WESTMINSTER
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA: J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.
1900
The history of a war cannot be properly written until long after itsclose, for such a work must be based upon a close study of the militarycorrespondence of the generals and upon the best records, to be had ofthe doings of both sides. Nor can the tactical lessons of a war be fullyset forth until detailed and authoritative accounts of the battles areaccessible.
But for the nation the lessons of this war are not obscure, at any ratenot to those whose occupations have led them to indulge in any closestudy of war.
Since the middle of December I have written a daily introduction to thetelegrams for one of the morning papers. Before I contemplated that workI had undertaken for my friend Mr. Locker, the Editor of The LondonLetter, to write a weekly review of the war.
Many requests have been made to me by publishers for a volume on thehistory of the war, with which, for the reasons given above, it isimpossible at present to comply; but to the proposal of my old friends,Messrs. Archibald Constable and Co., to reprint my weekly reviews fromThe London Letter, the same objections do not hold.
In revising the articles, I have found but few alterations necessary.My views have not changed, and to make the details of the battlesaccurate would hardly be practicable without more information than islikely to be at hand until after the return of the troops.
S.W.
March 9th, 1900