EDWARD ROSS-DIARY OF THE SIEGE OF MAFEKING OCTOBER 1899 to MAY 1900

This personal account of the siege of Mafeking is important from a historical point of view because of its candid comments on the conduct of the siege.Due allowance for the time and circumstances in which the diary was written,hoever,should be made.There is no doubt that Ross was a ''highly partisan'' observer.as Dr.Willan points out,and some of his comments regarding the Boer forces surrounding Mafeking are somewhat abusive.This was obviously to be expected at the time of war,and no doubt the Boer forces outside Mafeking were making similarily abusive references to the English forces inside.Readers will nevertheless note the grudging admiration for the Boers that creeps into Ross's diary from time to time,as well as his ungrudging admiration for,and appreciation of,acts of generosity and other qualities displayed by individual Boer leaders. The diary is nevertheless a revealing account of the circumstances in Mafeking during the siege,written from the point of view of somebody whom lived and worked in the town. Black& White tipped Frontispiece(Edward Ross outside ''Mafking Mint''-Pull out map of Mafeking-260 pages text with illustrations. VRS Second Series No 11. Published without dustcover.No Marks