The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-11-16
WILSON FIRST AMONG WAR
 STATESMEN.

William Martin, famous European foreign cor respondent and author of several books has writ ten book on the Statesmen of the War-Il Retrospect 191S-192S' that is attracting lot O ass American and European interest. The New Yorl Herald Tribune, reviewing the book, it shows penetrating under
 standing of underlying forces. For those
 who know little of Europe of the twen-
 tieth eeitury it may be startling for
 those who know much of pre-war and - postwar politics it offers challenging
 and suggestive interpretations of the
 statesmen who loomed large in the eyes
 of their contemporaries a decade ago.
 Of the author, the Herald Tribune says:
 William Martin is excellently equip
 ped for the task of assessing the worth
 of most of the men about whom he has
 written As foreign correspondent in
 different European capitals before and
 during the war he brought person
 ally in contact with most of the political
 leaders of the day Since 1924 he has been foreign editor ct the Journal de
 Geneye,' of the most influential
 dailies in Europe. For several weeks of
 each year during the meetings of the '- Council and the annual session of the
 Assembly of the League of Nations, his
 editorial analyses studied by the
 statesmen from every part of the world.
 Through his newspaper work he has gained we'll merited reputation for courage and fairness.
 reading of Martins book makes it clear that he regards Poincare and Wilson as the greatest statesmen of the war and that the latter has first place in his judgment and affection He places Wilson for rectitude of his purposes - and his influence on history unhestatngly with Washington and Lncoln, and gives him first - place among all the war statesmen for the far reaching benefcenee of his work. A typical ex- erpt, speaking of Wilson:
 The influence he wielded oyer the history of the world has been deeper and more benefcent than that of any of his contemporaries Most of the faults charged against him were faults which he could not hep-and almost everything the peace contains that is good and lasting and really constructive was his work. If today his name is uttered with veneration by millions of men, if his tomb has become a place of pilgrimage and if the League of Ma
 tions exists-it is because President
 Wilson died for ideal!
 While he is an admrer of Brand whom he lustily defends against charges that he is "lazy ignorant variable and skeptical," it is plain that Poincare, next after Wilson, holds the author abiding esteem. He describes him as hard working lawyer with unexcelled clarity of mind and fxity of purpose and declares he has proved to be "on three or four historic occasions the man essential to the welfare of France" Summing up Poincare, he says
 NJ Poincare has been the inearna- ton of his race; he has always wished to be link between all his country men, The national union, the cult of justice have been the aim and source . of all his actions. But it is only of late that he has been allowed to see France united at last in respecting his
 
 Reading between the lines it is clear that Martin has little relish. for the brilliant but tortuous mentality of Lloyd George He says the Englishman prefers a man he can trust to one he can merely admire; nevertheless once or twice in hundred years the English Tall under the spell of an adventurer." Different - his attitude toward Grey Sir Edwards enemies may say all they like about his ignorance: only his friends know how deep he really is" says Martin.
 The author admires the ability genius and patiotsm of Venizelos, but, writing before the Greek statesman's recent victory, which made him again the incomparable force for Greek unity he mistakenly assumed that the great Cretians career had ended in partial at least failure He concludes his sketch:
 The great misfortune of this man. who loved his country no other has, will be to leave behind him greater Greece, but which is. trough his mistakes, more divided than ever before As one of his biographers has said with !, yerity and severity His na me is still
 symbol of glory to some, of hatred to others and of discord to all"