NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11535, 18 March 1903, Page 8

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

The death of .Major-General Sir George Whitmore, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., lends a melancholy interest to his account of "The Last Maori War in New Zealand, under the Self-Reliant Policy." Concerning the general character of the book we have said something in our leading columns to-day-It cannot be regarded as altogether an unbiassed account of the events with which it deals, particularly when the author ventures to impute motives to those from whom he differed. It has tho value .of a personal narrative, written by a man who has taken part in the events he dejscribes. The period with which it deals is absolutely the most thrilling in our history. The war ..gainst Titokowaru, the escape of T. Kooti, the Poverty Bay massacre, the exciting pursuit of Te Kooti in the i_»tnt_.s__ of the Uriwena country —all the_? may well form th. materials for an Iliad by some future New Zealand Homer. It ia, therefore, a book of exceptional interest, but tha reader who desires to arrive at an impartial opinion on disputed points, will do w_ 11 to c_eck the naiiutivc by reading over tli* very able debates on the war in thy Parliament of tlie time, or, if they are not equal to this task, to compare it with Gudgeon's well-known "Reniinisc-ncei of the War in New Zealand," dealing with the same period. The book is tastefully got up, is illustrated with a number of portrates aud plans illustrating tl_> more important engagements, and ia prefaced by an appreciative introduction from the peu of Mr R. A. Loughnan, of Wellington. (London: Sampson, Low, Mareton and Co., Limited. Fleet street. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs.) Among tlie many books which will doubtle_- yet be written about the war in South Africa, one may expect several devoted to special subjects connected therewith. Wo have already had one or two of these, dealing with the work of the hospitals, and in "With General French and the Cavalry in South Africa," MrC. S. Goldmann presents us with a detailed account of the work of tho mounted arm of the wrvice which he geuerically classes as cavalry. Mr Goldmann has good qualifications for his work, for he was one of the "Standard's" special correspondents with the army led by Lord Roberts, and he has apparently studied his subject with much care, if, indeed, some of his knowledge does not come from personal experience. The work of the cavalry in South Africa ia exceptionally interesting to the student of military method.. Broadly speaking, as Mr Goldmann says, the_ cavalry man was deprived of much of the brilliancy and picturesquene&s which were invariably his on previous battle grounds "He has not been able to rejoice in the tumult ol the charge, to over-ride in close-knit masses the opposing squadrons of tlie enemy, to thunder with loose rein and bloody spur upon disorganised and shaken infantry, nor to descend like a thunderbolt upon his foeman's guns, and sweep triumpliantiy through disorganised masses." The reconnaissance, the patrol, the swift-flanking movements—these tasks were left to him out of his hitherto-reoognised duly. For the rest, he hod generally to fight on foot, and to work alone and unheralded, instead of being held in hand to finish what the other arms had begun. That ho achieved so much success is a proof of the readiness of his commanders to recognise and meet the new conditions. How this was done, often at great cost of horseflesh, and hardship to the troops engaged, Mr Goldmann narrates in nearly 500 pages. Ho does not pretend to do more than give a straightforward story of the operations of the cavalry, and those who want a complete aocount of the war must go to other sources. His style is clear and concise, and ithough he indulges in little "picturesque" writing, the reader frequently comes across o few vivid sentences which describe the situation in a flash. One of these passages tells the story of New Zealand Hill, that miniature Majuba on which the Boers nearly repeated tlie, historic success they had gained on Majuba twenty years before. After describing how the Boers had misled! the Yorkshire., into thinking an attack was to be delivered from the easy eastern slope, whereas all the time a party of the enemy had been scaling the steep and difficult north-western ascent, Mr Goldmann says:—"Stealthily taking cover from boulder to boulder, a number of Boers had noiselessly effected a good lodgement on tho crest. With the suddenness of a thun-der-bolt from a clear sky, a scathing fire was poured upon the rudely-surprised Yorkshires at a range of no farther than about 50 yards- ... At this moment, as good fortune would have it,. Captain Maddox (Madoeks) of the Royal Artillery, with some of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, appeared on the scene. ... A bayonet charge could alone save the situation. Not a moment was to be lost, and Captain Maddox did not hesitate. 'Fix bayonets,' be ordered; quick to obey, the eager New Zealandcrs, following tlie lead, swept with a rush against the enemy, who gave way before the cold-steel. Pell-mell they flung themselves down the steeps which they had so furtively ascended, the confusion of their flight being worse confounded by a hailstorm of stones and bullets." And in his account of the attempt to rescue the lost gun, after the Koornspruit disaster, while the Boers poured upon it ait close range "an unmeasured fire," occurs a sentence that Kiplijig and Steevens might liave written: —"It was observed tliait as the men emerged from the shelter of tlie buildings, they bent tlreir heads towaids the direction from which the bullets were coming, as if they were withstanding a storm of hail." The value of the book is greatly increased by a large number of excellent maps and photographs, but it sadiy needs an index. (London: Macmillan and Co. Christchurch: Whitcon-be and Tombs, 18s 6d.) *"For every new Dooley book," says '___• Punch," in a brief pregnant review, "we are all Dooley thankful." This will be thoroughly endorsed by readers of "Observations by Mr Dooley," just published. So far from falling off in the freshness of his wit. we think that his humorous yetcaustic satire is more delightful than ever. Those critics who said that the style would boon pall on tho reader will find that their prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. Among some of the subject* dealt with by Mr Dooley in this volume are—"A Little Essay on Books," "Sherlock Holmes," "Money and Matrimony," "King Edward's Coronation," "Home. Life of Genius," "Tne End of the War," "Newspaper Publicity," and "The Rights and Privileges of Women." It will be seen, therefore, that Mr Dooley is as versatile in his choice of subjects as he is original in their treatment. jVo have ventured to give a few of his "observations" at foot. (London: WilUam Heine inarm. 3s 6d.)