LAND AND WATER 
January 30, 1915. 
bj lashing to it a supplementary weight, preferably an addi- 
tional piece of the butt end or stump. A bucket is attached 
by a cord to tho taper end of the sapling, which is then ad- 
justed upon the beam so that it balances liko a see-saw. The 
sapling should be slightly hollowed or cut away at the ful- 
crum where it rests upon tho beam, to prevent it from 
slipping. 
Immediately beneath tho bucket a sump should be dug 
out, into which the slush will drain. The operator stands 
at tho butt end, and by raising this the bucket descends into 
the sump, where it fills, aud is then raised by a downward 
pull upon the butt end, which may have, if necessary, a 
short cord attached to it. The filled bucket is thus hoisted 
well above the trench, and may be swung sideways over the 
edge, deposited and tipped over by a few deft movements 
imparted to the butt. 
This slight exercise, a relief from the monotony of 
doing nothing, would suffice to drain and keep dry a con- 
siderable section of trench. 
Tho accompanying illustration will make clear the con- 
struction of the appliance and its use.— Very faithfully yours, 
ITowAED C. Cleaver. 
35, Berners Street, W., January 18, 1915. 
THE GERMAN MIRAGE OF 1870. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sib, — I have been glancing over the work which was 
translated and edited by Major-Gcneral J. F. Maurice, C;B., 
about fifteen years ago, on the Franco-German War, written 
by the German generals who took part in it. It is well worth 
re-esamination to-day, as there can be little doubt that the 
easy victories therein described have done more than any- 
thing to egg on tho Kaiser and the Military party in Ger- 
many to their present campaign. Here, for instance, is what 
Lieutenaut-General Albert vou Boguslawski wrote of the 
French preparations in 1870; — 
" The results of the mobilisation were on the whole so 
defective that tho corps which were already in position 
at the end of July were imperfectly provided with the 
needful traius, ambulances, ammunitions, and provision 
columns, so that tho offensive movement planned for the 
3Ist July had to be postponed, and meanwhile the Ger- 
mans anticipated the French attack. Tho French forti- 
fications were very insufficiently garrisoned, and them- 
selves were for the most part antiquated and unfit to 
offer any lengthy resistance to the artillery of the Ger- 
mans. Of the fortresses on tho frontiers, Metz alone had 
advanced forts, aud even these were partly unfinished." 
The conclusion of this German general's remarks upon the 
war of 1870 is of interest, since by reversing the names of 
France and Germany, it describes exactly the position to- 
day: — 
" Tho challenge of France made the national sentiment 
of Germany burst into full flame. All internal disputes 
were forgotten, and the whole German army down to the 
liumblest of the rank and file was inspired by a sense of 
the righteousness of their cause, and filled with defiant 
courage, with an assurance of victory, and with the firm 
determination once for all thoroughly to settle accounts 
with the old enemy." 
Could any better description be pennc3 of the feelings 
•nd intentions of the Allies? — ^Your obedicut servant, 
J. LAXDFEAn Lucas, 
Spectacle Makers' Co. 
Glcndora, Hindhead, Surrey. 
FIELD-GLASSES. 
To the Editor of Land axd Watee. 
Sib, — Although the appeal made by my father. Lord 
Eoberts, to sportsmen and others, to lend their race, field 
or stalking glasses for the use of officers and non-commis- 
sioned officers under orders for the front has Ibeen most grati- 
iying a very large number of glasses are still required. 
Up to the present some 18,000 pairs of field and stalking 
glasses have been received. These have been carefully 
examined and classified by an expert before being issued. 
The names and addresses of the owners are registered, and 
the glasses themselves are engraved with an index number 
in order thai the owners can be traced at the conclusion of 
tho war and their property, when possible, returned to them. 
Many people who did not possess field-glasses felt that 
they would like to contribute towards the fund which has 
been raised for the purpose of purchasing them, and sent 
cheques instead. 
My father was deeply grateful for the generous response 
made to his appeal, but at the same time lie realised that an 
even greater number of glasses would be required, tho stock 
in hand being neai'ly exhausted, while tho call for them was 
continuous. He had made up his mind to appeal to the 
public once again, and a letter to this effect had been vn'itten, 
but not signed, before ho left for Franco. I therefore ven- 
ture to make this further appeal in his name. 
All contributions will be dealt with in the same way as 
formerly and duly acknowledged. 
It is important to note that all glasses, cheques and 
communications should be addressed to the Secretary, 
National Service League, 72, Victoria Street, Westminsterj 
S. W. — I am. Yours faithfully, 
AlL££N HoBESIS. 
WHAT OUR CHEMISTS ARE DOING. 
To tho Editor of Land and Water. 
Sir, — Letters such as the one in your issue of the 23rd 
inst., signed H. J. C. Grierson, unless contradicted, do much 
harm; they make people think that everything our Army has 
is inferior to that of the enemy, lie states that " we have 
been caught again, with an inferior armament, shells, torpe- 
does, etc." I cannot speak with authority on torpedoes, but 
1 fancy when wo come to use them they will be found not 
wanting. I have served for forty years in the Royal Artillery,- 
60 know something about guns, and can state that our shrap- 
nel shell and fuzees arc superior in every way to those of the 
Germans. Only this morning I have received a letter froiii an 
R.A. officer who has been out since the beginning of the war, 
aud in it he says : — 
" The high-csplosive of the 6-inch howitzer is a wonder-* 
fully good shell. It always detonates even on the softest 
ground, and with great effect. I have never seen any German 
shell, even the 11-inch they had up at Ypres, to equal it fori 
force of explosion." 
I think this is an answer to his question, " '\Mia-t are our, 
chemists doing?" — Yours faithfully, 
R. A. 
THE ADRIATIC. 
To the Editor of Land and Watee. 
Deab Sib, — As a very interested reader of Land and 
Watee for many years 1 take the liberty of asking for a little 
more information regarding the operations in the Mediter- 
ranean. 
In a recent issue Mr. Jane states " th.'^t the Allies 
have made no attack because they have had nothing to 
attack." Surely, if the enemy Fleet is not in open water it 
must Fe lying in Pola and Cattaro, neither of which ports 
would seem proof against guns of large calibre, and the cnly 
conclusion one can come to is that our attempt to reduce those 
places bears a very poor comparison with the Japanese 
methods at'Kiao-chau. 
I feel sure that numbers of your readers will be glad to 
hear from Mr. Jane on this matter, as I have met such quan-? 
titles of interested people who seem to think that a veil ia 
drawn over doings in this particular area. — Yours truly, 
J. A. Burns. 
Abbey View, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. 
A STUDY IN SELF-EXPRESSION.* 
Though concerned largely with sociological problems, and 
this in no dreary and wearisome fashion, the dramatis peraona 
of this novel are not made sub.nervient to the theme, nor 
allowed to be merely pegs on which to hang ideas of social 
reform and other things. Philip Crayford, pathetic in his 
solitude, is the central figure, albeit his dominance is more 
felt than insisted on. We feel his son Paul, around whom 
the story is woven, to bo altogether a lesser though probably 
more arresting character, and the author has given us a fine 
study of tho young man's groping for self-expression, reaching 
out towards his ideal, and coming to its attainment tJirough 
apparent failure. The feminine characters command less 
sympathy ; it is not easy to see Joan Altringto.n, the princi- 
pal woman character, with Paul's eyes, for to us her innate 
worldliness, covered with a gloss of sentiment, render her 
an improbable source of inspiration. It is a relief to turn to 
Mrs. Kennaird, sincere, though lacking Joan's inbred delicacy. 
Taken altogether, there aa-e many types here worth con- 
sidering, and we commend this book as a thoughtful and 
really interesting work. 
* " The Young Man Absalom." By E. diaries Viviac. (Chapmaa 
and HaU. 6».) ■ 
16* 
