From ‘The Military Situation’, The Spectator, 1 January 1916: The opening of a new year is a time for taking stock of our situation. When we look back upon the beliefs and predictions of a year ago, we have to admit that there have been many disappointments and that unforeseen things have happened; but war would not be war if it were not full of surprises. We have as much to be thankful for as to deplore, and on the whole we think there is a good balance to our credit. We are a visibly winning people. If we were a losing people, we should be lamenting by this time all sorts of disintegrating movements and crumbling processes. But just the reverse has happened; the fabric has not only stood the unprecedented weather, it has hardened under the rough treatment… Thinking Germans must be depressed indeed. Germany has nowhere broken a hostile army. She has greatly extended her borders — but that means a thinner line. The Russians will ‘come again’ in the spring. The co-operation of the Allies will everywhere be simplified, prompter, and more effective.