Since Mr. CHURCHILL became War Minister he has developed a remarkable likeness to Lord HALDANE.  Happily the resemblance extends only to the rondeurs, and not to the occasional longueurs, of his predecessor.  How long his Lordship would have taken to elucidate the present position and future composition of the British Army I cannot estimate, but it would have been several hours.  Mr. CHURCHILL’S survey of the World, from Siberia to the Rhine, occupied a brief sixty minutes and included some attractive speculations on the kind of Army we should need in the future.  He hopes, among other things, for an improved General Staff, composed of officers acquainted with war in all its phases—­land, sea and air—­who could give the Cabinet expert advice on war as a whole, and save it (we inferred) from such hesitations as led to the glorious tragedy of Gallipoli.

“I thought we had given up war,” interjected Mr. HOGGE; and other Members twitted the Minister with having left out of his account the League of Nations.  But Mr. CHURCHILL, in reply, while expressing the utmost respect for the League, pointed out that it was not yet in being, and that meanwhile Britain must continue to be a strong armed Power.

A number of maiden speeches were delivered during the evening.  The SPEAKER was not in the Chair, but I hope he was somewhere in the precincts to hear the cheers which greeted the initial effort—­commendably brief and to the point—­of his son, Major LOWTHER, on the subject of courts-martial.

[Illustration:  A NEW FORCE IN POLITICS.  THE DE VALERA GIRL.]

Tuesday, March 4th.—­Lord SINHA OF RAIPUR delivered his maiden speech in a style which promises well for his Parliamentary career.  Accepting the dictum of Lord SYDENHAM that frankness is essential in Indian affairs, he proceeded to act upon it by administering a dignified rebuke to his lordship for having suggested that one of the periodical affrays between Mahomedans and Hindoos was occasioned by the MONTAGU-CHELMSFORD report.

No fewer than forty-six questions were addressed to the War Office.  But obviously this sort of thing cannot go on.  The SECRETARY OF STATE cannot devote so much of his valuable time to satisfying Parliamentary curiosity.  Accordingly he has appointed a “Members’ friend” to hear complaints and answer questions.  Mr. McCALLUM SCOTT has been rewarded for his consistent admiration—­did he not publish a eulogy of “Winston Churchill in Peace and War” when his hero’s fortunes were temporarily clouded?—­and on two days a week will have the privilege of acting as lightning-conductor.

The most intriguing detail in the story of DE VALERA’S escape from Lincoln Gaol was the beguilement of the guards by two sweet girl-graduates from Dublin.  But this afternoon Mr. SHORTT curtly stated—­with a twinkle in his eye—­that the sentries disclaimed all knowledge of the ladies.  Still, is this conclusive?