THE MILITARY LIBRARY.*
Or Mr. Spaight's War Rights on Land let it be said at once and without qualification that it is an admirable work, it is safe to say that the average officer, however keen he may be on his profession, finds one at least of the many subjects which he is called upon to study very little congenial ; in ninety-nine eases out of a hundred he finds the acquirement of the necessary modicum of legal knowledge decidedly irk- some. The Manual of Military Law, indeed, is neither light nor exciting reading, while the handbook on the Laws and Customs of War on Land provided by the military authorities, admirably terse and compact as it is, does not profess to aim at making the subject with which it deals attractive to the non-legal mind. With military law Mr. Spaight has no concern, and it must remain an unexhilarating subject for all that he has to do with it. But he breathes on the equally dry bones of "international law," and behold a vivid array of facts, illustrations, arguments, which inspire with life the uninviting legal texts, protocols, and rOlements, so that the depression which inevitably settles on the mind of the non-legal reader as he approaches the book is turned into keen interest, " War law," says Mn Spaight, "has never been presented to officers in an attractive form, as it might have, been . . . if the writers had insisted on the historical, human, and practical side rather than on the legal and theoretical one." Here we have the key to his work, which aims with conspicuous success at redressing the balance.
The hook is a mine of historical information drawn from a remarkably comprehensive knowledge of recent wars, particu- larly those which have taken place since 1860; yet it is not this alone that lightens its pages. We know that "it is frightful to see the Gelehrte Dummkopf . . . doing the function of history." Dryasdust, "the dark chaotic dullard," has left traces of his handiwork before now in the military ;le in other departments of history. Mr. Spaight, however, it neither dark nor chaotic; above all, he is not dull. Dealing with what sounds a dry subjects his lightness of touch makes it actually entertaining. A good example of his methods may be taken from the chapter on "Military Authority over OE Territory of the Hostile State." An order issued by the Federal General Pope during the American War of Secession is cited as an instance of " an attempt . . . to twist occupation into legal dominion, contrary to the laws and usages of war." The order was bitterly denounced by the Confederate leaders, but "events moved so rapidly that the Washington authorities had no occasion to consider whether they should approve of [Pope's] action or not. This new general,' Stonewall Jackson was told, claims your attention.' 'And, please God, he shall have it,' said * (1) War Rights on Land. By J. 311. Spaight, LL.D. With a Preface by F. D. Minna. London: Idaomillan and Co. [12s. net.—(2) Modern Artillery in tho Yield. 33y Colonel H. A. Bothell, R.F.A. (retired). London : Macmillan and Co. [7s. 6d. net.]—(3) A Study of tha Devutopinent of Infantry Tactics. By Colonel Been, Translated by Captain A. F. Custanee. With a Preface by Colonel Hneket Pain, C.B. London Swan Sonnenschoin to.ud Co. Ps. ficid —(4) The Outlines of Military Geography. By Colonel A. C. Mozdonnoll, Into R.E. With 10 Naps. Two Vols. London: Hugh Rees. [12s. 6d. net.)— (5) The Russo•Japaness War : The Raid to Yin-Knit and the Battle of San.dii-pti. Prepared in the Historical Section of the Gorman General Staff. With 7 Maps and 6 Appendices. including 3 Photographic views. Authorised Trauslatdon by Karl voa Donal. Same Publisher. Pes. Cd. not.1
Jackson. He did, and a few weeks after the proclamation was issued Jackson had . . • driven the braggart Pope, crushed and humbled, from. the field of the Second Manassas to cower under the Washington defences. The territory which Pope had claimed to govern as a sovereign ruler was again in Confederate bands, and Pope and his policy passed, most conspicuously unwept, out of history. His fall came with such dramatic suddenness that one likes to see in it a 'judgment' for his tyrannous proclamation; and this may not be such a fanciful conceit after all, for the same qualities which make a commander unsound in his strategy will usually make him unsound in his international law too."
The book covers the ground thoroughly and is well annotated with references to the authorities. The various chapters are headed by the provisions of the Hague Conventions and Reglements, of which they treat in detail. In every chapter we find points with which any officer might have to deal on native service ; and it is impossible not to agree with the author that a good working knowledge of war law is essential to those who will have to administer it in war, more especially, we may suggest, to Staff officers. Mr. Spaight protests with reason against the fact that the Hague _Reglement is ignored in the promotion examinations in our army. It would be difficult too strongly to urge the claims of his own book for recognition as the authorized manual of international law. The responsible authorities would assuredly do well to make it the basis of an obligatory subject in the examination for entrance to the Staff College, and of more detailed study by all officers during their sojourn at that establishment.
Modern Artillery in the Field, by Colonel Bethel', is another really excellent work which merits more comprehensive notice than the exigences of space will permit. It is by no means intended for the artilleryman alone. "The endeavour has been to give such information as will be of practical use to Staff officers, gunners, and officers of cavalry, infantry, and engineers." There is abundant room for an up-to-date book Of this kind. Officers do not always find it easy to acquire that knowledge of the theory and practice of the work of branches of the service other than their own, which is so essential for effective co-operation and for the harmonious working of the various parts of the military machine. Expert° crede. Colonel Bethell divides his book into four parts, deal. ing respectively with Equipment, Practical Gunnery, Minor Tactics (including Organization, &c.), and Combined Tactics. These matters are dealt with in a way which gives equal evi- dence of profound knowledge of the subject and great ability in imparting it. Moreover, the author is more than abreast of the times. It is natural to turn to what he has to say about aerial warfare, and this subject— there being no experience to which to turn for guidance —he treats with much ingenuity and originality. The sections on fighting in the air and on "land guns versus air-craft" are particularly interesting, as are the descriptions of the balloon gun, the shell with a" smoke-trail" to facilitate ranging, and the fuze with " whiskers " which ensure its acting on the envelope of a balloon or dirigible. It may be noted that Colonel Bethel' considers reconnaissance rather than attack the primary rdle of the air craft, and he lays comparatively little stress upon the dangers to be apprehended from explo- sives dropped from the sky. The value of a most instructive and suggestive book is increased by a number of excellent illustrations.
After reading what Colonel Bethell has to say of the par- mount necessity for the closest co-operation between artillery and infantry and the influence of air-craft upon morn, we find Colonel Hacket Pain emphasizing the same points in his pre- face to the translation of Colonel Beca's Study of the Develop- ment of Infantry Tactics. This little brochure, translated by Captain Custance, contains little that will be new to the military student, but it may be useful, hi the words of the Preface, "to enable officers to grasp in a simple and compre- hensive manner some of the reasons which have governed the evolution of the tactics of to-day." The chapter on the "Vul- nerability of Infantry Formations" is interesting, but it is always to be remembered that the experiments and calcula- tions which form its basie are no more than the theoretical foundation on which a practical superstructure may be erected. The translator performs a useful service in introducing Colonel Bees to English readers, though he can hardly be said to have added grace to the literary style of the original. A number of distinguiehed names are misspelt or misprinted, and the Manchurian battlefields are made unnecessarily difficult to identify considering that our Historical Section has adopted a recognized form of spelling.
In his book on Military Geography Colonel Macdonnell diss claims any attempt to do more than sketch an outline of hie subject. Military geography, which, as he truly says, is most intimately connected with military history and strategy, is of the first importance to the student of war. It merits more attention than it usually receives, and is worthy of treatment. on a large scale. A geographical "Hamley " would be, indeed,, a valuable work. In the meantime Colonel Macdonnell's outline provides an admirable groundwork for more detailed study, and will be found a most useful book of reference. A. wide view is taken of the subject, and such various matters are touched upon in their place as sea-power, general considerations affect- ing the selection of a theatre of war, projected railways,. cables, food supplies, and naval fuel. Altogether the author's. task is very successfully accomplished within the limits which he has imposed upon the scope of his work. A useful index assists the reader and a separate volume contains an excellent. series of maps.
The German official history of the Russo-Japanese War isr an admirable work, though naturally it is by no means light reading. The fifth volume of the English translation, by Herr von Donat, deals with the much discussed raid carried out by General Mishelienko early in January 1905, and with the battle of Hei-kou-tai (San-de-pit) towards the end of that month. The great battles in Manchuria, extending over many days and over a great extent of country, must always be the despair of historians. It is impossible to present a picture. which can be viewed as a whole of operations on so vast a scale. The battle of Hei-lrou-tai is no exception, although the actual battlefield was less extensive than usual and the fight- ing only continued for five days. The Historical Section of the German General Staff has produced a clear and straightfor- ward account, well provided with maps, which forms a worthy successor to the volumes which have gone before. The com- ments are well considered and sound. Just emphasis is laid on the lack of vigour displayed by Mishchenko's raiding force and on the unfortunate magnetic attraction of Newchuang- (Ying-kon), while the fine offensive spirit of the Japanese at Hei-kou-tai, in face of superior numbers, is contrasted with the- over-cautious, half-hearted methods which characterized the- Russian operations. Herr von Donat, as on former occasions, has done his part well, though here and there one comes; across an unusual word, and it is to be regretted that the English spelling of proper names has not been adopted.
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