... Pictorial Politics,, The Budget. ALL congratulations to Mr. McKenna upon his second war Budget, which has been re ceived very favourably by the country in general notwithstand ing the few carping criticisms which arose at the debate in the House. Every financial pro posal which takes money out of somebody's pocket for the good of the State is bound to hit that particular class of person more ...

... 0 tt J(^) j o o At Last. THE Coalition Government is to be congratulated on producing a clear and precise measure, making military service obligatory on all men between the ages of 18 and 41. A constant flow of recruits will be obtained through the number of boys who daily reach the age of 18, when they immediately become liable; and the much-debated calling back of the time-expired men is ...

... ,, Mr. Balfour's Triumph. NOT only our Empire but the whole of the Allied nations owe a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Arthur Balfour, whose presenta tion of the agreement of the En tente Powers to the President of the United States last week was the clearest, most concise, and masterly statement of our case before the world that has up to the present time been given. Its effect upon thinking ...

... * The Mad Dog. THE old saying that those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad is the most applicable comment pos sible upon the German challenge to the world which was issued last Thursday, prohibiting sea commerce and the travelling of neutrals within large and impor tant areas round the British Isles and France and Italy under penalty of death and destruction. It will be remem ...

... Pictorial Politics, The Retreat. THE explanation the German authorities gave to their own people, that their' re treat on the An ere is a volun tary shortening of the line with a view to a concentration of troops elsewhere, will not hold water on examination of the map. The bulge that the Eng lish advance has made in the line since the commencement of the offensive on July 1 last year has ...

... In France. GENERAL HAIG'S progress on the Western front con tinues to be most satisfac tory, and by the time these lines are read it is probable that Bapaume and possibly Peronne may have fallen before our victorious troops. The German papers may talk as much as they like about a strategical retirement, but that does not lessen the fact that the informa tion we get as to loss of material and ...

... U[ iLi .1^1 BY JINGLE. v' -'V; THIS is a play devoted to the out-of-joint times in which we live at present, and its popularity should be assured. It is all about the social changes brought about by the war. The man who was hardly the sort you could meet socially a year or two ago becomes, under the reign of Mars, your superior officer. It is to the credit -J' of most of such men in the ...

... Pictorial PolitlcSo Our Business Government. THE Business Govern ment is on its trial, and it must be said that its critics grow daily more formidable in number and in attack. Mr. Lloyd George's National Ministry raised great expectations for the efficient conduct of the war on account of the inclusion of big business men such as Lord Rhondda, Lord Devonport, Sir Albert Stanley, and one or ...

... Pictorial Politics,, Racing Resumed. THE domination of British politics in the past by a small section of fanatics was well illustrated by the stoppage of racing, and by the restrictions on the consumption and brewing of beer. Racing in the view of a small minority of fanatics was immoral and wasteful. Drink was the root of all evil. The consequences of the suppres sion of racing and these ...

... Pictorial Politics, The Offensive. AFTER a long and anxious period of suspense, General Haig's new offensive started last Tuesday week in the confines of the Ypres salient, and with the exception of the weather, which again turned to the disadvantage of the attacking forces, the initial stages went well all along the front. By the time these lines are read very important developments may have ...

... Pictorial Politics. Stockholm. THE reduction of a majority of 1,296,000 to one of only 3,000 in favour of sending peace delegates to Stockholm to confer with the enemy, and, as one of the most prominent Pacifists has asserted, bring back the basis of peace in his pocket, is a sufficiently elo quent comment on the real atti tude of Labour towards the proposal for a parley with unbeaten Germany. ...

... Pictorial Polities* Raids, Useful And Otherwise. THE citizens of London have again shared with the boys abroad the honour of coming into the actual battle line in this world war for freedom. The German authorities realise, of course, that no military benefit is gained by these air raids on the metropolis. Their psychology is so infantile that they may possibly imagine that the effect upon the ...