So lets start of these books, about a week after I had typed out the text to the last issue I received a copy of Rene Chartrands' latest book entitled "Canadian Military Heritage, 1000-1754, Volume 1", Published by Art Global, 1009 Laurier Ouest, Outremont, Qc., CANADA, H2V 2Ll, Tel: 514-272-6111, it is printed in two versions, one with a French text or the other with an English language text, the cost is $49.95 Canadian. One might think that Canadian troops have or had no connection to the study of Latin American mil. hist. well they do and Rene's fine text, it's really easy to pick the book up and not put it down as I've found out, covers the various expeditions and garrisons that the French established in New France and Louisiana, while also mentioning the French West Indian islands and Guyana using coloured plates by a large selection of artists, to name a few; Eugene Leliepvre, Francis Back, David Rickman, Gerry Embleton and Michel Petard, whose works are sometimes reduced in size by the publisher but still ably portrays the uniforms and period. This is a must for anyone who is interested in World Uniforms, Colonial French, French and Indian Wars in North America and Military History, as I mentioned before Rene's text not only deals with the expansion and demise of New France but it also gives an great insight into the every-day life of these regular and militia troops and the French understanding of making warfare in the Americas, which is all to often overlooked by most British writers of this and the last century, plus it was a boon for me to see so many French sources quoted in his Bibliography that would never even have been used if this was a British effort. One can only speculate what the other volumes will be like, as Canadian military history is nearly as neglected as Latin America for good studies of it (other than with a British/Canadian bias), well done Rene and keep the good work up. ...TDH

I had better go by subject matter rather than date received or bought, two books on the Falklands War: "One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander", by Admiral Sandy Woodward, this edition is published by Book Club Associates 1992, 351 pages of text, 12 pages of photographs, haven't really looked at it yet, but his view on the running etc. of the British war effort makes it into a must to have book on this war for future years.

The other one is "Reasons in Writing: A Commando's View of the Falklands War", by Ewen Southby-Tailyour, again another Book Club Edition, 367 pages of text on before, during and after the war by the man who had conducted an exhaustive study of the islands coastline in 1979 while on tour there with the Royal Marines and returned there with the task force, another worthy book on this subject with some interesting photos that I don't seem to have seen before.

While I'm on to modern subjects I might as well stay with it; "Jungle Warriors: Defenders of the Amazon", by Carlos Lorch, published by Howell Press & Action Editora Ltda. Rio de Janeiro, 142 pages with many full colour photographs, the ones showing the insignias were for me the best, this could be a collectors piece in the next century if only for the publication of some of the photos included, the text appeared to me to be a bit of a P/R type effort although Mr. Lorch lives in Rio de Janeiro and the book was partly financed by the Banco Do Brasil, but maybe I wanted too much?

The next is "Just Cause: The Real Story of America's High-Tech Invasion of Panama", by Malcolm McConnel, published by St. Martin's Press, New York, 1991, 299 pages of Text and notes, with 16 pages of photographs (mainly two per page) some good details of the fighting and various squad type units involved, it goes very well with the other works on this invasion that I have and ties in parts that these have missed out, pity the photo's were in black and white.

The last two books in this section are "Latin American Defence Expenditures, 1938-1965", by Joseph E. Loftus, published in 1968 by the Rand Corporation, 132 pages of text, this is a handy reference work but it deals in capitial outlayed by these countries during this time span and not on what was purchased by each country with that money, pity, there must be a work that deals with this information somewhere in Washington?

The second is a small booklet (29 pages) published by the Strategic Studies institute, U.S. Army War College, December 10, 1993 entitled "The Future of insurgency", by Steven Metz. Although the author covers the whole world and deals with regional patterns of insurgency he also brings to light new forms with which these fractions are adapting in the last decade of the 20th century, a very interesting read.

Now lets go back to an earlier period and begin with this title; "Mexico and Peru: Myths and Legends", by Lewis Spence, this edition published by Senate Press, London 1994, first published 1920, all one would like to know about these legends and gods with some nice illustrations by Gilbert James (alas in black and white, these would have been in colour in the first edition one would think?), 339 pages, paperback £1.99, can't go far wrong for that money.

"Penny Ante Imperialism: The Mosquito Shore and the Bay of Honduras, 1600-1914", by Robert A. Naylor, published by Fairleigh Dickinson University Press & Associated University Presses, Inc. 1989, this arrived just today, it has 287 pages of text and notes and the various pages that I have just looked at and the note on the author both give me the feeling that the information contained in it will be well researched and detailed on a subject that is so little known about these days but still remains with us.

Next in this period theme is "Foreign Legionaries in the Liberation of Spanish South America", by Alfred Hasbrouck, published by Columbia University Press, New York, 1928, yes that's right a first edition signed by Hasbrouck in July 1928 and Colonel Elting in 1994 to myself, there's no need to inform you all of the contents of the text or how much it is regarded by researchers in this field, I only had photocopies of about two chapters of it while writing the Osprey and the article that appeared in the last issue of "E.D." (many thanks for this kind thought it's really appreciated, Terry ).

"Dom Pedro The Magnanimous: Second Emperor of Brazil", by Mary Wilhelmine Williams, published by Octagon Books, New York, 1978, 382 pages of text, three b/w illustrations of Dom Pedro II, the best is of him in campaign dress during the Paraguayan War from a painting hung at the Chateau d'Eu, a good chapter on "25 years of Foreign Troubles" and the later part of his rule and the Revolution of 1889, a handy book to refer to for names, dates and quotes.

Another book that I received today (four came in the post this morning and I haven't had a good look at the until now ) "The Southern Dream of a Caribbean Empire, 1854-1861", by Robert E. May, published by the University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia, 1989, (first printed Louisiana State University Press, 1973), 275 pages of text, this really puts a new light on the activities of filibusters such as William Walker (Nicaragua) and John Quitman (Cuba) and the support that they received by the southern states, in this way extending their influence and to create their own manifest destiny southward, away from the dominant interests of the northern states, a fair amount of politics but that's what makes wars, nice work to go with the books on William Walker.

Now for nine books on Mexico

"Spanish Bluecoats: The Catalonian Volunteers in Northwestern New Spain, 1767-1810", by Joseph P. Sanchez, published by University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 1990, 179 pages of text and notes, a must for anyone interested in this subject, 13 maps and plans, a well researched work on this unit that served from Sonora to Nootka Sound in the Pacific Northwest, using material from the Archives in Spain and Mexico, a good reference book to have.

"The Mexican Republic: The First Decade 1823-1832", by Stanley C. Green, published by University of Pittsburgh Press, 1987, 284 pages of text and notes, 19 small black and white illustrations, a good read on the early years of Mexico, mainly political but also covers the military happenings, but not as much as I would like although you ought to understand the politics of the day to get to grips with the constraints that govern the running of a war, on both sides, a bit of a pain but worth the effort or so I believe.

Which brings me to this title "British Interests and Activities in Texas, 1838-1846", by Ephraim Douglass Adams, published by Peter Smith, Gloucester, Mass. U.S.A. 1963 (first printed 1910), 264 pages of text, no illustrations, as the title states it is the British politics in the region with Texas, Mexico and the U.S.A. which makes fascinating reading, a subject that is so often left out of British History lessons, more's the pity, I liked it but then I suppose it is an area where I've been involved in research for the past couple of years off and on.

At long last I managed to see a copy of "A Time To Stand" for £3.00 in a local bookshop, this is by Walter Lord, published by Bison Books, first edition was in 1961 but this one is the 4th edition of the Bison paperback range, circa 1980's, most people will already know that this is looked upon as one of the best books on the seige of the Alamo, although I think that the amount of research that is and has taken place on this seige during the last 30, let alone 10, years makes it a classic but not the all in all book that it was once thought, it is typical having published a booklet on this war I now manage to obtain reference works on it (see last issue's acquired books), it was a required book to have though, 225 pages of text, 4 maps plus 13 pages of black and white illustrations.

A new book just published is "Maximilian's Lieutenant: A Personal History of the Mexican Campaign, 1864-67", By Ernst Pitner, translated and edited by Gordon Etherington-Smith, published by University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 1993, 198 pages of text, 4 maps, 4 pages of illustrations including 3 nice photos of the Austrian Legion and one b/w illustration of Ernst Pitner wearing a Mexican uniform, it would have been nice to have seen this one in colour being that it is a watercolour. The text will have to be read and not scanned to bear fruit as to Austrian officers names and combat reports but the text which I, so far, have managed to read makes it appear to have an interesting text on the Austrian Legion which I have very little on, ie. names of company officers etc. a handy book to have for this period.

Now the last four are on related items of the Mexican Revolution; "Pershing's Mission in Mexico 1916", by Haldeen Braddy, published by Texas Western Press, University of Texas, El Paso, 1966 (1973 2nd edition), 67 pages, 8 photographs, although not many pages in length there are some good details in it for latter use with other reference works.

"Revolution on the Border: The United States and Mexico 1910-1920", by Linda B. Hall and Don M. Coerver, published by University of New Mexico Press 1988, 196 pages of text, notes and Bibliography, 2 maps, 24 b/w photographs, two chapters stand out to me for further reading time there are chapters (4.) Military Responce:From Nonintervention to Veracruz and (5.) The Punitive Expeditions, while chapter (9.) Trade, Arms, and Revolutionaries, should also have some data, however small.

"Azuela and the Mexican Underdogs", by Stanley L. Robe, published by University of California Press, 1979, this is the translation of Mariano Azuels's classic fictional book "Los de abajo" based in the years 1914-15 in the State of Jalisco, the first chapter of 70 pages covers the actual happenings which Azuela was witness to with the Villistas in Jalisco 1914-15 and were to become the basis of his novel, some not so well known facts about these various fights between Villistas and Carrancistas in this first chapter, the other three chapters deal with the Spanish and English versions of the novel.

"Schoolboy, Cowboy, Mexican Spy", by Jay Monaghan (autobiography), published by University of California Press, 1977, three very interesting chapters on 1911 adventures on the border and at the city of Juarez and a really easy read, with 8 revolutionary photographs.

Two works on the Spanish American War; "Battles of the Nineteenth Century: Campaigns of the Nineties, The Spanish American War, Vol. V. (pages 91-226)" by A. Hilliard Atteridge, published by Cassell and Company, London, 1901, (a bit of a battered book but the text is all there, and only £3.00) will have to use text with other reference books on this war, should have something handy though.

"The Campaign of Santiago de Cuba, Vols. 1, 11 & ITI", by Herbert H. Sargent, published by Books For Libraries Press, New York, reprinted 1970, first published 1907, 12 maps, plus charts and order of battles, 778 pages in all, really helpful and useful set.

Received a copy of "Homenaje de las Fuerzas Armadas a la Escuela Militar 1885 - 25 De Agosto - 1985", 118 pages, 6 coloured uniform plates of cadets 1887, 1896, 1907, 1919, 1928 and 1960, a good history of the Military School of Uruguay, you may have seen the 1960 version in red, this has an updated "passing out" appendice.

"La Colonizacion Militar y el Conflicto Colombo - Peruano", by Lt. Col. (R) Alfonso Pinzon Forero, Ediciones Acore, Bogota D.E., 1990F 233 pages, 4 maps, 24 photographs, handy book on this little known war, definitely a subject that needs more English language articles on it. "Le Costruzioni Navali Italiane per L'Estero: Centotrenta anni di Prestigiosa Presenza nel Mondo", by Erminio Bagnasco and Achille Rastelli, published by Revista Matittima, Roma, Italy 1991, a paperback that studies the Italian military shipping g trade from 1861 through to 1990, many b/w photographs of ships, 71 Italian built ships were sold to the various Latin American states during this period, all are listed with quite a few photographs of some of them, a very handy book for the naval oriented collector with descriptions of armaments, engine size, year built, where constructed etc.

A large size (A4) booklet from the U.S. Naval Historical Centre (Department of the Navy, Washington, D.C. U.S.A.) entitled "Cordon of Steel: The U.S. Navy and the Cuban Missile Crisis", by Curtis A. Utz. bookle No.1 of the series The U.S. Navy in the Modern World, 48 pages, 33 b/w photographs of the period, some nice tit-bits of information enclosed within the text which will go well with the other books on this subject that have recently been published (last 10 years), for a person who lived through this period of world unease, as an eight year old, I can still conjure up the atmosphere of impending doom that as a child appeared to grip most adults, and which cannot be conceived the vast majority of today's younger generations.

"Military Directory and Sourcebook 1994", published by Windrow & Green I Ltd. ( 5 Gerrard Street, London, WlV 7LJ. ), anybody who reads this and who knows of a club, society, manufacturer, archive museum, that is not included in this volume drop a line to the publishers for inclusion form for next year, costs nothing, lets see some more European and North American firms and addresses in "95", it improves with each year and is useful for addresses and phone numbers.

Now for the magazines and journals; (I said I had a bit of a pile to type up, and I'm still leaving three for the next issue that arrived today, a weekend has fallen since I first start on these pages, in which I couldn't do any typing due to family commitments, hey you married guys know what its like!)

Club Francais de la Figurine Historique, Special Number, "La Liberation de L'Amerique Espagnole, lst Parte: Panama - Colombie - Venezuela", with text by Louis de Beaufort, Henri Boudet, Daniel Peyrot, Jean-Pierre Tarin and myself. 104 pages of text being with 10 pages on the colonial conquest, pages 16 - 30 on the later colonial period up to the appearance of Francisco de Miranda in Europe, the next 72 pages cover the various campaigns and uniforms, besides this there are the plates, 3 are in full colour, the first shows nine figures of Maya and Inca warriors etc. with 4 pages of data on them, next comes 6 black and white plates on Spanish Colonial troops up to 1810, then 4 black and white plates on Patriot forces, a number of these are already familiar to E.D. readers, an interesting coloured plate on flags is next, followed by two b/w plates flags and one on Spanish troops at the Battle of Carabobo, and last of all is a coloured plate on the Republican Army at Carabobo. This would be helpful to wargamers who require additional data than the Osprey and who can read French, although the illustrations speak by themselves, as one can imagine the research of Louis de Beaufort has been most useful in the making of this (and the second volume on Peru Chile E Argentina) special number, although both the Osprey and El Dorado are mentioned as sources more than once, I'm pleased say. All enquiries please write to M. Michel Clemenceau, Secretaire du C.F.F.H., 5Allee des Pervenches, 94240 L'Hay - les - Roses, France. The first number of the C.F.F.H. journal for 1984 also contained a coloured plate by Louis de Beaufort showing a private of the Battalion Fijo de Saint Domingue, circa 1780, alas no text to go with it.

Four issues of the Colombian "Revista Fuprzas Armadas" ( Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Av. Eldorado Cra52 Of.111, C.A.N. (A.A.24695) Santafe de Bogota, D.C., COLOMBIA., each issue has 48 pages with colour and black & white photographs, many showing various modern uniforms worn, if interested in this publication write to the above address for more details.

"Military History", April 1993, was the article "Impossible Campaign Attempted", by Robert P. Smith, Jr. 9 pages of text with a nice coloured contemporary print of the landing, must admit I didn't see this issue when on sale.

"Military Illustrated", March 1994, had a short article on "Rough Riders: 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, 1988", by Peter Churchill, 4 pages of text plus b/w & coloured illustrations, nice to see it published but not enough text for my liking.

"Miniature Wargames", June 1994, has a nice article for wargamers on Buenos Aires 1806-7 titled, "With The Honours Of War: a game of surrender", by Arthur Harman, 6 pages of text with 5 good maps (I did send him some details of Argentine uniforms of the period so if there's a follow up article on that side I'll have to wait and see), should fit in nicely with the society booklet.

Bought No.193 (Spring 1970) of the "Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research" for a £l. because of the article that it contained: "Jamaican Provincial Corps 1780 - 1783", by Albert W. Haarmann, just over 5 pages of text on this little known early history of the West India Regiments.

In the Journal of the Company of Military Historians, Winter 1992 issue, under their Collectors Field Book is an article by Thomas G. Shaw on "James H. Bell's Dragoon Service Uniform 1847" with eleven black and white photographs, plus seven pages of text, I thought it was quite good, still I'm not that up on U.S. uniforms of this period but the photos help give the feel of the workmanship that early other ranks uniforms received.

Now for the last, "Raids" May 1994, has an article on "The Brazilian Parachute Infantry Brigade", by Antonio E.S. Carmo, 7 pages of text and coloured photographs, with the customary badge section which I find so helpful, lots of useful data in English (or French) on this unit.

I must thank all of these people for their help in obtaining the titles that I've just mentioned; A. Preziosi, P. V. Walsh, R. Chartrand, Col. J. Elting, M. Dini Bruno, A. Villalobos Aleman, Dr. R.L.Scheina, E. Begero, without their help this write up would only be at the most a page with the titles that I managed to buy over here in the U.K. ...Terry.

SPECIAL NOTICE .... I have asked four members to become the society's Board of Governors, the reason for this is basically that in the event of my untimely demise there will be a body who will be able to carry on the business of the society and produce the journal and booklets etc. Mean while they will be asked by myself for their views on most, if not all, of my future plans for the expansion and running of the society, as I can always go off on a tangent given half a chance and waste time and effort. The four who have agreed, on the understanding that they can retire if they so wish at any time, are; Ian Sumner (UK), Colonel Edward Milligan (USA), Dr. Robert L. Scheina (USA) and Rene Chartrand (Canada), my thanks to these four stalwarts and I hope they are not called into action too soon!