It is hardly necessary to observe that Mackensen's diversion in the Dobrudja, whatever may be the ultimate fate of his army, influenced the course of the autumn campaign on the eastern front to an extent which cannot be ignored. The Allies' plan of operations appears to have assumed that no serious attack would be made from the Bulgarian frontier, and that the Rumanian field army would therefore be free to cooperate effectively with the Russian offensive in the Carpathians. But for the initial reverses in the Dobrudja, it may be doubted whether Falkenhayn would have been able to snatch his local successes at the Vulcan and Rother Turm passes. The attention of the Rumanians, instead of being concentrated on the principal operations, has been diverted in some degree to the secondary but unavoidable task of opposing Mackensen. The execution of the Allies' offensive project has been delayed at a time when, on account of the approach of winter, there was no time to lose; for snow in the Carpathians, and rain in the low-lying districts of Galicia, are likely soon to interfere with active operations on the southern portion of the Russian front.

It may be conjectured that, in these circumstances, the enemy will exert themselves to find reinforcements for Falkenhayn and Mackensen with the view of attempting the destruction of Rumania. It will be the part of Russia to give such direct assistance as Rumania may require; while it is incumbent on the Allies as a whole to hold the enemy fast by maintaining the pressure on all fronts. General Brusiloff is fulfilling his part by resuming the offensive in Volhynia and Galicia, where his armies under Generals Kaledine, Sakharoff, and Scherbatcheff are keeping the hostile forces occupied on their respective fronts, and gaining local successes in the face of opposition which is the more formidable because the enemy have had leisure to strengthen the positions to which they were driven back during July and August. The Allied force at Salonika is continuing the active operations which, though begun too late to prevent the Bulgarians from joining in Mackensen's Dobrudja adventure, have made progress in the direction of Monastir on the left, and, on the right, towards the Bulgarian frontier, which may be supposed to cause disquietude at Sofia. General

Yudenitch is again on the move in Armenia; and the Italians, on their own frontier and in Macedonia, are contributing their share to the general activity. Neither these tokens of a resolute accord, nor the brilliant successes on the Somme, should, however, blind us to the fact that the temporary miscarriage of the Allies' plans in the Near-East threatens to retard the course of the war, and makes it the more necessary to increase the pressure to which the enemy is being subjected, and to maintain it without relaxation.

To this end three things are chiefly needed-men, munitions, and loyal cooperation. It is to the first of these that we, as a nation, should direct special attention at the present stage; for, although the principle of universal service has been adopted, its practical application has been hindered by causes which are well-known and need to be dealt with firmly and impartially. Industries and Government Departments harbour many thousands of young men who, given a more thorough organisation and a broadening of the official mind, could be released for military service. The events of the past summer, especially those in France, have shown what enormous demands the present war makes on the resources of the belligerent nations. It is necessary to face the fact that the demands will not cease until the military power of Germany has been broken. Although there are indications that Germany is weakening, neither the moral of her armies nor the national will to fight to a finish has been destroyed. Despite the drain on her resources, she has been able to find enough reinforcements to maintain, as yet, an unbroken front, and to provide a stiffening for her allies in every quarter where they needed encouragement or showed signs of failing. The slack period, which must occur during part of the winter, will be utilised for overhauling the residue of her resources, and the development of such as may admit of further expansion; and it is necessary that none of the Allies should be behindhand in this respect, if the war is to be brought to a decisive issue in the coming year.

W. P. BLOOD.

CORRIGENDA

1. IN the article on 'The Organisation of the Empire,' in the July number, the reviewer misrepresents 'The Empire on the Anvil' in two material points. (1) He writes Mr Worsfold proposes alternative schemes-the first "a half-way house," the second, a Supreme Imperial Parliament.' The order should be reversed. The half-way house' is proposed only to meet the contingency of an organic union proving impracticable for the time being, and to prepare directly the Empire for the subsequent creation of a full federal union' (p. 152). It is equally misleading to say that I suggest also' a 'Dominions Council [of Delegates].' This Council, the composition and powers of which are set out fully on pp. 165-9, is the essential feature of the scheme; since it gives the Dominions power to grant, or withhold, supplies, and meets the difficulty formulated by Mr Asquith in the Conference of 1911. Also, it is incorrect to say that I propose that the Dominions should contribute 'proportionately to their population.' The text of the book runs, 'Such contributions to be adjusted in each case to (say) two-thirds of an amount proportionate on a basis of population to the amount provided by the United Kingdom for the same services' (p. 165).

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(2) This misconception of the purpose of the half-way house' leads the reviewer to make the wholly erroneous suggestion (which runs through pp. 276-7 of the July number), that the proposals primarily advocated by me 'do not touch the essence of the demand' of the Oversea British; i.e. for ‘a share in the sovereignty of the Empire'; and that in this respect, therefore, my book contrasts with 'The Problem of the Commonwealth.' While in other respects Mr Curtis' proposals differ widely from mine, on this point we are agreed; and the terms in which this demand' is urged in 'The Empire on the Anvil' would seem to preclude any possibility of misunderstanding. They are: No system of Imperial administration which does not give the Oversea British a right to vote for the election of a cabinet-making and revenue-raising representative Chamber will suffice to put them on an equality with the Home British, or restore to them the full rights of their British citizenship' (p. 92).

W. BASIL WORSFOLD.

2. P. 469, 1. 24, for 'Simpson' read' Morton.'