British Burma in the New Century draws upon neglected but talented colonial authors to portray Burma between 1895 and 1918; which was the apogee of British governance. These writers; most of them 'Burmaphiles' wrote against widespread misperceptions about Burma.
2010-04-04Original language:English 10.00 x .35 x 7.50l; #File Name: 1117936783154 pages
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Verdun as the French wanted it to be understoodBy T. S. Schulze"They Shall Not Pass" is an American journalist's report on the Battle of Verdun. Frank H. Simond visited the battlefield in April 1916 and reported on what his French General Staff escorts showed and told him. The book is useful for providing background color to other reading those interested in the Verdun battle may have done. I found it interesting because Simond tries so hard to explain that Verdun was morally important but militarily insignificant. He also tries to explain how the ring of forts around Verdun were no longer militarily useful ever since modern siege guns had been invented. The French; he explains; moved all their artillery pieces out of the forts; where they could no longer be protected and usefully employed; and emplaced them in positions within the surrounding hills. This was smart; he maintains; because forts were so outre; being as they were vulnerable to cannon fire. Since the only forts he visited were the Verdun Citadel and another fort well behind the lines; he was unable to see for himself that the forts; Douamont; Vaux; and others; actually stood up pretty well to heavy artillery and probably would have been effective if the French hadn't pulled the guns and men out to support their strategy of Attaque à outrance. (France would later reverse this view and build the Maginot Line; which was named after the French Minister of Defense Andre Maginot; who coincidentally had an opportunity to witness first hand the supposed "ineffectiveness" of fixed fortifications at Verdun; where he served as a sergeant; was wounded and was awarded the Medaille Militaire.)0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. WW I Verdun and Lorraine in 1916By Hill Country BobA WW I book about the French Army.The Germans had selected Verdun at the place for an attack. The Germans thought that the French were ready to break; and that they could beat the French Army at Verdun. The author was given escorted trips to Verdun; very much a live battlefield on the front. The French army had moved out of the old forts; and gone to trenches at Verdun. The old forts had all of the artillery removed; and were used only for support functions like a bakery. As the forts at Verdun were obsolete; as demonstrated decades before; due to large caliber artillery pieces; the army would have left Verdun; and selected a better defensive position. However; the politicians made the army defend Verdun; as it was the historical fortress city on the way into France from Germany; and it had a great deal of symbolism. Thus; the army stayed; fought for Verdun and supported Verdun with one highway as the only way into town. It was a wonderful feat of logistics for the French to be able to support their army at Verdun. In the end the French won at Verdun; and the Germans paid a heavy price in casualties as did the French.He also went to the quite front in Lorraine the old battlefield by Nancy; where the Germans had tried to break through previously.On the trips by car; he could see the parts of France which were undamaged; and the fields were still being worked; by the old men; and the very young. The towns had old men; young people and women. All of the men were in the Army. They saw marching troops going to the front; and returning from the front for rest. They saw Red Cross ambulances bring back the casualties. They saw many graves for both Germans and French. Some were mass graves; and many were single graves; all marked; and treated with respect.The author manages to provide a brief view of what he saw; driving to the front in these two locations for brief visits.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. thorough!By William WacenskeIt probably deserves three and a half stars; but I don't know how to do that. The approach was very different for me; very much like some readings I had in literature and history classes in college. Of course; I had to go look up Verdun on the map. Much of what the author said could be applied to the next big war; where many of the same types of leaders created pretend protections which slowed the blitzkrieg not one whit. I'm glad I read it.
