"Military Government and Martial Law," by William E. Birkhimer, L. L. B., Major, General Staff, U. S. Army, 2d Ed. Rev., 1904, 653 pages. Franklin Hudson Publishing Company, Kansas City, Mo.
This work is a revised edition of the original work published in 1892, rendered necessary by the changed condition of affairs through the acquisition of our new territorial possessions, and by new phases of the relation of the civil to the military authorities as shown in the labor and other troubles of 1894, in Chicago; 1899, in Idaho; 1902, in Pennsylvania.
Of this volume Judge-Advocate General Davis, U. S. A., says, "The original work is the most complete treatise on the subject in the English language, and embodies the views which prevail in Anglo-Saxon countries on the subject of martial law and military occupation."
Further comment on its value is unnecessary.
The following extract from the chapter, entitled "Responsibility of Commanders," is worth quoting:
The author has referred to a decision of the Supreme Court (91 U. S. Reports, p. 172), and goes on to say: "This case arose from a naval officer, Wilkes, while on a distant foreign station, having inflicted corporal punishment on a sailor, Dinsman, who after their return to the United States instituted suit against the officer, resulting in a verdict for the plaintiff. This the Supreme Court reversed, holding that for all that appeared on the record, Captain Wilkes had but done his duty. The opinion is replete with important principles affecting executive officers called upon to exercise their judgment in positions of responsibility.
"It was observed in the opinion that Captain Wilkes' duties were imposed upon him as a public officer, and required him to exercise a discretion in their execution. The position of the officer in such cases becomes quasi judicial and is not ministerial. It is well settled that all judicial officers, when acting on subjects within their jurisdiction, are exempt from civil prosecution for their acts. It was especially proper not only that an officer situated like Captain Wilkes be invested with a wide discretion, but upheld in it when honestly exercising it and not transcending it. When so situated an officer's reasons for acting one way or another are often the fruits of his own observation, and not susceptible of technical proof on his part. No review of his decisions, if within his jurisdiction, is conferred by law on either courts or juries or subordinates." P. 544.
"Syllabus of Davis' International Law," by C. A. Seoane, Third U. S. Cavalry, published by Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Company, 1904.
The object of this book is briefly stated in the preface as follows:
"This compendium is written primarily for the use of students at the service and garrison schools. Like the use of syllabi at various colleges, it is intended to be used in connection with the original subject as a means of making quick reviews and final cramming for examinations."
In describing the arrangement of the book, the author writes, "The chapters, headings, and titles to articles are maintained in capitals as in the original, they have also the same sequence, and after each follows in parentheses the number of the page they occupy in the original, thus facilitating a ready reference between the two. Interspersed throughout the work there will be found numerous blank leaves."
He adds a few words of advice for the preparation of the daily lesson. "If the student in preparing his daily recitation reads the original work first and takes the syllabus for the second reading, using the blank leaves for such additional matter as he thinks proper and for notes taken at lectures, and for such points as are expounded in the section room; he will then have prepared a system which will render a quick and intelligent review possible and reduce the drudgery of preparing for an examination to the lowest minimum which it is possible to devise, but it should be added that poor results only need be expected if the original is entirely ignored."
The volume upon which this syllabus is based, "Elements of International Law," by Lt.-Col. George B. Davis, U. S. A., at present Judge-Advocate General of the Army, is, in the opinion of the writer, one of the best manuals for the student. It has not the voluminousness of Woolsey and Hall; but the author has, in his treatment of the subject, the great merit of brevity and clearness. It has been adopted generally as a textbook in the army. This syllabus as an aid to the study of international law should prove of value.
"Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs." An account of the relations of the United States with the Barbary powers a century or more ago is told by Dr. Gardner W. Allen in a romantic and remarkably interesting form. The volume has just appeared under the title of "Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs" from the press of Houghton, Mifflin & Co., and while the book is classified under "History" the picturesque exploits of Preble and Decatur and the adventures of our American seamen and consuls with the famous pirates of the Mediterranean give the entire work a flavor of true romance. It is hard to realize the extent to which the Mohammedan states on the north coast of Africa levied tribute on the European nations until their piracy was checked by the United States. In the first years of our national existence our Government followed the example of European powers and tried to protect our shipping by making money payments; but when Tripoli demanded larger sums, our refusal led to war. Dr. Allen's book tells fully the circumstances of this episode and of the admirable record which our little navy made in the Mediterranean during the first years of the 19th century.
The recent experiences of several of our citizens in Morocco have brought freshly before us the sort of people who enslaved and terrorized our early seamen. The bandit chief, Raissuli, is doubtless a descendant of the Barbary Corsairs. It was in fighting the pirates of the Mediterranean that many of our early naval commanders obtained the training which enabled them, a few years later, to win glory in their unequal contest with the overwhelming navy of England. So little has been previously written upon this subject that Dr. Allen has found it necessary to explore the original records for many of the details. The various events scattered over a period of about forty years are brought together in his interesting history. Publishers, Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Price $1.50 net.
"A Military and Naval Dictionary," compiled by Major J. P. Wisser, U. S. Army, and H. C. Gauss, Esq., of the Navy Department.
A good Military and Naval Dictionary in the English language, up to date in all respects, is a great desideratum. To partially supply the want of such a work of reference the present work has been prepared.
There is at present no dictionary of modern military or naval terms in the English language. Wilhelm's is the latest, and that is practically obsolete in most respects.
Military literature has not only increased enormously in volume in the last quarter of a century, but has completely changed its vocabulary.
The nomenclature of military material is entirely different, and even the forms of drill regulations, tactics and strategy have undergone transformations which require new expressions to define them.
In the present work technical forms of defining words have been avoided as much as possible, in order that the general student or reader may be able to comprehend them more easily.
To the military or naval officer the work will be found useful as a work of reference, in spite of the fact that much of the material is naturally familiar.
To the officers of the National Guard (or organized militia of the United States) and to the Naval Reserve, it will be found most useful, not only in supplying them with a new vocabulary of modern terms, but also in furnishing correct ideas of modern tactics.
To the general reader who desires to read understandingly any article relating to modern military matters, this little volume will be found quite essential. Any one who reads the reports of the war in the Far East will be greatly assisted by this handbook, and the accounts of the army maneuvers, of improvements in war material, of our own operations in the Philippines, or, indeed, of any military matters, will all assume a clearer aspect by its assistance.
Besides the ordinary service text-books, manuals, and tactics, both army and navy, the following works were consulted in its preparation:
Worterbuch der Marine. Julius Heinz. Pola. 1900.
French-English Military Dictionary. Willcox. 1899.
Petit Dictionnaire Militaire. Stavenhagen. 1898.
Militaer-Lexikon. Frobenius. 1901.
The military and naval articles in the New International Encyclopcedia were also referred to, as they were written by military and naval authorities of the first order.
The work is condensed into a small handbook, constituting a handy volume of ready reference, and the words selected are clearly defined in ordinary language. In arranging and selecting the list of words .to be defined the most recent military and naval dictionaries in foreign languages were used as types. The work should therefore commend itself to the navy, the army, the National Guard, the Naval Reserve, and the general reader, or the citizen who is interested in military matters. No other work covering the same ground is available, in our language, and its subject-matter includes the latest words introduced into our military or naval vocabulary. L. R. Hamersly Company, 49 Wall St., New York. Price 50 cents, postage free.
"Estimating Distance Tables," by Capt. Edwin Bell, 8th U. S. Infantry. Illustrated. Cloth, 75c. Franklin-Hudson Publishing Company, Kansas City, Mo.
The purpose of these tables is to relieve the company commander by eliminating the mass of tedious calculation, and, by permitting the instant verification of an estimate, to expedite the progress of the exercise, and enable him to give his company much more practice.
"Handling the Straight Army Ration and Baking Bread." Presented by Capt. L. R. Holbrook, 5th U. S. Cavalry. Assisted by Color Sergeant Patrick Dunne, 5th U. S. Cavalry, Regimental Instructor of Cooks. Illustrated Cloth, $1.50. Franklin-Hudson Publishing Company, Kansas City, Mo.
Col. Chas. A. P. Hatfield, 13th U. S. Cavalry, says: "I can easily imagine that this manual will be a practical and valuable work."
Capt. J. McI. Carter, 14th U. S. Cavalry, says of Sergeant Dunne: "I have closely observed his method of handling the ration and instructing cooks and regarded his method and the results obtained as superior to any I have seen in their service."
A practical manual for army cooks, mess stewards, and post bakers in field or in garrison and on the march, and for all company officers, and post treasurers, and mess officers of troops aboard army transports.
"Catechismal Edition of the Infantry Drill Regulations, 1904, United States Army," by Brig.-Gen. William F. Spurgin, U. S. Army (retired). Definitions; General Principles; School of the Soldier; School of the Squad; School of the Company; School of the Battalion; Evolution of the Regiment; The Brigade; The Division; The Corps; Ceremonies; Reviews; Parades; Inspection; Muster; Escorts; Guard Mounting; Manual of the Saber; The Color; The Band; The Advance and Rear Guard; Outpost; Marches; Camping; Honors; Trumpet Calls, etc. Price, Cloth, soc.; Tag Board, 40c. Franklin-Hudson Publishing Company, Kansas City, Mo.
The object of this book is to bring out prominently, by means of questions and answers, every statement made in the Infantry Drill Regulations, and in so doing strictly follows the text.
"Soldier's Handbook of Target Practice." Cloth, 50c.; Paper, 4oc. Franklin-Hudson Publishing Company, Kansas City, Mo.
This book is an abridgment of the "Firing Regulations for Small Arms, 1904," to which is added score sheets for the use of the individual soldier in recording his firing on the range. The instruction of an intelligent soldier can be much hastened, if in addition to oral teachings, he is given an opportunity to read the drill book. It should be in the hands of every soldier of the regulars or militia.