The Autobiography of a Military Great Coat. By Harold Josling.
(Jarrold and Sons. 6s. net.)—Thucydides, it will be remembered, complains of the difficulty of obtaining correct information about events. The historian will be always more or less beset by this difficulty. He has now, however, this advan- tage, that the man in the ranks has become articulate. Of course what ho says has to be examined and weighed. ' But there are abundant materials for comparison, and we are able, in conse- quence, to get anyhow much nearer to the truth. This volume, for instance, is one of the many books which have been written about the South African War from the point of view of the fighting-man. The sub-title reads : "A Story of the let Norfolk Volunteer Active Service Company." The coat and its wearer arrived at Table Bay On March 5th, 1900, after a journey of twenty-two days in the Donne Castle.' They got back to England in June, 1901. The intermediate time was filled with adventures of various kinds. Mr. Josling passes not a few criticisms on the manage- ment of affairs. Some are amu sing; some excite wonder; some oven move indignation. We might make many quotations from among them. But it is difficult to choose, for the choice might give an emphasis which perhaps it does not really deserve. But the book may be read, certainly with entertainment, and quite possibly with profit.
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