After-War Atlas and Gazetteer of the World
Edited and revised by . New York: Reynolds Publishing Company. 1919. Folio, 364 pp. $4.50.
THE appearance of this atlas at this time reflects the large popular demand for information regarding the new geography. The pages are 10½ by 15 inches, which makes possible large-scale maps and an abundance of interesting and valuable material. A full series of pre-war maps of the world appears, and an additional set of maps revised in accordance with the treaties of peace. A special set of railroad maps, showing the trunk lines of travel and transportation within the United States, is added, and a full series of automobile road maps for the forty-eight states.
The text is unusually well illustrated with large half-tone cuts and with black-and-white maps of the chief cities of the world. The events of the Great War, from its beginning in 1914 to the signing of the treaty of peace in 1919, are given in chronological order, and a number of battle-maps have been inserted. The accomplishments of the American troops are thus shown in a graphic way.
No atlas appearing at this time could possibly remain correct for many weeks, and some of the political lines on the after-war maps are not accurate. The details of almost all the political boundaries have not yet been established.
It is unfortunate, however, that there was not closer coöperation between the author and the cartographer. The text speaks of the Baltic provinces as Esthonia, Livonia, and Courland, and the new map of Europe calls them Esthonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The free city of Danzig has a different form and area on half of the new map of Europe from that given to it on the other half of the same map within the area of overlap. A similar but more serious discrepancy appears in the plébiscite area of Silesia, which is not located in the same place on the two halves of the same map which appear opposite each other and have an overlap area. Moscow does not appear as the capital of Russia on the new map. Divisions of Asia Minor are not clear, and it is doubtful what authority there is for the lines as shown. On page 313 Australia appears to have control of the German Samoan Islands; but on page 315 it is stated that New Zealand has the mandatory control of these islands.
The problem of proof-reading maps is perhaps the most difficult of any work associated with the publication of a new geography, but such conflicts are unfortunate.
The spelling which should be used for the places within the newly established countries of Europe in a publication issued in America is quite uncertain. The Czecho-Slovakians and the Poles insist that one of the elements of their new freedom is the opportunity to use their own languages. We should, however, have great difficulty in recognizing the names of their cities and towns if placed on our maps in the Slavic language, and we should have still greater difficulty in attempting to pronounce those names correctly. The adoption of new spellings and new pronunciations must come; but for a time some key will probably be necessary, and the old name should appear in parenthesis with the new name.
This volume, however, meets a great demand and is a very creditable piece of work.
W. W. A.