Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-27
TWO WAR BOOKS
WORTH READING
Belloc in England, Simonds in
America, Explain Things


Twentieth century literature is learn
Ing to popbarize technical subjects with
out distortins or vulgarizlng. Il is sim
ply making plain the mass OF intricate
thinking which intricate subjects have
always demanded, thinking that has
usually been befogged IN the verbal In
eptitudes Of technicians. The value OF
this Goth century progress in letters bulks
a very large and potent fact II builds
that vital basis Of democracy knowledge.
The Great War has furnished two ad-
mirable examples One is English, one
American. Both have made plain the
most complex OF human thoughts and ac-
tlons, In spite OF human thoughts and ac-
cidents which befog the news from bu-
rope day by day.
The Englishman, Hllaire Belloc. and
the American, Frank H. Simonds, nave
shoudered up out OF the ruck OF mill
tary strateglsts" and newspaper experts.
Belloc's brilliant exposition of the tactics
behind the German drive and the French
stand made over n laundering British
weekly and brought II tremendous popu-
larlty. Frank II. Smonds' unsigned war
editorials, printed first In the New YORK
Sun and later in the New York TRIBUNE
and the EVENING LEDGER, brought him
the biggest reputation SO tar evolved Dy
the war. The work OF both men is now
available In book form for comparison as
well as enjoyment.
simonds Second Phase" OF the Great
War" (ditchell Kennerley. New YORK;
covers every angle Of the conflict from
the fall OF Antwerp to the second battle
of Ypres. Because It Is drawn from daily
editorials and from weekly and monthly
articles in the New Republic and the Re-
view Of Reviews the book is naturally
discursive; its backbone is time, nothing
more. But that Is, In a way, --r Simonds'
aim. He is sweeping a tremendous area
with the field glass of suggestion. he
records each battle, estimates forces and
directions of thrusts, explains the con-
fiicting tactics in the large. Between
battles, so to speak, he does more. lie
considers the diplomatic and racial prom
lens involved. He speculates on the et-
fects of new entrants into the war ana
consequent realignments. He knows the
crimes Of European diplomacy in the
Balkans from which the spark OF con-
hict sprang and he knows the strategy
of the Civil War and of the Napoleonic
campaigns down to such minutiae That
comparison of Galician battle line with
an evolution of Lee is as easy and clear
as the general alignment of Grants policy
against the South with General Jofre's
IllDDllllEs AlNOStNhNi q pNNN "a S'9
things made plain.
Bellocs "The Elements OF the Great
War: First Phase" (Hearst's Interna-
tional library Company New York; is
utterly different in conception and eXecu-
ton. but the same in the resultant truth
Writing for a weekly, he could order his
into a singly directed whole. |
And the purpose of that whole is the |
statement Of war conditions and the clar-
hcation of the military strategy by which |
France stopped the immensely superior |
German drive on Paris
Literally, the story of that strategy is
heroic, dramatic. Numbers. preparation,
scientific acumen and confidence, all on |
the side Of Germany. And nothing for |
France but that very lack Of confidence, |,
hat apprecia ton of the enemys supe- !
riority and the consequent need for mar |
yelous fortitude and the livest of strategy |
upon which Napoleonic triumphs were |
ouilt That is the conflict upon which |
Illaire Belloc lifts a world curtain. His |
explanation of the time-honored "open :
strategic square" of the French, how its 1
application led the drive of Kluck to the |
southeast of Paris and then in a moment |
Of completed strategy hurled back. the /
ierman line with power irresistible, |
makes truly dramatic and engrossing 4
narrative. 1t is discovery for the aver |
age reader.