OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE WAR. Vol. III. France and '
Belgium, 1915. Compiled by Brigadier-General J. E. Edmonds and Captain G. C. Wynne. Illustrated with Mapa and Sketches by Major A. F. Becke. (Macmillan. 12s. 6d.)—If the history of the War on the Western Front in 1915 makes often very sad reading, for substantial success fell neither to us nor to the French, it is yet to the military student full of " lessons as regards raising troops, organizing munition supply, and conducting operations with newly formed divisions." From the point of view of the military historian it is a very difficult period to describe—so almost inextricably mingled and so confused were the operations which composed it ; but out of all the medley and welter General Edmonds has succeeded in producing synthesis, and from that synthesis much useful inference can be drawn. The general public too may find food for reflection in the chapter on Munitions, Man Power, and Recruiting, wherein it is remarked that the unreadiness for a great war was not the fault of the Army and Navy, or of any department or officer of State, but was the consequence of the want of forethought of the whole body. of British electors, their representatives and theiiMinisters." The maps and sketches in this volume are of particular excellence.
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