Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-07
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM

WASHINGTON: Commander in Chief.
Thomas G. rockingham, Captain,

U. S. r.. Houghton-Mlfflln 20.
Every year in the United States is, II
q sense, a George Washington year. Yet
1882, distinct from its predecessors
promises to be a fun 12-month com
memoration Of Americas debt to 1t:
first President. During this period TIT
country as a whole will unite in forma
acts of homage to its greatest politica
oenefactor, its wisest advocate OF re-
publican principles, its most far-seeint
supporter of an independent self
governing people.
Already much has been done to pre-.
pare Tor this general celebration Of the
second centennial Of Washington's birth
The most lasting OF these movements
toward the spiritual revival, the spiritua
resurrection even, of Washington lies
naturally, in the body of new literature
growing up so sturdily around his name
Certainly 1t is no new thing for writers
to expend themselves upon this high
theme. But within the past few years
facilities for wider and deeper estimates
OF historic figures have grown greatly In
behalf OF those conclusions about the
past upon which the present must lear
for confirmation and the future for d.
rection. Scholars are more probing In
research. Interpreters are more expert
sounder In their returns. These are
bringing greatness out of the
past in a significance, in an aliveness
never before possible. One, reading
must constantly remind himself, how
ever, that the nature of the writer him.
self, apart from his equipment, has
much to do with the quality and value
Of the outcome. For an author, like
God, creates man in his own image. Tc
this basic fact may be assigned some OF
NJ i1.ro
in one or two cases has attended the
study of even Washington. A rather
futile gesture toward making Wash
tngton human" and so on. However
such work is so outweighed as to make
1t negligible.
Thomas @. rockingham, captain, U
S. r., has produced five volumes of i'm.
portant military history. Four of these
point, respectively, upon one or another
critical aspect of the World War. The
most widely known within this grour
Is, doubtless. the authoritative anc
clearly dramatic record Of the Battle o.
Jutland.
Washington: Commander in Chief
Is the most recent of this writer's work
An opportune appearance. Unlike othel
studies OF the great American, this ONT
views Washington exclusively through
the medium of his military career anc
It's sequence of world service to thu
cause of individual political freedom
supporting an ideal of national unity.
Two. short Introductory chapters re.
cast the already familiar features O.
boyhood and youth. These serve as vel
TO give definite pointing upon the pro.
feSslonal career of Washington-so soldier
leader, commander in chief. In outline
this story Is known to every American
Schoolboy. Indeed, some say, WHY an.
other history of Washington? 1t is ever
now as we'll conned as the Lords Prayer
or the Decalogue." Yet, here is so new
an approach to the old theme as Il
give the effect of originality, of some
thing new in the procedure of the grea
pioneer in American nationalism. Thi
striking effect Is due to certain ex
illusions imposed by the author. to GER
tain deep stresses of the professional
life Of the great soldier.
Capt. rockingham makes of Wash
1ngtOn an object lesson in the fnilitar,
school. From Braddocks defeat I'm th,
French and Indian campaigns to tn,
West and North, on through the Revo
luton itself, this boy and man are citeC
to set the lessons Of modern warfare IL
the New World To these lessons 1
brought the accepted technic of or
ganized campaign, strategy, attack, re-
so on to the ultimate of this instrumen
Of civilization for the settlement of ma
ttonal debts-real debts and unreA
debts. From such summary one Wolllc
think this book, a text book, for mill
tary schools. And such it might be
probably will be. Certainly upon it thu
author has expended his wide knowl
edge of the professional content of thu
art Of war. Set within this involved
special completely and measured by i
Is George Washington, commander IL
chief.
Specialized in treatment as the sub
Ject so clearly is, this book, neverthe-
less, steps confidently out toward the
general reader. Moves into such wider
zone by reason of the authors firm
seizure of the basic fact that under the
professionalism lawyer, preacher
f1ghter-there is the man himself, his
true quality and power coming to the
surface upon demand. That beneath
every situation Of special import, botl
In the PURSUITS Of peace and in the
conduct OF war. there is ever a sub
stratum, an intangible, deeper than
these externals and, therefore, influen-
tai In shaping and directing these
SO 1t Is here. This study, largely pro-
fessional and technical, rests upon @
deep foundation of understanding. And
to these fundamental matters the au-
thor pays such dtie as to animate wal
even with profound currents of life
to inspire leaders with their own man
hood, With something finer than the lust
Of victory. With Washington, clearly
there Is the vision of ultimate human
freedom. With him patriotism that
involves courage and endurance. that
involves also compassion and fair-deal-
ing with the defeated. It is by this
broadly intelligent and sympathetic
grasp of the human intangibles of wal
itself that this writer irnparts to q
special study OF military purposes anc
procedures most illuminating story
not only of Washington: Commando
In Chief" but of George Washington
our Fellow countryman, a great man anc
finely human one as well.
= = = X
GEORGE wASHINGTON's CoUN
TRY. Marietta Minnigerode An.
drews. z. P. Dutton & Co.
Take word of advice. Next year anc
the year after when you come to the
Capital for the George Washington
celebration, be sure to look for Marietta
Mlnnigerode Andrews. More than likely
youll not succeed in finding her. Never
mind. The next best thing to do viii
be to have with YOU her new book, this
book. Don't let it get away from you
when you set out to see the country
roundabout the George Washington
country. For If throughout the locality
made famous by the great man there
Is road or path or a trail that this
Jealous lady has not laid down for your
guidance, why, then-well, but there l.
none such. Every one of them is in thi:
completely captivating book. Mrs. An
drews knows the country as you know
the palm Of your own hand. BY virtue
OF such knowledge, and its projection
here, you are safe in counting the ex-
cursions offered by it as among the
happiest and most useful experiences
year after next in Washington.
Here the old life of the South looks