Evening star., 1917-01-21
A HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR. By
Arthur Conan Doyle. New York:
George H. Doran Company.

HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR. BY
Arthur Conan Doyle. New York:
George H. Doran Company.
- HIS is the first of the three
volumes by means of which
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle pro-
jects his history OF the great
war. It's subject Is the cam
paign of the British in France and
Flanders during the year 1914. An in
PRODUCTION gathers up the slow ripen-
ing of European politics and diplomacy
to the point of war. This is a particu-
larly fair-minded survey. conspicuous
ly free from rancor. concerned with
the logic of conditions rather than with
the animosities Of an aggrieved per-
sonal patriotism. Beyond this intro
duction, the volume deals with the
great battles of 19l4-with the battle
OF Mons, Of LIE Cateau, of the Marne, of
the Aisne, and the first battle of Ypres.
The relation of the opposing forces in
number and position. the strategy Of
the particular movements. and the re-
suit of the battle. together with in
Vulnerable close-range pictures Of the
peace to the new demands of war. these
make up the general points taken into
consideration in the study of battles.
AS the forces settle into the lull Of the
winter of 1914 the writer, in a wider
outlook, sums the situation of affairs
at sea, notes the loss of the colonies
by Germany, defines the position of
Italy. This is story OF the year OF
resistance During 1T the western al
lies had been grievously oppressed by
their well prepared enemy. They had
been over-weighted by numbers and
even more so by munitions. For space
H. k1n
much for them. Then with splendid
rally they had pushed the enemy back.
There was now coming the long anx-
ious year of equilibrium, the year 1915:
1t is the year 1915. the year OF eGuin-
brium," that makes the subject Of the
second volume of this highly interest
ing and graphic history
Sir oliver Lodge. author of THE
Survival of Man." etc. New York:
George H. Doran Company.
To set the purpose Of this remark
able book clearly before one 1t seems
best to approach 1t by way or Its
third, and last. part. For this Is the
general exposition Of a subject which
is given a special and. therefore, lin
tied consideration in the earlier parts
of the book. The survival OF per-
sonality after death is the theme OF
this study. In comprehehslve survey
of the progress already made in the
pursuit of this question. Sir Oliver
Lodge aims to convince one that this
is a genuine branch of the science Of
psychology. that 1t Is. In itself. CO.
herent system of thought with an or
der and laws of its own. that it Is full
Of new facts whose serious inyestiga-
tfon is necessary. It is upon this basis
Of information and this urge toward
the open mind that the earlier parts
of the book depend for their impress
In the middle of September. 1915. the
son of Sir oliver Lodge. Second Lieut.
Raymond Lodge. was struck by a
fragment of shell in a German attack
second part of this book contains the
body of detailed and circum 'tantial
evidence that Raymond has oeen In
personal and intimate communication
with his family and friends here since
that time. The first part OF the vol
ume consists of the boys letters back