East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-03-20
BOOK SHELF
REvIEvs.

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Barres--Undying spirit OF France.
| NJ. Barres, one OF the foremost liv-
ing French writer's has been a hero
worshiper all of his life. His collec-
tive hero in this lecture, which ne de-
Iiyered in London at the Hail of the
Royal Society, Is the French soldier
| the representative of "The Undying
Spirit of France" Little argument is
needed to convince the living world
Of the nobility of the French people,
\ but we are always glad to have fur
ltFler illustrations OF II. NJ. Barres
quotes frequently from actual letters
written by French soldiers from the
| trenches.
Fernau--Because / Am n German.
This book by>a German writer con-
| sists largely of an examination OF the
anonymous work "J'accuse" and OF
the German answers to 1t. The au-
thor takes the stand that "J'acctise,'
no matter how we may criticise its
thesis has opened the debate on the
question of the responsibility of the
war. AS a German he demands that
the challenge be taken up and that
the instigator of the war individuals
not nations or systems) be punished
lCobb-"Speaking OF Prussians-'
"The author was in Europe as war
correspondent early in the war. AT
| that time he was neutral, represent
ing a neutral nation. He now says,
Il am an American. My country has
clashed with foreign power. and the
enemy of my country is my enemy and
deserving of no more consideration at
my hands than he deserves at the
hands of my country. Moreover,
aim to try to show, as we go along,
| that any consideration OF mercy or
charity or magnamimity which we
might show him would be misinterp-
reted. Being what he is he would not
understand it,
Paine-Ffghting Fleets.
| This book, the first authorized ac-
| count of our naval activities in the
war zone, aims to convey certain
| truthful impressions of the days
| work of the Allied naval forces, to
tell, first of all, what the American
ships and sailors are doing, and TO
give an account of the heroic toll and
achievements of the British navy as
well as the unquenchable courage OF
the French seaports. Mr.. Paine saw
service for five months with the Uni
ted States destroyers and their allies,
and his book is a personal narrative
them. over sixty well-taken photo
graphs increase the vividness and in
terest of the authors narrative"
l lAlIen-Keeping Our Fighters Fit.
THE social, moral. and physical en-
lyironment of our men and boys in
training camp forms the content OF
this book It was written under the
supervision of Raymond B. Fosdick.
chairman of the war and navy de-
partments, commissions on training
camp activities. and had as preface
a special statement by President VIII
son. The author describes with
much intimate detail and illuminat-
ing anecdotes the club life in the
camps; athletics; ;the big sings of
the soldiers, and the undeniable re-
constructive power of song; the camp
libraries and their service: the the
aters and amusements; the unique.
wholly American hostess houses: the
post exchange: and the classes for
educational Improvement"
Van der Essen-Short History of
Belgium.
1 With Belgium's present and pos
sible future absorbing so much of our
attention today, this small volume on
her past written by a professor in the
University of Louvain may prove of
special interest. by consulting her
history one will be able to understand
much more clearly than he did be-
fore why the Belgian nation of today
took the stand it has taken in the
great war and preferred honor in
place of dishonnor, and struggle for
freedom in place of ease. The fight
of the Flemish communes against the
King of France in the fourteenth CEN
1 fury, the great struggle against
Spain in the sixteenth century, and
| the revolution of 1880 are examples
| and inspiration for the Belgians to-
day" The book is dedicated to King
Albert and is illustrated by a number
of ubofograOhs and mans