SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Rote* in di. COIUMA does sot nocessaray preclude aubsequont roam.] A General's Letters to his Son on Minor Tactics. (Hugh Rees. 2s.)—We can commend to young officers this shrewd little book, in which minor tactics, and especially fire-control, are illustrated in a dozen elementary problems. The author, who is obviously an experienced soldier, believes that example is better than precept, and that young officers learn most quickly in trying to solve simple problems and in having their solutions criticized and corrected. " It is the sum of the little combats which spells the result of the battle," and it is of the highest importance, therefore, that the platoon leader should know his business. The author insists again and again on the tremendous effect of rifle-fire at medium and long ranges, and on the necessity of determining the range with accuracy as soon as a company takes up position. Good rifle-shooting saved our Army in the retreat from Mons, and it is as important as ever. The author goes so far as to say that " if the infantryman's worth be 100, of this 100 85 per cent. belongs to his rifle and bayonet, 10 per cent. to his rifle grenade, and 5 per cent. at the outside to his bomb."
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