th considerably more than a
million, to say nothing of the mules, who diffused an air of cynical
amusement over the military proceedings in which they were compelled
to bear a part. This may conceivably be one more proof in Mr. WELLS'S
eyes of our incurable stupidity. But those who have watched the work
of our armies at close quarters will be the last to agree with him.
Captain GALTREY in fact proves his case. He has an enthusiasm for
horses and has written a most interesting book. The illustrations are
excellent and appropriate, and the book is admirably got up.

* * * * *

Valour is apt to get the better of discretion in any novel that
attempts to be quite up to date with a political subject. Mrs.
TWEEDALE places _The Veiled Woman_ (JENKINS) in some vague period
later than August, 1914, largely in order to decry a Government that
really by now one fails to identify, and to let off sundry feminist
squibs and crackers which, in view of the present position of woman
suffrage, can only be described as fireworks half-price on the 6th
of November. Further, to get all my grumbles frankly over, she so
constantly makes sweeping assertions against the other sex that even
the most chivalrous of male reviewers may be inclined to kick. To
hear a lady pronounce once or twice that the males of the species
are obviously diminishing in stature and strength, or that the whole
programme of the earth's return to the highest ideals is in woman's
hands, may be good for the masculine soul, but after a while it brings
up vividly BESANT'S story of _The Revolt of Man_--what happened then
and just why. The claim to a monopoly of self-sacrifice in particular
comes very badly in war-time. All the same, if you cut out this
top-hamper the story of _The Veiled Woman_ on its personal side is
distinctly a good one. I wished the heroine had not spoiled her fine
enthusiasms by mixing them so freely with a personal vendetta; but
after all it is not the characterisation that intrigues one here. The
plot--which I will not spoil by giving it away--goes excellently, and
works up to a capital climax.

* * * * *

Mr. BOYD CABLE is the literary liaison officer between the Infantry
and the Air Force. In the wonderful stories contained in _Airmen
O' War_ (MURRAY) his object is to make the armies on the ground
understand what they owe to the armies of the air. If they suffer from
a lack of understa