To condemn any human being, even if he were the vilest criminal, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon and execute him at 2 A. M. was an act of barbarism for which no possible condemnation is adequate. Under these circumstances, it would be incredible, if the facts were not beyond dispute, that the request of the United States for a little delay was not only brutally refused, _but that our Legation was deliberately misled and deceived until the death sentence had been inflicted_. JAMES M. BECK _In_ "_New York Times_." [Illustration] _THE YELLOW BOOK_ "_Unmasked_" * * * * * The publication of the French Government Yellow Book in August dealing with the diplomatic events which led up to the war proved that whilst Germany was assuring the nations of her peaceful intentions she was secretly preparing for war. [Illustration] _U'S_ _His Majesty_: "_Well, Tirpitz, you've sunk a great many?_" _Tirpitz_: "_Yes, sire, here is another U coming down._" * * * * * On August 26, 1915, Squadron-Commander A. W. Bigsworth destroyed single-handed, a German submarine by bombs from his aeroplane off Ostend on the coast of Belgium. The British Admiralty said in reference to this episode: "It is not the practice of the Admiralty to publish statements regarding the losses of German submarines, important though they have been, in cases where the enemy have no other sources of information as to the time and place at which these losses have occurred. In the case referred to above, however, the brilliant feat of Squadron-Commander Bigsworth was performed in the immediate neighbourhood of the coast in occupation of the enemy, and the position of the sunken submarine has been located by a German destroyer." [Illustration] _Pallas Athene: "Has it come to this?"_ * * * * *