20–8902
A book subtitled “a contribution to the history of American preparedness.” The author’s purpose is to describe the ordnance department and to trace the various steps in equipping the army for France, leaving the reader to judge to what extent the department met its responsibilities. Contents: Ordnance department; Embarrassments; Overhead organization; Criticisms; Rifles; Machine guns; Field artillery; Smokeless powder; Responsibility; Conclusion. The author states that since he is no longer a member of the war department he speaks “without official authority, and with something of the freedom of any other citizen.”
“So far as the book is an apology for the Ordnance department, it is well done and is successful. So far as it is an apology for the writer himself, it had better have been left undone. It doth protest too much; it leaves the reader not quite convinced; worse, far worse, it leaves him bored.” H: W. Bunn
+ − Review 3:319 O 13 ’20 1500w
“Altogether the book has a larger field than its mere name implies. It may be said to be an authoritative and comprehensive history of an achievement characteristically American in dealing with new and extraordinary problems.” F. B. C. Bradlee
+ Springf’d Republican p6 Jl 16 ’20 310w
CRUICKSHANK, ALFRED HAMILTON. Philip Massinger. il *$4.50 Stokes 822
(Eng ed 21–120)
Of the many dramatists of the century of Shakespeare, says the author of this volume, none seem more worthy of affectionate consideration than Philip Massinger. Comparing his writings with the masterpieces of his contemporaries, which, though displaying rich gifts of pathos, poetry and humor, are often marred by waywardness, unnaturalness, want of proportion and grossness, Massinger’s work is sober, well-balanced, dignified and lucid. While he shares with them the atmosphere of romance and adventure, he is the most Greek of his generation. The book contains, besides the text, appendices and index, a frontispiece portrait, a facsimile of the Henslow document at Dulwich, and of the “Believe as you list” Ms. in the British museum.