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Book Notices

October 1906
Proceedings
Vol. 32/4/120
Article
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Body

"Suggestions to Military Riflemen." By Lieut. Townsend Whelan, U. S. Army.

Lieut. Whelan, who has been the coach for the U. S. Army Infantry Rifle Team for the past two years, has given in this book the most concise and practical treatise on military rifle shooting produced in this country. From its first chapter on "The selection of an accurate rifle," to its last, "The rifleman on the battlefield," it teems with points invaluable to the man behind the rifle. To all officers and instructors in rifle firing, and especially to those organizing and developing rifle teams (either as members of the team or as team coaches) this book will be of great assistance. In fact, even the most expert shots will find valuable hints in it, while those beginning to shoot, or to develop shooting, will find it a perfect mine of information.

(Franklin Hudson Publishing Co., Kansas City, Mo. Price, $1.1o.)

"Position-Line Star Tables" is the title of a very useful book of about too pages, by H. B. Goodwin, R. N., and issued by J. D. Potter, 145, Minones E. London, price 5 shillings. Briefly stated, it consists of tables for fixing a ship's position from observations of certain stars near the meridian in connection with observations of certain other stars near the prime vertical, or at position of maximum azimuth, without logarithmic calculation; it contains examples illustrative of the method, and deductions explaining the theory on which the tables are based. The tables for the "reduction to the meridian" are identical with those issued several years ago by the same author, but the remaining ones are entirely new in conception as well as application, and are intended to effect, when longitude is sought from observation near the P. V., or at maximum azimuth, a saving of time and labor, similar to what is now accomplished for observations near the meridian by the "reduction to meridian" tables.

Table I, in its various parts, gives the approximate siderial time at which certain selected stars will cross the P. V., will be at position of maximum azimuth in cases where the declination of star is greater than the latitude and of the same name, and also the times they will transit the upper branch of the meridian.

Table II tabulates for the same stars, in the given latitudes, the hour angle and zenith distance when on the P. V., and the seconds of time for a change of one degree of zenith distance, to be used in finding the H. A. corresponding to a given zenith distance observed within certain limits of the P. V. The same table gives the change of zenith distance per minute of time" to be used when seeking the zenith distance corresponding to a given H. A., as when applying the methods of "The New Navigation"; under such circumstances, these tables are especially valuable.

Table III gives, for the same stars, corresponding elements for observations at maximum azimuth.

Table IV furnishes the "reduction to the meridian."

Table V expresses minutes and seconds of arc as decimals of a degree, and seconds of time as decimals of a minute of time.

This new method in nautical astronomy is fully explained in an article by Mr. Goodwin in this number of the PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTE; the reader is also referred to Vol. XXXI, No. 4, for preliminary remarks by the author on the same method. W. C. P. M.

The Franklin Hudson Publishing Co., of Kansas City, Mo., has just issued one of the most important books for the use of the army officers that has been printed. It is a new translation by Major Charles H. Barth, Twelfth Infantry of the Baron von Griepenkerl's "Letters on Applied Tactics," in which Major Barth has introduced the United States organization, together with the English scales of miles and yards. This book contains a large number of problems on field maneuvers, together with discussion of same, and will henceforth be used by student officers in the Ft. Leavenworth Service Schools in place of the English translation used heretofore.

The book costs $2.00 and may be obtained from the Secretary of the U. S. Army Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kans.

"A Text-Book of Constitutional Law." By Edwin G. Davis, First Lieut. Artillery Corps, U. S. Army, West Point, N. Y.

This is a manual of less than 300 pages. The author's experience at West Point has enabled him to make a text-book, which strikes the golden mean, between a profound treatise for use by candidates for the Bar, and those Civic Manuals, of which there are many before the public to-day, that simplify by question and answer, in a diluted sort of way, the principles which lie at the foundation of the Government.

Decisions in some 200 cases are cited in confirmation of the author's commentary; thus making it a valuable book of reference. The volume has for appendices, the following:

The Declaration of Independence; The Articles of Confederation; Resolutions and Letter Transmitted to Congress by the Federal Convention; and Washington's Farewell Address.

It has also a series of questions and answers upon the text, which the author calls "Recreations," these are helpful to the student in review, and of use to the instructor in the class room. The volume has many merits and will undoubtedly meet the favor which it deserves.

Franklin Hudson Publishing Co., Kansas City, Mo.

Digital Proceedings content made possible by a gift from CAPT Roger Ekman, USN (Ret.)

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