This seems to bring the War even closer than the PREMIER intended.

* * * * *

MORE OR LESS.

The fleet of Dutch merchantmen which has been sunk by a waiting submarine sailed, it now appears, under a German guarantee of “relative security”:  and the incident has been received in Holland with a widespread outburst of relative acquiescence.  Germany, in the little ingenious arrangements that she is so fond of making for the safety and comfort of her neighbours, is so often misunderstood.  It should be obvious by this time that her attitude to International Law has always been one of approximate reverence.  The shells with which she bombarded Rheims Cathedral were contingent shells, and the Lusitania was sunk by a relative torpedo.

Neutrals all over the world who are smarting just now under a fresh manifestation of Germany’s respective goodwill should try to realise before they take any action what is the precise situation of our chief enemy.  He has (relatively) won the War; he has (virtually) broken the resistance of the Allies; he has (conditionally) ample supplies for his people; in particular, he is (morally) rich in potatoes.  His finances at first sight appear to be pretty heavily involved, but that will soon be adjusted by (hypothetical) indemnities; he has enormous (proportional) reserves of men; he has (theoretically) blockaded Great Britain, and his final victory is (controvertibly) at hand.

But his most impressive argument, which cannot fail to come home to hesitating Neutrals, is to be found in his latest exhibition of offensive power, namely, in his (putative) advance upon the Ancre.

* * * * *

Realism.

From a cinema announcement:—­

    “The management regret that ‘The Lost Bridegroom’ missed the boat on
    Sunday.”—­Guernsey Evening Express.

* * * * *

A Family Affair.

From an account of a “gift sale”: 

    “Alderman ——­ advised the Committee to sell the donkey in the evening,
    when there would be a lot present.”—­Provincial Paper.

* * * * *

More Impending Apologies.

I.

“Mr. ——­ writes from New Cross:—­’Sir,—­I was pleased to see that you do not intend increasing the price of ‘The Daily News,’ and hope that you will not have to reconsider your decision.  If necessary I, for one, would be quite content with four pages only.”—­Daily News.

II.

“The nurses who have a seven minutes’ walk to their home quarters, have never had a rude word said to them, ‘even,’ she added, ’when they have had too much to drink.’”—­Daily Province (Vancouver, B.C.).

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