LAND AND AVATEE 
October 3, 1914 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
EiiKlciuere, Ascot, Berks. 
September 10, 19H. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sib -Tho result of my appeal to sportsmen who are 
,n.blo to take the field to give the use of their race glasses 
fiekl glasses, or stalking glasses to our non-eon>ni.ssioned 
offimlundc; orders for the front, has been most gratifying. 
In the fii^t three days afU>r tho issuo of the appeal over 
2,000 glasses were received. These glasses are being dis- 
tributed as rapidly as possible <^»'°"g .t^-^^s""", ^°^"X ,h, 
officers destined for active service. I should iko to Uko tho 
on'ortunUy 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 
^ovc in the field. Those who do not possess field glasses, and 
tlij desire to assist, should send cheques to the Secretary, 
NationaJ Service League, 72, Viclona^stieet, London, b.N\ . 
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. In all cases an index number is stamped 
upon the glasses, and a record of their disposal registered at 
tho offices of tho National Service League. 
Yours very truly, 
Egberts, F.M. 
WAR PUBLICATIONS. 
AlcoNO works of fiction peculiarly applicable to tho ■present time 
must be reckoned Walter Blocm's The Iron Year, recently publisdied 
by Messrs. John Lane. It is wortliy of note that this 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 I^iser read it alond to tho 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 lovo of a French officer 
for a Gennan girl. Tho work bears the stamp of reality, and tlio 
book is interesting as a study of the first struggle between the two 
nations from a fairly miprejuaiced point of view. 
A VERV useful little pocket book for junior ofHcers on service 
ffas been issued by The World' i Work, of Bedford Street, Strand, at 
t!ie price* of half a crown. The book is novel in form, being linked 
at the back after the manner of loose-leaf pocket books, in order to 
«ave wear on the back of the cover, and pages and cover alike are 
waterproofed. Contents include an English-French-Gei-n.an vocabulary 
of most necessary phrases, notes on reconnaissance and map reading 
field engineering; field messages, and practically aU the points tliat 
»rn ronbtantlv croppinR up in the course of field operations. Light, 
"andytc"thoro.fghl/ serviceable, the little book fs one that every 
junior officer might with advantage add to his outiit. 
If Ecruhardi showed us the doctrine by means of which Germany 
hopes to domin.-ite the world, so, just as surelv, Franz Beyerling, in 
his book Jena or Sedan/ shows us tho material with which Ccrmany 
is to accomplish its ambition. Bernhardi is the enthusiast, recognising 
difficulties, but believing in tho power of the nation to overcome all 
difficultieo and its riglit to make the attempt for world-power; 
Beverlin-' is the critic, a German writing from a German viewiMint, 
and telling of things as he £e<.3 them— as they are. His story con- 
cerns only the life of a German garrison; it embodies no hinh-l:own 
phrases, no attempt at the expression of a creed or » belief; it is a 
iimple recital of fact, and as such is a terrible indictment of the 
German army. He tells how, though the world has aclvanced 
immeasurably in the past four decades, the German army has advanced 
not one step; it is still tho wooden machine of Great Fredericks time, 
and so simply is this shown that the force of the lesson is doubled. 
For those who would learn tho real causes contributing to German 
errors as a military power, this story, with its wonderful i-eahsm 
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 
tho armies taking part therein. Messrs. Heinemann have done well in ' 
issuin" a two-shilluig edition of this remarkable book at tho present 
""^Messes. Kegan, Paui., and Co. have recently reissued von dcr 
Goltz's Conduct of War in one half-guinea volume. While prof essing to 
bo only a summary of "the various ways of manipulating troops of which 
use can be made in war," it is a manual of instruoUon for tJie conduct 
of war as well as a. work of considerable historical value. We recom- 
mend it to all who make a serious study of operations in tho field 
of the present c.impadgn, as well as to those who deeire to read miliUry 
history intelligeutlv. It« author was no theorist, but, as a lieutenant- 
general, with practical war experience, was able to base his etatements 
on work actually accomplislied as well as on the experience of former 
commanders. Together with the work of Clausewitz, published by the 
same firm, this mu&t rank among the most important booke of the 
season. ~ . 
The autumn show of the National Rose Society having been 
abandoned for this year, the Council of tho Society, at a recent mect- 
inK unanimously decided to send a donation of fifty gumeas to the 
^ Relief Fund which is being raised by the Society's Hoyal Patroness, 
' Queen Alexandra. 
The militarv authorities are purch-asing 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 \vhile 
there is a surplus in another, farmers are urged to assist the \\ar 
Office by staXing the quantity of produce they have to sell at fair 
market price. 
SPORTSMAN'S BATTALION 
1 
(Sanctioned by LORD KITCHENER). 
SPBCIALr NOTICE. 
Applicants who have already enrolled will please report at the Hotel Cecil, Indian 
Room, Embankment entrance, for War Office 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. 
Terms of Subscription to 
"THE COUNTY GENTLEMAN 
LAND AND WATER" 
(Established 1862), 
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CANADA— Twelve Months £110 6 
ELSEWHERE ABROAD-Twclve Months... £1 17 
The above rates Include all Special Numbers and include 
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SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM. 
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To the PuhliBher of " THE COUNTY GENTLEMAN 
AND LAND AND WATER," ILLUSTRATED, Cenlral 
House, Kingsivay, London, W.C. 
Please forivard weekly from this date, post free, for 
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Address in full^ 
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Telegraphic Aildross : " AoESDOErif, Wkstcest, Lokdos." Te'.eplione: Reg r.si 4572 (Private Braueli Exchange), 
BACK COPIES of "LAND AND WATEB," containing the series of Articles bj HILArRE EELLOC, "THE WAB BY IiAND"; and FEED. T. JANE, "THE WAK 
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