I am a little puzzled as to the authorship of _Action Front_ (SMITH, ELDER), which is stated to be written by BOYD CABLE, author of _Between the Lines_. First of all there was a Mr. BOYD CABLE, but he didn't last, for he soon turned into "BOYD CABLE" without the Mr., the inverted commas indicating, I suppose, that this was a mere _nom de guerre_. At or about the same time there was an author known as "ACTION FRONT," whose writings were hardly to be distinguished from those of "BOYD CABLE." And now _Action Front_ becomes the title of a book by BOYD CABLE. For my own part I can only say that, whoever he may be, BOYD CABLE--let us try him without the inverts--has a most remarkable gift for the writing of vivid and exciting war-stories. He takes a phrase from the _communiques_ and shows you with a seemingly careless art, of which he holds the secret, what moving incidents, what heroism, what self-sacrifice and glorious endurance are concealed behind the bald official announcement. Moreover, he has a true appreciation of the reckless and humorous courage that characterises the British fighting man, the splendid human material out of which great events are fashioned. If you add to these high qualities a talent for making you visualise the scenes and the sequence of incidents which he describes you will obtain some conception of the methods of this most interesting writer. He holds you in his grip from the moment he starts, and there is no relaxation from then to the finish. Each little story is an admirable piece of literary architecture. If I had to class them I should place "Drill" and "The Signallers" by themselves in the first division of the first class. I will hint only one fault: it is too great a tax on one's credulity to be asked to believe that a French officer could have addressed an English private as _mon beau Anglaise_. Otherwise I have nothing but praise for _Action Front_, though I am still as far as ever from knowing who wrote it. * * * * *