Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-25


Crosby unsparingly and effectively ridi-
cules the British policy toward the latter
country. He CharacteriZes the. Younghus-
band expedition to Lhassa mistake of
policy and an unwarrsnted aggression upon
a peaceful inoffensve people. He waves
aside absurd the claims of the British
government that the enterprise was war
ranted by the trade distractions of the
Tibetans, aud proves the preposterous char
acter of the real basis of the movement.
which was that a Russian Buddhist at
Lhassa had persuaded the Dalai Lama
10 send presents to the car. Suggesting
that even IL 1t be true that the Russians
were trying to gain dominance at Lhassa
Mr. Crosby characterizes as absurd the
assertion that British protectorate
over, If not actual posse son of, Tibet is
necessary for the safeguarding OF the In
dian frontier from the imaginary Russian
aggressions of the future. He asserts en-
phatically that Russia could not possibly
invade India through Tibet. inasmuch as
the latter country Is incapable of support
ing a large army, being treeless, and there
fore inadequately provided with fuel. and
even now barely supporting Its own popula-
latioh, while from climatic point of view
1t is bitterly inhospitable to foreigners dur
Ing long period of each year. Further
more even If a great Russian army could
manage TO maintain itself in Tibet long
enough to organize an attack, IL could never
get over the Himalayan barriers, where a
comparatively small force, supported by the
terrors of the elements, would be able TO
hold all the Russian military strength at
bay Indefinitely. A Russian army, he de-
clares, would perish miserably IN the
passes.
Furthermore England has. by this H.
considered action. made an enemy of Tibet
and weakened the confidence of Afghanis-
tan in the good faith of the British admin
istration in India, thus lessening the value
OF that state as a buffer to ward off any
possible Russian advance from the north
west.
A result of the British aggression upon
Tibet. however modified by the action of
the London government in softening the
terms of the so-called treaty of Lhassa,
which is of serious consequence to the
world at large, Is that England and Russia
are now both well established, potentially,
II not actually at the very back door of
China. being in a position 10 proceed grad
ually to eucroach upon the Chinese domains
and TO effect a partition or absorption from
the west while international attention Is
centered upon the situation on the eastern
borders.
The volume is replete with quotable ma
terlals, and It is unsafe to indulge in the
temptation to make extracts from the
pages. Mr.. Crosby's descriptions of the
scenery. his anecdotes OF the journey
through Turkestan, the southwestern cor
ner OF Tibet and the Kashmir region of
India. and above all his narrative of the
grave peril through which he and his COM
paniou and their attendants passed on the
great plateau OF Tibet are all of absorbing
Interest. The work is profusely illustrated
from photographs most of them taken by
of Washington.
THE COUNTRY DAY BY DAY. BY e.
Kay Robinson, author of To-day With
Nature" &c. Illustrated from photo
graphs. New York: Henry Holt & Co.
Washington: William Ballantyne &
Sons. s~s-s,
Vertically, from day to day. The author,
who shows an ardent affection for nature
IN every sentence, proceeds through the
year as a diarlst intent upon. noting every
sign OF the progression of the seasons.
the varying phases of bird and animal and
plant life, the influence of the changes
upon the observer The result is book
calculated 10 soften the sprit,-to arouse
a yearning for the fields and by-paths, the
woods and moors. 1t is English. to be sure
but the American reader knows the lam
guage and appreciates the sensitiReness TO
natural influences which is rejected SO
wildly in these pages The prose becomes
poetic in this treatment of the theme
THE DUKE OF REICHSTADTs (NA-
POi.EoN THE SECOND, n Biog-
raphy Compiled from New Sources of
Information. BY Edward Wertheimer.
Illustrated. New York; The John Lane
Company.
Napoleon Francis Joseph Charles. son OF
Napoleon 1 OF France, is. one of the most
pathetic figures in all history. AT least on
his mothers side direct descendant of q
line of kings. on his fathers side heir to
great and growing empire. he entered
upon this life with rare promise. Had
Napoleon been content with his conquest
OF France and proceeded to strengthen his