THE BOER WAR. London: Leo Cooper, [1975]. Octavo, pp. 181, illustrations, maps, endpaper maps, boards. First edition. A brief but scholarly and authoritative account of a war (1899-1902) between Great Britain and the Dutch settlers of two independent republics in South Africa. The author makes the point that the war "demonstrated all too clearly one of the great paradoxes of military science. The job of an army is to keep the peace but if it succeeds in this aim for too long a period, it becomes an outdated and ineffective machine." The British military, fighting Dutch farmers, was eventually victorious, but at great cost of life and reputation. The author points out that Britain's inept and often barbaric performance triggered a wide popular backlash in Britain against the war. This had the saving byproduct of forcing reforms in the military that helped it in time for World War I. Second in the publisher's "Concise Campaigns" series, under the general editorship of R.L.V. ffrench Blake. A fine copy in fine dust jacket. (#147044).
Price: $25.00
"First published in Great Britain in 1975 ..." on copyright page.