Book reviews

Richard J. Bailey Jr., James W. achieves that spectacularly, but in Forsyth Jr., and Mark O. Yeisley others it feels a little laboured. In (eds.) Strategy; Context and Adapt- contrast, the more conventionally ation from Archidamus to Airpower. written sections seem perhaps slightly Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, less dramatic, but a lot more www.nip. org, 2016. xii + 279 pp., consistent, and would probably be illustrations, notes, bibliography, easier for new student of strategy to index. US $39.95, UK £27.95, cloth; digest. Chapter 3, The Realist as ISBN 978-1-68247-003-9. Strategist (James Wood Forsyth Jr.; 61-74), is a good example, providing Each of the eleven authors in this an informed and flowing argument work has his own style and every that guides the reader through its chapter offers a unique perspective on subject matter in an effortless wave. the subject of strategy. This approach Readers will find the conclusion offers many advantages, as it provides thought-provoking as it offers a a very rounded critique of the world different perspective, for example: view that is being stressed. The lack “Rather, what strategists need to of naval strategy is a bit strange, in a ascertain is, “What king of interests do book produced by the Naval Institute statesmen have in mind when they Press, but there is so much strategic act?” Survival is but one, honour content within the work that it would another. No doubt there are more” probably have required a second (71). In fact, that theme runs through volume to encapsulate naval strategy the conclusions. in equivalent detail. This book focus- In Chapter 9, Four Dimensions of es mainly on strategy as applied to the Digital Debate, Richard J. Bailey conflicts on land or in the air. The Jr., proposes “The recognition that approach is as professional as the power is a social commodity leads to stylish black and orange cover, the conclusion that societal tensions depicting the image of interlocking must be confronted, as a basis for cogs, which provide a striking, understanding strategy more fully” representation of the contents. (204). If the axiom ‘knowledge is The chapters vary: for example, power’ is true, it must also be chapter 4 is written in a Socratic style, concluded that knowledge is also a sacrificing some content and argument social commodity, which raises the to preserve the style. This can be a interesting possibility that this work, very good method of instruction, and by passing on knowledge of strategy, certainly in parts, this chapter increases individual power. In

The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord, XXVII, No. 1 (Jan. 2017), 59- 112. 60 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord

Chapter 7, Beyond the Horizon, Robert M. Browning Jr. Lincoln’s Jeffrey F. Smith promulgates the Trident. The West Gulf Blockading future of airpower debate that “As Squadron during the Civil War. with all organizational change, some Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of will find every reason not to take the Alabama Press, www.uapress.ua.edu, future context into account if it means 2016. xii+700 pp., illustrations, maps, changing what they understand and notes, bibliography, index. US cherish about today’s airpower $69.95, cloth; ISBN 978-0-8173-1846- strategy (mainly manned flight)” 8. (154). This whole chapter is an in- depth analysis of the future of Lincoln’s Trident chronicles the airpower, on the role of air forces and history of the West Gulf Blockading how the world might change — it is Squadron of the United States Navy definitely a must-read. In fact, the from its establishment in the spring of book’s extensive notes, index and 1862 through the end of the Civil War. bibliography make this essential for From the taking of New Orleans and any student of strategy, military the mighty Mississippi River, to the history or international relations. invasion of Mobile Bay, Browning Careful reading will provide readers neatly weaves the glories of battle into with an excellent guide to valuable a well-curated series of contexts that and relevant sources. illustrate the logistical, strategic, and As Mark O. Yeisley states can- personal challenges faced by the didly in the conclusion “Lest the individuals involved. reader be unduly disappointed, this Almost immediately after the book does not clearly answer the secession of Southern states and the question of what strategy is; instead, it bombardment of Fort Sumter on 12 focuses more on how strategy should April 1861, the country erupted into be sought and outlines multiple Civil War. President Abraham approaches for doing so.” (253) Lincoln directed the Union Navy to These different approaches create an blockade the 3,549-mile Gulf of insightful whole. While the title Mexico coast, preventing the might be misleading for readers Confederacy from engaging in looking for a book about air power commerce. Charged with guarding strategy, a more thorough reading will 189 approaches of variable, but reveal its real value. This book is a undeniably shallow, depths (hostile framing work, creating a structure for fortresses guarding the most thinking about strategy. Although the prominent of these) and fitted with casually interested might find it only 42 deep water vessels in difficult, Strategy; Context and Adapt- commission, “in 1861, the navy would ation from Archidamus to Airpower is be hard-pressed to blockade a single an excellent book for serious students major port in the South” (6). and academics. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles would be immediately challenged in Alex Clarke his task, not only by the loss of a most Epsom, Surrey valuable Navy yard in Norfolk, Book Reviews 61 meaning resupply of a Southern Army to cooperate sufficiently left the blockade must happen from New fleet’s efforts (and sacrifices) almost York, but also in buying, fitting out, moot. By July, 1862, the Mississippi and provisioning vessels of fleet met the Gulf fleet, having appropriate size, propulsion, and draft. collectively taken the entire As the author explains, most of Mississippi River in preparation for the Union Navy’s vessels at the start the arrival of the Army to hold it. of the war were large sailing ships, Instead, “with little or no coordination and the officers appointed to them between the service branches and no were, by and large, forged in the War cooperative continuing strategy that of 1812. These vessels and the tactics could use the gathered naval assets, employed by their officers were well [the fleet’s] role on the river became fitted to the Western portion of the largely unnecessary and [its] orders to blockade around Texas and Louisiana, cooperate with the army obsolete” where the deep, wide waters of the (172). Rather than continue suffering Gulf provided ample room to the yellow fever that was raging manoeuver these large warships into through the ranks, or getting stuck in offensive positions and provisioning the river for the remainder of the year coal was exceedingly difficult. Fresh as the water levels continued to fall water and victuals, however, proved below the deep draft of the sailing another story. By contrast, in the warships, the fleet left the river and Eastern portion of the blockade returned to the blockade, but not around Florida, Alabama, and before failing on multiple occasions to Mississippi, steam vessels had the take the ironclad Arkansas, principally advantage where coal could be more at Vicksburg. The author’s easily had; when the seas were calm, description of the series of battles they were still fit for the chase and comprising the effort to destroy her is had access to the approaches, making both compelling and agonizing. these shallower draft vessels much Although both accounts are well more suited to the task. When coal written, the continued blockade and ran out, however, as it inevitably did, failure to take Mobile was as the steam vessels were just as agonizing to read as the actual battle problematic. for Mobile Bay was enthralling. “By Onto this backdrop of too few 1864, Mobile’s value to the vessels, of the wrong draft and type, Confederacy had increased, because it with insufficient reprovisioning in was the only major deepwater port place, the author presents several remaining on the Gulf Coast east of other layers of challenges for our hero the Mississippi [and] the two railroads squadron. First, unrealistic that served the city gave the port expectations coupled with the Union added importance” (423). Moreover, Government’s lack of unified strategic the waterways reaching into the South objectives plagued the Navy. Second, from Mobile served as important personal egos and infantile machismos communications networks. Had the of the commanding officers Navy and Army worked together to complicated otherwise straightforward secure and hold the city, suggests the missions. Finally, the inability of the author, the Confederacy may have 62 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord fallen far earlier than it did. It was not ill—quite clearly. This reader found until 3 August 1864, however, that the the work to be obviously well campaign for Mobile finally researched and filled with rich, commenced (441) with four ironclads relevant detail. The battle “forming a line” to take the bay early descriptions were particularly well- the next morning (444) and the rendered and contrasted nicely with inveterate now-Rear Admiral Farragut the discussions detailing political positioned in the tops of the flag intrigue, especially that of Porter vessel. With the heart-wrenching loss toward his superior officer and foster of “our best monitor” Tecumseh, and brother, David Glasgow Farragut. along with her all but 21 of her 114 Make no mistake: Lincoln’s Trident men, and amid “the carnage of represents serious scholarship, but battle… the bloodstained deck… and feels more like a compelling novel; in the body fragments” (461), Farragut truth, this reader was hard-pressed to gives his most famous order, “Go put it down. ahead sir, d – n the torpedoes” (451). Eventually the Bay is in Union hands, Brandi Carrier along with the forts defending it. By Alexandria, Virginia 15 August, the Army and Navy were again quarrelling over who would, in Bernard D. Cole. China’s Quest for fact, take the city itself. By this point, Great Power: Ships, Oil, and Foreign now Vice-Admiral Farragut leaves the Policy. Annapolis, MD: Naval squadron for a promotion as Institute Press, www.usni.org, 2016. commander of the North Atlantic xiii+305pp., maps, tables, notes, Blockading Squadron. Within bibliography, index. US $34.95, cloth; months, the blockade was ended by ISBN 978-1-61251-838-1 (E-book Congress, and with surrender after available). surrender, the war was over. This work is of sufficient length For over a quarter century, Bernard D. for the author to have introduced some Cole, a retired Navy captain, Auburn extremely interesting historic University Ph.D and former faculty characters, including the first member at the U.S. Naval War Commander of the Squadron, the College, has been one of the most unfortunate William Mervine; the distinguished and meticulous industrious officer who spearheaded observers of China’s ever-growing much of the strategic confusion, People’s Liberation Army Navy Gustavus Fox; and the quintessentially (PLAN). His latest work is a more dishonest David Porter. Despite not than satisfactory culmination of years being able to hide his disgust and of scholarship. A comparatively short distain for the ego-maniacal Mr. but tightly written book, it covers a Porter, the author manages to present broad field fully and gracefully. all of the major characters objectively Cole’s argument is cogent and enough to do them justice and to allow compelling. Following thirty-odd the reader to comprehend personal years of “miracle” growth, China has quirks and intentions—both good and become the world’s second-largest Book Reviews 63 economy, but one desperately reliant thought assumes the United States is on imports of energy and other determined to contain and encircle resources. While itself a substantial China. One analyst at the influential oil producer, China has grown so PLA Academy of Military Science spectacularly that it now imports “at recently describes the PLAN as least half its oil,” (136) mostly by sea ‘relatively weak,” with “China’s from the Middle East. Moreover, maritime security at the mercy of . . . Beijing is ambitious to continue its the United States Navy.” (109) expansion into African, Middle Nonetheless, the latest PRC Eastern, and especially European defense white paper issued in May markets. To accomplish and maintain 2015 ordered the PLAN to transition these objectives, China must ensure from its present “offshore waters the sea lines of communications defense” to “open seas protection” of (SLOC) between the Mediterranean, China’s maritime interests. (97). How the Persian Gulf, and the China coast realistic is this objective? At one through such maritime chokepoints as point, Professor Cole suggests it is the Straits of Hormuz and Malacca quite feasible. Citing the conclusions and the South and East China Seas. of a 2015 maritime conference at the Hence, the need for a substantial navy. U.S. Naval War College, he writes Beyond that objective lies a that “At current pace, the PLAN will tantalizing dream: that by centenary of become the world’s second- largest the People’s Republic in 2049, its navy by 2020 and equal to the U.S. fleet will be sufficiently large and Navy in quality and quantity by efficient to make its presence felt 2030.” (71) This seems quite a stretch throughout the world ocean. Cole for an unbalanced navy largely emphasizes that “the PLAN will not comprised of destroyers, frigates and be curtailed by lines of Western both conventional and nuclear- defensive concepts in defending powered submarines. In fact, in his Chinese maritime interests. Its admirably balanced account, the doctrine has been described as a author adduces an abundance of ’strategically defensive and active evidence to the contrary. Present day self-defense counterattack’ triggered” China is plagued by a number of as soon as the “enemy splits and potentially crippling problems that invades China’s territory, severely argue against the creation and harming China’s interests . . . deployment of a global navy in any equivalent to firing the first shot at conceivable future. The overriding China at the strategic level.’’ The objective of the PRC is the PLAN’s mission is “’ do all we can to maintenance of power which depends dominate the enemy by striking first. absolutely upon continuation of a . . as far away as possible.” (91). robust economy. Yet that economy is Shades of Pearl Harbor! increasingly burdened by domestic The “enemy” is, of course, the and foreign demands. “The country’s American navy whose continued total debt. . . at the end of 2014 presence in force in Far Eastern equaled 282 percent” of China’s GDP. waters both alarms and infuriates the . .” (119) According to a leading PLAN. “China’s maritime strategic Chinese official, both public and 64 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord private investment is weak; domestic strategy. How well do fleet units consumption is “sluggish”, (117) the manoeuvre together? How efficient international market place is stagnant, are air operations from the single, industrial production is falling while Soviet era aircraft carrier, Laioning? costs and prices rise. Corruption is Admittedly these and a host of related rampant. “According to several questions are hard to answer in the sources,” the entire Chinese military absence of PLAN transparency. establishment is dominated by a Thanks to Dr. Cole and other notion utterly foreign to effective and observers we do know that the PLAN efficient modern sea services: “if it is is often at sea and willing to partner worth something it is for sale’ operations with other navies, notably particularly promotions and certain those of the Russian Federation and duty assignments.” (120). the United States (i.e. the annual The greatest impediment to the “Rimpac” manoeuvres off Hawaii). creation and maintenance of a global Finally, in a situation reflecting Chinese battle fleet, however, is the that of Japan in the 1930s, the PLAN lack of innovation throughout China’s is engaged in ongoing competition for industrial economy, a fact often attention, resources and respect remarked upon by foreign observers between an army oriented toward and decried at the highest domestic continental security and strategy and level. The Party dislikes and fears the PLA-N seeking global maritime free-thinkers in any area of national status. As Cole wisely concludes, life. Largely cut off from access to despite earlier suggestions to the Western and especially American high contrary “If China succeeds in tech advances, save where it can deploying an effective global navy purloin information and processes or while remaining a strong continental obtain them from third-parties, the power, it truly will have beaten the PLA in general and the PLA-N in historical odds and established a new particular is largely forced to rely on paradigm of national power.” (113). the uneven fruits of Russian and even I have but one significant crit- Soviet-era production and products icism. While the Naval Institute Press (i.e. the old Soviet aircraft carrier is an admirable organization turning Liaoning). out distinguished products, its aud- The author might have devoted ience is understandably limited largely greater space to the problem of to professional military and naval professional training and development people many of whom are familiar of both officers and enlisted person- with at least the outlines of Professor nel. Like the economy it is designed Cole’s argument. His well-written to protect, the PLA-N is brand new. work deserves a much broader reader- In the utter absence of combat ship among a public that badly needs experience, how effectively do its informed discussion of a subject of sailors handle the advanced technol- growing national importance in a time ogies that the PRC has been forced to of frequent media sensationalism. develop to implement its current “area Lisle A. Rose denial, anti-access” (“AD/A2) Edmonds, Washington Book Reviews 65 James Delgado, Tomás Mendizábel, sists of a history of the period, a Frederick H. Hanselmann, & discussion of the built environment Dominique Rissolo. The Maritime and important socially imposed Landscape of the Isthmus of Panama. landscape identifiers (such as place Gainesville, FL: University Press of names), and related archaeological Florida, www.upf.com, 2016. xxii + sites and their associated scientific 238 pp., illustrations, maps, notes, investigations. All of prehistory is bibliography, index. US $84.95, contained within a single chapter, hardback; ISBN 978-0-8130-6287-7. while the Spanish colonial and later French and American commercial There are not many comprehensive periods comprise the rest. The major- surveys of Central American maritime ity of the book is devoted to the history and/or archaeology, and even Spanish colonial period, especially fewer that contextualize the past as a that of the sixteenth and seventeenth function of landscape development. centuries. This is a function, I Panama is unique in the Western believe, of three factors: the relative Hemisphere, if not the world, in that it dearth of prehistoric archaeology pro- is in its entirety, the only trans- grams in Panama compared with continental isthmus directly linking historic archaeology (though what is two oceans and two longitudinally presented appears to be well done), continuous coasts. the specific areas of expertise of the The thesis of The Maritime Land- authors, and the archaeological sites scape of the Isthmus of Panama is that within Panama that have received the Panama is “inherently a maritime most comprehensive scientific invest- landscape, both in its geography and igation and subsequent conservation culture and from prehistoric times and protection. The description of the until the present (xiii)”, and that its history of this time period, its events importance lies in both coastal mig- and resulting archaeological sites, and ration and transportation and its resultant effects on the maritime access to harvestable marine re- cultural landscape are the most com- sources. The goal of the authors is to prehensive and vibrant in the book, “explain” Panama and its development and are the chapters in which individ- as a maritime cultural landscape from ual people, for example Henry its earliest prehistoric inhabitants Morgan, and local communities play a more than 10,000 years ago to the significant role in the discussion of the present through the lens of world landscape. systems and maritime cultural land- Unlike many other long-form scape theories. characterizations of maritime archaeo- The book is organized in an easy logical landscapes elsewhere in the to follow format of chapters that cover world, shipwrecks play only a small recognizable periods of prehistory / role and an overall minor component history in which some socio-political in the evolution of Panama’s maritime activity, geographic discovery, and/or cultural landscape as defined in this technological innovation irrevocably book. The authors explicitly define transformed Panama’s maritime contributing shipwrecks as those cultural landscape. Each chapter con- engaged in trade, colonial or other- 66 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord wise, with or through Panama and that Wars. The discussion of this approx- wrecked within its coastal waters, and imately 150-year period is essentially those built or modified specifically for a listing of the components of the built the Panama route, including those that environment associated with the con- wrecked thousands of miles from struction, operation, and protection of Panama, but excludes those that the canal and the historical impetus transited through the Panama Canal. for their construction. While compre- While the latter may not be contrib- hensive, detailed, and fascinating in uting elements to Panama’s maritime their own right, there is little attempt cultural landscape, their presence and to incorporate the canal and its design evolution most definitely material components into the greater played, and continues to do so, an maritime cultural landscape of Pan- important role in the evolution of the ama, including local motivation of canal as a contributing component patterning and placement or its effects itself. on local society. While the canal The authors do show the import- obviously dominates the maritime ance and results of dissonance in landscape of Panama both physically attempts at patterning new socio- and socially, one might think that it is cultural and technical systems onto at the only important contributing com- first, indigenous physical geographical ponent to the maritime landscape in landscapes and later, the machined the twentieth century. and terraformed environment in the The other major critique of the evolution of the maritime cultural and information as presented is the physical landscape. This is illustrated relegation of the indigenous Guna and through an excellent use of historic their agency in both shaping and using cartographic and archaeological the maritime cultural landscape in the evidence for why towns and ports perpetuation of their livelihoods and thrived or failed and were abandoned culture to the conclusion chapter of or relocated throughout history and the book. They do not occupy a separ- the persistence or loss of recognized ate landscape from their colonial geographic place names. This is, occupiers, though access to or know- however, often treated as ancillary ledge of internally recognized social information at the end of a discussion signifiers on the landscape may have rather than evidence for the continuing been restricted to only them and to evolution and persistence of Panama those with whom they chose to share as a coherent maritime landscape it. This discussion warrants either its throughout its history. own chapter or a section of each The weakest chapters of the book chronological chapter. are those that discuss the development The data and information present- and role of the trans-isthmus canal, ed in this book are so rich that ques- both the interrupted French efforts and tions one could pose to the maritime the American completion of the cultural landscape arise as one Panama Canal, the demarcation of the progresses through the book. For Canal Zone, and its fortification example, Panama was ostensibly a during the First and Second World colony of some sort, whether in a Book Reviews 67 historical or modern form, until 1999 Pepijn Brandon. War, Capital, and the when the Canal Zone was officially Dutch State (1588-1795). Leiden, NL: handed over to Panamanian author- Brill, www.brillpublishing.nl, 2015. ities. As a colony, therefore, Panama xiii + 447 pp., illustrations, maps, is intrinsically a part of a larger socio- tables, appendices, notes, biblio- political and geographical system and graphy, index. US $175.00, Euro peripheral diaspora. What then is the 130,00 €, hardback; ISBN 978-9- interplay between Panama as a 00422-814-6. (E-book available; component of this greater inter- ISBN 978-9-00430-251-8. national landscape and as a local maritime landscape in and of itself? The concept of the ‘fiscal-military’ The Maritime Landscape of the state, or as N.A.M. Rodger describes Isthmus of Panama is a valuable England, the ‘fiscal-naval’ state, is resource for historians and archaeo- one of the most significant advances logists with an academic and/or in the study of state development in heritage conservation interest in the the last thirty years. It has been maritime history, archaeology, and the particularly important to the study of comprehensive landscape of Panama naval history, starting with John and the role the isthmus played and Brewer’s Sinews of Power, continuing continues to play in global maritime through the work of Jan Glete, N.A.M. transportation, security, and Rodger, Roger Morriss and others. commerce. Any shortcomings ident- The British Fiscal-Military States ified are due, not to what is included 1660-c.1783 and War, Capital and the as important components of Panama’s Dutch State are two important studies maritime cultural landscape, but to the that demonstrate the recent broad desire for more; the understanding the applications of the concept. These investigation of landscape of the time two books are linked; former is the periods discussed in each chapter proceedings from a 2013 conference could fill an entire volume. This illus- held at Jesus College, Oxford. Pepijn trates the authors’ success as proving Brandon was originally scheduled to why the maritime cultural landscape be part of that conference, but was, of Panama is so robust and an unfortunately, forced to withdraw. important subject of study. The paper that he was going to present was drawn from his Ph.D. thesis Alicia Caporaso which forms the basis for this book. New Orleans, Louisiana The British Fiscal-Military States is a good, but not excellent, example of the results of academic colla- Aaron Graham and Patrick Walsh boration. The individual papers are (eds.). The British Fiscal Military uniformly very good, beginning with States, 1660- c.1783. London: www. John Brewer revisiting and discussing routledge.com, 2016. 290 pp., illus- The Sinews of Power. The nine pap- trations, tables, notes, bibliography, ers that follow demonstrate the study index. UK £75.00, cloth; ISBN 978-1- of the fiscal-military state far beyond 47244-078-5. the metropolis, with multiple chapters on both Ireland and Scotland, and 68 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord another studying the Atlantic World. Brokerage’ state, from its genesis in In particular, the final paper in which the Dutch Revolt against the Spanish Steve Pincus and James Robinson in the 1560s through to the Batavian argue that the English, and later Revolution in 1795. British, states were in fact not ‘Fiscal- After a lengthy introduction, the Military’ states and questions the way author discusses the origins of the that the study of ‘Fiscal-military’ ‘Federal-Brokerage’ state. This is states focus on revenues and expend- followed by a chapter on Merchant itures and so do not incorporate Companies, the Navy and Trade, and substantial facets of state activity hints then a chapter entitled ‘Production at their later publications where they Supply, and Labour Relations at the argue more for the concept of an inter- Naval Shipyards’. The fourth chapter ventionist state. This is a fairly stand- covers ‘Troop Payments, Military ard type of collection, covering a large Soliciting, and the World of Finance’, period of time with topics as diverse while the final chapter examines ‘The as paper money in Ireland and the Structural Crisis of the Federal- British silk industry. Roger Morriss Brokerage State’. It is a thorough reliably provides the Royal Navy study, and Brandon argues that the perspective to the discussion. The Brokerage aspect both existed before, bookends provided by Brewer, Pincus and survived the end of the ‘Federal- and Robinson provide an excellent Brokerage’ state at the Batavian and necessary methodological com- Revolution. Directly challenging the ponent. Finally, Steven Conway’s standard narratives regarding the afterword rightly identifies future importance of war in the formation of avenues of investigation. early-modern states, he makes a There is, however, one significant compelling argument that brokerage problem: not one of the ten essays was an important aspect of many included was written by a woman. Dr early-modern European states, and D’Maris Coffman, Dr Anne Murphy, that the different forms in different and Dr Laura Stewart all presented nations should be seen as ‘variants on papers at the conference. In addition, a continuum between market-oriented Dr Elaine Murphy was listed on the and state-oriented, localised and provisional programme. Their absence nationalised solutions’. Indeed, he from the book is glaring and unnecess- views the Dutch Republic as ary flaw in an otherwise very good noteworthy not for taking a distinct collection. path, but because it had more Brandon’s book serves as an thoroughly integrated capitalist brok- excellent companion to the collected erage into its state infrastructure than papers. On the one hand, it is a more other nations. united topic since it addresses a single The book is well structured, the nation. The comparison to British arguments well supported, and Brand- Fiscal-Military States highlights the on clearly has a firm grip on United Republic’s federal and decen- sociological and political theory of tralized structure. Brandon examines state-development, as well as good what he describes as a ‘Federal- command of the sources. Never- Book Reviews 69 theless, it is a tough read. This is not ‘daring-do’ in its vivid description of because of language issues but rather a young service, with a new and a somewhat unrelenting use of acad- untried weapon of war, determined to emic vocabulary, verging on jargon in uphold the finest traditions of the some places. The argument isn’t British Royal Navy. Originally pub- obfuscated, but it could be more lished in 1971, this book offers the efficiently communicated. On another reader a rare glimpse of a time when matter, the use of footnotes rather than the Dreadnought-class battleship was endnotes is wonderful, given the wide the manifestation of a ‘proper navy’ variety of sources referenced and and submarines were seen to be a quoted. The review copy I received “weapon of a maritime power on the was in PDF form rather a physical defensive” and deemed a “dammed copy, so I cannot comment on its un-English Weapon”. physical qualities. While the creation The author, a well-published of academic e-books is certainly to be historian and former civil servant, applauded, conversion of the file from starts the narrative with a short PDF to e-book formats did not work explanation of the rocky reception with the fixed line lengths, and the submarines encountered during their result was unpleasant to read. introduction into the Royal Navy at Over all, I would recommend both the very beginning of the twentieth The British Fiscal Military States century. He then recounts the history 1660-c.1783 and War, Capital and the of British submarine operations during Dutch State to anybody who is the First World War, through the studying or interested in state- exploits of some notable actions of the development, maritime or military period, broken down by the three history in early-modern Europe. Both geographical theatres where British are an acceptable representation of the submarines principally operated. current state of the field. Chronicling events in the Baltic, the eastern Mediterranean (in support of Sam McLean the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign) and Toronto, Ontario the North Sea — the latter highlights the disasters of new submarine designs — Gray offers a fulsome Edwyn Gray. British Submarines at overview of some exciting naval War, 1914-1918. Barnsley, S. Yorks: actions that are now all but lost to Pen and Sword Maritime, www. time. The book is interspersed with penandsword.co.uk, 2016. 261 pp. detailed maps that are appropriately illustrations, maps, appendices, biblio- placed with the narrative, which are graphy, index. UK £12.99, US essential if the reader is to follow $24.95, paper; ISBN 978-1-47385- along, as many places have changed 345-4. (Originally published 1971.) their names over the last century. In addition to photographs, there are An overview of British submarine detailed appendices and at 261 pages operations during the First World long, I found it to be a very easy read. War, British Submarines at War hark- Clearly this is but a précis of ens back to a time of chivalry and British submarine operations and is 70 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord not a detailed history, rather, it is a submarine was relatively immune fascinating account of a different time, from attack from surface ships—the before unrestricted submarine warfare, greatest threat being anti-submarine when prize rules were scrupulously minefields, which unfortunately obeyed and submarine captains accounted for a large number of ensured the safety of the merchant submarine losses. crews before sinking their ships. It is Conversely, it was also a time of also a time of almost unlimited great hardship for these crews, innovation when submarine crews not required to conduct long patrols, some only learned how to use this new over 40 days in duration, with pro- weapon of war as they went along, but longed periods submerged (as much as also how to survive in a new and 48 hours without surfacing) in areas unforgiving underwater environment. where Allied submarine losses were Moreover, the ability to adapt to quite high. During the Gallipoli cam- rapidly changing circumstances, while paign alone these submariners operating a vessel still in its techno- willingly took their submarines into logical infancy, shows the most complex and ever-changing ocean- amazing leadership resident in these ographic conditions (then completely small crews. For example, one sub- unknown), relying on the most basic marine suffered a complete engine of navigation techniques, while navig- breakdown deep inside enemy waters ating enemy minefields and literally and being unable to charge its punching though anti-submarine nets. batteries, could not return to base It is a testament to the courage and under its own power. Instead of scutt- fortitude of these pioneers that oper- ling the submarine and surrendering, ations continued even though at one the crew waited until a German fish- point only one of five submarines ing vessel came near and then returned from patrol in the Dardan- surfaced and captured it. They then elles and Sea of Marmara (118), an used their German ‘prize of war’ to attrition rate completely inconceivable tow their submarine 300 miles back to today. base through enemy waters (59-61)! The book also illustrates the The First World War was also a continued inability of the Admiralty time of ‘firsts’, where many activities and senior naval leadership to fully later associated with the Second grasp how to best employ submarines, World War were, in fact, developed. with their persistent desire (complete It may come as a surprise to readers to with catastrophic consequences) to learn that submarines were used to design submarines that could keep up rescue downed aviators in 1914 and with the dreadnought battle fleet—the one even surfaced and towed a British disastrous K-class steam powered seaplane, in enemy waters, to avoid its submarines. Furthermore, the author capture (51). In fairness, it was also a accurately foreshadows the future time before anti-submarine weapons problems of torpedoes and commun- such as active sonars and depth ications that would continue to plague charges had been invented and once submarine operations for decades to dived, other than being rammed, the come — showing how today’s chall- Book Reviews 71 enges in submarine operations have a future global networking challenges. long history indeed. Despite the use of‘Global’ in the title, History will forever paint the First the emphasis is on ‘AUSCAN- World War as a great stalemate in the NZUKUS Nations’ or as other authors trenches of Western Europe, inter- might have referred to it the spersed with the occasional clashes of ‘Anglosphere’. This by no means battle cruiser fleets in the North Sea; detracts from the authors’ efforts to so it is important to capture the lesser- provide a fulsome and inclusive known exploits of naval warfare to account of the difficulties and oppor- maintain an appropriate balance. I tunities of navies networking, and by recommend this book to anyone with default, communicating, in a world an interest in First World War naval where dropping hull numbers are history, particularly actions involving being compensated for by the concept submarines, as it portrays, sometimes of ‘network centric warfare’ — a almost romantically, a different time recent interpretation of the theory that and shows how far naval warfare has the strength of a fleet is based on more moved in the last century. There is a than just the value of its component reason why Pen and Sword parts. republished this book—it is a great The complexity of this issue read for the layperson and a handy makes the abbreviations section at the reference for historians to commence beginning of the book as important as follow-on research. the contents. For example, readers should know that ‘Tactical Data Norman Jolin Information Exchange System’ is Appleton, Ontario referred to as ‘TADIXS’, one of many essential but space-saving acronyms used by the authors. Fortunately, the Stephanie Hszieh, George Galdorisi, book is so well written that the reader Terry McKearney and Darre Sutton. quickly becomes accustomed to them. Networking the Global Maritime The book is structured logically, Partnership. Canberra, AU: Sea from the ground up, starting with an Power Centre-Australia, www.navy. examination of the basics such as gov.au, 2014. xvi+126 pp., abbrevia- Coalitions at Sea, the reason why tions, table, notes. (Seapower Series networking/communication is 2), paper ; ISBN 978-0-9925004-2-9. necessary and difficult on more than (PDF available at http://www.navy. just technical levels. This brief gov.au.) introduction could do with more expansion, especially on the earlier This book is the result of international coalitions which, if elaborated, might discussions and research regarding have offered some useful historic global security over more than a examples. Nevertheless, this chapter decade. It is part of the Australian serves the purpose and supports the Navy’s Sea Power Series published by authors’ case. Building the argument the Sea Power Centre explaining and for collaborative sea power, the book supporting not only existing offers ‘A Brief History of Naval maritime/naval operations, but also Communications’, which actually 72 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord provides a very useful starting point complex world that is the modern for anyone interested in that topic. maritime environment for navies, What is most interesting is how it whether at peace or war. Despite its shows the steady evolution of naval solid content, the authors present the communication technology alongside information by means of headings and the events on which it had an impact. subheadings that render it accessible One example is Rear Admiral and understandable. It is in chapter 6 Popham’s numerical flag system used where the authors make the case for by the Royal Navy during the future the Royal Australian Navy, and Napoleonic wars to assist with their by extension the Royal Navy, the blockade operations. This was how Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Nelson was able to ‘see over the hill’ Zealand Navy, to work together with and intercept the combined French the US Navy on developing the next fleet at Trafalgar (22). generation of communication and The third chapter, ‘Commun- networking systems – to enable the ication Evolves into Networking’ is AUSCANNZUKUS navies to truly get the second longest chapter in the the most out of working together. book. It is less about technology than While this work may not appeal to the way the technology is used, with the casual reader, it is well worth all its nuances and subtext. Unfortun- seeking out. It is certainly recom- ately, it is the one part of the book mended to academics and practitioners where the lack of illustration is almost seeking to further their understanding a problem. It leaves a lot to the of global security and this complex readers’ imaginations, a problem if maritime operational challenge. different readers go away with very different perspectives on what has Alex Clark been said. It is also the chapter where Epsom, Surrey the emphasis begins to move from analysis to perception and from history to the future, even when its Robert Jackson. Sea Combat. From subject is the present. The authors World War 1 to the Present Day. then address ‘Networking Technology London: Amber Books, www. and Coalition Naval Forces amberbooks.co.uk, 2016. 320 pp., Effectiveness’, placing the concept of illustrations, maps, index. US $39.95, network centric warfare clearly within cloth; ISBN 978-1-78274-335-4. (First the framework they have been Published as Sea Warfare, 2008.) developing, resulting in a fully devel- oped argument, structure and Robert Jackson’s Sea Combat. From encompassing overview of the various World War 1 to the Present Day is a factors involved. beautifully illustrated overview of the Chapters 5 and 6 are respectively, evolution of naval sea power and its the longest and shortest of the advancement to today’s modern com- chapters. Chapter 5 is where all the bat environment. The author high- strings of argument made earlier are lights historically significant naval brought together to examine the conflicts in the context of ever- Book Reviews 73 evolving technological and strategic of the ship has an entirely different change from a highly technical per- configuration than what was found on spective. The levels of specificity are those ships at that time. There are, astounding and elements of the book unfortunately, many more examples of are reminiscent of the Jane’s manuals. issues with the captions that need cor- I would recommend this book for the recting. model builder as a lovely coffee table Portions of the text are simply book but unfortunately not for the fascinating and contain vast amounts naval historian or the marine archaeo- of information so obscure that many logist. professional historians may not be The narrative is clear and filled aware of it. The text is elegant and with fascinating detail and inform- clear. Often times the reader is left ation, however, it has the tendency to craving even more information than wander from geographic region to what could be reasonably be expected region with rapid succession then to be included in such a broadly suddenly focus on a single event. If themed book. Unfortunately, the this book were simply divided into a author does not cite a single source, series of historical events that demon- insert any footnotes, nor provide even strate how sea combat and technology a single bibliographic entry. No evolved it would be more successful. indication is provided of the education The book also tends to focus on or training of the author other than United States and European navies that he was a former pilot and naviga- with the exception of Russian and tional instructor. Japanese fleets. The illustrations are The “Present Day” portion of the generously placed throughout the book ends in approximately the early book and beautifully rendered. This is 1990s if not technologically in the surprising, given the retail price of 1980s. This was disappointing as part $39.95 USD. Books twice this price of the book’s appeal for this reviewer are often less well illustrated. was to get some perspectives on The fatal flaw lies in the frequent advancements on the Russian and mistakes in the captioning of the Chinese navies in the twenty-first imagery. On page 180, for example, century. Entirely missing are the new the caption states that the sinking ship U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships, new is the Japanese carrier Hiryu during Gerald R. Ford Class carriers, stealth the Battle of Midway. This famous incorporations into modern sea war- photo is actually of the Shôhô sinking fare, sea drone minesweepers, or even in the Coral Sea (US Navy Photograph the new Virginia Class Nuclear Sub- 80-G-17026, U.S. National Archives). marines. Another error is on page 259; the All of these deficiencies make one image is captioned as the heavy question everything stated in the book. cruiser Admiral Hipper but is, rather, It is a shame, because the author’s the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer. passion for the subject is quite clear The Admiral Hipper class of heavy and his writing thoughtful. It is evi- cruisers only had two barrels on their dent that much time and research went forward gun decks but the photo into the development of this book, yet clearly shows three barrels. The stern 74 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord it is left unsupported by citations or background of flag officers during his detailed footnotes. service from 1960 to the present. Taken as a whole this book would After paying tribute to the Canadians make for a great gift for anyone with who, though not included in this even a minor interest in naval history volume, served in the French and from 1900-1990. The price is cer- British navies before the creation of tainly fair and the binding and print is an independent Canadian Navy, of a very high quality. Both colour Rogers notes that the leaders of the and black and white maps and figures 1960s and 70s, veterans of the Second invite detailed study. Just be aware of World War and Korea (who often had the books limitations as more experience in the Royal Navy), were entertainment than reference material. succeeded in the 1980s and 90s by those who had learned their trade in Scott R. Sorset the Cold War. Contemporary flag New Orleans, Louisiana officers draw on their experience in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan conflicts. Rogers raises the point that Norman H. Jolin and John M. as a result of the amalgamation of the MacFarlane. Canada’s Admirals and Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, Commodores/Amiraux et Com- many officers who began their careers modores du Canada. Victoria, BC: in the navy, ended them in the army The Maritime Museum of British and air force. Columbia, www.mmbc.bc.ca, 2016. The introduction prepares the xl+191 pp., illustrations, references, reader for the format of the book, glossary of abbreviations. CDN providing a history of the evolution of $30.00, paper; ISBN 978-0-9693001- ranks, beginning in the Royal Navy of 6-8. the 1600s and continuing through the unification of the Canadian Armed Canada’s Admirals and Commodores Forces that resulted in some blending is an updated documentation of the of ranks through to the present. It also 298 flag rank offices to have served in includes statistics relating to the the various formats of the Canadian number of flag officers, definitions Naval forces since their inception in and lists of shore establishments, as 1910. This work begins with a colour well as a brief history of the position table containing rows for each of the of Commander of the Navy. various services and the years of their The bulk of the book consists of existence on the left, their cap badges entries for each of the 298 Canadian on the right and columns showing naval flag officers, including name, uniform insignias for each of the any decorations, place and date of ranks. The narrative sections are pre- birth followed by each assignment in sented side by side in English and the officer’s naval career. But for the French. In the forward, Retired fact that each assignment does not Admiral John Rogers Anderson have its own line, they could be bullet explains the history of the series, now points. in its third edition, and the generalized Book Reviews 75 I am disappointed in this book. I today’s standards, they could be had hoped that the biographies would viewed as brutal, but shipboard life include details of engagements and could be, during their lifetimes, a campaigns in which each officer fairly brutal existence. served from which one could get some Daniel Killman was born in Maine sense of the history of the Royal in June 1860, the son of a retired Canadian Navy. I recommend this for shipmaster turned farmer, although the readers already familiar with Canad- wider family had long standing ian naval history for whom it could be connections with seafaring. It was a valuable reference about the careers these family connections that he used of officers they may already know. to gain a berth as an ordinary seaman in a bark commanded by his uncle. James Gallen Killman was one month and four days St. Louis, Missouri short of his eighteenth birthday. For the next fifty plus years, most of his life was spent at sea—in the early Daniel O. Killman. Forty Years days, in sailing ships, later transi- Master. A Life in Sail and Steam. tioning into steamships — predom- College Station, TX: Texas A & M inantly in the Pacific Ocean. He U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , w w w . obviously was good as a seaman, tamupress.com, 2016, xxiv+347 pp., rising quickly through the ranks to illustrations, maps, notes, glossary, First Mate and ultimately Master in index. US $35.00, cloth; ISBN978-1- sailing ships while still in his mid- 62349-380-3. twenties. He passed the examinations for Master in steamships and com- There is an interesting parallel in the manded his first steamer when he was career of Daniel Killman with that of barely twenty-four years of age. his contemporary, the Cape Bretoner Truly, a remarkable achievement. Alex Maclean—who is said to be the This autobiography was originally model for Wolf Larsen in Jack written sometime after Captain London’s novel, The Sea Wolf. Killman retired in 1929. He died in MacLean was two years older, but 1936 with the manuscript unpub- they both went to sea as mere boys in lished. The manuscript was retained the late nineteenth century and rose to by his younger daughter Sydney and command at an early age. Likely they she steadfastly refused requests from never met, even if they were operating noted maritime historians to publish in the North Pacific at the same time. and annotate the work out of concern MacLean was a sealer; Killman did that they may not be fair to her one brief season as a whaler. father’s legacy in their treatment of Killman’s book does not mention the story. Such permission was even- MacLean and MacLean’s biographer tually granted by the living descend- (CNRS member Dan MacGillivray) ants of Sydney so that the memoir has does not refer to Killman. The com- finally been published in an edited and monality is that they were hard-nosed, annotated form some eighty years hard-driving shipmasters who ran tight after Captain Killman died. The result ships and were as tough as nails. By is a fascinating glimpse into an age 76 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord and a way of life long since forgotten, indication of his true character. In the where time and distance had a totally West Coast ports he was known as different impact on the lives of “Crazy Killman”, but the real origins seamen than they do today. The term of this epithet are obscure. Captain ‘fast passage’ in the context of Daniel Killman does reflect on the circum- Killman’s voyages would be mind- stances of the harrowing experience of boggling to the modern mariner! the hurricane and ponders some “what Killman tells his story in a if” matters. In the last chapter he straightforward chronological allows some emotion to creep in as he sequence of events. The story is told lays up his last sailing ship command in a very matter-of-fact tone through- and prepares to go ashore into retire- out, which tends to disguise some ment. He ponders the fate of sailing truly major events and incidents with ships and marvels at their beauty, a cloak of diminished importance—for while wondering whether such ships the most part, they are made to seem will ever be seen again. as though it’s no big deal but just an This is a fascinating and absorb- event worth noting. For example, ing book. It is greatly enhanced by the Chapter 15 details a voyage in Feb- extensive and comprehensive end ruary 1913 from Bellingham, Wash- notes. The author, at times, is a little ington, to the islands of Fiji with a casual with dates and some other key cargo of lumber including deck cargo. statistical information. The notes pro- About two days out from the islands, vide this data as well as a context to the weather deteriorated and rapidly most of the incidents described. They turned into a full blown hurricane. represent an incredible research effort Killman’s ship was dismasted but she to fill in the blanks in the record. The did not founder. He and his crew editors are to be congratulated for survived and spent twenty-two days their perseverance in getting such an on the drifting hulk until they important story published and for managed to reach a nearby island from making such an excellent contribution which they eventually were returned to the maritime history of the era. home. Adding insult to injury how- ever, was the ensuing legal hassle over Michael Young the wreck of his ship which did not Nepean, Ontario sink. Nevertheless, this was truly an epic story of ingenuity and survival but it is told in a very plain manner Timothy Lynch. Beyond the Golden without embellishment. Gate: A Maritime History of Rarely is there any introspection California. Bronx, NY: Fort Schuyler or analysis, or even much emotion in Press, SUNY Maritime College, the story—it can occasionally sound www.sunymaritime.edu, 2015. 318 as if he is simply writing up the Deck pp., illustrations, notes, bibliography, Log. The reader never really dis- index. US $29.95, cloth; ISBN 978-0- covers what sort of a man Daniel 98993- 9. Killman was; only what he said he did, which is in itself something of an Book Reviews 77 This is a book worth reading, if not early European explorers and moving adding to your collection. on to assessments of California’s Lynch’s introduction notes that economic value by foreign imperial- American maritime history primarily istic powers competing to acquire Alta focuses on the East Coast and Great California in the first half of the Lakes region meaning that there is a nineteenth century. paucity of books about the maritime Lynch skillfully interweaves the history of California. Is this because social and economic trends which historians have concentrated on other influenced and contributed to the regions, or does it seem that way development of the state, the because of the lack of books about industrial and military importance of California’s maritime history? No California’s coastline, the allure of matter which, Lynch’s book is a very California’s recreational resources, welcome addition to the body of and their influence on urban growth contemporary literature addressing and migration, both regional and American maritime history. international. As Lynch points out, California His book emphasizes the ways in has always looked to the sea. In a which the California coast contributed sense, this is the underlying theme of to the relationship between the state’s his comprehensive, extremely detailed commercial history and urbanization, study, beginning with the plentiful including stimuli that brought waves natural environment, which supported of domestic and foreign migrants, and a large population of indigenous the enactment of discriminatory laws inhabitants. He then addresses Euro- that discouraged them. He discusses pean voyages during the Age of the development of service industries Exploration, in search of riches on that catered to the state’s rapid what they believed to be an island. commercial development, beginning Lynch’s scholarship is evident: he with the fur trade and the Gold Rush. uses a broad range of references, They stimulated the development of many of which are somewhat obscure bay and inland maritime services, and but useful, nonetheless; and he such post-Gold Rush activities as synthesizes information throughout agriculture, fishing and whaling. the book to present and explain the Coastal operations such as the oil interaction of the political, economic, industry and deep water operations and social factors that contributed to involving foreign trade gave rise to California’s complex maritime history services such as ship building neces- of California. sary to support industrialization and The first chapter, entitled “The the rapidly growing population it Natural Setting,” is packed with attracted. In response to the growing information about California’s early need for labour, passenger traffic history, creating a far richer context increased, via ship and railroad. for the facts that follow. This enables Finally, successful marketing of the reader to more accurately analyze California’s recreational resources what others have written about the drew both tourists and residents to the California coast, beginning with the state. observations of Cabrillo and other 78 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord

Lynch also discusses the social a series of significant, widespread trends that accompanied economic campaigns, including the French growth. For instance, he notes that Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars modernization within the industry (1793-1815) and the War of 1812 with occurred as a result of mechanization, the United States (1812-1815). The creating a new social hierarchy in the expansion of the Royal Navy during maritime industry. The influx of a this time prompted attempts by the large population of foreign immigrants Admiralty to strengthen its control by willing to undertake this dangerous issuing orders and directives to vessel work for lower pay resulted in labour commanders and officers regarding activism, and in the formation of sea- the conduct of the navy’s crew- men’s labour unions, especially along members. Order and Disorder in the the West Coast. British Navy, 1793-1815 offers Although the book includes extensive discussions on the concepts several photographs, it would have of order and disorder aboard Royal been helpful if maps were included, Navy ships by the early nineteenth especially for those readers who are century and how Admiralty responses not familiar with California. to establish or restore authority among In summary, this book is an excel- these vessels, through disciplinary lent resource for both maritime and actions, was based on a complex California historians, economists, and reciprocity of behaviour among offic- other social scientists studying these ers and crewmembers. issues. The bibliography is a treasure The book’s title and general trove of primary sources for scholars. summary leave the reader to infer that It is also an interesting read for those Malcomson will be providing an who are simply interested in the assessment of conduct among Royal history of California and/or of mari- Navy officers and crew members time industries. between 1793 and 1815. Malcomson explains that by 1812 the Royal Navy, Marti Klein in addition to engaging war with the Laguna Niguel, California United States, was engrossed with blockading continental Europe, exerting a British presence in the Thomas Malcomson. Order and Baltic and Mediterranean Seas, Disorder in the British Navy, 1793- convoying troops and supplies to 1815. Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, Portugal and Spain, protecting trade www.boydellandbrewer.com, 2016. from French privateers, and xi+304 pp., maps, notes, tables, safeguarding interests in the Eastern bibliography, index. US $120.00, Hemisphere. Despite the widespread hardback; ISBN 978-1-78327-119-1. geographic distribution of the Royal Navy’s operations during this time, Throughout the late eighteenth and the book does not present an early nineteenth centuries, Britain’s encompassing analysis of how con- Royal Navy grew to unparalleled size duct among naval personnel may have and power to support itself throughout varied from the late eighteenth to the Book Reviews 79 nineteenth century, nor does it discuss American and West Indies Stations possible comparisons of order and throughout the War of 1812 for his disorder among those individuals analysis. These vessels were chosen, stationed around the aforementioned in part, due to the availability of locations. Instead, the majority of primary sources discussing shipboard Malcomson’s work exclusively conduct among their crews and the involves the analysis of behaviour of methods of punishment utilized to Royal Navy personnel serving among discipline insubordinate personnel. the North American and West Indies The book is separated into distinct Stations during the War of 1812 (June sections that discuss how officers 1812 to February 1815). maintained order and how individuals Malcomson views the War of attempted to undermine authority, and 1812 as a self-contained conflict at a which methods were undertaken to time when the Royal Navy was at its restore order. Every subject discussed mightiest during the Napoleonic War in the book that relates to these era, so it would be a prime campaign corresponding topics is extensively to analyze how naval authority estab- researched, again predominately lished order among personnel and the through the use of primary sources, behaviours that resulted to undermine and many of the included footnotes established directives. While he provide further historical contexts to openly acknowledges that the discuss- support Malcomson’s arguments. ions of behavioural conduct dynamics Several statistical analyses are also and authority in the book are his own, utilized to further explain whether there appears to be an assumption that certain social demographics engaged the reader is already be familiar with more frequently in specific types of previously published historical anal- behaviours and whether types of yses of the Royal Navy during this disciplinary actions, as well as their time period so they may fully apply frequency, varied over time. Most of the author’s conclusions within the the technical specifics for these context of the entire period from 1793 statistical analyses are highlighted in -1815. As a result, individuals with an corresponding footnotes, so general academic background in maritime readers do not need to be concerned history of the period, or a robust with needing background familiarity interest in Royal Navy history and with these types of analyses to fully operations will get the most enjoy- understand how Malcomson obtained ment out of this book. his results. Despite the restricted geographic Order and Disorder in the British and temporal sampling that the book Navy, 1793-1815 is exceptionally well offers while discussing the Royal written and well researched. The Navy as a whole, the book’s greatest presented analyses of order, disorder, strengths lay with the meticulous and subsequent punishments among research and statistical analyses that Royal Navy personnel, however, are the author undertook to support his primarily based from those individuals arguments and conclusions. Malcom- stationed along North America and the son presents a sample of 36 Royal West Indies during the War of 1812. Navy ships that served on the North The author concludes that order and 80 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord disorder in the Royal Navy during this Less dramatic than John Boyko’s period was based on a complex recent popular history, Cold Fire reciprocity between officers and crew Chronicles, which covers the same members and that Admiralty rules ground, McKercher carefully weighs were alternately observed or relaxed. every piece of evidence before draw- While readers who have an interest in ing nuanced conclusions. While British naval history are likely to find McKercher’s work moves the this book enjoyable, those who have a scholarship ahead, it lacks a compre- more extensive knowledge of other hensive overview of the international historical works regarding naval and wider historiography, and espec- campaigns throughout this period will ially criticisms of American policy, better understand how Malcomson’s such as post-colonial studies of the conclusions may apply to the broader Cuban Missile Crisis, European and timescale of 1793-1815. world wide trade negotiations, and American relations with other North James D. Moore III Atlantic Treaty (NATO) partners Sterling, Virginia during this period. Some will no doubt regard his interpretation with regard to Kennedy as too soft; while Asa McKercher. Camelot and his evidence about Kennedy’s pat- Canada: Canadian-American ience and willingness to compromise Relations in the Kennedy Era. Oxford, on matters of importance of Canada is UK: Oxford University Press, www. convincing, he understates the strat- global.oup.com, 2016. 336 pp., egic urgency for Canada to develop illustrations, notes, bibliography, non-American trading partners and index. CDN $74.00, cloth; ISBN 978- ignores the chaotic planning environ- 0-19060-505-6. (E-book available.) ment which resulted from Kennedy- led strategic initiatives. In this academic analysis of Canadian- Kennedy and his defence secre- American relations from 1961 to tary, Robert McNamara, caught 1963, Asa McKercher emphasizes the NATO allies off guard with alarming surprising amount of common politi- and contradictory statements about cal ground that existed between John flexible response, while pressuring G. Diefenbaker and John F. Kennedy. them to accept American nuclear arms This fresh interpretation challenges for their weapons systems. For most, the Canadian historiography which this situation was emotionally has relied too heavily upon biased charged, fraught with challenges to partisan sources and inaccurate prestige and sovereignty as well as political memoirs. While not over- concerns about the arms race itself looking Kennedy’s and Diefenbaker’s and disagreements over arms control personality flaws and specific dis- agreements. McKercher touches upon agreements, McKercher paints a more the complexities of these issues with balanced and authoritative portrait of appropriate circumspection, but does the two leaders and their relationship not delve into how Kennedy’s and than any historian to date. Book Reviews 81 McNamara’s flamboyance exacer- enough and, at times, relies too bated alliance-wide tensions. heavily upon partisan political McKercher condemns Diefen- memoirs. The chapter on the Cuban baker and his Secretary of State for Missile Crisis and the concluding External Affairs, Howard Green, for portions of his book are weaker than poor diplomatic tactics. That judge- they might be. More declassification ment is well supported, although other of sources would help. As well, gen- works on Green offer alternative eval- der analysis, post-colonial analysis, uations of his contributions to the and less traditional methodologies important nuclear testing cessation might help us better understand the agreement which was signed by the underlying tensions of the Cold War new Liberal administration shortly and the extent to which powerful after it took over in 1963. Camelot masculine players dismissed minor and Canada is thus a part of an on- partners and marginalized alternative going re-evaluation of the era, rather policies. than a work of synthesis. Canadian concerns with Amer- As one of the new generation of ican dominance and with the impact of millennial historians, McKercher has American-led policies on the world followed an unusual academic path, remain ever relevant. Kennedy’s pro- working for several years as an posals created an unpredictable archival assistant at Library and planning environment, exacerbating Archives Canada while pursuing a fears of a nuclear holocaust Masters in History at the University of –something evident at the time, but Ottawa. He then completed a doctor- not sufficiently appreciated by ate at Cambridge, writing numerous McKercher. Another question not yet academic articles on Diefenbaker, fully explored is how much (if Cuba, and Canadian-American rel- anything) Canada accomplished by ations, before producing this work. not agreeing with the United States, its With an impressive publishing record, larger, influential ally. Could Canad- he does not quite exemplify the new ian diplomacy and trade with com- slow scholarship movement which munist nations help counter Soviet some feminists have proposed to and American Cold War brinkman- counter the extreme ‘publish or ship? Was it worth the cost of being perish’ professorial path. Nonethe- perceived to be less trust-worthy and less, McKercher’s approach seems reliable? To be accused of not being more methodical, deliberate, and a team player? These emotionally-laid ruminate than the usual academic fast terms were rightly used against track to the top. The result, a well- Diefenbaker, but have resulted in written, well-researched monograph, over-looking the unpredictability he is clearly not the last word on faced and consideration of possible Diefenbaker and his administration. Canadian contributions to the eventual American and Canadian naval and development of détente. maritime historians should read this work as an essential first step in Isabel Campbell correcting a badly skewed historio- Ottawa, Ontario graphy, but it does not go quite far 82 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord

Ryan K. Noppen. Osprey New being. Although the battleships saw Vanguard # 241: Austro-Hungarian little action, they were enough of a Cruisers and Destroyers 1914-18. threat to cause the British, French, and Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, Italian navies to keep ships on alert in Inc. www.ospreypublishing.com, case the A-H battleships would sortie. 2016, 48 pp., illustrations, biblio- (See the review on Noppen’s Austro- graphy, index. UK £10.99, US $18.00, Hungarian Battleships 1914-18) in CDN $24.00; paper; ISBN 978-1- Vol. XXII, No. 1, the January 2013 4728-11470-8. issue of TNM/LMN.) Combat duties then fell upon the A-H cruisers and In Austro-Hungarian Cruisers and destroyers—and those units saw a lot Destroyers 1914-18, Noppen both of action. complements his earlier volume on Noppen begins his narrative with Austro-Hungarian (A-H) battleships of background information as to the the First World War and also furthers naval strategies that the A-H Navy his studies on lesser-known aspects of followed: Jeune Ëcole, Mahanian, and the Great War at sea. Dreadnought strategies modified to It is necessary to understand the meet the needs of A-H strategy. At Austro-Hungarian Empire in order to various times, the A-H Navy followed understand the A-H military. The all of these strategies. He then moves empire was actually two separate on to discuss each class of the A-H nations — Austria and Hungary, each cruisers and destroyers: torpedo- with its own government but ruled by rammkreuzern (torpedo ram cruisers); a common monarch (the Emperor of Zenta class protected cruisers, HusŸar Austria who also the King of class destroyers, light cruisers, and Hungary) and possessing an Imperial Tátra and Ersatz Triglav class des- Army and Navy. Both Austria and troyers. The various classes are set Hungary had to fund the common out in separate subsections, each military establishments and both containing descriptions of the ships of nations possessed portions of the each class, the history of each ship in Dalmatian coastline. the class, a chart outlining each ship For a number of years, Austria class’s pertinent specifications: had extensive overseas trade while dimensions, full displacement, ship’s Hungary traded little overseas; the complement and armament, machinery Hungarian government often did not and protection. Generally, each sub- fund the Imperial Navy at all. But by section is accompanied by a the late 1800s, a significant amount of photograph of one or more ships of A-H overseas trade was being con- that subsection’s class. This is valu- ducted through the Hungarian port of able reference material, although the Riejka. At that point, the Hungarian intermixture of cruisers and destroyer government could no longer avoid classes can be a bit confusing. It contributing to an Imperial Navy. might have been clearer if he had At the start of the First World delineated the various cruiser classes War, the A-H Imperial Navy had 16 first and then dealt with the various battleships which constituted a fleet in destroyer classes. Book Reviews 83 The second section of the Navies lasted longer, but all had been narrative describes the combat oper- scrapped by 1939. None survived to ations of the A-H cruisers and des- see service in the Second World War. troyers and it is here that the narrative The narrative is supported by shines. It clear that the A-H cruisers many pertinent photographs and and destroyers, no matter how reproductions of contemporary colour outmoded some of them were, prints. Colour sideviews of the ship rendered valuable service to the A-H classes and colour prints of significant Navy. They participated in many A-H actions support the narrative and types of action — offshore bombard- add to the overall effect of the book. ment, ship-to-ship combat, and sup- The centre section carries an excellent port for hit and run actions. The cutaway view of SMS Novara. Some narrative describes the major actions of the photographs include the major of the A-H cruisers & destroyers: leaders of the A-H Navy. The only combating the initial Allied advance omission is that of a map of the in the Adriatic in 1914, securing the Adriatic showing the A-H Navy ports northern and central sections of the and locations of actions — which Adriatic in 1915 and securing the would have been helpful. southern Adriatic later that year; the The participants in the First World battle of Cape Rodoni/Gargano in late War have passed on; the war itself is December, 1915; and the struggle over consigned to history. The Austro- the Otranto Straits, culminating in the Hungarian Navy is a distant memory Battle of the Otranto Straits in May, but Noppen’s books have brought that 1917. Earlier in the book, the section navy back from obscurity. Austro- dealing with the cruiser, Kaiserin Hungarian Cruisers and Destroyers Elisabeth, notes that it was based at 1914-18 is a valuable book from Tsingtau, China and helped defend the which the reader can learn much about German colony there against the this little-known aspect of the Great Japanese in August, 1914. The War at sea and is highly recom- descriptions of these conflicts are mended. It is hoped that Noppen will clear and hold the reader’s attention. complete the story of Austro- After 1917, the A-H Navy had few Hungarian combat vessels by writing operations and a mutiny even occurred a book on First World War Austro- on several A-H vessels. It is a tribute Hungarian submarines and torpedo to the spirit of the A-H cruiser and boats. destroyer crews that these ships and crews put down the mutiny. Robert L. Shoop The A-H cruisers and destroyers Colorado Springs, Colorado were sought-after war prizes after the cessation of hostilities. The A-H cruisers and destroyers were parceled Robert C. Parsons. Heroes of the Sea: out among the French, Greek, and Stories from the Atlantic Blue, St Italian Navies. Those awarded to the John’s, NL: Flanker Press, French navy were quickly scrapped; www.flankerpress.com, 2016. ix+277 the A-H cruisers and destroyers pp. illustrations, appendices, awarded to the Greek and Italian 84 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord bibliography, index. CDN $19.95, April. The [ship’s] sails were ripped paper, ISBN 978-1-77117-561-6. from the booms and gaffs, and it was beaten to submission by a mount- Robert Parsons collects and narrates ainous sea that swept the schooner sea stories, particularly those taking from end to end. It carried away place at or near Newfoundland. His everything movable, and much passion for sharing moving tales in thought to be, from the deck and over this collection is taken from local the side. Navigation, standing on the records, saved correspondence and exposed deck and lashed to the wheel, newspaper reports of the incidents as became life-threatening.” (107) substantiation for each story. In spite Heroes of the Sea can at times be of the book’s title, not all of Parsons’ a repetitious recitation of catastrophic salty narratives involve heroics. tales with only minor variations Frustration, tragedy and occasionally distressingly similar in their themes. lawlessness creep into this anthology. A few accounts, however, are quite The collection is divided into nine captivating, such as the wreck of the sections of roughly equal length that brig Dispatch and how the Harvey include “Unusual, Wreck, Danger, family and a Newfoundland dog Anxiety, Survival, Abandonment, helped save perhaps 140 men and Court, People,” and “Conflict.” Each women from a rock off shore during a segment’s title is a clue to the author’s raging storm. The ledge was three focus, but most tell of danger to miles off the Isle aux Morts, a well- people and their anxiety due to many named village mentioned above. maritime catastrophes and conflicts. Others are several sordid stories The coast of Newfoundland and concerning barratry or “casting away,” the names of many geographic land- that is the intentional abandoning of a marks become a colourful background vessel, setting it adrift to be wrecked for the seaborne dramas. There are for the purpose of insurance fraud. Isle aux Morts, Mistaken Point, Wreck Because the cataclysms often left little Rock, Blowhard Rock, Chain Rock, trace, the crimes were difficult to Man O’ War Shoal, and Deadman’s detect, but when the evidence was Bay. Then there are Seldom-Come- found, the offenders were usually By, Heart’s Content, Mud Cove, Tilt severely punished. Cove, plus in adjacent Labrador there An appealing part of Parsons’ are Cutthroat, Splitting Knife and book for this reviewer is the sea Smokey Tickle. The author skillfully disaster poetry written in sad rhyme describes raging storms, intense fear, and sorrowful folksong-like verses. bold valour, shocking calamity, and Some recollect “Newfie speak,” the unspeakable hardships; all dispensed charming and often amusing dialect of by the cruel North Atlantic. The the ruggedly beautiful island province. following is a typical example: “[The The tales usually start with a variation captain and his crew] had an unbroken of the exhortation “Attention all ye fight with bad weather. That battle on fishermen (or seamen) and listen unto the 100-ton Lunenburg-built schooner me,” (110) and end with a heart- reached a peak in the latter part of breaking refrain similar to “not one Book Reviews 85 soul on board is left to tell the tale.” making processes relating to crises. In (28) The poems and tales easily lend Choosing War: Presidential Decisions themselves to be set to music and are in the Maine, Lusitania, and Panay perhaps why Newfoundland is the Incidents, Douglas Carl Peifer applies source of so much wonderful Canad- historical analysis to three naval ian maritime folk music. One poem in incidents that affected America: the the publication may be the source of sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana the classic “Old Polina” and its hero, harbour in 1898; the sinking of RMS Captain Guy. Many of these sagas Lusitania in 1915; and the sinking of take place near Twillingate, Fogo and the USS Panay in 1937. Moreton’s Harbor, a repeated line in Each of these incidents imposed the chorus of “I’se the B’y that Builds critical decisions for the American the Boat,” but the song (a personal President in office at that time: the favourite) is absent; perhaps because loss of Maine in 1898 was a direct the lyrics do not recount a calamity casus belli for the brief Spanish- and the charming tune is too buoyant American War later that year; the loss for inclusion. of RMS Lusitania was a stepping Heroes of the Sea falls short of stone to American involvement in the being a classic anthology of salty First World War; while the sinking of stories, but does successfully capture the USS Panay in December 1937, the difficult lives of those who went was a crisis quickly resolved which “down to the sea in ships” off the did not lead to war (although almost treacherous Newfoundland and East- exactly four years after the Panay’s ern Canadian coasts. Parsons has put loss, that incident was quickly remem- together a good collection of sea bered with the Japanese attack on stories, perhaps best read next to a Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.) The loss of roaring fire during a blustery stormy Lusitania is probably familiar to most winter’s night. readers of The Northern Mariner/le Marin du Nord but the Maine and Louis Arthur Norton Panay incidents are likely less well West Simsbury, Connecticut known. The USS Maine sank as a result of the Cuban Revolution of the late Douglas Carl Peifer. Choosing War: 1800s. In 1898, Cuba was still a Presidential Decisions in the Maine, Spanish colony although the Cubans Lusitania, and Panay Incidents. had attempted at various times Oxford, UK: www.oup.com, 2016. x + throughout the years to free them- 331 pp., photographs, notes, biblio- selves from Spanish dominance. The graphy, index. US $34.95, cloth; ISBN revolution that occurred in the 1890s 978-0-19-026868-8. attracted much American support. Sympathy was definitely on the side Since Graham Allison published of the revolutionaries and against Essence of Decision: Explaining the “Imperialist” Spain. The United Cuban Missile Crisis in the early States sent the Maine to Havana in 1970s, scholars have studied the early 1898 — ostensibly on a friendly American presidential decision- visit to a Spanish naval port. Another 86 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord reason for the Maine’s presence in outcome was unlike the sinkings of Havana was to protect American lives Maine or Lusitania. The Japanese in Cuba. On the evening of 15 Feb- government paid America compen- ruary 1898, Maine exploded, killing sation of over $2 million. The incid- 258 seamen and injuring others. The ent was closed — but eerily, almost immediate cause was determined to be exactly four years later, Panay’s loss a mine placed on the outside of the was recalled when the Japanese ship’s hull. (Research in the 1970s attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December attributed the cause of the explosion to 1941. spontaneous combustion in a coal Peifer’s analysis of these three bunker, although a more recent invest- incidents is well-structured. After an igation has averred the explosion was introduction relating naval incidents caused by an external mine.) and the decision for war, he separates The cry, “Remember the Maine! the narrative into three parts, each Down with Spain!” was a direct cause containing the same structure. He of the 1898 Spanish-American War. starts out with a narrative of the Although the record shows that Amer- particular incident, then places each ican President William McKinley incident in its historical context, tried to avoid war, public pressure relates the immediate reaction by the plus failed diplomacy ultimately led public, press, appropriate government the American Congress to declare war. entities, and the business world. He Of the Lusitania’s sinking, little then analyzes each president’s deci- needs to be said. It suffices to relate sion and any results from that that the ship was carrying munitions decision. The last section of each part as well as civilian passengers when a looks at the aftermath, consequences, German U-Boat sank it off the Irish and any reflections on that incident. coast in 1915. A final part deals with lessons The Panay’s loss is probably the learned. The parallel structure Peifer least-known of the three incidents. uses to analyze each incident Panay was a gunboat belonging to the facilitates comparison of the three U.S. Navy’s Asiatic Fleet stationed in incidents — the Maine incident led to China. When the Sino-Japanese War a war; the Lusitania incident was a broke out in 1937, hostilities gradually stepping stone to entry into a war, approached the Chinese capital of while the Panay incident was resolved Nanking. By December of that year, without hostilities between America Panay and its crew had evacuated and Japan. several civilians from Nanking and Peifer’s conclusions and inter- moved up the Yangtze River. The pretations are defensible and gunboat was clearly marked with supported by extensive documen- American flags. On the afternoon of tation. His analyses are clear and 12 December 1937, Japanese aircraft comprehensible. Each major part attacked Panay, sinking it, ultimately contains a selection of pertinent killing one crewman and one civilian. photographs which add to the nar- While there was great concern in the rative. He writes well and the United States over Panay’s loss, the narrative does not falter. The notes Book Reviews 87 and bibliography supply many sources fare faces a daunting, uphill battle. for further study of each incident. The Norman Polmar and Edward Whitman cover carries a vivid (if somewhat have risen to this challenge in their inaccurate) print of the Maine explo- second volume on ASW history, sion and photographs of the Presidents Hunters and Killers, Vol. 2: Anti- involved in the respective decision- Submarine Warfare from 1943. makings — William McKinley, Focusing on ASW warfare beginning Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. with the turn of the tide in the Second Roosevelt. World War and tracing key This is a valuable work. The developments throughout the Cold academic will find much of interest in War, they present an enjoyable study Choosing War while the non- of technological innovation, personal- academic reader will learn a great ities and events to capture the imag- deal. Whether one agrees with ination. Peifer’s analysis or not, Choosing The text of Hunters and Killers is War: Presidential Decisions in the broken down into thirteen chrono- Maine, Lusitania, and Panay logical chapters. Picking up the tale Incidents is worth a place on the of the struggle against the U-boats in reader’s list and is highly recom- 1943, the authors do an admirable job mended. of weaving a narrative that combines details of the technological war with Robert L. Shoop accounts and biographies of many of Colorado Springs, Colorado the key participants. The first four chapters of the book are aimed at the Second World War, mostly focused on Norman Polmar and Edward the struggle to control the Atlantic sea Whitman. Hunters and Killers. Vol. lanes. The authors, however, do not 2: Anti-Submarine Warfare from confine their discussion solely to the 1943. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Atlantic since Arctic and Mediter- Press, www.nip.org, 2016. xv + 256 ranean operations are also brought out pp., illustrations, maps, appendix, in three of the chapters. The fourth notes, bibliography, indices. US chapter deals specifically with the $49.95, cloth; ISBN: 978-1-59114- American/Japanese struggle for the 689-6. control of the Pacific and the ASW operations tied to that. The inclusion In the greater tapestry of military of this subject provides an interesting history, anti-submarine warfare counterpoint to the Atlantic discussion (ASW) is just not seen in the same and helps to balance the text. light as carrier operations or daring Unfortunately, it is limited to only one landings on foreign shores. Compared chapter. The inclusion of the Pacific to the exciting story of the battle of operations also provides a strong Midway or the night actions around backdrop for post-war American ASW Guadalcanal, the battle of the Atlantic efforts. The last nine chapters prim- and convoy escorts are perceived as arily deal with the Cold War period having far less wow factor. Thus, any and the changes in ASW operations book dealing with anti-submarine war- within the confines of the bi-polar 88 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord world. This includes discussions of the major works on the subject are submarine progression and develop- even mentioned, which certainly ment, including programs like presents a biased assessment. Simi- GUPPY, which extended the life of larly, important research and discus- American diesel/electric boats prior to sion of the Pacific war are strangely the deployment of nuclear submarines; absent. Author Mark Parillo’s fascin- the scale of the Soviet threat as it ating discussion of the slaughter of evolved over time and the challenges Japanese shipping highlights many faced in dealing with it. The last two aspects of Japanese ASW efforts. The chapters even begin to question the submarine war in the Pacific also value and future of ASW operations raises another issue. Several times and raise some important questions for Polmar and Whitman refer to the the reader. amount of tonnage sunk by the While this is a fascinating text on American submarine fleet, yet they the subject of ASW warfare, it is not never mention the fact that two sets of without a few issues. The brevity of numbers exist in this regard. The the text is a problem; its scope and the initial numbers put out at the end of inclusion of a great many illustrations the war were not one hundred percent create the feeling that the book is too accurate. Revisions have been made, short for the subject. This is potent- most notably by John Alden in his ially a huge topic and expanded detail detailed analysis of US submarine and analysis would have been greatly attacks in the Second World War, appreciated. The overriding emphasis which reduced the estimate of total on the Atlantic is to be expected, but it tonnage sunk by the US submarine does present a skewed understanding fleet. The authors fail to specify of the history. While the inclusion of which numbers they are using, which Cold War operations in the Pacific severely limits aspects of the book. helps to balance the text, the truth is, This being a survey history, however, the scale of these operations did not such problems are to be expected. counterbalance the need to preserve Over all, this book is a good the sea lanes to Europe, which was addition to the library of anyone essential for NATO in the event of a interested in the field of ASW. I war in Europe. Nevertheless, Amer- would strongly recommend that it be ican deterrence patrols and operations paired with Polmar and Whitman’s in the Pacific are significant and more first volume to provide a more information there would have been comprehensive account of Hunters interesting. and Killers. At the same time, the authors seem somewhat reluctant to include Robert Dienesch the role of other nations, like Canada, Windsor, Ontario within their narrative. Canada played a huge role in the Battle of the Atlantic, as many top authors have Peder Roberts, Lize-Marie van der detailed, yet it seems to be short- Watt and Adrian Howkins (eds.). changed in the discussion. None of Antarctica and the Humanities. Book Reviews 89 Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave based approach, I would argue that the MacMillan, www.palgrave.com, 2016. book is of great importance for any 337 pages, illustrations, maps, index. maritime historian who is interested in Euro 88,39 €, cloth; ISBN 978-1-137- the history of maritime technology, 54574-9. (E-book available.) naval warfare or maritime trade, as well as the wider interaction of There’s no doubt that Antarctica is not humans and the sea. Like Antarctica, the first place on the globe most the oceans are not often considered as people think of when it comes to a space of real importance for the research in the humanities. social scientist. By showcasing the Antarctica, however, is not only a application of social science research place to study science, the last pristine to a place like Antarctica, the authors wilderness, an icy desert or whatever are promoting a better understanding other stereotype comes to mind, it also of the opportunities for the social has a history as a site of human sciences in the maritime realm as well. activities, a space contested between Peder Roberts’ chapter on Ant- nations, an imaginary landscape and a arctica and the fantasies of Nazi sphere for projections of all kinds of survival and the chapter on race and ideologies — in short, a continent that South African Antarctic history are has been overlooked by researchers in probably the two best examples to the humanities. illustrate the book’s relevance to the Antarctica and the Humanities maritime historian. Each chapter uses edited by Peder Roberts, Lize-Marie a very different approach to applying van der Watt and Adrian Howkins is, humanities research techniques to the foremost, a welcome contribution to subject of Antarctica and the meaning- placing the humanities on the map of ful analysis that results serves as a Antarctic research, both present and template for comparable research in future. Organized under four major the context of the oceans. themes (The Heroic and the Mundane, The whole section on “Whose Alternative Antarcticas, Whose Ant- Antarctic” is another example of a arctic, Valuing Antarctic Science), the template for maritime research. ‘Who 13 contributing authors provide not owns the oceans?’ is a common quest- only an impressive overview of ion and there is a rich body of humanities and social science research available on the topic. approaches toward the study of Ant- Articles like Elena Glasberg’s ‘Proto arctica, but also clearly demonstrate Territory’, Alessandro Antonello’s that Antarctic research is relevant to ‘Finding Place’ and Dag Avango’s more than the natural sciences. ‘Meaning of Material Culture’ clearly In a review for The Northern demonstrate that the question of who Mariner/Le marin du nord, the most owns Antarctica and/or the oceans important question is whether the provides many more research book holds any value for maritime opportunities beyond the basic historians, as the chapters all deal historical analysis of the role of more or less exclusively with contin- international law or the development ental Antarctica rather than the waters of sovereignty over a certain territory. surrounding it. Despite this land- Two maps and a good number of 90 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord black and white illustrations through- This book contains the papers out the book help the reader to presented at All Souls College, visualize the various arguments. Oxford, in April 2014, in honour of While the index provides a most the exceptional career of Professor valuable research tool, this reader John B. Hattendorf, as he prepared to would have appreciated a bibliography retire from the United States’ Naval at the end of the book to supplement War College. The central focus of the the endnotes after each individual collection is on the linkage between chapter. Since this book has the larger political/national strategy and quality to become the standard for the development and use of the future humanities research on Ant- country’s navy to support those ends. arctica, a full bibliography would have The 21 chapters, ultimately, can be offered a welcome overview of the broken into three sections (though the existing body of research available. editors do not do this physically), pre- Although it is larger than many would 1830, the First and Second World expect, it is spread across an Wars, and the educational develop- extremely broad range of journals and ment of a navy’s officers. There is books. much to ponder in many of these Antarctica and the Humanities is papers, a good deal of which ought to recommended for any historian produce further reflection and interested in Antarctica, but it would discussion. This collection is a fitting also appeal to a maritime historian tribute to the dynamic professional life interested in more than just ships and of John Hattendorf. maritime technology or trade. The N.A.M. Rodger begins and ends book’s comparatively high price will, the book with a tribute to Hattendorf. unfortunately, somewhat limit its Rodger’s biography of the honouree distribution and availability. Even the covers his professional and personal e-book is not cheap at 66,99 €. It is life, with not only the firm grip of an hoped that a paperback version or less academic colleague but, with the expensive e-book will be published in warm familiarity of a friend. At sea, the near future. in service to his country, in the lecture hall, the conference room and as a Ingo Heidbrink museum director, Hattendorf’s Norfolk, Virginia contributions to the field of naval history, are rooted in experience, deep N.A.M. Rodger, J. Ross Dancy, study, and dialogue. His catalog of Benjamin Darnell, and Evan Wilson past work is listed in an appendix (eds.) Strategy and the Sea. Essays in covering 29 pages. While the prev- Honour of John B. Hattendorf. ious publications are remarkable, the Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press, reviewer was drawn to the 14 forth- www.boydellandbrewer.com, 2016. coming and future projects listed, xii+305 pp., illustrations, tables, which demonstrate his continuing notes, Hattendorf bibliography , index, contribution to our discipline. Tabula Gratulatoria. US $120.00, UK Each of the editors has written a £70, cloth; ISBN 978-1-78327-098-9. chapter in the book. As noted, Rodger Book Reviews 91 provided the tribute to Hattendorf’s influence of technology, geography, career. Benjamin Darnell addressed imperialism, and economic develop- naval downsizing, in relation to Louis ment on strategy and the use of the XIV’s financial problems forcing navy in times of political and martial France to shift their focus to the army conflict. He maps out a transition and continental Europe. J. Ross from fleet blockades and battles, to the Dancy explored the manning of the goal of protecting one’s trade, and lower decks of the British Navy, in the attacking that of the enemy. Exerting eighteenth century, especially the control over the seaway allowed the focus of press gangs on acquiring supplying of allies and the landing of hard-to-get able seamen. Evan Wilson forces in enemy-held territory. The focused on the development of com- next two articles, by Matthew S. missioned officers and the shortage of Seligmann (on development in war- masters, during the same period as ship type prior to 1914) and George C. Dancy’s study. These two papers fit Peden (the British Navy’s place in the very well together with all three grand strategy between 1937 and papers providing thoughtful insights, 1941), complement Kennedy’s piece, although Wilson’s seems to have more adding another layer of detail to the connection to the book’s overarching analysis. Werner Rahn’s paper on the theme of strategy. Germany Navy’s place in Hitler’s Carla Rahn Phillips provides a Atlantic strategy (1939-1944) under- very interesting piece on the Spanish lines Kennedy’s perspective, but from government’s difficulty in recruiting a different vantage point, making and keeping officers to command its these four articles a superbly inte- galleys in the mid- to late-sixteenth grated group. century. It appears that money and Andrew Lambert’s chapter on Sir prestige became the necessary incent- Julian Corbett provides an over- ives, particularly the latter. Roger arching connection between the work Knight and Agustin Guimera provide just discussed and the final section of papers on the strategic role of the the book, which focuses on the British and Spanish navies education of naval officers. Corbett’s (respectively) from the late 1700s emphasis on protection of trade/ through the Napoleonic Wars. The supply routes, rather than massive connection between offence and battle fleet engagements, as the defence is stressed in both, providing strategic key came from his study of an interesting, fresh perspective on the history. Corbett’s ideas shaped the naval activities of the two fleets. navy’s education of its officers, and Paul Kennedy’s paper examines influenced those who crafted national the difference in strategic focus strategy, in the years ahead of the First between the French Revolutionary and World War. Subsequent chapters Napoleonic Wars, the First World serve to illustrate the necessity of War and the Second World War. All developing a broader historical under- the other entries are 10 to 13 pages in standing, to formulate grand strategy length, whereas Kennedy’s comes in and the navy’s place within it. Paul at 29. This sweeping, yet preliminary, Ramsey’s paper on the mutual examination of the topic discusses the influences of Spenser Wilkinson and 92 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord

William Sims on each other, and the connection between naval develop- teaching of sea power and strategy at ment and deployment, and the deter- the University of Oxford and the U.S. mination and playing out of grand Naval war College (respectively), in strategy. It will prove a valuable the first third of the twentieth century, source of instruction to those entering is a wonderful description of how this academia with the assignment of took place in Britain and America. A teaching naval history, the develop- more general connection between ment of strategy and, most certainly, developing naval strategy and know- the interaction of the two. ing one’s broader history (military, economic and political) is the focus in Thomas Malcomson the last two papers, by James Toronto, Ontario Goldbrick and Geoffrey Till. This group (and several others not men- Chris Sams. German Raiders of the tioned in this review) emphasizes that First World War. The Kaiser’s naval strategy must be connected with Cruiser Warfare against the Allies the political goals of the nation and 1914-15. Oxford, UK: Fonthill Media, that naval leaders (read all www.fonthillmedia.com, 2015. 207 commissioned officers) must be aware pp., illustrations, bibliography, index. of these larger goals. UK £20.00, cloth; ISBN 978-1-78155- While all chapters in the 466-1. collection touch on topics addressed within Hattendorf’s own body of With the centennial of the First World work, it is this final section on War well underway, it is expected that education that, for this reviewer at numerous works on the topic would be least, holds the strongest connection to appearing, especially when it comes to Hattendorf’s most significant and the ‘exciting’ stories to be retold. The enduring contribution to naval history naval war from 1914-1918 provided a and the study of strategy; his role in, rich supply of such narratives, and insights on, the education of naval especially the story of Germany’s officers, specifically, and naval and guerre de course and attack on Allied maritime historians, more broadly. sea lanes of communication. Each chapter has thorough foot- Chris Sams has refreshed the notes. The index is extensive and dramatic story of German surface quite workable. The only image raiders. Following on the heels of appearing in the book is that of the Nick Hewitt’s Kaiser’s Pirates (2013) honouree (serendipitously taken by a and Gary Staff’s German Cruisers J. Corbett). The cover illustration is (2011), Sams offers a familiar nar- of an American battleship in the Firth rative of the various raiders with some of Forth, Scotland. The nine figures interesting comments about what it all and four tables appear within four of means. Interestingly, he begins not the chapters, are appropriately placed with the cruisers stationed in Imperial and discussed. Germany’s far-flung colonies, but This collection of papers will with the Goeben and Breslau in the appeal to people interested in the Mediterranean Sea. The author Book Reviews 93 admits that neither cruiser was ever a but since details, such as the exact commerce raider, but includes them words spoken, are not known, it is not because of the knock-on effect they really appropriate in a history. caused the Royal Navy (21). While There are occasional research his is generally correct, Sams does not lapses or perhaps, too ready accept- explore their role further within the ance of a source’s face value. For work. This is disappointing, espec- example, the author claims that when ially since forcing the Royal Navy to Karlsruhe armed the liner Kronprinz scatter across the reaches of the Wilhelm, two 4.1” guns were trans- British Empire was key to a short, ferred when in reality they were two successful war raiding campaign. much smaller 8.8cm (3.8”) guns. A The stories of the individual photo described as the cruiser cruisers and their theatres of operation Gneisenau is actually that of a are well covered. This includes some dreadnought battleship. Another point areas that are often glossed over, such is on the escape of the Dresden and as the auxiliary cruisers SMS her finding refuge in the vast area of Cormoran and SMS Prinz Eitel Tierra del Fuego. The author gives Friedrich’s cruises in the Pacific — lots of credit to a local German settler, searching for weeks on end for targets Albert Pagels, for hiding the ship from to no avail. The latter finally ventured the Royal Navy (161-163), but recent into the Atlantic to enjoy a successful research shows that the escape was but brief raiding career while the due to Dresden’s navigating officer, former sought internment in Guam Weiblitz, and some recent German due to lack of supplies. This fate, that surveys conducted in the region. befell almost all the German liners Lastly there is mention of Emden that became auxiliary cruisers, is very firing ‘dud’ shells during her action important as it highlights the problems with HMAS Sydney, something that is of supply, especially coal, but it is still debated heavily today. The only superficially addressed. Con- question remains whether they were sidering the amount of research that indeed duds, or the wrong shell type has been conducted on the creation of (base fused rather than nose fused) German supply or Etappen stations which, if so, would explain why they and the intricate system of procuring would have acted like duds. coal for raiders from neutral countries The above is a bit unfortunate, as in times of war, this is weak area there are many places the author within the work. demonstrates some fine research. The The lack of footnotes can be interpersonal conflict between forgiven as the work is geared toward Admirals Jackie Fisher and Doveton a popular audience, but there are a few Sturdee is well described and it clearly other foibles. Names are misspelled in illustrates what was happening within several instances and the wrong prefix the Admiralty and the conflicting is used for ships. The author also views on how to deal with the German invents some conversation in the first naval threat. Those interested in Can- chapter between Rear Admiral Ernest adian naval history will be happy to Troubridge and his flag captain, a read several pages about the episode conversation that likely did happen, of the near miss between SMS Leipzig 94 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord and HMCS Rainbow. Canada’s fever- William Schliehauf (ed.) with ish preparation for war and Captain supplementary notes by Stephen Walter Hose’s departure to defend McLaughlin. Jutland: The Naval Staff Canada is discussed in detail as he set Appreciation, Barnsley UK: Seaforth off with black powder shells on board Publishing, www.seaforthpublishing. the hopelessly outdated HMCS com, 2016. xxxv+316 pp., illus- Rainbow to cover the withdrawal of trations, maps, tables, appendices, the British sloops HMS Algerine and notes, bibliography, index. US $34.95, HMS Shearwater. Sams notes that cloth: ISBN 978-1-84832-317-9. Leipzig, although not taking any prizes (Distributed in the U. S. by Naval for the first month of the war, Institute Press, www.nip.org) (E-book managed to tie up shipping all along available.) the Pacific Coast for several weeks. Perhaps most interesting is that With the 100th anniversary of the after relating all this, the author claims battle of Jutland approaching, our that German raiders achieved very distinguished late member, William little and were not really worth the (Bill) Schliehauf, decided it was time effort. Their only big victory had to re-examine the very controversial been Coronel and that was quickly Naval Staff Appreciation of that great countered by the Falklands. This is clash of the dreadnoughts that had surprising, given the way the author occurred from 31 May to 1 June 1916. emphasizes the impact Goeben had on Unfortunately, Bill was unable to see Turkey and by extension, on the war the project to completion as he was itself, or how Leipzig stopped trade. stricken by a very serious illness and His argument is that submarines died in 2009. His friend and collea- would prove better raiders and have a gue, Stephen McLaughlin, took up the much more significant impact. This project published this book in 2016. reviewer would not object with that The Naval Staff Appreciation of point at all, but would say that cruisers Jutland was actually the second have been sold short and there remains analysis of the battle prepared for the more to say on the topic. Admiralty in the immediate post-war Overall, German Raiders is an period. In early 1919, the First Sea easy read that will surely entertain Lord, Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, anyone interested in the naval history ordered Captain J. E. T. Harper to pre- of the First World War. It is designed pare a Record showing what had for a popular audience and relies actually occurred. It was to be based heavily on secondary sources through solely on the reports of the flag which it coveys what happened officers and commanding officers held reasonably well. It is fast-paced and at the Admiralty. Harper, a navigation enjoyable. A treatise on German specialist, had the wreck of the raiders it is not, but as a refresher, battlecruiser Invincible accurately well worth reading. located. That ship had exploded at 6:32 p.m. on 31 May. From this Christopher Kretzschmar datum, working backwards and Upper Hampstead, New Brunswick forwards in time, he was able to Book Reviews 95 reconstruct more accurately the pos- diagrams but while the Record was ition and movement of all the ships confined to facts, the Dewars’ involved. (All had been navigating by Appreciation discussed not only the dead reckoning since leaving their decisions and actions taken during the bases and their assumed positions battle by Jellicoe and other flag varied quite widely). Harper finished officers but the standing orders issued his Record by October 1919 but to the Fleet by the Commander-in publication was delayed until 1 Chief. This was within their mandate, November, when the new First Sea but their work carries a very distinct Lord, Admiral Earl Beatty, took up his anti-Jellicoe and pro-Beatty tone appointment. Beatty demanded rather than being an impartial assess- changes in several sections dealing ment. They completed their Apprec- with the battlecruisers which he had iation in January 1922 and a print-run commanded. Harper objected and of 100 copies was ordered, but when the publishers of the Committee influential authorities quickly coun- of Imperial Defence’s Official selled that it should not be published. History, Naval Operations, intervened These included Sir Julian Corbett, for legal reasons, the Record was who had authored the Imperial shelved. It was not published until Defence Committee’s Naval Oper- 1927. ations, and Beatty himself, while Meanwhile, in November 1920, Admirals Chatfield and Keyes (who the Naval Staff College had directed were Beatty supporters) warned that if Captain Alfred C. Dewar and his issued to the fleet “it would rend the brother Kenneth G. Dewar to prepare Service to its foundations”. The an appreciation of the battle. In the Admiralty then ordered all copies to immediate aftermath of Jutland, two be returned and destroyed. schools of thought emerged within the It is not clear how many had Service: one held that Admiral Jell- actually been issued, but several icoe, Commander-in-Chief of the survived and that has allowed Schlie- Grand Fleet, had been too cautious hauf and McLaughlin to produce their while another thought that then-Vice- appreciation of the Appreciation. The Admiral Beatty had been too rash. It surviving copies discovered by Bill should be stated that neither of these Schliehauf were found at the National distinguished Admirals, both of whom Maritime Museum, Greenwich, among had been Commander-in-Chief of the the Beatty Papers; two at the British Grand Fleet and subsequently First Library, London, one each in the Sea Lord, ever engaged personally in Keyes and Jellicoe papers, and one at the controversy, but their protagonists the Churchill Archives Centre, Cam- kept it up through the 1920s and 30s bridge. In addition, a microfilm of the and even after the Second World War. first mentioned copy is held at the Numerous books and articles were University of California, Irvine. written on the subject including one, In the volume under review, the The Truth about Jutland, (pro-Jell- editors in their own introduction icoe) by Harper himself. (written by Schliehauf) first explain The Dewar brothers took quite a the sequence of events described different tack. They used Harper’s above, along with necessary notes 96 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord describing how positions and courses not have access to German accounts were expressed in 1916 and how which resulted in some errors. orders were promulgated by signal. Following the reproduction of the Then the Dewars’ Appreciation is Naval Staff Appreciation is the reproduced in full, complete with dia- Editors’ Afterword, written princi- grams, footnotes and appendices. This pally by Stephen McLaughlin but part is not a facsimile of the original: following Schliehauf’s intentions. It the pages have been adjusted to the plainly shows that the Dewars were book’s format but the content is very critical of Jellicoe while repeat- unchanged. Where the editors have edly praising Beatty. Some of the added their own notes and comments policies they disliked were true in several places, the additions can enough but whether they were wrong readily be distinguished from the is a matter of opinion. For instance, original authors’ notes. The diagrams Jellicoe expected to win the battle by have been redrawn by John Jordan the overwhelming gunfire of his battle (like Stephen McLaughlin, a very fleet in line-ahead formation. He well-known nautical historian) but, wanted the battlecruisers and cruisers apart from one very minor correction, to engage their opposite numbers and they are the same as those produced the chief duty assigned to the for Harper and used by the Dewars. destroyers was to prevent any attack This fascinating narrative forms the on the battle fleet by their German bulk of the present volume: 242 out of equivalents. Attacks by destroyers on 316 pages. the enemy battle fleet would only be The Dewars’ account of the battle sanctioned if the prime task was is very clear and indeed, dramatic. accomplished and a favourable Starting with the situation in 1916 and opportunity occurred. The Germans the preliminary activities of both sides saw what they still called torpedo- from 28-30 May, it describes the bootes as primarily offensive, but their movements of the fleets from their attacks on the British line were made bases to the moment of contact and by few boats and were ineffective. then details the manoeuvres of the Jellicoe was under a misapprehension ships in action and of all those in the regarding the German torpedobootes. vicinity. From the first contact, the He thought they could all carry mines account is divided into discrete time and that if the German fleet turned blocs, some only a matter of minutes. away, they would lay mines in their Each is illustrated by track charts and wake and lure the British over them. the reader can follow the action He expressed this view to the closely, knowing who was firing at Admiralty which did not demur. This whom and what hits were obtained. was faulty intelligence: no German This applies not only to the account of torpedoboote could lay mines. Then the battlecruiser actions and the two there is the matter of the deployment encounters of the main battle fleets of the battle fleet: the Dewars did not but, as far as possible, to the confusing like a line-ahead contest on parallel night actions in the early hours of tracks, claiming that in the days of sail 1June. The Dewars, apparently, did it had always been inconclusive. Book Reviews 97 (Stephen McLaughlin has addressed This popular history describes the loss the whole question of deployment, through grounding of various warships including alternatives to what Jellicoe from 1691 to 2002, with each account actually did, in his article ‘Equal roughly 15 pages long. Peter C. Smith Speed Charlie London – Jellicoe’s is the prolific author of 76 books deployment at Jutland’ in the Conway about naval, military and aeronautical annual Warship 2010). The Dewars history. Most chapters describe a were also critical of decisions made single shipwreck, but two set in the (or not made) by some squadron early eighteenth century deal with commanders and the Admiralty Intelli- multiple losses in related circum- gence Section, the latter for not pass- stances (a devastating storm which ing on some vital information. caused the loss of many ships around It is appropriate on this hundredth the British Isles in late 1703 and the anniversary to remember Jutland and destruction of Sir Cloudesley in republishing this controversial Shovell’s fleet off SW England in volume with their commentaries, the 1707). Each narrative constitutes a editors have allowed us to take a compact history of the warship lost, impartial view of the great drama that starting with its construction, and in unfolded in the mists of the North Sea many cases, its design. These a century ago, when more than 8,500 summaries are dense with details of British and German sailors lost their armament and the opening sections lives in the space of ten hours. At the read like entries in Wikipedia. The entrance to an excellent temporary author has included the full name of exhibition in the Royal Navy’s the commanding officer of every complex of museums in Portsmouth warship and merchant ship mentioned Dockyard is the slogan: “Jutland: the in the text; for example, “…the First battle that won the war”. That is not Sea Lord, Admiral-of-the-Fleet Sir so–rather, it was the battle that did not Alfred Dudley Pickman Pound, GCB lose the war. It was said that Jellicoe OM GCVO...” (232) Where avail- was the only man on either side who able, the full names of all persons lost could have lost the war in an are also listed, meaning that in the afternoon – and he didn’t! case of HMS Birkenhead, wrecked off South Africa in 1852 while C. Douglas Maginley transporting soldiers and some Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia dependents, these details occupy eight pages of text. Several of the incidents described Peter C. Smith. Sailors on the Rocks: happened in adverse weather with Famous Royal Navy Shipwrecks. most involving tragic losses of life. Barnsley, South Yorks.: Pen & Sword, The author adds welcome immediacy www.pen-and-sword.co.uk, 2016, to the stories by means of passages viii+ 280 pp., photos, bibliography, from contemporary accounts but index. UK £25.00, cloth; ISBN: 978- occasionally, he adds details official 1-78340-062-1. (E-book available.) and other sources that are not explained to the reader. For example, in the story of the unfortunate ground- 98 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord ing of HMS Nottingham off Australia warships agreed to the daring plan. in 2002, the reader is told:” …. the Effingham was leading the formation marine engineering officer advised at high speed in daylight when she that the ship was not in danger of grounded and tore out her bottom. sinking or plunging. C,D,E,F and G Two other warships also touched sections of 4 and 5 decks were free bottom but got away. Smith offers flooded, and there was seven feet several theories about what happened. (2.136m) of water in the Sea Dart The first suggests that the fatal shoal Quarters, Sea Dart Hydraulic and was marked on the chart by a “+”, a Power Rooms and 3D messdeck, with Norwegian chart symbol for an five feet (1.524 m) in the FER and obstruction which was not familiar to rising.” Unless the reader is familiar those on the bridge of the cruiser. A with type 42 destroyers, these facts second theory is that in laying out a have an authoritative ring but do not planned track someone had obscured help one grasp the situation. One the shoal on the chart by a pencil line. major deficiency is a lack of maps, What happened may have been a especially since the text is often not combination of both. A third theory is helpful in situating events. In describ- that Effingham’s navigating officer ing how two small destroyers attempt- had earlier misidentified one of his ed to return to Scapa Flow in January lead marks. The ship was lost in a 1918 in atrocious weather, the senior narrow rock-strewn channel (the book ship “….reported that her position at includes an excellent aerial photo) 1830 was 58°55’N, 1°46’W, steering where “local knowledge” would have N88W….” Adding how far and on been helpful. The author states “It is, what bearing this position was from however, on record that Effingham’s the point of grounding around 2120 captain was vehemently opposed to would have been helpful. embarking any (sic) Norwegian what- The most interesting accounts are soever, either as a pilot or even as a arguably about two losses in 1940 liaison officer, for fear that they early in the Second World War: that would be unreliable and have pro- of HMS cruiser Effingham off Norway German sympathies” (215). This is an in May and of the elderly destroyer extraordinary assertion, particularly so Sturdy off Scotland in heavy weather long after the event, but the author in October. Effingham grounded dur- does not say what the source of this ing a bold attempt to transport troops suggestion is or how he evaluates it. to Bodo, roughly halfway up the HMS Sturdy was lost on 30 Norwegian coast on 17 May. By October 1940. She was apparently not holding Bodo, the Allies hoped to fitted with radar, operating under block the German advance up the radio silence and hence, not able to coast. Effingham’s captain had a large request a radio bearing from a shore scale Norwegian chart which indic- station, and had been unable to obtain ated that Bodo could be reached by a any celestial fixes in heavy weather short cut channel thought to be too for at least twenty-four hours. Sturdy narrow for U-boats. The Admiral in was making for Londonderry after charge of Effingham and three other failing to locate an incoming convoy Book Reviews 99 north of Ireland when she went loss of “this fine destroyer” and aground in darkness on one of the minuted that “….it is important to Inner Hebrides. The author does not make everyone realise that incidents analyse how off track the ship was such as these will not be treated beyond saying “This was far to the lightly” (232-33). Pound ruled that north of her intended landfall” (225). the Sturdy’s commanding officer’s In fact, Sturdy was lost more than 60 next appointment should not be back nautical miles to the north of Inistra- to a destroyer. The former C.O. was hull, the planned landfall to the north accordingly appointed to the cruiser of Londonderry, which suggests how HMS Exeter and after she was sunk in difficult navigation could be in a small 1942 would spend three and a half destroyer enduring heavy weather for years as a Japanese prisoner of war. a prolonged period. Five sailors On the one hand, the First Sea Lord’s drowned trying to get lines ashore in close attention to the loss of Sturdy the dark from their wrecked ship and how her captain should be treated which had broken in two and was reflects how closely records of losses being washed by heavy seas. were being studied at the highest When Sturdy went aground and level, even in wartime, to discover broke in two on Tiree Island in the what had gone wrong. On the other Inner Hebrides, two of her crew hand, it reinforces Admiral Pound’s managed to get ashore through heavy reputation as an excessive centraliser, surf alive and set out to look for help. Another vivid vignette concerns The remaining survivors, huddled in what happened when the heavy cruiser the dark in the forward section, saw a HMS Raleigh, grounded in fog in message sent by flashlight from the August 1922 on the Labrador side of rocks ahead: ‘On no account attempt the Strait of Belle Isle while to leave the ship—tide is going down’ attempting to work her way into the (229). The two survivors who had harbour at Forteau. Although the made it ashore had found the home of narrative does not say so, an article a local, who in turn, alerted a mer- cited by a midshipman on the bridge chant navy captain who fortuitously tells us that the navigating officer had happened to be home on leave on this taken Raleigh into Forteau before. remote island. Thanks to his warning, After sighting, land fog was encount- the men on the wreck made no further ered. The order to reduce speed from attempts to get ashore in darkness and 12 to 8 knots was given just when reached safety in daylight. Sadly, the breakers were sighted ahead, but the captain, whose night time message ship struck rocks shortly afterwards. prevented further loss of life, was The author quotes the midshipman’s killed 11 months later when his ship account: “Skipper, from starboard was torpedoed. Following the subse- side, ‘Put the helm over’. Lambe quent enquiry, First Sea Lord, [Officer of the Watch] ‘Hard a- Admiral Pound seems to have “immer- starboard'. From the Skipper again, sed himself in the case” (232). At a ’Good God, Bott [navigating officer], time when the submarine war on trade where are we?’ He suddenly looked was highlighting the critical shortage ninety, and old Nuts [Bott] looked of escorts, the Admiral regretted the 100 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord cold and blue.” (181) Unfortunately, embarking on his writing career. this new cruiser was a total loss. Sailors on the Rocks is not written in Peter Smith works facts into his a similar analytic framework. Instead, narratives which are interesting, if not it presents dramatic stories whose directly related to the accounts of purpose is to tell good yarns about losses. On page 175, a footnote notable naval shipwrecks. explains that the Kisbee Ring (often now described as a Kisby Ring)—a Jan Drent circular or horse collar-shaped life- Victoria, British Columbia saving buoy designed to be thrown to someone in the water—was invented by a Captain Thomas Kisbee, Royal Gary Staff. Skagerrak: The Battle of Navy, (1792-1877) who also invented Jutland through German Eyes. the Breeches Buoy. On page 219 we Barnsley, S. Yorks.: Pen and Sword learn that the Royal Navy scrapped 24 Books Ltd., www.pen-and- Great War era destroyers in 1936, sword.co.uk, 2016. 276 pp., which would have been most useful in photographs, plans, notes, appendices, 1940 when the RN and RCN received index. US $39.95, cloth: ISBN 978-1- obsolete destroyers from the USA. 78383-123-4. The author remarks that the small destroyers scrapped were reaching the Gary Staff is the author of numerous end of their expected “lives”, but it is books about the Imperial German sobering to be reminded of this Navy, its ships and battles. This book decision. describes the battle of Jutland Sailors on the Rocks is a popular (Skagerrak, in German) making use of re-telling of how several British official documents but much warships were shipwrecked over the enlivened by the letters and individual centuries. It is nicely produced with descriptions of officers and crew photographs reproduced on glossy members who were actually there. stock, a brief and general bibliography Like the Dewar brothers’ Jutland: The titled “Further Selected Reading on Staff Appreciation (with commentaries Royal Navy Shipwrecks” and a good by Schliehauf and McLaughlin) index. Footnotes identify sources reviewed above, it provides a detailed used where appropriate, but a lack of account of all phases of the battle but maps leaves the reader unable to gives a much more vivid impression of situate the incidents. A generation what it was like to be there from the ago, two authors with first-hand sub- deck of the Derfflinger. ject expertise produced rewarding The first chapter describes the books which analysed selected operations carried out by the German maritime disasters: Some Ship High Seas Fleet from January 1916 Disasters and their Causes (1968) by when Vice Admiral Reinhard Scheer K.C. Barnaby, a naval architect, and assumed command until the middle of An Agony of Collisions (1966) about May. During this time there were two radar-assisted collisions by Peter Pad- sorties by the Germans and one by the field, the merchant navy officer then British which might have resulted in Book Reviews 101 engagements between the fleets. The weather is misty: 4. Scheer turns back first was in February by a large to the eastward but finds himself in number of torpedobootes (equivalent the same position and turns away to British destroyers) that encountered again: 5. Darkness falls and Jellicoe nothing more than a few steers south hoping to cut the Germans minesweepers. The other was the off from Horns Reef but Scheer passes bombardment of Lowestoft and behind him. There are chance Yarmouth by the panzercruisers engagements in the dark: 6. Early on 1 (battlecruisers) on 24 April. This was June, Jellicoe is informed by an elaborate operation supported by Admiralty intelligence that the submarines and zeppelins. The Germans have gained their bases and weather was severe and there was no returns home. encounter between heavy units. Then, Gary Staff is an enthusiast for the on 4 May, the Grand Fleet under German panzercruisers and they are Admiral Jellicoe with the battlecruiser analysed and illustrated in several of fleet commanded by Vice-Admiral his books. Vizeadmiral Hipper’s Beatty attempted to entice the High engagement with Beatty’s forces show Seas Fleet over mines and submarines how effective and tough these ships to a gunnery action, while at the same were. During the run south Beatty lost time, mounting an air raid on the two ships, Indefatigable and Queen zeppelin base at Tondern. Neither Mary, by magazine explosion and a thrust was successful, but Jellicoe’s third British battlecruiser, Invincible, fleet had penetrated even closer to the is later lost for the same reason. With Jutland peninsula and Horns Reef than his five panzercruisers, Hipper was they would at the end of the month. facing ten ships, four of them of the The next chapters describe the Queen Elizabeth class, the most battle of 31 May- 1 June in much the powerful battleships in the world. same way as the Dewars have done, The Germans were terribly battered dividing it into time periods of with most of their armament out of variable length during which action, but they did not explode and significant actions or manoeuvres took they could keep up their speed even place. Excellent diagrams support partially flooded. Eventually, each section and the personal Hipper’s flagship, Lutzow, (he had reminiscences of participants vividly transferred to Moltke) was reduced to recreate the scene. Most readers will slow speed and succumbed. The only already be familiar with the general other German capital ship lost was the trend of the battle. 1. Beatty and pre-dreadnought Pommern, torpedoed H i p p e r ( t he pan z e r cr u i s e r during the night. The High Seas Fleet commander) sight each other: 2. battleships were hit many times but Hipper leads Beatty towards Scheer’s appeared virtually unsinkable. High Seas Fleet: 3. Beatty leads Neither Staff nor the Dewars raise the Hipper and Scheer towards Jellicoe’s issue of defective British fuses that battleships: 4. Jellicoe deploys to the exploded on impact, thereby southeast and Scheer finds he is preventing penetration of armour, nor heading into an arc of firing of the British practice of accumulating battleships and turns away. The charges in and below the turrets and 102 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord leaving doors in the supply chain open sailors would have died horrible in the interests of rapid fire that deaths and, whatever the outcome, the contributed to the magazine end result would have been the same. explosions. He was right. The last chapter, `the outcome`, is a good summary of the effects of the C. Douglas Maginley battle. Scheer declared a victory on Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia return to port (it really wasn’t) and the first Admiralty announcement seemed to the British public much like a Glenn M. Stein. Discovering the defeat, soon mitigated by Jellicoe’s North-West Passage: The Four-Year despatch. Much has been made of the Arctic Odyssey of the H.M.S. fact that the Grand Fleet was ready for Investigator and the McClure battle a few days after returning to Expedition. Jefferson, NC: McFarland port while the High Seas Fleet was and Company, Inc., www. supposedly immobile for the rest if the mcfarlandpub.com, 2015. x+376 pp., war, but this was not so. Scheer illustrations, maps, appendices, notes, reported to the Kaiser that the fleet bibliography, index. US $39.95, would be fully ready for action by paper; ISBN 978-0-7864-7708-1. (E- August and Sunderland was Book Available) bombarded in that month. In 1917, the German fleet was active in Baltic This narrative of the 1850 McClure operations and was instrumental in Expedition into the Canadian Arctic liberating Finland from the details its efforts to locate the lost Bolsheviks. The last major sortie was Franklin Expedition, discover the in April 1918 and was on the scale of North-West Passage, and survive amid the 1916 Skagerrak operation but the the harsh threats of the frozen British were unaware of it. For the environment that claimed Franklin’s rest of the war, however, Germany`s ship. The author, Glenn M. Stein, main hope was submarine warfare uses primary sources from museum, which was very nearly successful in archives, and material from descend- 1917, while the Allies concentrated on ants of McClure’s crew members mining the North Sea. The scattered throughout the United culmination of the naval conflict was Kingdom, Canada, and the United the surrender of the High Seas Fleet States. Chapters are arranged chrono- and its internment in Scapa Flow and logically, beginning with the related eventual scuttling. histories of the participants and Many years ago, probably when I explorations prior to the 1845 launch- first learned of the Battle of Jutland, I ing of Franklin’s expedition. The bulk said to my father that it was of the work focuses on the years 1850 unfortunate that poor visibility had and 1851, and ends with a brief robbed Jellicoe of his victory. He said epilogue regarding the recent that it was a very good thing—that if discovery of the HMS Investigator’s the weather had been clear, many surprisingly intact wreckage. thousands more British and German Book Reviews 103 The work opens with a brief en straining resources (44-45, 82). Once medias re description of the Invest- McClure pushed on alone into the igator’s tenuous situation as of April Canadian Arctic with the Investigator, 1853, before examining the life and he lost the safety offered by having a experiences of Robert McClure which support vessel in what comes off as a shaped who he was, not only as a rather poorly justified race for glory. naval officer, but also as an explorer. Nevertheless, the expedition succeed- From his interactions with famed ed in some regard, with McClure and explorer James Clark Ross, McClure his crew contacting several indigenous acquired a distrust of steam engines groups, offering trade items and and their proponents which would leaving messages in an effort to have repercussions for the unfortunate ascertain the whereabouts of Lieutenant Haswell throughout the Franklin’s expedition. The ship’s expedition (28-29). The vast majority doctor helped further the natural of the work deals with the years 1850 sciences by gathering botanical sam- and 1851, focusing on the beginning ples. Finally, a sortie by McClure’s of the voyage and the first full year in sled party recorded the discovery of the Canadian Arctic. the fabled North-West Passage on 31 The expedition had a mix of good October 1850 (119-120). From that and bad attributes. Two ships were point on, however, conditions wor- assigned to be prepped for Artic sened, and the Investigator became conditions and deployed at the same hopelessly ice bound at its wintering time: HMS Investigator and HMS location of Mercy Bay. The next four Enterprise. A German Moravian Mis- winters were marked by bitter cold, sionary, Johann Miertsching, was deteriorating conditions, dwindling attached to the mission as a translator supplies, and eventual crew deaths. due to the knowledge of Inuit lang- The arrival of Lieutenant Bedford Pim uages he had acquired in Labrador. in HMS Resolute on 6 April 1853 More than half of the expedition marked the expedition’s salvation as members had served as shipmates on the malnourished survivors abandoned previous assignments, resulting in the Investigator’s trapped hull and familiarity prior to the arduous task marched out across the ice to safety ahead of them. On the negative side, with their supply-laden sleds (214- the winterization of the Investigator 215, 224-225). The final pages cover made her somewhat unsightly, with the aftermath of the expedition, from the massive added weight of copper the voyage back to England and sheeting and heating apparatuses distribution of medals, to the hearings slowing the vessel’s speed and ham- to establish if McClure had truly been pering manoeuverability. Seams leak- the one to find the North-West ed, space was an issue, and worst of Passage and the passing of the final all, the shoddy contract work by food expedition members from old age. distributer Stephen Goldner meant There follows a brief epilogue detail- much of the canned meat rations were ing the discovery of the Investigator’s rotten. Later, an unfortunate accident intact wreck on 25 July 2010, seven caused over 3,000 pound of good appendices on a variety of subjects, rations to be lost overboard, further 104 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord chapter notes, the bibliography, and begin to run together. These are not index information. crippling issues, however, but rather Throughout the text, an assort- things that could be smoothed out and ment of accompanying images and streamlined should Stein craft a maps aid in reader comprehension. revised edition in the future. Modern photographs of artifacts and Given the recent discoveries of the late-nineteenth century portraits of wrecks of Investigator, Erebus, and crewmen complement black and white Terror in the frigid waters of the renditions of period paintings and Canadian Arctic, such a work is quite sketches from the expedition or rel- timely. The nineteenth century pre- ated findings. Large block quotes occupation with finding the North- from the reports and diaries of various West Passage is often overlooked in crew members are sprinkled through- the public eye save for in Canada and out the work allowing the men’s own the United Kingdom. This work words to describe their situation. serves as a valuable primer for both Selections of primary sources from the scholars of the subject and lay people Admiralty’s orders, sled party records, interested in learning more about polar crew biographies, and other data exploration in the waning days of the found in the seven appendices further Age of Sail. The heavy use of per- illuminate the background and exper- sonal data on individual crew iences of the McClure Expedition members gives the odyssey a human comprising notes, crew lists, report touch, and despite any flaws, this extracts, and a detailed account of the work is still an enjoyable and inform- Arctic Medal’s design and ative story of the Royal Navy’s mid- construction. nineteenth century Arctic explor- The work does have its flaws. ations. Stein has a tendency to write bio- graphical descriptions of crew mem- Charles Ross Patterson II bers after introducing them for the Yorktown, Virginia first time. While this information is interesting, the sections are sometimes overly long and interrupt the flow of Tamara Plakins Thornton. Nathaniel the text. Occasionally, the same Bowditch and the Power of Numbers: information is repeated, such as with How a Nineteenth-Century Business, a near identical repetition of caulker Science, and the Sea Changed James Evans’ background and his America. Chapel Hill, NC: The tattoos (36, 137). This insertion of University of North Carolina Press, seemingly tangential information is www.uncpress.unc.edu, 2016. 402 pp. present throughout the text. The tend- illustrations, notes, bibliography, ency to call the expedition members index. US $35.00, cloth; ISBN 978-1- “Investigators” and to sometimes have 4696-2693-2. non-italicized ship names within quotes is also a little pace-breaking, as Tamara Thornton surveys the life of the proliferation of “Investigator,” Nathaniel Bowditch, one of early Investigator, and “Investigators” does America’s foremost mathematicians Book Reviews 105 and astronomers and a complex man therefore, undertook the task of of extraordinary intellect and work recalculating the book’s tables. This ethic. The author does a masterful job was the basis of his New American of describing the cultural life of post- Practical Navigator that became colonial Salem, Massachusetts, in indispensible, a book carried by ships which Bowditch was nurtured. Born of many nations. It was not, however, in 1773, Bowditch was the son of a a work of creativity, but a result of working-class father, but his family painstaking mathematical rectification was well connected in the local lacking enduring significance. society. Where one stood in relation Bowditch, although a savant in to political conflicts between the math, was not considered a cultured federalists and the anti-federalists and man by many of his peers. In much of to which of the three local Christian Massachusetts’ society, attaining cre- dominations one belonged — Unitar- dentials as a scholar of repute and ians, Congregationalists and Angli- prominence as a businessman did not cans — determined one’s social necessarily mean one was socially station and mobility in a judgmental polished. Status was determined by society. Salem was a prominent sea- having a college education, thus port in pre-revolutionary America and becoming knowledgeable in the young Bowditch went to sea as a classics, natural philosophy and supercargo (business manager of a having some facility in English, Latin, ship’s cargo). This is the first blend- Greek, and perhaps, French. At the ing of an informative account of the time, mathematics was not considered historical times that affected Bowditch a topic for a seriously educated man, through well-chosen anecdotes. Of unless accompanied by a Harvard particular interest to maritime histor- degree. Although Bowditch never ians, the first third of the biography formally enrolled at Harvard, he was focuses on his unusual upbringing, awarded an honorary master’s degree years at sea, and how he came to and doctor of laws. publish the work on navigation that Bowditch was intrigued by the prompted his initial fame. ingenuity and complexity of the Pierre Bowditch was largely self-taught, -Simon Laplace equations that but was soon recognized as a mathe- mathematically described the regular- matical sage in his community thanks ity of the solar system. He struggled to his constantly undertaking calcul- to teach himself technical French, ating challenges, including book- then, he laboriously recalculated and keeping problems. His life at sea ex- annotated much of Mécanique Céleste posed him to John Hamilton Moore’s in five extensive volumes. This New Practical Navigator, a guidebook brought him international fame as a for determining one’s position on the Laplacean scholar. Once again, Bow- oceans of the world. While using this ditch did not create the original work, guide, Bowditch observed that many but through his mathematical brill- of the book’s tables were incorrect, iance, made it more accurate, under- thus endangering vessels that were not standable and useful. Much of the where they determined their position fame that came from this effort to be by depending on Moore. He, resulted in his election to many pres- 106 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord tigious academic societies both in the India Marine Society. He declined a United States and Europe, the best faculty appointment as Hollis Prof- known being American Academy of essor of Mathematics and Natural Arts and Sciences, American Philo- Philosophy at Harvard, but went on to sophical Society, and the Royal Astro- be a Harvard overseer. During that nomical Society of London. time, he persistently shook up the As a young man, Bowditch administration, making several ene- worked as a clerk in a ship chandlery, mies in the process. His feuds make leading to a life-long preoccupation especially fascinating reading. He also with orderliness, record keeping and made a lasting contribution in helping persistence in every endeavour he organize Harvard’s library collection. undertook. He used double-entry led- Indeed, his contribution of creating gers for all business transactions and impersonal systems in commerce modified the common notion of persists today beyond his contribution commercial credit of the day. He to science. insisted that company borrowers fill Bowditch was compulsive in his out printed forms for bank trans- interpersonal dealings in science, bus- actions, introduced filing systems, iness matters and academic relations. cataloging, data collection, entry Imbued with self-imposed morality, he systems, paginated records and agree- could be charming at times, but often ment records on acquired goods, etc. displayed what appeared to be a social He looked upon corporations as best inferiority complex. In addition to his working like what he described as “a self-assurance, he displayed little clockwork mechanism,” reflecting his patience with what he perceived as love for mathematical order and his ineptitude, corrupt practices or dis- belief that strict regulation carried honesty. Perhaps because of this, over into all human affairs. It also some described him as being “petty, reflected his fascination with the self-righteous, inflexible, relentless, astrological order of planetary and tactless.” (196) Still, he almost systems. always achieved his goals, even at the Bowditch’s interest in fastidious expense of occasionally creating hard organization led to his next vocations feelings. Although he made many as a banking and insurance executive. significant contributions to eighteenth “His enthrallment with precision and century navigational and astronomical certainty of numbers shaped his im- science, his works have become a pulse to systematize the institutions scientific footnote, largely because under his control.” (5) In the insur- they lacked creativity and originality. ance business, he was an early Thornton’s biography of Bowditch is actuary, a bonus from his Laplace remarkably fluid and her rich narrative work that led to the new science of profiles the social, economic and probability and statistical inference. cultural issues that surrounded this He was a founder of Essex Fire and extremely complicated man. Thor- Marine Insurance, the Massachusetts oughly researched, this book is Hospital Life Insurance Company, and provocative in its objective examin- Essex Bank and active in the East ation of Bowditch’s multifaceted Book Reviews 107 career, thus giving the reader a volved in the Nore mutinies, dating probing, thoughtful, descriptive work from April through July 1797. about an unorthodox, quasi-genius With respect to sources, much of Yankee. This biography puts Bow- the material appears preoccupied with ditch’s contributions within the pers- gently countering historical classism. pective of a unique era, the early For example, the authors review var- evolution of American navigational ious sources that attempted to discern science and the American maritime the rates of literacy among seamen industry. (20-28). Multiple sources had deter- mined this rate based on a binary Louis Arthur Norton system, failing to realize that most West Simsbury, Connecticut. individuals fall somewhere on a con- tinuum of literacy. For example, in several sources, whether a seaman Helen Watt, with Anne Hawkins. signed his name or simply made an Letters of Seamen in the Wars with ‘X’ instead was a determining factor France, 1793-1815. Woodbridge, between “literate” or “not literate,” U K : T h e B o y d e l l P r e s s , respectively. Such a method fails to www.boydellandbrewer.com, 2016. comprehend that signing one’s name xx+668 pp., illustrations, tables, is not commensurate with being able appendices, notes, bibliography, to read and write fluently. The index. UK £95.00, US $165.00, authors indicate awareness of this hardback; ISBN 978-1-84383-896-8. when they state, “A very wide range (E-book available.) of levels of skill of expression is found in the letters of seamen, from Letters of Seamen in the Wars with the very proficient to the barely liter- France 1793 to 1815 contains 255 ate” (26) and “…writers from diff- letters written by seamen enlisted in erent social strata appear to have had the Royal Navy and Marines. Pre- difficulties with various aspects of sented in chronological order, three- writing” (27). Based on the delicate quarters of the letters are included in manner in which the authors treat Part 1, which comprises nearly the these sources for some twenty pages, entire date span of the wars. From the it was difficult to discern whether they sailing of the first detachments of supported or were seeking to refute ships sent to the Mediterranean to the classist tenor of their predecessors. transporting Bonaparte into exile on The same is true of a second example, St. Helena, this general cross-section a discussion of the seamen’s interest of the material has been included to in current affairs, wherein the authors explore what the letters and other state, “The letters suggest that these sources may reveal about these men’s men were not as simple as is generally lives at sea and the war itself. The thought” (69). Finally, in the conclu- remaining one-quarter of the letters sion, “…we might well regard some of comprises Part 2, a selection of letters them as… literate rather than illiterate, detailing eye-witness accounts of inquiring rather than simple and more those present on board the ships in- careful with money than profligate.” 108 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord

If countering historical classism have a high level of familiarity with was of key interest to the authors, a this conflict, time period, and life at stronger, separate chapter and indic- sea in general. The analytical intro- ation of the import of the topic or its duction to Part 1 is not of poor quality, central place in the book’s purpose but it cannot substitute for a suitable would have been welcome. As it is historical context and would have presented, however, the authors’ been more useful after the presentation efforts to champion the seamen of the letters themselves. against prejudice are admirable, but By contrast, the material intro- appeared to this reader as wholly irrel- ducing Part 2 is more useful for evant. Having an argument with an understanding the context of the historical perspective that is not mutinies, particularly sections presently shared by most historians beginning on pages 381 and 386. seems an unnecessary tangent to an Additionally, the book is thoroughly otherwise well-researched book. indexed and possesses valuable appen- With respect to organization, the dices. Appendix I consists of bio- discussion introducing Part 1 would graphies of the various letter writers have been better presented after the and Appendix II presents summary letters themselves. Firstly, the letters discussions of the ships mentioned. are well-interpreted through extensive Both offer the reader a richer under- footnotes while the introductory dis- standing of the primary source cussion are not. One example is documents. references to “pressed men and Quota With respect to the purpose of the men” (44). For readers unfamiliar book, the reader does, indeed, learn with these terms, suitable definitions what the letters reveal about these are not provided there, but rather in men’s lives at sea during this period. the footnotes of the letters themselves. One may deduce that the seamen in Secondly, a reader would have been this sample were primarily concerned able to understand the authors’ dis- with ensuring that their loved ones cussion better having read the letters received long-overdue pay, that they first. The introductory material direct- themselves received ‘necessaries’ ly references many of the letters and (e.g., clothing), and with finding seems to expect the reader to be fam- means of keeping social connections iliar with how these letters fit into the with those at home. They wanted their overall narrative analysis. Examples families to receive correct accounts of are evident (49 and 51) where the naval engagements, but not the authors assume that the readers’ horrific and gory details that must familiarity with the letter-writers — have been an inexorable part of the not yet introduced — is as strong as experience. Finally, after extensive their own. Finally, nowhere in the periods away from home, their focus book is a suitable historical context was on returning, with or without the for the ongoing wars with France blessing of the Crown. This collection presented. If the introductory material of primary source documents is a was to have served as this context, it welcome contribution to our historical failed by assuming that all readers will Book Reviews 109 understanding of the lives of British research, which included first-hand seamen during the Napoleonic Wars. reports and access to private papers, allowed him to piece together the Brandi Carrier entire incident from the initial Alexandria, Virginia collision with USCGC Paulding, through to the subsequent salvage of USS S-4 three months later. Williams Joseph A. Williams. Seventeen Fath- sets the scene with a short summary of oms Deep: The Saga of the Submarine contemporary events in 1927, con- S-4 Disaster. Chicago, IL, University sidered to be the “quintessential year o f C h i c a g o P r e s s , w w w . of the Roaring Twenties”. He then chicagoreviewpress.com, 2015. 292 goes to great lengths to describe all the pp., illustrations, notes, bibliography, key characters in the story and their index. US $26.95, CDN $31.95, cloth; unique backgrounds. At times he ISBN 978-1-61373-138-3. seems to be stretching the narrative — but that would be unfair, as he wants I was unsure as to what to expect the reader to understand the passion when I started to read another account these men had for their profession. of one the early twentieth- century’s The narrative is interspersed with many submarine disasters that all appropriately-placed photographs, seem, in some ways, to have been lost many from private archives. At 292 to time. While I was superficially pages long, I found this to be an aware of the USS S-4 disaster, I was exciting and, at times, gripping read. pleasantly surprised to find a superbly The story recounts how a former researched account of the tragic loss US Navy destroyer (ex-USS Pauld- of a submarine and the colossal rescue ing), on loan to the US Coast Guard and salvage operation it generated. for prohibition patrols, collides with a Seventeen Fathoms Deep is not so dived submarine (USS S-4) off the much a submarine story, although the New England coast which immed- submarine USS S-4 is the focal point iately sinks in 102 feet of water; hence of the narrative, rather it is an accurate the title Seventeen Fathoms Deep. By recounting of the Herculean efforts the standards of the day, the response put forward by a small team of to the collision although ad hoc, was officers and divers to do their utmost immediate as all available resources to rescue the trapped submariners, in were quickly assembled to try to the most appalling of weather con- rescue any survivors. The US Navy ditions, and what lessons the US Navy quickly recalled many of the team that subsequently learned from the had salvaged the submarine USS S-51, disaster. sunk two years earlier with a large loss The author, a published librarian of life. One notable team member at and maritime researcher, was both incidents was the irascible conducting research for another book Captain Ernest King, who would later when he stumbled upon long forgotten become the Commander-in-Chief archival material about an incident Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations of which he recognized had not been the US Navy during the Second World adequately chronicled. His extensive War. At this point the reader will 110 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord have to pay close attention to the seriously injured diver as the sea narrative (70-79), as it can be a bit conditions precluded transfer to confusing as to which incident the another vessel (164). Clearly it was author is describing in his zeal to the right decision, as no diving could explain the personal experiences the be conducted because of the foul key players gained in the earlier USS weather. The optics, however, were S-51 disaster. disastrous and there remained great I found the intense description of animosity between the Navy and the the perils of hardhat diving around media who were clambering around sharp jagged metal—pushing the the rescue operation in rented fishing limits of 1920s diving technology—to boats trying to get a story. Finally, be riveting, and the reader will apprec- although no one survived from USS S- iate the excellent use of footnotes to 4, the disaster raised awareness of the describe specific technical issues. In dangers of submarine operations and fact, the detail on diving (54) is superb resulted in a number of innovations and underscores how dangerous and put in place that laid the foundations difficult this operation was as the for modern submarine rescue. Twelve divers tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to years later, when the submarine USS provide fresh air to a group of trapped Squalus sank on peacetime diving submariners who were slowly suffo- trials, survivors would be rescued. cating. As the USN raced to amass It is impossible to know exactly the necessary equipment and stores to what happened on board USS S-4 that support the rescue operation, they day, but this book offers vivid insight found that in the midst of Prohibition, into how it most likely transpired and they could not obtain hard spirits to the multitude of problems rescuers revive the frozen while decompress- faced as they carried on despite ing. Luckily, the local Coast Guard immense frustration when their every base was loaded with spirits con- effort seemed to be stymied by either fiscated from rum-runners. How the extreme weather or the limits of ironic that the Coast Guard was sup- technology of the time. I recommend plying the Navy with rum to help them this book to anyone with an interest in salvage a submarine accidentally sunk naval history, particularly those by a Coast Guard vessel (146). involving submarines and diving, as it Among the lessons the USN had graphically portrays how out of a to learn was that such a disaster would disaster lessons can be learned and generate an incredible media firestorm progressive change can happen. and that naval leadership was unable to understand the public had a right to Norman Jolin know what was happening. In short, Appleton, Ontario the handling of the USS S-4 incident became a PR disaster for the US Navy. This was exacerbated when the Kevin W. Wright. The Morris Canal principal rescue ship (USS Falcon) and the Age of Ingenuity. Climbing had to return to Boston in the midst of Mountains to Solve America’s First the rescue operation to land a Energy Crisis. Oxford, UK: Fonthill Book Reviews 111 Media, www.fonthillmedia.com, 2016. Morris Canal and Banking Company 208 pp, illustrations, maps, notes, was chartered in 1824, and construct- bibliography. US $34.95, cloth; ISBN ion began the following year. The 978-1-63499-004-2. (E-book canal’s design featured a series of available.) inclined planes first used in England in 1787. The planes required consider- Water was the dominant means of able adaptation, and contractors transporting freight between North struggled to balance efficiency and American communities during the economy. By 1831, the canal was early nineteenth century, and when completed as far as Newark at a cost existing watercourses did not make that was three times the initial the desired connections, engineers estimate, due to experimentation and were engaged by business and polit- various setbacks. Shipments of coal, ical interests to manipulate nature in wood, iron ore and farm produce were the pursuit of development. The soon traversing the canal and Morris Canal was a result of such generating revenue, but construction collaboration, connecting the did not reach Jersey City on the Delaware and Hudson rivers through Hudson River until 1837. lift locks, inclined planes, dams, and Competition from other canals and other works across the highlands of the increasing demand for coal soon northern New Jersey. Kevin Wright, led to efforts to increase traffic who became fascinated with the through rebuilding planes, lengthening waterway while working as tour locks, deepening the canal, and director at the restored canal village of installing Scottish turbines to improve Waterloo, has written a detailed water flow. The capacity of canal account of the Morris Canal that uses boats rose from 10 to 70 tons between contemporary publications to explore 1832 and 1860, but debt management links between speculative finance, proved more troublesome than engin- technological innovation, and chang- eering. After defaulting on payments ing approaches to transporting freight. to foreign and domestic creditors, the Wright begins by placing the company was reorganized in 1844 Morris Canal in the context of the fuel without banking privileges. The shortage that beset the north-east canal’s prospects benefited from the United States as forests receded in the leadership of an experienced engineer, wake of settlement, and affordable and from the growth of railroads that cordwood was no longer readily revived the iron trade in northern New available to families and manu- Jersey. Substantial increases in coal facturers. Anthracite coal in eastern and iron ore shipments resulted in Pennsylvania offered a solution, if profits from 1852 to 1876. By the delivered at a reasonable price. The 1870s, however, railroads aggressively Erie Canal demonstrated the benefits sought to eliminate canals as com- of building waterways to haul bulk petitors. The Lehigh Valley Railroad cargo, and plans began in 1816 to leased the Morris Canal in 1871, and connect the Lehigh Valley with the commerce on the waterway began an eastern seaboard using the waters of irreversible decline. Local commun- New Jersey’s Lake Hopatcong. The ities still depended on the canal for 112 The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord deliveries of coal and other commod- relations, natural calamities, economic ities, but it never met operating conditions and back again, a more expenses after 1877. Boats carrying thematic approach would have given 70 tons took five days to travel the text more cohesion. Many of the between the Delaware and Hudson details would have been more rivers; a locomotive could pull 2,000 effective in tables listing revenue, tons over the same distance in five expenditures, number of boats oper- hours. The Morris Canal operated on ated, and tonnage carried so that an occasional basis into the twentieth trends could be discerned regarding century, but as Wright notes, the the canal’s operations over almost a innovative design — initially regarded century. as an engineering marvel — had Kevin Wright’s history of the become “a discarded anachronism” Morris Canal is a useful addition to (168). Remnants of the canal were the literature on civil engineering dur- turned over to canoeists, hikers, ing the nineteenth century, the trans- photographers, and artists, with other ition from mechanics with manual sections drained and buildings skill but little technical knowledge, to destroyed in the 1920s to make way a more centralized approach led by for more productive uses. competent engineers, and the relation- Wright bases his account on a ship between major infrastructure wide range of newspapers, magazines, projects and the United States’ volatile trade journals, and government doc- financial sector. It also provides uments published concurrently with valuable perspectives on the impact of the events he chronicles. These inland waterways on local and sources provide insights into the regional development before railroads actions of company directors, evolved from being a catalyst of the engineers, and politicians that range Morris Canal’s prosperity to agents of from the optimism of the age to criti- obsolescence for its inclined planes. cism of “This miserable little ditch” (91). The publications also yielded Michael B. Moir the many etchings and photographs Toronto, Ontario that are generously distributed throughout the book and reproduced with impressive clarity. A few histor- ical maps are included, but a modern map showing the canal’s route and towns featured in the text would be helpful for readers not familiar with the area. Wright’s prose is clear and very descriptive, especially when dis- cussing technical issues and working conditions on the canal. He offers the reader copious facts in a chronological sequence, but as the text moves between financing, design, labour