8 
LAND & WATER 
August 1.6, 1917 
in philosophic .contemplation ot events. W'hat we common 
Englishmen demand ac this moment is a clear, plain state- 
ment of the national position from the national pomt of 
view. We want to know not only that we mean to defeat 
our enemies — that we know already — but what are tlie real 
facts as to the dangers and difficulties we have to encounter 
and in what manner it is proposed to overcome them. A 
nation which has faced the unnecessary disaster of Antw.crp, 
the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia, and the dangerous 
succession of submarine sinkings, without flinching,- is fit 
to be fully entrusted with the handling of its own destinies. 
The man who can rise to the height of this amazing situation, 
who can set forth to his countrymen tlie full truth about their 
i>wn business, wlio can deal sternlv with our enemies and 
faithfully with our friends, will arouse a storm of enthusiasm 
and determination among us which will even yet astonish 
the world. 
* * ♦ ♦ * 
P.S. — Since the above article was written Mr. Arthur 
Henderson has made his defence in the House of eoiiimons. 
Not even his best friends can consider it satisfactory. I'or 
some strong reason, which he cannot have fully disclosed, he 
honestly thought it more important to use his influence in 
favour of guiding the Labour Party to vote in favour of the 
delegation to Stockholm, than to carry out the policy which 
all his colleagues in the Cabinet were led by him to believe 
was his own, as it was theirs, It is a very unfortunate 
personal matter. But it does not affect the real issue. On 
that, Mr. Lloyd George's Administration has at last come to 
a definite decision. Ministers have resolved not to grant 
passports for delegates to the International Socialist Co;i- 
ference at Stockholm. Great Britain, the United States, 
}•' ranee and Italy are at on<; upon this point. It is a goocl 
thing for the Allies. It is, also, a good thing for International 
Socialism. There was nothing whatever to be gained for 
either by a " fraternal " consultation between the Socialists 
ot the Allied countries and the Social-Democrats of Germany 
and Austria-Hungary. These Germans betrayed all of us 
Socialists at the beginning of the war : they have deliberately 
outraged all the highest interests of humanity Tluring the. 
war. Leave them alone to reflect upon the conseciuences of 
their own actions. 
The Military Situation 
By Hilaire Belloc 
THE only significant military news of the last week 
is the sharp fighting against the enemy's attempt to 
recapture the Westlioek and Frezenburg positions' in 
the West and the combined pressure to the north and 
to the south of the Moldavian armies in the East. 
As to the first of these what is happening is fairly clear. 
The offensive of July 31st obtained possession of all those 
points which lie in a crescent north and east of Yprcs and 
overlook the plain beyond. The seizing of this dominating 
line was the first and most immediate object of the 'blow 
dehvered on July 21st. L'nder the counter-attacks which 
filled the next 24 hours after the Allied assault and were 
prolonged during the next fevv days certain of these dominat- 
ing positions were challenged and notably, during the present 
week, the low summit upon which Westhoek stands and the 
cross roads of Frezenburg from which one looks down north; 
wards and westward every way to the Hannebeck. The 
position will be more clearly understood if we glance at the 
contours upon the accompanying map, where it will be seen 
Cbnioun atSmettva 
c 'v fi '+ 1 Mile 
I 1 1 — jf^^ ' 
that Westhoek is upon the very tap of the low hummock 
between the Roulers and the Menin roads, while Frezen- 
burg (lying nearly 60 feet lower) gives direct view over 
more than a half circle of country around. The positions 
in question are, of course, quite low. They are no more 
than the last sinkings of the Messines or White-Sheet 
Kidge into the general level of the Flanders Plain. West- 
hoek lies just under 100 feet above Ypres (though .5! miles 
distant from the eastern water-gate of those ruiiis) and 
F'rezenburg is hardly 35 feet above the level of the same water- 
gate — though three miles distant. The Pilkem "Ridge" further 
to the north, is still less conspicuous in height, though more 
easily seen because it is the last rise of any sort before the dead 
level of the inundated sea flats. 
The enemy's eft'ort then, has been to wrest these positions 
of observation from the British before the ne.xt blow should 
be delivered. So far (the moment of writing being Monday 
evening) he has failed. Westhoek and Frezcnberg are held 
and the former passed. In the woods to the south-east of 
Westhoek, where the contour is about 9 metres (some 30 feet) 
higher than the ruins of the village, some ground has been . 
lost to the enemy. 
The Eastern Front 
The plan of fighting upon the Eastern front is no less evident 
and the accompanying map will i^crhaps present its elemcn ts 
in the simplest form. 
l^tUs-^ 
With the abandonment of Czcrnowitz the Russn- 
Roumanians lost their principal depot and, what is equally 
important, the terminus of that lateral road and railway dowii 
the Scrc-th, which supplied their armies defending the Central 
