[Illustration:  The Threatened Peace Offensive

GERMAN EAGLE (to British Lion):  “I warn you—­a little more of this obstinacy and you’ll rouse the dove in me!”]

The British troops have met Sir Douglas Haig’s appeal as we knew they would: 

  Their will to win let Boches bawl
  As loudly as they choose,
  When once our back’s against the wall
  ’Tis not our wont to lose.

Those who have gone back at the seventh wave are waiting for the tide to turn.  To the fainthearted or shaken souls who contend that no victory is worth gaining at the cost of such carnage and suffering, these lines addressed “To Any Soldier” may serve as a solvent of their doubts and an explanation of the mystery of sacrifice: 

  If you have come through hell stricken or maimed,
  Vistas of pain confronting you on earth;
  If the long road of life holds naught of worth
  And from your hands the last toil has been claimed;
  If memories of horrors none has named
  Haunt with their shadows your courageous mirth
  And joys you hoped to harvest turn to dearth,
  And the high goal is lost at which you aimed;

  Think this—­and may your heart’s pain thus be healed—­
  Because of me some flower to fruitage blew,
  Some harvest ripened on a death-dewed field,
  And in a shattered village some child grew
  To womanhood inviolate, safe and pure. 
  For these great things know your reward is sure.

The Germans have reached Sevastopol, but the Kaiser’s Junior Partner in the South is only progressing in the wrong direction.  While Wilhelm is laboriously struggling to get nearer the sea, Mehmed is getting farther and farther away from it.  The attitude of Russia remains obscure.  Mr. Balfour tells us that it is not the intention of the Government to appoint an Ambassador to Russia.  But there is talk of sending out an exploration party to find out just where Russia has got to.  Russia, however, is not the only country whose attitude is obscure.  The Leader of the Irish Nationalist Party is reported to have said to a New York interviewer:  “We believe that the cause of the Allies is the cause of Freedom throughout the world.”  At the same time, while repudiating the policy of the Sinn Feiners, he admitted that he had co-operated with them in their resistance to the demand that Ireland should defend the cause of Freedom.  The creed of Sinn Fein—­“Ourselves Alone”—­is at least more logical than that of these neutral Nationalists: 

  And is not ours a noble creed
    With Self uplifted on the throne? 
  Why should we bleed for others’ need? 
    Our motto is “Ourselves Alone.”

  Why prate of ruined lands out there,
    Of churches shattered stone by stone? 
  We need not care how others fare,
    We care but for “Ourselves Alone.”

  Though mothers weep with anguished eyes
    And tortured children make their moan,
  Let others rise when Pity cries;
    We rise but for “Ourselves Alone.”