DEFENCE MATTERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 14

DEFENCE MATTERS.

" NAPOLEON AT BAY." "Napoleon at Bay," the fifth voluuio of which has just been published, is a continuation of Mr F. Loi aino IVtre's series of histories of Napoleon's campaigns and deals with the period which followed the\ catastrophe of Leipzig. Napoleon had crossed the Rhine in November, 1813, with between sixty and seventy thousand men, and was faced with a most precarious political situation at home, lor whilst many European States which had previously helped tho Emperor were now ranged with the Allies, he could not rely for support even upon France, for the country was rising against the Napoleonic yoke. His task was made yet more formidable by the fact that Wellington had crossed the Pyrenees and was now upon French soil in the south-west. It is an axiom that more can usually bo learned by failure than by success, and hence the period when Napoleon was at bay is not by any means the least important period of his career. As in his previous books, tho author has written mainly to help the military student, and after prolonged personal, examination of tho various fields of action. An exhaustive series... of maps and plans accompany tho work, and the period it deals with is an important one, comprising as it does .the splendid march upon Reims, by which Napoleon secured for himself a magnificent country whence- to draw supplies, whilst leaving Schwarzenberg in,a very poor country—a masterpiece of tactics, as were the operations against St Priest. The hook, on tho whole, is one whicli can be read with profit by anyone having a staff appointment in mind. i SIR CHARLES DOUGLAS. Sir Charles Douglas recently took over the'duties of Chief of the Imperial General Staff, ft was probably tho best choico which could under the circumstances have been made (says tho "Army and Navy for Sir Charles, commands the respect of tho Army: 'Though at times a trifle brusquo in his manner, he is essentially a strong man and of uncompromising honesty. He is in".his sixty-fourth year, and his regimental service was snent in the Gordon Highlanders, of which regiment ho is now tho honorary colonel. He has seen fighting in Afghanistan, in the South African war of 1881, in the Soudan in 1884, and again in South Africa during tho late. war. Ho took part in the advance on Kimberley, afterwards commanding the 9th Infantry Hrigado and, a column, and was. promoted major-general for distinguished service in the field. During tho latter part of tho war he commanded a brigade at 1 Aldorshot, and when the Army Council first caitio into being was appointed adjutant-general. Since then he has increased " his reputation at Salisbury and the Horse Guards.