17 NOVEMBER 1944, Page 22

Shorter Notice

The Logic of War. By Murray Harris. (Allen and Unwin. 10s. 6d.) SQUADRON-LEADER 4IARRIS has written a clear and closely-reasoned discussion of certain aspects of modern war. His thesis is that communications are the master key, and he illustrates it in a series of well-informed reviews of the various war fronts and lines of communication. Throughout he shows a balanced judgement and makes no attempt to enunciate novel or startling conclusions ; for example, his references to the importance of air power are reasonable and in no way extravagant, and he rightly stresses the great impor- tance of sea and rail communications. A great part of the book was obviously written some time ago and was intended to put the case against the ill-informed agitation for a second front, but the facts he records and the deductions he draws from them are still valid and will help the reader to interpret much of what is now happening in the various theatres of war. Squadron-Leader Harris ends his book by making the suggestion that the most satisfactory international authority would be one which controlled communica- tions—one is reminded of Kipling's A.B.C.—and by insisting that Germany can only be satisfactorily disarmed if she is deprived of her hydrogen and nitrogen plants.