A FEW PRESS OPINIONS.
“UNITED SERVICE MAGAZINE.”
Major E. Kirkpatrick is the author of a small book on “The Training of an Infantry Company.” There have been so many books and pamphlets of this kind—short cuts to knowledge—that one is apt to regard each fresh one with suspicion and even with aversion, but Major Kirkpatrick has much that is helpful to say, he says it well, and he shows how much good work may be done even in the training of the emasculated companies such as our military system so often leaves us. His instructions cover a wide field, and there must be few company officers who will not be grateful to the author for many valuable hints.
“UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION OF INDIA.”
There are few junior officers of infantry who will not benefit by a study of this book. The thorough system of training elaborated in the seventeen exercises, which form the major portion of the book, is worthy of the attention of Regular as well as Territorial Officers.
These elementary exercises deal with the essentials in the war training of the Infantry soldier, from the work of the individual in advance and retirement, and of the section in action and on protection duties, to the training of the company in attack and defence, and outpost.
As an example of a system of training illustrating the necessity of attention to detail in the early instruction of the soldier, this series of exercises is valuable, and their value is increased by the constant reference to training manuals. The author wisely recommends the study of all the official books referred to as he recognises that his exercises and comments are only of value in so far as they illustrate and explain the principles laid down in training manuals.