LAND AND WATER 
January 30, 1915. 
by lashing to it • eupplcmenlary weigbt, preferably an addi- 
tiona] piece of the butt end or slump. A bucket is attaclied 
by a cord to tho taper end of the sapling, which ia then ad- 
justed upon the beam so that it balances like a see-saw. Tho 
sapling should be slightly hollowed or cut away at the ful- 
crum where it rests upon tho beam, to prevent it from 
Immediately beneath the bucket a sump should be dug 
out, into which the slush will <irain. The operator stands 
at tho butt end, and by raising this the bucket descends into 
the sump, where it fills, and 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 
c<]ge, 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- 
•truction of the appliance and its use.— Very faithfully yours, 
Howard C. Clea^t:r. 
35, Berners Street, W., January 18, 1915. 
THE GERMAN MIRAGE OF 1870. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sir, — I have been glancing over tho work which was 
translated and edited by Major-General J. F. Slaurice, C'.B., 
•bout fifteen years ago, on the Franco-German War, written 
by the German generals who took part in it. It is well worth 
re-examination to-day, as there can be little doubt that the 
easy victories therein described have done more than any- 
thing to egg on the Kaiser and the Military party in Ger- 
many to their present campaign. Here, for instance, is what 
Lieutenant-Gcneral Albert voa Bcguslawski wrote of the 
French preparations in 1870: — 
"The results of tho mobilisation were on the whole so 
defective that the corps which were already in position 
at the end of July were imperfectly provided with the 
needful trains, ambulances, ammunitions, and provision 
columns, so that the offensive movement planned for the 
31st July had to be postponed, and meanwhile the Ger- 
mans anticipated the French attack. The 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, fletz alone had 
advanced forts, and 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: — 
" The 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 
humblest 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 tho firm 
determination once for all thoroughly to settle accounts 
with the old enemy." 
Could any better description be pcnnecl of the feelings 
And intentions of the Allies] — Your obedient servant, 
J. Lakdfear LucAi?, 
Spectacle Maker*' Co. 
Glendora, Hindhead, Surrey. 
FIELD-GLASSES. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
giH, — Although tho appeal made by my father, Lord 
Roberts, 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 been most grati- 
lying 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 tlie owners are registered, and 
the glasses themselves are engraved with an index number 
in order that tTie owners can be traced at the conclusion of 
the 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 he realised that an 
even greater number of glasses would be required, the stock 
in hand being nearly exhausted, while the call for them was 
continuous. Ho had made up his mind to appeal to the 
public once again, and a letter to this effect had been written, 
but not signed, before he left for France. 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 acknowletlged. 
It is impoi-tant to note that all glasses, cheques and 
communications should be addressed to the Secretary, 
National Service League, 72, Victoria Street, Westminster^ 
S. W.— I am, Yours faithfully, 
AlLEEN ECBEETS. 
WHAT OUR CHEMISTS ARE DOING. 
To tho Editor of Land and Water. 
Sir,— Letters such as the one in your issue of tho 23r(I 
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.. He 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 we come to use them they will be found not 
wanting. I have served for forty years in the Royal Artillery,, 
so 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 from an 
R.A. officer who has been out since the beginning of the war, 
and in it he says : — 
" The high-esplosive 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 for, 
force of explosion." 
I think this is an answer to his question, What arc our, 
chemists doing J"— Yours faithfully. 
It. A. 
THE ADRIATIC. 
To the Edftor of Land and Water. 
Dear Sir, — As a very interested reader of Land and 
Water 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.i.t the Allies 
have made no attack because they have had nothing to 
attack." Surely, if tho enemy Fleet is not in open water it 
must Fe lying in Pola and Cattaro, neither of which porta 
would seem proof against guns of large calibre, and the only 
conclusion one can come to is that our attempt to reduce these 
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 Uiis particular area. — ^Yours truly, 
J. A. Burns. 
Abbey Tiew, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. 
A STUDY IN SELF-EXPRESSION.* 
Though concerned largely with sociological problems, and 
this in no dreary and wearisome fashion, the dramatis persona 
of this novel are not made subservient to the theme, noi; 
allowed to be merely pegs on which to hang ideas of social 
reform and other things. Philip Crayford, pathetic in hia 
solitude, is the central figure, albeit his dominance is moro 
felt than insisted on. W© feel his son Paul, around whom 
the story is woven, to be altogether a lesser though probably 
more arresting character, and the author has given us a find 
study of the young man's groping for self-expression, reaching 
out towards his ideal, and coming to its attainment tlirougb 
appai-ent failure. The feminine characters command lesa 
sympathy j it is not easy to see Joan Altringtqn, the princi- 
pal woman character, with Paul's, eyes, for to us her innate 
worldliness, covered with a glo.ss 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 ao-e many types here worth con- 
sidering, and we commend this book as a thoughtful and 
really interesting work. 
• " The Young Man Abealom." By E. Charles Vivian. (Chapman 
and HaU. 6s.) 
16* 
