CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE IN FULL
TITLE: Book Review: In Flanders Fields
REVIEWER: Judson C. Chellberg
VOLUME:
STUDIES IN
INTELLIGENCE
A collection of articles on Iho historical, operational, doctrinal, and theoretical aspects ol intelligence.
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All statcmcnis of fact, opinion or analysis expressed in Studies in Intelligence arc those of
the authors They do not necessarily refleci official positions or views of the Central Intelligence Agency or any other US Government entity, past or present. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying US Government endorsement of an article's factual statements and interpretations.
CRITIQUES OF SOME RECENT BOOKS ON INTELLIGENCE
SUSPECTSCIENTIFICBy Dr. Wilson R. Harrison. (New York:raeger.
This Is the most comprehensive and technically correct book ever written outside the United States on this subject, and It compares favorably with the best and newest works produced here. The author, Director of the BritishHome Office Forensic Science Laboratory and an honorary member of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, Is one of the comparatively fewoutside this country qualified by applied scientificto write with authority on the examination of questioned documents. He has been in this field for more than twenty years, having workedumber of police organisations in England and In Wales. His scientificis clearly discernible in the care and great detail of bis explanations, which at the same urne are couched in simple and direct language completely free from ambiguity.
The establishment of authenticity or the exposureifficult and complicated process, requiring the use of the latest developments In microscopy, photography, and mlcrocbemkal analysis. Dr. Harrison describes tbeof these sciences to document examinationozenmaterials, preliminary examination, laboratory equipment, photography, dating problems, typescript,disguise, forged signatures, preliminary phases, preservation and cleaning, anonymous letters,ase atfollowed by an unusually good bibliography, and the whole topped offetailed Indexuperior glossary. He elaborates on such subjects aa the deciphering of erasures, the chemical analysis of rnk, the development and identification of latent fingerprints, the development of In risible writing, the dating of ballpoint-penhe tracing of anonymous letters, and the authorship of typewritten matter. Be tries to get the reader to participate, as nearly as possible, tn tbe actual document
Recent Boob
examination; and one of bis de rices ts tbe generous sprinkling offthe book. Printed on high-gloss coated stock, thehave lost very little detail In reproduction and vividly Illustrate the points discussed In the text.
The reader must be cautioned, however, that Dr.book, excellent as It Is, will In no way qualify him to attempt work of this nature. Like other applied sciences, these subjects can be learned only by years of on-the-job training and application under tbe guidance of experienced personnel. But for the person who has cause to collect and submit questioned documents for examination, comparison, or identification, the fine chapter on their handling and pres-erration provides full Instructions, which if followed will makeubstantial increase In the content of the analyst's report and obviate many of the qualifications which would otherwise attach to his findings.
For tbe qualified questioned document analyst this book serves welleference on tbe techniques presentlyIn police laboratories in England and. by association, other European countries.
Original document.
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