International military digest, quarterly

as opportunity offers between now and the close of the year. In general the whole list ot
publications to be reviewed will be revised at the beginning of next year.
A NOTE ON READING THE DIGEST.
THE use of the INTERNATIONAL MILITARY DIGEST takes, of course, a dual form : the
monthly numbers may be read for their current record of progress in military science
as any periodical is read, while the cumulated quarterly numbers and annual volume are
primarily for reference use, intended to be used as an encyclopedia is used.
Many officers will undoubtedly wish to read the DIGEST from month to month com­
pletely. We believe they will find it condensed—and we trust not uninteresting—reading.
For those other officers who desire to keep en rapport especially with the matter relating
particularly to their own arm of the service or their own special interest, a word regard­
ing the subject headings used may be helpful.
Endeavor is made in every case, where entries are made at all, to collect cross refer­
ences to them under the next more general head. Under the general head ARTILLERY,
for example, the reader finds himself referred also to FIELD ARTILLERY, BALLIS­
TICS, and to whatever other artillery heads are used in that issue of the DIGEST.
Similarly the reader interested, for example, in the EUROPEAN WAR in all its various
phases, finds under that head, not only a consecutive account of operations, geographically
arranged, followed by digested discussions of such special topics as Ammunition, Cost,
Forces Engaged, Wounded, etc., but also very complete cross-references to various other
headings scattered through the DIGEST where have place discussions of other aspects of
the war, such as ASPHYXIATING GASES—Use of in European War; BELGIUM—
Fortifications; HORSES—European War Exports of from United States; FIELD ARTIL­
LERY—Use of in European War, and digests of articles dealing with specific battles or
engagements of the war, entered under their own name, such as HELGOLAND, Battle
off; MONS, Battle of; NEUVE CHAPELLE, Battle at; "EMDEN," Operations of the.
The cross-references under AERONAUTICS, INFANTRY, ARTILLERY, CAVALRY
are the primary clue to the reader seeking to cover all material on those subjects. Simi­
larly, SANITARY SERVICE is the general combining head for cross-references of interest
to the Medical Corps; and COMMISSARY and SUPPLY AND TRANSPORTATION for
the Quartermaster's Department. It is intended to make the cross-references, even in the
monthly numbers of the DIGEST, more complete than is bibliographically usual in order that
just such comprehensive reading along special topical lines may be facilitated.
EDITORIAL CO-OPERATION DESIRED.
The Editors would be glad to hear from officers willing to do work as Associate
Editors. There will be vacancies from time to time on account of details on foreign
service, and it is desirable to form a reserve list to take care of the places thus vacated,
as w,ell as to cover the foreign periodicals which are now continually being added to the
list under review. There is now work available in the Danish and Norwegian languages,
and it is expected shortly to add a considerable number of German periodicals. It is par­
ticularly desired to hear from officers familiar with these languages. Terms will be made
known to those willing to do work as Associate Editors.
The Editors desire that the INTERNATIONAL MILITARY DIGEST shall meet the requirements
of its readers. To that end, they will always welcome criticism. Suggestions as to addi­
tional periodicals to be included, or as to the character of the reviews will be especially
valuable.
West Point, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1915.
THE EDITORS