1' I told him ,and on he went with been trained to predict sunshine and dream of peace, to preach peace and the platoon. good crops they would have been very to wish for peace, but as long as I "I was in a bit of a small shell hole. goad things to have and would never there are two men left on the earth :However, after a bit I wriggled back have gone out of style, but a bone conflicts will take lace. It is the that Boehe front line and crossedbarometer was always falling. And p it into a shallo ti at last it has fallen almost out of BONE THERMOMETERS. Going Out of Style—Only a Fraud, Anyway. It is a fortunate thing that bone barometers are going out of style. The people who always felt everything in spite much shedding of blood and parades., making for their second line, their bones were Forever feeling many tears would be a great year for that I got my leg punctured. But it things that nobody wanted them to France and place her in the front didn't hurt a bit, and I went right on. Pahl. It never rained on a holiday, rank of the nations. Mme. de Thebes Our chaps were in whooping film form. the washerwoman neves• failed to at first declined to be interviewed, but And then, only a few yards further, come, the bugs never ate the roses, she finally consented to give him the came that confounded sharp that Ce'pany never appeared unexpected- messed up my thigh killed mysecond ly, nothing unpleasant ever happened Service, or something 01 that sort ?" : thing ? Hold your hand up ! Can you He appeared to have anticipated the see it ?" question of glas.rs. Joyce did as he was bid. "Yes, of course. I know there is "I can't see anything—anything, I still tell you 9" He alma shouted ; he same with nations. The wolf will w sap. was res ng sight. meanato chance run up to to to vnvtotsse a spec gets the ; there when, 1E you'll believe me, I saw ! OP course, bona barometers were began to groan. 1 "Good lord, Fit's a devour the lamb when he a Boehe officer come climbing cau- 1aliSt chap on Saturday. I'm not very judgment on me . A judgment ." I opportunity. btously up out of a big dug -out we'd frauds anyway. They never predicted keen nn any branch but the actual' "A judgment ?" said Jim, holding! "I have predicted that the war will put six bombs in. He was a captain. anything except in the vaguest =a- lighting one, if I can possibly get in him tightly. "What do you mean by: end this year, and I desire to say He bad a bomb in one hand and a rifle and' bayonet in the other ; and he was peering first one way and then the other, like a burglar, 'Oh, you beauty!' I thought. And just then he snuggled She put her right foot on the pedal want to join the army—thought there' and unexpectedly. The roar of the' down against a gap in their parados of her bicycle. were guns will cease over night, and the (back wall of a trench) near the dug- y i plenty without me. I was a out and bedded bis rifle comfortably "Oh, I almost forgot," elle saie shirker—anything you like. I wanted soldiers on both fronts will be called for firing at our chaps in his second "Jim has got four days' leave from the.' a way out that would save my -face, so 1 home to peaceful pursuits. Fate has line. Front, and we expect him home this 'I fooled the doctor—pretended I couldiso decreed it" Four Officers Sniped. afternoon. Come to dinner ; 9 know, not see the letters on the wall. I "You can bet 9 was glad I had my she had beau busy making coolies and you'll lilts to see him," failed an purpose. Then I lied eel SOME STRANGE BRIDGES. rifle and plenty of ammunition. I be- frying chicken the wltols day before "Thanks awfully !" srtid Joyce, "Is Anna—to your sister, I mean. Then Ii • lieve in the good old service rifle. with never a word about rain. he all right ? Gocd ! 1 shall love to lied to all of you, I never saw Muir -Never did bother with revolvers and It was a source of wonder and in see him. At seven, then!" head at all !" One of Them, in Britain, Goes Back things. So I got a beautiful bead on latest that grandmother should have to the Ninth Century. this chap, and a second later he was— known that there was going to be a somehow." i that 7" ! now, despite all circumstances and "Good 1" said the girl approviugly, II "I mean I've been fooling you—all 01I arguments to the contrary, that "Go to a good man and tell him he You—about my eyes. There was note -j peace will be declared before the new must put you right 1" site laughed l ing wrong with them But I didn't year. And peace will come suddenly tier until it had happened and nobody oared what they had to say about it then, or at least if anybody did care, it was too late to do anything but care. Grandmothers, as pleasant and useful as they were in other ways, were of- ten the most determined of bone baro- meters. Anybody who remembers a day when there was going to be a pic- nic and it rained will remember that grandmother said that she had told you so, although, as a matter of fact, For some reason Leslie Joyce! "I guessed moat of this," said Jim —T wonder where dead Boches go 1 • cyclone or a flood or an earthquake frowned to himself several times be- quietly, from what you said Muirhead Probably no town in the world has "I charged my breech again, and no in some far-off locality, but the ''act fore he reached the banit where he,told you. I happen to have studied such strange bridges as Srinagar, the sooner done that than my nest target that She knew it was going to lain and worked, He was very fond of Anna - eyes, you know, made rather a capital of Cashmir, in India. The city bobs up—a lieutenant, I got him while spoil the picnic and sever said a word bel Leigh, but as for her brother Jim— speciality of 'em at Guy's, as a matter is built on the banks of the River he was looking at his captain ; I about it till afterward was enough to "Confound 9" be muttered when he of fact," !Jhelum, which is crossed by many aimed for his shoulder blades, but the make one lose faith in the prophecies thought of Jim Leigh.! There was silence for a second or wooden bridges lined with old and 111- old gun kicked a bit and I got him of her bones, and may account for the It was on Saturday night that thetwo, and then Joyce spoke. apidated shops and houses with hal through the Bead. Seemed I might as fact that they are going out of style Zeppelin dropped its explosive bombs "Well ?" he said. "Well, are you go -I conies and lattice windows. Some of well be in a grouse butt, and nothing just as grandmothers are in,so many on Barrgate. ling to give me away ?" )these are very insecure, and look as less than officers for targets, mind other ways. The Leigits were sitting out on the "That depends," answered Jim, "on tf they might at any time fall into you. Well, to cut it short, two more 0Y course, it was not always - the river beneath. lieutenants came up from that same mothers, There were many bone bar - lawn when Jim's quick, war -accustom -I what you are prepared to do.' I dug -out ,making in all three lieutenants ometers among the loafers that used ed ears first beard the hum of the gas- Do 7" quarried Joyce. "What do' Timber has always been largely and one captain, and I got 'ant all. to sit around the stove 4n the village bag's engines. You mean ? What can I do ?" , used for building bridges, and the "And when a private came up, with grocery store or over the register in "Hallo 9" be acid quite calmly and "You might joist the Army yet," eaid earliest one of this kind on record is never a weapon of any sort in his the elty corner drugstore. And the coolly. . "That's not. a 'plane. I'll bet the other reflecti$ely. "You have just that which Julius Caesar made across hand, and the fear of God in his white things they felt in their bonzes were my boots. /letter take cover, ail of said you wish you had," the Rhine, and which he describes in face. 'You're a Boche; I thought. enough to make the world rheumatic, you. Como on, malar," Joyce broke in wildly. his "Commentaries." probably a batman (servant), but ser- with all the Scandals, the misfortunes, The roofed Kapellbruche, at Lu- tainly a them - Annabel ; and you ought to be the wars and the crop failures. It is FIa took his tna#iter's arm, while "Don't talk such rot I How can I shot, but you've got nothing in your not, you see, so much the things the - Annabel and Leslie Joyce, who had got join the Army ? I'm blind, you fool, cerne, ie one of the interesting. It slily hands,' It was too much like a selves that matter as it is lila wayweback from his visit to the London eye blind !" crosses the River Reuse diagonally, sitting bird, you know. Couldn't man- feel about them, and there is no snse bones specialist in time to join them at din- As he finished speakitigJim Lei I and has a hundred and twelve trian-age it. 'Here I' I shouted at him. And at all in feelingthings inyour got indoors, got off the bed, tip -toed tothe electric•: gular paintings beneath the roof,re- do you know, he fell just as if I'd shot before they hapen nd tltnfeeling net., followed. They had.g when Mrs. Leigh discovered she: had light switch, and turned on the light. Switzersording tand thehe le sufferings f theideeps of the r r hi I tried hard to remember some pet,m. in other places after they ban- , left her bag outside. ' Then he turned round and locked into]patron Saints. In the midst of the German. Well, I managed to clamber I'll got it in a weed volunteer- the blinking eyes of the other man. back to that trench and poke the Kapellbruche stands an octagonal ed Joyce, "That's right ! Have a goad look'tower, which formed part of the for - found with the butt of my rifle till he LOYAL TO BRITISH RULE. And, taking no notice of ,Jim's round, old chap ." he °heckled. "And tower, ns of the town in the tfor- found himself a little and stood up. _ warning, he ran back to the lawn, kindly observe how siillfufly T ltave'teenth century. Tho bridge was built I meant to see that blessed dugout. Natives Grateful for Defeat of the As he did so, from out of the black -I put away, or covered up, every light in 1333. Perhaps Chey'vo got their blooming Mad Mullah. pees of the night hurtled a bomb. It, object in the room. Jolly thick cur- general staff there, T tb.ought, fell into the kitchen One of. the curious and ancient A letter has been received by the garden, beyond tains those are, too." 'Dieser. Dugout" the lawn, at the precise Instant Joyce, Leslie (bridges to Europe.is that at Croyland,Anti•Slavef•y and Aborigines Proton- y es a Joy Ile round, and then, in Lincolnshire, which is supposed to "I had to get the Boche's help, but tion Society in London from native was stooping to pick up Mrs, Leigh's in tense relief, he altered the one' date from.the ninth century, No couldn't think ]tow to tell him in Ger- headmen at Aden, expressing appreola- bei, and far a. moment he was con-; word, "Spoebed 1" road now passes over and no water man what T wanted. Finally, T made tion of the asefetaLce of a British scions of a Bright flash, followed by a, "Spoofed, as you say, agreed Jim, under it. It consists of reran pointed him understand. Laolc hors, Boshy,` naval force in repelling a recent hos- Dice, of minor earlhcjuake. The ground "Naw, what about it 7 Am I to give I said, 'Ioh villa at ?'t dieser bloominfila attack by the Mad Mullah: arches, which meet in the centre, and duacnit. Got that 7' Then I sail, When the Mad Mullah had captured seemed to rise upf and l him in the; you away 9" He moved towards the the ascent is so steep that only foot 'Doniverwettei' !' and stented at him Desooray and was about to kill off rune, and there after all was black to loon risen ars ran o over it. Upon ten hint. ".Por Ileavon's solea," exclaimed the p g g to show there was no ill -feeling, and the inhabitants timely help came When he yoke up, someone was l still bewildered Joyce, bridge is a seated figure in stone of a hq managed to make connection. from a British ship, In the words of bending over him. 7 yce, "don t hush like robed Saxon king. "That dugout was a bit knocked the headmen I this, man Where are you going ?" ----49 abort, you know, by our six bombe, "The conthivancs of Aro was most "Steady on, old chap 9" said a voice' : "To find Annabel," replied Jim• "l'm But right at the hackofthe lowest effective and so terrific that the brute •--Jim Leigh's voles -•- To out of the black-' going lc tell not to worry about Tax Gourmands. rmands. corner thyro was a sharp twist to Matl Mullah had to run awayfrom hi nt�ss. It was curiously dark and blade that call to Muirhead, that you can The french. Government is propos• the right and a door with broken fortified 'position,and we s believe e 1 to he +do you fuel --1 mush better their you contd. A sort ing to 'tax heavy diners. Those lux- glass panda, taken .from �a farmhouse will no ore try to comp back Co the all rear+' him. 'How eh 1"of blarvellons cure, you know—what 7" Uriobuj ones, who even in war time by the look of It. . Through that we place, "A bit cheap !" he admitted. 'What Tell her—tell her anything eat g meals at restaurants, will have wont along a passage, turned to the Surely we have found in the come hnirpened? an 1"e hetsdlnitie, Isn't it of truth lent yt ng but the to pay, according to the terms oe the left down four steps, and into a re- blander a saviour of aur place attd. pleaded sd Joyce, with sudden measure, live per cent, nn the amount, gular boudoir. Dugout ! Why, there people. May God give him- ton life Jim sat down ontbo heel beside him, .earnestness, Theft he became. vette. by which their bill exceeds one dol., i "Olt, they lust missed you when ynu mart,' "I what have tease fiends int (five trance).beautiful tapestry i enhance such heroic was a 'Turkey estry on rtfo floor and and prosperity to enitan beaut u tap sty Curia ns to the wgrks• HUN CHANCELLOR • • IS SLY DECEIVER MORE DANGEROUS THAN 1!34JL, LIES OF PRUSSIA, 9lis "Pence" Programme Said to be Intended to Divide the Allies, Bethmann Hollweg, Chancellor of the German Empire, has been knowat these many years as the "Philosopher of Hohen-Finow," which is his family estate an hour or so from Berlin. Be- cause of his lanky form and the sup- pleness of his backbone it has ap- parently become the custom to con- nect his name with a grin, writes Charles Tower, special correspondent in Holland of the London Daily Mail, But the philosopher of Hohen- Finow is cleverer than his critics. He has a good portion of the slyness which makes up for want of wit in the sandy villages of Brandenburg, and he is not so dour as he pretends. His back is doubtless supple, and yet he is not merely, a political contor- tionist, Bluntly written, he is not such a fool as he sometimes looks. Reventlow, who being really a mild -eyed scribe, pictures himself as a kind of Teutonic knight slaughter- ing the English with a huge two - handled sword; the portly Basser- mann, who excommunicates us, by bell, book, and candle; Von Heyde. brand, the Conservative and agrarian Hotspur, who would like to spit us with a stable fork, are disagreeable ng people; but they are almost pain- fully honest. "As Poison of Asps." When they say they are determin- ed to have all Europe and half Asia as "compensation," you know that those really are their ideals; when they insist that everything that floats on the surface of the water shall be sunk ruthlessly, you know that they are not consciously bluffing and that this is really the submarine policy they desire. If you prick Von Bethmann Hollweg you are apt to produce only the milk of human kind- ness, which, in a Prussian, is as the poison of the asps. For the Prussian character is naturally as coarse and crude as the sandy soil of the Mark of Brandenburg; when its tone is diplomatic and its demands have a modest ring it is exceeding danger- ous. The crazy peace terms demand- ed by Reventlow and by the congre- gation of East Prussian Junkers or feudal barons are not dangerous, be- cause they are perfectly honest— the moderation of Bothmann Hollweg, "just a rectification of frontiers east- wards'Poland a buffer State, and westwards well, we only want something that will guarantee that peace shall last, and we shall not be immoderate"; this is dangerous, be- cause it is essentially dishonest. Now the philosopher and tail - wagger are equally dangerous be- cause they have one purpose—to de- ceive, if possible, the allies. Fortun- ately, there is German evidence of this. Georg Bernhard, writing in the Vossische Zeitung, of Monday, July 24, says: "We must reckon now more than before with the possibility that there will arise among our enemies a general feeling which will loosen their union and bring before their eyes the endlessness and uselessness of further fighting." He goes on td say that the enemy will be the more discouraged as they see Germany able and determined to go on fighting if necessary, and he ends, "they will be all the readier to accept conditions of peace which are intelligently and cleverly formulated by us." Swift Disillusion, Georg Bernhard hits the nail on the head, Von Bethmann-Hollweg be- lieves,probably,rightly, that he can formulate terms of peace more "in- telligently and cleverly," that is more deceptively, than Reventlow the Ruthless and Hotspur-Ilcydebrancl, Even now the Chancellor's party in their purely academic discussions of possible peace terms are pursuing what they suppose to be a diplomatic plan. They want it to be understood that with France, Germany has hardly any quarrel, because they con- sider that for many years to come she will not be dangerous. Nor do they (openly) wish to embitter fur. titer English Radicals, so they sug- gest that a restoration of Belgium is by no means beyond the bounds 01 possibility, while Serbia at•d Monten- egro are now includedwithin the bounds of their generosity. 13y such arguments they hope, as Bernhard explains, to weaken the bonds unit- ing the allies and even to weaken the unity of Britons among. them- selves. And that is the hint conveyed to Germans in the single word "Di- vide" which heads one of these peace" articles. BRITAIN LEADS AS BUILDER. Constructs More 9ilerchantmen 'than Any Other Nation. Great Britain, although hampered by the drain of war and 'a big naval construction programme, still leads tite world in building merchantmen,' according to a statement issued be the United. States Bureau of Naviga- tion at Washington, D,C. ILer ship- yards have under actual construc- tion now 423 steel merchant ships of 1,423,886 tonnage, and would" have more but for the fact that private yards are engaged in building war vessels, The entire world in 1915 launched' 743 merchant ships,oe 1,201,038 ten- nage. Of these, eighty-four, of 177,- 460 tonnage, were launched in the United States, • Meaning Different. Dentist --Excuse me a moment,. please. Patient --Where aro you going ? Dentist—Before beginning work on you,I must have my drill, Patient --Great Scott, Ina a, can't you pull a tooth without a rehearsal Ideate, "Pa, what nr'e ideals 7" "Ideals, my boy, are a mum's holies to be something' better than, he over oxpeets to bet" -.a e 1