Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

Granville ForteScue, author or AT
the Front With Three Armies, etc.
NE objectifes out of this book
the whole of France. includ-
ing the last man Of her most
remote department., modified
and organized for the SUI
preme business of war. That IS the PIC
fure-a picture Of France as an Or
xanized and perfectly co-ordinated unit
working along scores Of contributory
lines to the efficient and conclusive pur-
suit of an unsought war. 1t looks
from this standing point, like huge
business running in the full EMERGENCY
of modern management But, under
this cIean-cut picture, ana ABOVE IT.
and beside it, is another one. And TINS
is the animating picture of the heart
of France, of her intelligence, Oh her
spirit giving to the scene of material
war preparation and pursuit its great
Significance, its profound implications.
To produce this embodiment OF ma
terial and spiritual France. OF the pooy
and soul of the country. Nal Fortescue
takes up the salient facts OF france
takes up Verdun, the Somme lighting:
the sky the land munitions and men,
the streets of a French city stretch
of country side, a shattered town. a
stricken field, riven shrine set up III
medieval days. And he taxes lhe men
and women of France. These make up
the material. out of which with ad-
nnirabIe craftsmanship and not little
of really dramatic and poetic vision
he constructs this orderly and INFORM
Ing and, TO a degree, this really IN
via
If they are true. We cannot have too
many of them. This particular war
book-unpretentio as it is-stands
very high. for the clear range Of its
outlook for its sense of coordination,
for its grasp of the meaning OF the
war and war activities. and for Its feel
ing toward the allied armies, at whose
center stands France.
soUTH WIND. By Norman Douglas.
author Of "OId CaIabria." New York:
Dodd, Mead & Co,
When, for a time-just for time
you feel a need to get out Of the
breathless press of the present. go with
Norman Douglas to the little Island Of
Nepenthe, in the Mediterranean By
this simple and easy shift you will. in
a second. find yourself in another time
and another place, both redolent OF
leisure, and secret newnesSes, and
strange medieval ancientries- The Is
land of Nepenthe takes one into its
picturesque enchantment and suns him
in the long days of its bright behaviors.
And one need not be in solitude here,
for there are most companionable peo-
pie afoot in this tiny span OF earth
One recalls first and foremost that old
pagan, the Able Don Francesca. and
others, less worldly-wise than he, but
only second to him in their powers of
fascinating companionship. In spite Of
the changing scenes that follow so fast
a book of leisured movements, of stop
ping in the midst of some prodigious
event for bouts of the most delicious
humor and for long philosophiZings in
the epicurean strain This is a capti-
waiting story. such. and even more
captivating in its atmosphere and es-
sences.
FIRST CALL; Guide Posts to Berlin.
By Arthur Guy Empey, author of
over the Top" Illustrated. New
York: c. p. Putnam's Sons.
This is great It embodies, literally
embodies, one of the epic journeys of
the worid-the journey from training
camp to trench. Empey has himself
gone over the road. stage by stage.
and now be 10. back. packed as full as
his skiascan hold with the days and
he stands squarely on his,two feet, and
doubles up his two fists, and talks in
his one big voice to the boys, to their
fathers and mothers, to the world itself.
Every word is filled-first with a love
Z, fess 4Ansriea- and her boys, and with q
love for France, and England and
s1t&E-nnd Balgiuu-ax1d this mAnv-