LAND AND WATER 
October 3, 1914 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Knglemere, Ascot, Berks. 
September 10, 1914. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sib,— The result of my appeal to sportsmen -wlio are 
unable to take the field to give the use of their race glasses, 
field glasses, or stalking glasses to our non-commissioned 
ofiicei-s under orders for the front, has been most gratifying. 
In the first three days after the issue of the appeal over 
2,000 glasses were received. These glasses are being dis- 
tributed as rapidly as possible among the non-commissioned 
officei-s destined for active service. I should like to take the 
opportunity of conveying their sincere gratitude to the owners 
who have given them the use of their glasses. 
Most of the glasses received have been of the best modem 
patterns, and it is easy to realise how valuable they will 
prove in the field. Those who do not possess field glasses, and 
who desire to assist, should send cheques to the Secretary, 
National Service League, 72, Victoria-street, London, S.W. 
All glasses should also be sent to this address. 
It will be my pleasure to send a personal letter of thanks 
to those who in this way contribute to the safety and welfare 
of our splendid soldiers. 
Every effort will be made to restore the glasses at the con- 
clusion of the war. lu all cases an index number is stamped 
upon the glasses, and a record of their disposal registered at 
the oflices of the National Service League. 
Yours very truly, 
Roberts, P.M. 
WAR PUBLICATIONS. 
Among works of fiction peculiarly applicable to the present time 
must be reckoned Walter Bloem's The Iron Year, recently published 
by Messrs. John Lane. It is worthy of not« that tiiis book ran through 
twenty editions in Germany shortly after its first publication, though 
most people are not likely to take as a recommendation the fact that 
the Kaiser read it aloud to the members of his family circle. It is, 
however, a well-told and extremely topical story of the year 1870, 
and the personal interest is supplied by the love of a French officer 
for a Gennan girl. The work bears the stamp of reality, and the 
book is interestmg as a study of the first struggle between the two 
nations from a fairly unprejudiced point of view. 
A vi;ry useful little pocket book for junior officers on service 
has been_ issued by The World's Wori, of Bedford Street, Strand, at 
t!ie price of half a crown. The book is novel in iarm, being linked 
at the back after the manner of loose-leaf pocket books, in order to 
■av« wear on the back of the cover, and pages and cover alike ara 
waterproofed. Contents include an English-Frciich-German vocabulary 
of most necessary phrases, notes on reconnaissance and map reading, 
field engineering, field messages, and practically all the points that 
are constantly cropping up in the course of field operations. Light, 
handy, and thoroughly serviceable, the little book is one that every 
junior officer might with advantage add to his outfit. 
If Bernhardi showed us the doctrine by means of which Germany 
hopes to dominate the world, so, just as surely, Franz Beyerling, in 
his book, Jena or Sedan/ shows us the material with which Germany 
is to accumplish its ambition. Bernhardi is the enthusiast, recognising 
difficulties, but believincr in the power of the nation to overcome all 
difficulties, and its rignl to make the attempt for world-power; 
Beyerling is the critic, a German writing from a German viewpoint, 
and telling of things as he sees them — as they are. His story con- 
cerns only the life of a German garrison; it embodies no high-flown 
phrases, no attempt at tlie expression of a creed or a belief; it is a 
simple recital of fact, and as such is a terrible indictment of the 
German army. He tells how, thougli the world has advanced 
immeasurably in the past four decades, the German army has advanced 
not one step ; it is still the wooden machine of Great Frederick's time, 
and so simply is this shown that the force of the lesson is doubled. 
For those who would learn the real causes contributing to German 
errors as a miUtary power, this story, with its wonderful realism 
and absence of all attempt at dramatic effect, is a convincing handbook. 
We recommend it to all students of the war and the fighting values of 
the armies taking part therein. Messrs. Heineraann have done well in 
issuing a two-shilling edition of this remarkable book at the present 
time. 
Messks. Kegan, Paul, and Co. have recently reissued von der 
Goltz's Conduct of Wnr in one half-guinea volume. While professing to 
be only a summary of "the various ways of manipulating troops of which 
use can be made in wa.r," it is a manual of instruotiou for tie conduct 
of war, as well ae a work of considerable historical vaJue. We recom- 
mend it to all who make a. serious study of operatione in the field 
of the present campaign, as well as to those who desire to read military 
history intelligently. Its author was no theorist, but, as a lieutenant- 
general, with practical war experience, was able to base his etatements 
on work actuallv accomplished as well as on the experience of former 
commanders. I'ogether with the work of Clausewitz, published by the 
same firm, this must rank among the most impoi-taut books of the 
season. — 
The autumn show of the National Rose Society having been 
abandoned for this year, the Council of the Society, at a recent meet- 
ing, unanimously decided to send a donation of fifty guineas to the 
Relief Fund which is being raised by the Society's Royal Patroness, 
Queen Alexandra. 
TrtE military authorities are purchasing large quantities of farm 
and market garden produce for the use of H.M. troops throughout 
the country. For the purpose of facilitating supply and of preventing, 
as far as possible, a scarcity of produce arising in one district while 
there is a surplus in another, farmers are urged to assist the War 
Office by stating the quantity of produce they have to sell at fair 
market price. 
SPORTSMAN'S BATTALION 
(Sanctioned by LORD KITCHENER). 
SPECIAL, NOTICE. 
Applicants who have already enrolled will please report at the Hotel Cecil, Indian 
Room, Embankment entrance, for War Ofl&ce Medical Examination and attestation as 
follows : — Applicants from London and Suburbs, October 6th, from 9 a.m. ; Applicants 
from Provinces, October 9th, from 9 a.m. 
THERE ARE STILL A FEW VACANCIES FOR THE RIGHT MEN. 
Apply at once :— Chief Recruiting Officer, Indian Room, Hotel Cecil. Hours 10 to 6. 
THE 
Terms of Subscription to 
COUNTY GENTLEMAN 
AND 
LAND AND WATER" 
(Established 1862). 
AT HOME-Twelve Months 
CANADA— Twelve Months 
ELSEWHERE ABROAD— Twelve Months . 
The above rates include all Special Numbers and Include 
postage. 
£1 
8 

£1 
10 
6 
£1 
17 

SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM. 
191 
To the Publisher of "THE COUNTY GENTLEMAN 
AND LAND AND WATER," ILLUSTEATED, Central 
House, Kingsway, London, W.C. 
Please fonoard weeMy from this date, post free, for 
twelve months and until countermanded to the following 
address, for which I enclose cheque £ 
Name^ . 
Address in full . 
Cheques and Postal Orders should be crossed and made payable to The County Oeatleman Pnbllsbiag Co., Ltd. 
Telegraphic Address : '* AoEKDOacK, Westcest, Loxdok." 
BY WATER," to- 
Tcleplione : Begent 4572 (Private Br,inoh Exchange). 
1 and FEED. T. JANE, " THE WAB 
' THE WAR BT LAND " 
BACK COPIES of " LAND AND WATEK," containinsthe series of Articles liy TTTT.ATRE BELLOC, 
' "'"" " ' f.licv witli a valiuiblo reference, " THE TOPOGBAPHICAL GUIDE," can be obtuiuod tlirougb any Newsagent, or on application to the Offices of 
" LAND AND WATER." 
16» 
