REVIEWS 527 



authors apologise for finishing during war a task begun in time of peace. There 

 have been some good books written on the rifle, and this one, marking the end of 

 an epoch, is a worthy companion to them. 



It is divided into two parts, the first being historical, while the second deals 

 with practical rifle shooting. The treatment of the history in chapters dealing 

 alternately with the rifle and its ammunition, stage by stage, makes a very clear 

 and connected account. The novel features of the second part are : a discussion 

 of the simple but valuable device of " trajectory shooting," an examination of 

 conventional ideas on the subject of " cant," and some indications of our new 

 knowledge as to the military capacities of the rifle. 



It is pleasant to read the authors' high opinion of the modern British service 

 rifle as a weapon for field use, in spite of the design of the bearing-lugs and bolt. 

 Their condemnation of its needlessly elaborate construction, which demands 

 special machining, and so has not only delayed our supplies of rifles, but has cost 

 us millions of pounds, is definitely expressed, though very briefly and quietly. The 

 humour of many situations which have arisen during the steady conflict between the 

 civilian rifleman and the official musketry expert is frequently indicated, and both 

 parties obtain their share of credit. The illustrations are all excellent, from the 

 delightful aperture-sight on an ancient cross-bow to the skiagraphs of bullets in 

 flight. There is one bad misprint on p. 106. 



In the hope that the surviving author may at some time bring out another 

 edition, we venture to suggest that the deliberate omission of any account of 

 range-finding devices is rather a pity, while an account of the variations in 

 appearance of the " open " sights would be very useful indeed, with photographic 

 illustrations. The definition of a colloid on p. 152 is scarcely satisfactory, and the 

 complete novice might be hampered, in the chapter on "Simple Ballistics," by an 

 omission to point out specifically that the relation between sight-adjustment and 

 the consequent alteration of the point of impact on the target at any one range is 

 a simple matter of triangles, depending on the ratio between the range and the 

 distance from one sight to the other. 



Though Rifles and Ammunition is not ostensibly a scientific treatise, we 

 know of no better introduction to the subject for any scientist who wishes to learn 

 the history, the art and the craft of the rifle, and to appreciate the various difficulties 

 involved in any attempt at improvement. Lastly, it is a permanent memorial to a 

 brilliant shot and gallant soldier. 



L. B. 



Pro Lithuania. A Monthly Review Published by the Lithuanian Information 

 Bureau. No. 1, July 191 5. [Pp. 32.] (Editorial Offices, 41, Boulevard des 

 Batignolles, Paris, France. Annual Subscription, 8s.) 



As the result of the great struggle now raging will be a complete alteration in the 

 map of Europe, many small nations that have through various causes lost their 

 nationality are hoping that this forthcoming readjustment will bring them autonomy. 

 Among these figures Lithuania, a country often erroneously confused or identified 

 with Poland. She is therefore endeavouring to gain a hearing in every State, and 

 this little paper is the first issue of a new journal written in the English language. 

 Most of us know so little of the country that the slight sketches contained in 

 these pages awaken great interest, and we find appeal to our sympathies for this 

 down-trodden race pathetic indeed. The journal contains a number of short 

 articles, most of them devoted to the one end of enlightening the public on the 



