Book Reviews

Geoffrey Bennett. Freeing the Bal- in during the first decade tic 1918-1920. Barnsley, South of the Cold War and continued upon Yorks.: Pen & Sword Maritime, his return to London. www.pen-and-sword.co.uk, 2017. The book is essentially a 263 pp., illustrations, maps, appen- biography of Rear Sir dices, bibliography, index. UK , as the title of the £19.99, US $34.95: ISBN 978-1- first edition suggests, set in the 147389-307-8. context of Bolshevik consolidation and military operations during the This modern reprint of a book , lingering German which first appeared as Cowan’s influence and meddling post- War in 1964 and then again in 2002 armistice in the eastern territories, under the present title, comes with a and the aspirations and struggles of new preface and updates to the last smaller Baltic nations created out of chapter and appendices by Rodney the former Russian empire—, Bennett, son of the author Geoffrey , , and Finland. Bennett. Otherwise the pages, Cowan, described as a fighting maps, and photographs are directly admiral in the best traditions of the reproduced from the original first , experienced a varied edition. , who career before and after his command died in 1983, was a serving officer of naval forces in the Baltic, a high in the Royal Navy known for his point which garnered him the title prose and writings on naval history, of the Baltic. During the including a considered biography of Second World War, he served with Admiral Charles Beresford and the commandos in a reduced rank books on naval battles in each of the and, while attached to an Indian two world wars. His written work Army mechanized unit, was cap-- combined the insights of a pro- tured by Rommel’s Afrika Korps fessional officer, with meticulous (later exchanged due to his age). research in primary sources. The Given vague instructions in 1919, inspiration for this little known Cowan led a force of and episode of Royal Navy operations in into the heavily mined the after the First World Baltic Sea to assert British interests, War started when Geoffrey Bennett shore up new governments in the served as the British naval attaché Baltic states through demonstrations

The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord, XXVIII, No. 1 Winter 2017), 39-96. 40 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord of force and diplomatic efforts, Goltz and Baron Carl Gustav deter substantial remaining German Mannerheim, one seen as forces and their generals, and check obstructing Cowan’s efforts and the the Red Navy from operating in an other a man of action and strength aggressive manner from its main in Finland. Of course, the book is at base in near St. Peters- its best in describing the naval burg. It was a fragile time between battles and operations that the war and peace, when the stakes inferior British naval forces under were very high for the players on Cowan’s leadership conducted the local scenes though a mere against the Red Navy. Two Russian sideshow for Great Britain and destroyers were captured and given higher political councils. Cowan to the Estonians, and motor torpedo and his warships operated actively boats launched surprise attacks for the rest of the year until the sinking a shelling a shore political situation stabilized and fortification and then several events allowed for their withdrawal. and auxiliaries right in The narrative presented by the main Kronstadt fleet base. Bennett is somewhat dated by British naval aircraft and sub- present standards of historiography, marines also operated in the Baltic. reflecting a style of writing in naval Cowan took the initiative and history now fifty years on. His achieved local command of the sea descriptions of the Admiralty and that enabled offensive actions. The men who rose to command over Soviet fleet, with its superior Royal Navy ships seem almost numbers and larger naval units, kept quaint at times, as much as Cowan’s to port and barely escaped love for the hounds and hunting. disbandment at Lenin’s hands due Nonetheless, Bennett was the first to Trotsky’s convincing and the to chronicle these relatively obscure need for defence against White and naval operations and political events supporting intervention forces in the Baltic, and to integrate the during the civil war. Soviet sailors use of translated Soviet historical eventually mutinied in 1921. The accounts with personal papers and British faced their own unrest and public records. No attempt has been mutinies among dissatisfied sailors made to list newer secondary serving under harsh and isolated sources in the bibliography and conditions, and Bennett goes to what might have been written since some length to absolve Cowan from in English and foreign languages responsibility for those in his own from the Russian Federation and Baltic naval force. Cowan made present Baltic states belonging to high demands on his sailors and the European Union, or released by officers and was not known for his way of archival files and collect-- affection. ions. Much attention is given to the Reissuing the book, mostly in personalities of leading figures such its original form with a new cover as Major General Rudigen von der and title, makes the naval history of Book Reviews 41

Geoffrey Bennett more widely up, Dr. J. Dwight of the American available, as older editions are out Ornithological Society came to the of print and fetch high prices in rare island in 1898 to study bird life. book shops. There is not really very Mr. Bouteillier's eldest daughter, much new here for naval historians Sarah Beatrice (Trixie) "...begged or students of Baltic or Russian her father to build a small darkroom history. Rodney Bennett seems for her off the big kitchen... with content to ride on the coat tails of just enough room for a small table, his father instead of writing some- a shelf for her chemicals, and a rope thing else or substantially revising to hang the photographs from...". content. She then started preserving Dr. Dwight's photographs. In 1901, Chris Madsen Alexander Graham Bell, who first Toronto, Ontario came to the island in 1898 searching for friends who had been among the victims of the ship La Burgoyne, Jill Martin Bouteillier. Sable Island driven on to the shoals surrounding in Black and White: Images of our the island, gave her a Brownie Past. Halifax, NS: Nimbus camera with which she preserved Publishing, www.nimbus.ca, 2016. her own countless images and 136 pp., illustrations, maps. CDN memories. Coincidentally, W.E. $15.95, paper. ISBN 978-1-77108- Saunders of the Ornithological Soc- 381-2. iety was also visiting the island that summer (he published an article Sailors usually steer clear of Sable about this in The Auk, the society's Island. That has not always been journal) and Trixie may well have possible. The illustration on page printed some of his photographs as 28 of this book, Simon McDonald's well. In 1910, as she was approach- 1890 shipwreck map, annotated in ing her thirtieth birthday, she left 1911 by Robert Jarvis Bouteillier, Sable Island for good. Her daughter then the Superintendant of Sable Jill, who would hear all Trixie's Island, makes the point. At least stories about Sable Island, has now 350 vessels are now known to have preserved and published a wide come to grief there since the selection of the photographs. sixteenth century. Reference to the Remarkable illustrations, most internet will reveal various accounts of them from Trixie's own camera, that enlarge upon these tragedies, are reproduced on virtually every but what this book does, much more page of the book. The accompany- effectively than the internet, is to ing narrative is particularly effect- chronicle the experiences of a ive. A tintype studio picture of family living permanently on the Trixie, aged five, and her brother island, Dick, aged three, taken before the Between 1890 and 1919, while family moved to Sable Island, helps the Bouteillier family was growing to put the book in proper context. 42 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Subsequent photographs bring to stations, and trained the lifesaving life the activities of the family, the crews. And he established the lifesaving crews under Mr. circumstances in which gardening, Bouteillier's direction, the many domestic life, school, hunting, visitors who had enough imag- famous visitors, farming, entertain- ination and confidence to venture ment and leisure, meteorology, out to the island, and the survivors among many other activities could of shipwrecks who, from time to thrive. Under his direction the time, found themselves guests of the Sable Island horses not only sur- Bouteillier family until they could vived, but were put to good uses. be transported to the mainland. Sable Island is presented in this Families whose living depends book in all its complexity. In my upon the sea accept danger and opinion, it is a wonderful contri- hardship, something that was espec- bution to maritime literature. It ially true in the days before radar deserves a wide audience. and other modern aids to navigation. Perhaps the great virtue of this book W.A.B. Douglas is that it reveals so well circum- Ottawa, Ontario stances of the time. Jill Bouteillier has produced a wonderful record of the personalities who lay behind a Angus Britts. Neglected Skies: The truly astonishing record of life- Demise of British Naval Power in saving. She shows how, responsible the Far East, 1922-42. Annapolis, as he was for the effective work MD: Naval Institute Press, carried out on Sable Island during www.usni.org, 2017. xii+242 pp., these years, R.J. Bouteillier was a illustrations, maps, notes, strong, calm man of 6' 3" who filled bibliography, index. US $34.95, any room he entered. cloth; ISBN 978-1-68247-157-9. (E- “For almost thirty years, book available.) Bouteillier acted on behalf of the Government of Nova Angus Britts’ main argument is Scotia as Sable Island's doc- encapsulated nicely in his title. He tor, lawmaker, dispenser of contends that Admiral James stores, minister and, most Somerville’s decision on 8 April importantly, head of life- 1942 to withdraw the Eastern Fleet saving.” from the in the face of Thanks to Dorothea Dix, the Admiral Chūichi Nagumo’s Indian American philanthropist who had Ocean raid “marked the moment the visited the island in 1853, lifesaving Royal Navy surrendered its measures had long been instituted, supremacy in fleet combat.”(182) and they provided the foundation on Britts sees the seeds for which Robert Bouteillier was able Somerville’s conclusion as having to build. He instituted telephones been sown with the decline of and cables to link the lifesaving British naval air power in the 1930s, Book Reviews 43 when the Fleet Air Arm prioritized Britts notes that such an multi-role naval aircraft over single- outcome was not unforeseeable, purpose ones. This resulted in quoting from such contemporary aircraft which proved woefully figures as the German émigré inferior to the land-based aircraft strategist Herbert Rosinsky and they faced during the early years of Australian politicians Walter the war, and greatly reduced their Moffitt Marks and Frederic (whose effectiveness. name Britts misspells as “Fred- Yet, as Britts explains, these erick”) Eggleston, whose warnings inadequacies did not become fully about the Japanese threat were apparent until the British confronted realized in the early months of the Japanese forces in early 1942. This war in the Pacific. Yet Britts never was because of the nature of the explains why such Cassandra-like naval war in the Atlantic, where exhortations deserved to be taken British disadvantages were offset by seriously at that time, especially the limitations of their German and considering the range of dire pre- Italian opponents. For them, the dictions made by public prognos- remained the primary ticators throughout the interwar era. weapon of surface naval warfare, (Marks was a particularly dubious with air power (land- or carrier- forecaster, considering that in 1921, based) serving primarily in a the year before he issued his supporting role. In the Mediterran- warning of the Japanese naval air ean and Atlantic theatres, the British threat, he prophesized that practice of deploying aircraft Armageddon would be fought in carriers singly as part of a mixed Palestine in fifteen years between of ships was effective in the British Empire and the com- fighting against German and Italian bined forces of Russia, Germany, naval forces. This proved complete- and France). Even more question- ly inadequate against the Japanese, able is the author’s heavy reliance however, who deployed their upon counterfactual analysis to sup- carriers in groups and used air port his assertions. Spinning power as the primary means of alternative strategies can be useful attacking their opponents. Thus, in delineating the options available when the Royal Navy confronted to historical actors, but Britts’ the Kido Butai in April 1942, the employment of them to play out the use of specialized attack planes (unrealized) nightmarish conse- deployed in large numbers from quences of British naval decline for multiple carriers proved too much an exposed Australia does nothing for the Eastern Fleet, leading to an to support his central argument. order that marked the end of It also does not help that Britts’ Britain’s ability to defend her analysis relies on such a limited Australasian possessions from reading of the historical literature Japanese assault. on his subject. Somehow, he has written a book about interwar 44 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

British naval development and the While Britts’ lack of a response clashes between Britain and Japan to Boyd’s analysis is understand- in the Second World War that able, his failure to even address the leaves out Norman Friedman’s work Royal Navy’s post-raid position in on British carrier aviation, John the Indian Ocean is emblematic of Lundstrom’s work on naval air com- the overall problems with his book. bat in the early months of the He has provided readers with a Pacific campaigns, and (most un- tendentious study based on a limited accountably) David Evans and Mark study of the literature and reliant Peattie’s studies of the prewar dev- upon a needlessly constrained elopment of Japanese naval and chronological approach to his topic. naval air power, among others. A The result reads less as a book in more comprehensive reading of the which judgements were drawn from available secondary sources would the evidence than one where the not only have resulted in a better- author reached his conclusions first grounded study based on a wider and then searched out the evidence range of supporting material, but to support them. While those who would have better addressed some share Britts’ opinions will find of the contrasting arguments already much to like in its pages, anyone made by other authors about his seeking an assessment of the Royal subject. The timing of this book is Navy’s performance in the Indian particularly unfortunate in this Ocean in 1942 would be better respect, as it prohibited him from served turning to Boyd’s more addressing the arguments made by deeply researched and judiciously Andrew Boyd in his recent book analyzed study instead. Royal Navy in Eastern Waters, 1935-42: Linchpin of Victory. Mark Klobas While acknowledging Somerville’s Phoenix, Arizona withdrawal as a strategic defeat, Boyd stresses its temporary nature by going detailing the redeployment John Brooks. The . of air and naval assets in the months Cambridge, UK: Cambridge afterward, which quickly reestab- University Press, www.cambridge. lished British dominance in the org, 2016. xxi+567 pp., illus- Indian Ocean. Though this may trations, map, tables, notes, have provided little comfort for the bibliography, index. CDN $59.95, Australians, Boyd credits this with US $49.99, cloth; ISBN 978-1- achieving one of the most 1071501-40. strategically significant outcomes of the war—the maintenance of Allied Jutland, like Trafalgar, like Pearl supply routes to the Harbor, is one of those seminal through Iran, which facilitated the battles with a vast literature to defeat of the in accompany an equally contested Europe. view of its conduct, outcome and Book Reviews 45 significance. Which enjoys the officers, involved in the battle. As greatest outpouring of academic and he notes in his Preface, these lay expertise is perhaps debateable, documents can be characterized as but Jutland is certainly in the front fresh accounts and largely free from rank. What has John Brooks to add the distortions involved in the to the groaning bookshelves? controversies that later arose. They Quite a lot. The Battle of Jut- suffer, of course, from narrowness land earned its controversy for two in view, as the perspective was, by reasons. The first is that Great Brit- definition, limited, and to a large ain had invested huge sums in its degree, from what we would now dreadnought fleet and was term a positive spin in the account. expecting the Royal Navy to win a Brooks also delved into the signal thumping victory over the upstart logs and the navigation document- German . Indeed, ation available in order to follow that victory was fully expected to precisely the passage and conduct of occur within the opening weeks of the engagement. The labour war. By mid-1916 this had mani- involved in marrying together the festly not come to pass, and when contradictory snippets of inform- the long awaited battle finally ation involved in this task was occurred, its outcome was anything immense and all historians can but a ‘thumping victory’. Given the profit from his Herculean effort. In horrors of the land war, the addition, Brooks examined the disappointment and shock were papers of the principals housed in severe. The second reason is the The National Archives at Kew (and schism within the Royal Navy elsewhere), as well as various Ger- between the two British , man sources to provide corro- Jellicoe and Beatty, which led borating detail from that per- adherents of each to engage in spective. He also took into account vigorous and venomous dispute the early work on the battle by Sir regarding how their ‘man’ had been Julian Corbett’s Naval Operations, let down by the other in one fashion Vol. 3, (1939) and Arthur J or another. It is to the enduring Marder’s From the Dreadnought to credit of both admirals that they , Vol. 3, (1978), along declined to participate in the wrang- with a variety of others. He did not, ling that dominated the interwar era. however, explore the full histor- The controversy shows little sign of iography. any final resolution to this day. The book is organized into Brooks, as with his earlier eleven chapters, with the first three volume Dreadnought Gunnery and addressing the nature of the two the Battle of Jutland (2005), return- fleets, the technological develop- ed to the primary sources of the ments in the decade prior to the despatches written by the command- outbreak of the Great War, and the ing officers of warships, great or organization of the fleets and small, as well as those of the flag squadrons. The technology chapter 46 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord explores signaling and formations, into the ‘weeds’ on various which are essential background for campaigns or military topics so as to understanding how the admirals provide a deep analysis into the sub- expected to control their fleets in ject. Brooks has clearly accom- battle. The next six chapters plished this objective in his account examine in immense detail the on Jutland. Anyone with an interest conduct of the battle, phase by in the battle, or on the conduct of phase. These chapters include a the war at sea during the Great War, plethora of charts and tables that lay will benefit enormously from this out critical details to illuminate and account. I can heartily recommend accompany the text. Indeed, there it—an important book. are no less than 146 tables that cover signals, effects of hits on Ian Yeates various ships, ranges, and other Regina, Saskatchewan useful matters. The assembly and analysis of complex and often confusing and contradictory data Mike Bullock. Priestley’s Progress. into a coherent whole is an The Life of Sir Raymond Priestley, immensely impressive achievement. Antarctic Explorer, Scientist, Brook concludes his account of Soldier, Academician. Jefferson, the battle with a balanced and sound NC: McFarland & Co. Inc., www. assessment of its outcome on the mcfarlandpub.com, 2017. x+ 197 war at sea, as well as on the conduct pp., illustrations, map, appendices, and performance of the principal notes, bibliography, index. US . Here his conclusions $38.95, paper; ISBN 978-0-7864- are judicial. In a review there is not 7805-7. the space to summarize his conclu- sions, but they are fair-minded, The publication of a biography on comprehensive and reasonable. Sir Raymond Priestley is, as author Beatty does not come out of it par- Mike Bullock indicates, long over- ticularly well, but the performance due. Priestley supported the Ant- of the other commanders can be arctic expeditions of both Shackle- characterized as a balance of the ton (on the Nimrod) and Scott (on good and the less so in each case. the Terra Nova), served heroically This even-handedness fits the in the First World War, served as record of the events involved with Vice Chancellor for two universities the battle and might, perhaps, pro- (Melbourne and Birmingham), vide that ‘final’ assessment that attended His Royal Highness Prince history always strives to achieve but Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, on perhaps never can. the Antarctic portion of an around- This book is one of a series of the-world trip, and was knighted for military history monographs (28 to his work on higher education of the date) published by the University of colonies. This was in addition to Cambridge. The objective is to get serving in numerous posts for the Book Reviews 47

Royal Geographical Society, work- ceive more space than they deserve. ing toward the establishment of the Occasionally, Priestley’s activities Scott Polar Research Institute at read like a laundry list of Cambridge, and, at age 74, support- administrative and social meetings ing the American Deep Freeze IV (93). In other cases, random jargon expedition. With such a list of and out-of-place phrases—never accomplishments, and such a broad explained—permeate the work, reach into the affairs of the Heroic (e.g., “ICI,” “ragging,” and “Antarc- Age of Antarctic Exploration, tic Circle Certificates”). The understanding Priestley’s contri- author’s choice to divide the work butions is akin to understanding the into general categories rather than age itself. simply chronologically, makes The Heroic Age of Antarctic several entire chapters seem out of Exploration (between the later part place. One wonders why they were of the nineteenth century and the not threaded into the work at the end of the First World War) herald- appropriate point in the story (e.g. ed an international race for the Chapters 10, 11, and 15). poles, extensive geographic and sci- Priestley’s biography should, entific exploration, and unparalleled arguably, have been lengthy. adventure stories sprinkled with Indeed, with so many accomplish- intrigue. These included Roald ments to enumerate, the work could Amundsen’s adventure race, in have been far longer than the 175 which he first reached the South pages (outside of appendices, notes, Pole ahead of a party led by Scott, and bibliography) that Bullock whose team died on return from accorded it. Ostensibly omitted was reaching it themselves, 33 days any significant treatment of Priest- later. Shackleton followed this with ley’s home life and, in particular, a heroic tale for the ages when his his relationship with his wife, ship Endurance was ice bound and though she is occasionally mention- crushed, yet all of his party ed in passing. The effect is one of a miraculously survived. These are professional edifice of a man, his the kinds of stories, during his curriculum vitae, rather than a thor- harrowing experiences serving with ough or intimate biography. both Scott and Shackleton, that we These limitations notwithstand- expect to find in a biography of ing, several portions of the work Priestley. were extremely interesting and will While present, they are limited naturally encourage those who wish in treatment. The author outlines to know more about the Heroic Age Priestley’s major accomplishments to seek additional information. by general category, attempting to Among these, is the episode during treat them all equally. This means the Nimrod expedition, when Priest- that some of the more interesting ley’s party found themselves out to events get short shrift, while others sea when the ice floe on which they (less interesting to this reader) re- were camped detached from the 48 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord glacial moraine. “While on the experience of the work as a whole detached ice floe, the Party and this reader wished that more of investigated every means of both had been included. If nothing salvation, all of which proved more, the work whetted the appetite impossible until, with the turning of for more and inspired this reader to the tide, they drifted back towards seek out the works of Priestley Butter Point, their only realistic himself, as well as those of his escape route from their perilous pre- contemporaries documenting their dicament.” The entire episode explorations. occupied four short paragraphs, though it was one of the more Brandi Carrier interesting and harrowing portions Port Hueneme, California of the biography. Another except- ional section discusses the miraculous survival of the Terra James E. Candow. Cantwells’ Way. Nova’s northern party. After being A Natural History of the Cape dropped off at Evans Cove for an Spear Lightstation. Halifax, NS: expected six-week stay with an Fernwood Publishing, www. eight-week food store, they fernwoodpublishing.ca, 2014. viii+ managed to survive long enough to 160 pp., illustrations, maps, attempt a march to safety some nine appendices, notes, references, months later. Responsible for index. CDN $22.95, paper; ISBN rationing their provisions, Priestley 978-1-55266-672-2. played a key role in their survival. How the men maintained their phy- Candow, a retired Parks Canada sical existence, emotional comfort, historian and accomplished writer and mental sanity is the most com- of Newfoundland history, combines pelling portion of the biography. archival materials, oral history A reader new to the historical testimony, and personal reflections subjects surrounding Priestley’s life to produce this well-evidenced, may be entirely adrift in this thoughtfully written, and emotion- biography, as the work lacks context ally engaging account of the Cape and is, instead, heavy in details that Spear Lightstation and its Cantwell may not be entirely useful. To a family dynasty of keepers on the reader more familiar with the times easternmost edge of North America. and the context, these details be- Despite its problematic organization come rich primary source material and surprisingly light treatment of to enjoy the feel, language, temp- the site’s history, natural or erament, and culture of the times. otherwise, over the past quarter- As the work is based almost entirely century, the book presents a rare on the diary of Priestley himself, it and welcome understanding of how is naturally authentic and genuine. people, place and technology The few photographs and single interacted at one of Canada’s most map included improve the Book Reviews 49 famous lightstations through a five-page epilogue. Though chapter period of massive transformation. one provides a useful and logical While readers will recognize introduction to the history and ‘lighthouse’, most will not be technology of lighthouses and fog familiar with the moniker ‘light- alarms before moving onto chapter station’. In fact, the latter term is two and the origins of the Cape most suitable as it describes the Spear lighthouse in 1836 and its lighthouse proper as well as those long line of Cantwell family keepers ancillary structures in close proxim- to 1910. Chapter three focuses on ity to it, including the fog alarm “life and labour to 1914” without building. As Candow convincingly any justification for this arbitrary argues, the story of the lighthouse time period. It is assumed that the cannot be told in isolation from that outbreak of the First World War led of the associated structures and to a marked change in the way of related technologies, the lives of life at Cape Spear, though how or successive generations of Cantwell why is never made apparent. family members who cared for the Further complicating matters is the lightstation between 1846 and 1997, comparatively lengthy fourth and the broader context of New- chapter, “The Dying of the Light”, foundland history. He delivers a which seemingly suggests that the reasonably thorough examination of lightstation and its keepers were on these multiple facets, tracing the track for an inevitable demise for evolution of lighthouse develop- most of the twentieth century. The ment in Newfoundland as the island previous chapters do not make a moved from its original role as a case for a ‘golden age’ experienced seasonal fishing station to prior to 1914, nor does chapter four permanent settlement, and its indicate that the forces for change administration from a fishing and the effects of these changes admiral and naval to were of a similar nature through the responsible, commission and pro- tumultuous period characterized by vincial governments. Overall, the two world wars, the Great Depress- story told here is a highly interest- ion, Newfoundland’s joining Can- ing and significant one, especially ada in 1949, and the replacement of pertinent today as technology ever the original lighthouse with the advances, automation continues to current one in 1955. remove the human element from The two latter developments lightstations, and tourism seeks to seem obvious ones on which to capitalize on the days of yore. anchor a concluding chapter that There is some disappointment, also combines an exceedingly brief however, with this book. Poor chapter five and the epilogue. This organization damages the continuity leads to a further question regarding and clarity of its focus. Five the lightstation’s continued chapters contain 16, 25, 19, 44 and symbolic significance after it was 3 pages respectively, followed by a destaffed on 31 March, curiously 50 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord marking the 48th anniversary of vation and adaptation. Given that Newfoundland joining Canada. the only staffed lightstations in Clearly there is nostalgia here for a Canada reside in Newfoundland, bygone time, which is natural given New Brunswick and British Colum- t h e m o m e n t o u s c h a n g e s bia, it is hoped that Candow’s book, experienced since Confederation, the best yet written, will help ‘light’ most notably the crushing collapse the way for similar projects. of the cod fishery and the This reviewer fondly recalls moratorium of the early 1990s. It is evenings with neighbours and too bad the author did not devote friends stretched out on front lawns more thought to the place of the in east-end St. John’s listening to lightstation in the Newfoundland the bellow of the ‘foghorn’ or and Canadian public consciousness following the rays across the night since then, for these images have sky emanating from the Cape Spear been widely used by Parks Canada ‘light’. Most of us had never been and the provincial government in to sea and never would, but the echo their popular tourism campaigns. of that sound and the massive These problems should have been spotlight crossing the sky every few identified and addressed through the seconds were a reminder that others editorial process, though their cause did. Of more importance to us was appears to have been linked to both the comfort of home felt through the author’s gradual expansion of that magical sound and light show. the project from the original Parks Candow’s book revived these Canada commission and his memories and gave them added eventual completion of this project value through the perspective of in retirement. those responsible for providing such Readers may want to obtain a comforts. sense of how other lightstations fared during the same period, which Michael F. Dove will actually enhance their appre- St. Thomas, Ontario ciation for this book. Similar studies exist for the United Kingdom and the , Quentin Casey. The Sea Was in though the topic has drawn very Their Blood: The Devastating Loss little in the way of scholarship on of the Miss Ally’s Five-Man Crew. Canadian lightstations, apart from Halifax, NS: Nimbus Publishing, various Parks Canada publications. www.nimbus.ca, 2017. 249 pp., A further achievement of this book bibliography. CDN $22.95, paper; is its ability to interweave the ISBN 978-1-77108-479-6. human story of the Cantwell light- keepers and their relationship with Casey’s The Sea Was in Their Blood the natural landscape of the Cape, recounts the events surrounding the with the centuries-old narrative of loss of a fishing vessel from Woods scientific and technological inno- Harbour, Nova Scotia, which cap- Book Reviews 51 sized in a storm on 17 February who at 21 years old, was Woods 2013. Based on the book’s central Harbour’s youngest fishing boat theme, some readers might readily . draw a premature comparison to The author made an exceptional Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect effort to research not only Woods Storm: A True Story of Men Against Harbour’s background and the the Sea, which discusses the loss of chronology of events leading the the American fishing boat Andrea Miss Ally’s loss, but he also Gail in 1991. Casey, however, provides emotional perceptions takes a more intimate look at the from the family members and collective background and friends who knew each crew- personalities of each of the Miss member. The viewpoints and Ally’s crewmen and emphases the recalled memories from the emotions and recollections of their community’s residents are provided surviving families and friends. by interviews and day-to-day Through this manner, Casey fully interactions that Casey had during conveys to the reader the relation- his visits to the area. Some family ships these individuals had among members, understandably, declined themselves, their families, and to talk to the author, as the tragedy among the general community of is still comparatively recent and is Woods Harbour. still a sensitive subject among the Casey provides a compre- community. Ultimately, all crew- hensive overview of Woods Har- members are profiled in their own bour’s natural and socio-economic respective chapters. Their personal backgrounds. Woods Harbour has strengths and perceived faults are always been synonymous with discussed, offering an encompassing fishing; the industry dominates this view of their personalities. All small, rural community’s economy traits are given directly from the and serves as the employment basis crew’s family and friends, and for most residents. Fishing in this Casey leaves readers to determine region is inherently dangerous, and for themselves whether the Miss according to Casey, an average of Ally tragedy could have been five to six fishing-related deaths avoided. occurs in Nova Scotia each year. The book is very well written, The industry, however, can provide and appropriate background inform- quick financial stability for fisher- ation is interwoven with the events men when catches and prices are that occurred between the time the high. The loss of the Miss Ally was Miss Ally was initially caught in the not simply a setback for the town’s 2013 storm and when the empty, economy, but was worsened by the overturned hull was eventually loss of five young fishermen who found, maintaining the senses of were regarded among the commun- distress and urgency that the crew- ity as prodigies in their field, members’ family and friends especially Capt. Katlin Nickerson, experienced during that time. 52 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Photographs of the Miss Ally’s James D. Moore III crew, the boat’s wreckage, and Sterling, Virginia Casey’s interviewees, are likely to bring a strong empathetic response J. D. Davies. Kings of the Sea: from readers and will help them Charles II, James II and the Royal understand the close-knit nature of Navy. Barnsley, S. Yorks: Seaforth the Woods Harbour community. In Publishing, www.pen-and-sword. a few instances, the author does co.uk, 2017. 288 pp., illustrations, express some personal statements notes, bibliography, index. UK that could be viewed as overly 30.00, cloth; ISBN 978-1-84832- melodramatic, which lose their 400-8. impact since the reader already knows the fate of the Miss Ally and Kings of the Sea is David Davies’ its crew, but this is only a mild con- latest non-fiction publication about structive criticism compared to rest the Royal Navy following the of the book’s excellent narrative. Restoration and follows upon his This book is strongly recom- Samuel Pepys Prize-winning mended for general audiences who Pepys’s Navy: Ships, Men and enjoy dramatic stories or are Warfare 1649-1689. Davies pre- interested in the local history of sents a different perspective, Nova Scotia’s fishing communities. looking at how Charles II and James The overall tone of the narrative is II as individuals had a direct impact somewhat somber, and light ele- on, took control of, and developed ments of humour are mostly used the Royal Navy as an instrument of when recollections are given about a state following the Restoration of crewmembers’ past behaviour, but 1660. this in turn helps the reader closely This book presents a kind of relate to these individuals and categorical contradiction, a meeting understand how impactful their loss place between academic and public was to the community. Casey history. It appears to be designed explains that several residents of for the general public, rather than Woods Harbour not only personally academic specialists, since it looks, knew the Miss Ally’s crewmen who feels, and reads like popular history. were lost, but they also knew The format, glossy pages, numerous fishermen who were lost at sea images, sketches, and other illustra- during previous storms. The resi- tions sourced from the National dents of the Woods Harbour area Maritime Museum and other equally have a uniquely strong character impressive sources all make it very and fully understand the risks attractive. Further, this book is associated with the commercial fish- published by Seaforth, a maritime ing industry. Casey’s book acts as a imprint of Pen and Sword, rather testament to that character and as a than an academic press. To dismiss way to memorialize the Miss Ally’s this book because it looks and feels crew. like popular history would be to do Book Reviews 53 it, and readers, a great disservice. complexity of the subject, using Kings of the Sea is the product of these topics to shed new light on the more than 30 years of research, relationship between royalty and the writing and sharing his work with Royal Navy. many different audiences. What is The next four chapters address particularly useful is the way that specific challenges to the establish- Davies uses the structure in order to ed historical understanding. present different areas of argument “Governing the Navy” examines the and discussion, without making any roles of both James II and Charles II section, or any piece of his in directly guiding the institution, argument, too intimidating. especially important given the stan- The introduction and first two dard assumption that Samuel Pepys chapters, entitled “The Stuarts and was in charge. For example, Davies the Sea I: Inheritance” and “Civil quotes archival documents which War and Restoration” establish the discuss the personal role of Charles important historiographical and II directing the Navy’s operations historical foundations necessary for (in particular from 1673-1679, and understanding the rest of the book. that of James as Lord of High Davies presents the common argu- Admiral (prior to 1673) and as King ments, but also demolishes them. from 1685. In “The Precursors of For example, he presents Charles II Hornblower” chapter, Davies as a complex character, especially examines the officers of the Royal in comparison with his brother. The Navy during this period, building on next three chapters (“His Majesty’s his monograph Gentlemen and Tar- Ships I”, “His Majesty’s Ships II” paulins. In “Sovereignty of the and “The Royal Yachts”) present Sea” and “Dominion of the three different and important Oceans”, he provides a cultural, discussions. The first opens an in- political and social basis for the depth discussion of the ships of the discussion of Charles II and James Royal Navy as symbols of the Stuart II’s reasons for developing, fielding regime and also of Charles II and and using the Royal Navy. In each James II as individuals with differ- of these chapters, Davies provides a ent pressures, ideas, and tastes. The methodological basis for his argu- second chapter presents a fairly ment and analysis, for example the detailed discussion of the types of social history perspective in “The ships that were built and used from Precursors of Hornblower.” 1660 to 1688, such as the galley Throughout each chapter, Davies . The latter chapter brings always returns to the personal the topic back to the royal brothers involvement of James II and Charles specifically, through an exploration II. of their love of sailing and the The final three chapters (“War- importance of the royal yachts lords”, “Inglorious Revolution” and during this period. In each case, “The Stuarts and the Sea II: The Davies effectively highlights the ‘Jacobite Navy’”) bring this very 54 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord much to the forefront again as they Jonathan Dimbleby. The Battle of consider James II’s role as Lord the Atlantic. How the Allies Won the High Admiral, the challenges of the War. Oxford, UK: Oxford Univer- Glorious Revolution in 1688, and sity Press, www.oup.com, 2016. the Stuart brothers’ legacy in the xxx+530 pp., illustrations, maps, years that followed. notes, bibliography, index. US This book highlights Davies’ $34.95, cloth; ISBN 978-0-19- ability to communicate complex, 049585-5. academic ideas in an easily under- standable manner. Each chapter pre- As an official historian of Canadian sents a topic as it is generally under- naval and air force operations in the stood, then calmly challenges it or Second World War, it interested me adds complexity through the add- to find that a new account of the ition of quotations from archival gives lip documents. The author does not service to only one Canadian naval evaluate either sovereign’s personal historian of note, Marc Milner. One involvement as good or bad, but of Milner’s books, Battle of the rather, as a factor in the Royal Atlantic, (2003) is listed in the Navy’s development, day-to-day bibliography and he is thanked for activities, and institutional identity some illuminating insights, which which resulted in nuances and can be taken to mean that there were contradictory details. Readers are gaps in Jonathan Dimbleby’s know- expected to be able to handle the ledge. Milner, however, is never complexities and contradictions that cited, and no reference is made to Davies presents. his three important books on the This book is highly recommend- Royal Canadian Navy, North ed. For the enthusiast, it is both Atlantic Run (1985), The U-boat beautiful to look at and interesting Hunters (1994), and Canada’s to read. For the academic, it is a Navy: The First Century (1999). concise delivery of the most up-to- Apart from William Sclater`s date scholarship on the Royal Navy Haida, a wonderful book that says following the Restoration. Perhaps very little about the Battle of the its most important potential aud- Atlantic, Dimbleby completely ience is future historians, for whom ignores the multitude of other it could be the book that catches Canadian studies that shed their imagination and introduces to important light on the campaign, them to complex historical discuss- such as Roger Sarty and Michael ions in a comfortable and inclusive Hadley’s Tin Pots and Pirate Ships way. (1991), Brian Tennyson and Roger Sarty’s Guardian of the Gulf: Sam McLean Sydney Cape Breton and the Toronto, Ontario Atlantic Wars, (2000) and Sarty’s War in the St Lawrence: The For- gotten U-Boat Battles on Canada’s Book Reviews 55

Shores (2012). He has also over- a colleague noted that two looked James Pritchard’s A Bridge subjects were still guaran- of Ships: Canadian Shipbuilding teed to set him off, the RCN during the Second World War and Coastal Command. (2011). All these and many other The RCN, for all its short- studies grew out of the Canadian comings, like Coastal Command official operational histories, The and Canada’s Eastern Air Com- Creation of a National Air Force mand, (which gets never a mention (1980), No Higher Purpose (2002) in this book), was indispensable to and A Blue Water Navy (2007). the defence of convoys in the North The opinion of Captain Donald Atlantic, including routes in the St. Macintyre, that almost every convoy Lawrence River and on the Atlantic escorted by the Canadians in seaboard. An account of the Battle February and March 1943 was a tale of the Atlantic that says so little of disaster and sunken merchant about the RCN and RCAF fails to ships, is included in the book. My tell the whole story. The safe own comment on these criticisms, escort, by Canadian ships and air- (citing A.L.Hammond, ‘Six months craft, of very large numbers of at Sea with a U-Boat killer’, War- merchant vessels carrying vital sup- ship World, 7/3 (2001), 22-4) plies to their destinations in the appears in A Blue Water Navy, Vol- Atlantic, the Mediterranean and ume II part 2 of the official northern Russia, however uncon- operational history of the RCN, p. ventional and inefficient the 466 (n.39): escorting forces often were, was a Macintyre’s criticisms of remarkable achievement. If the RCN escort force in his Dimbleby had consulted even a memory were particularly portion of the books listed in the stinging but he appears to bibliography of A Blue Water Navy, have been a particularly or consulted documents in the Cana- ‘pusser’officer. When he dian Department of National moved to the Defence and the National Archives Aylmer after Bickerton had of Canada, he would have been able been torpedoed, he immed- to write a more complete account of iately ordered the bridge this vast subject. crews to their cabins to That said, this book is an shave and to change into important addition to the literature. proper uniform even though In the preface are some observations the U-boat was still that need to be kept in mind, espec- undetected in the area. He ially by naval, air and military also seemed to have some- people for whom knowledge of the thing against the RCN. past is vital to the exercise of their Known to be gruff and short profession. The author is on solid of temper, he apparently ground when he emphasizes the mellowed after the war, but importance of Churchill, Roosevelt, 56 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Stalin and Hitler, and their often Long Range aircraft, before Very wrong-headed decisions. It is worth Long Range Liberators appeared on saying, as Dimbleby does, that the scene. See for example, Doug- Hitler, the final arbiter of German las, The Creation of a National Air strategy, made more wrong-headed Force pp 538-567, and especially on decisions than the rest. When, in p. 540: January 1943, Hitler replaced Grand In December 1942 Canso Admiral Erich Raeder with Grand A’s of 5(BR) Squadron Admiral Karl Dönitz “the thrusting were joined by two similar U-boat Admiral”, Dimbleby argues aircraft from 162 A squad- that he played into the hands of ron based in Yarmouth. Albert Speer, Minister of Arma- Along with the 162 (BR) ments. And Dönitz, although “an detachment came Eastern outstanding leader of men who was Air Command`s most cap- to pose a greater threat to the Allies able officer and the in the Second World War than any squadron`s new CO, Squad- other in the Third ron Leader N.E.W. Small. Reich” (27), seemed at first to be In order to extend the range exactly the man needed to win the of the Canso’s beyond their war at sea until the convoy battles normal 500 miles, 5 Squad- of May and June 1943 left him ron personnel, under fatally handicapped. The judgement Small’s direction, began to that, after years of apparently un- strip some aircraft of excess stoppable success, he suddenly had weight, including extra to withdraw his U-boats from their guns, ammunition, and accustomed hunting grounds be- stores. In all, about 1200 cause it was no longer possible to lbs was removed, which wage war against convoys in the permitted the Cansos to North Atlantic—“He had lost not operate to about 700 miles. only a record number of U-boats, Thus, as the officers of 5 but the tonnage war as well.” Squadron readily admitted, —while hardly an original it was largely due to the observation, is supported here by an efforts of Small that the overwhelming body of evidence. Gander-based Cansos were There are sound, if not always able to make a series of pro- consistent, discussions of strategic mising attacks at maximum issues. Dimbleby places less em- range during the early phasis on the importance of Very weeks of February. Trag- Long Range aircraft than the ically, Small was killed evidence would suggest, and al- when his Canso crashed though he makes fair criticism of air while taking off on 8 Jan- force operations against the sub- uary, a result of equipment marine threat, he downplays some failure. of the amazing accomplishments of Book Reviews 57

No mention is made of the long particularly dreadful example was and fruitless negotiations with the City of Benares, bound for United States authorities to allocate Canada, torpedoed on 17 September Very Long Range Liberators to 1940. Of 407 passengers and crew Canada`s Eastern Air Command, 147 perished; of the 90 children nor that finally, in 1943, the British only 13 survived. In one lifeboat Cabinet Anti-U-Boat Warfare Com- were “...six small boys, two chap- mittee diverted VLR Liberators to erones (a Roman Catholic Priest and Eastern Air Command in New- [Mary] Cornish), a Polish shipping foundland These delays were sig- executive, forty British crew nificant in the conduct of anti- members...and thirty-two Lascars...” operations. (More For seven days and nineteen hours, editorial comment by air historians sometimes in dreadful weather, the might also have revealed that the boat drifted. When, after being women who played such important sighted and rescued, they arrived parts in the anti-submarine war safely in Greenock the ship’s officer belonged to the Women’s Auxiliary in charge of the boat, Fourth Officer Air Force (WAAF, not WRAF).) Ronald Cooper, reported “...Ever- There are, however, many yone behaved very well, and a spirit illuminating and sympathetic of loyalty to orders and comparative accounts of experiences among the cheerfulness prevailed...” (When ships` companies and other serving reading this statement nearly eighty personnel who fought this great years after the event, it is difficult battle, and also among civilian not to think of the contrast with passengers who, for one reason or experiences, more than sixty years another, found themselves exposed later in the Mediterranean, by to the dangers of the sea in wartime. families in a variety of overcrowded This reviewer, as an eleven-year-old vessels, trying to escape disasters of boy, sailed from Liverpool to New a different kind.) York en route to Toronto in July In March 1943, after 1940. The ship was “swarming extraordinary exploits and with children”, so the family friend improvements in anti-submarine with whom I was traveling reported. warfare by the Allies, well Excited to be going to sea in war- explained (despite some of the time, I was conscious of, indeed surprising omissions concerning thrilled by the danger, but excited Canadian naval and airforce by the thought of seeing cowboys operations already noted), Dönitz and Indians, the Rocky Mountains had to call off U-boat operations and Grey Owl. We were not fully against the Atlantic convoys. It so aware of the terrible experiences of happened that only three months those less fortunate than we. People later this reviewer returned to who have survived ocean voyages in England in the Escort Aircraft wartime need to be reminded that Carrier HMS Pursuer, with five they were extraordinarily lucky. A other boys, as so-called “Guests of 58 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord the Admiralty”. It must be said that writing. This means that the story the sailors on board that ship in July of the Second World War in the 1943 still considered the U-boat Pacific was originally told from an menace as great as ever. We had no exclusively American perspective, idea how fortunate we were. The skewing our understanding of war at sea, of course, did not cease events. It is usually only with the to be a critical factor in operations. advent of revisionism that a more The terrible losses endured by the balanced account emerges, one that convoys to Russia, and their strat- includes the experience of other egic importance to the Anglo- nations. American -Russian alliance, For this reason, books like The continued to demand enormous Japanese Navy in World War II efforts and terrible sacrifice, and represent a fascinating view from this is acknowledged, albeit briefly, the other side of the hill. Evans has towards the end of the book. combined a series of articles and Despite the omission of writings into an anthology of Canadian, and even of some import- Japanese naval understanding of the ant American contributions to the war that follows the war years defeat of the enemy attack on chronologically and sheds light on shipping, this is a well written book central elements of the experience. that complements the British Originally published in 1968, this official histories of what was, book represented a solid ground- undoubtedly, the single most breaking moment in the histor- important achievement in the Allied iography of the Second World War. defeat of Germany. The second edition (2017) rein- forces the original text with W.A.B. Douglas additional articles covering gaps in Ottawa, Ontario the 1968 edition. There are 17 chapters, each one covering a different aspect or period David C. Evans (ed.) The Japanese of the war as written by surviving Navy in World War II: In The participants. Each chapter opens Words of Former Japanese Naval with a short introduction explaining Officers. Annapolis, MD: Naval its importance within the book Institute Press, www.usni.org, 2017. which spans the overall scope of the (Originally published 1986). Imperial Japanese participation in xxi+568 pp., illustrations, maps, the war. Starting with Shigeru notes, bibliography, index. US Fukudome’s remembrance of the $34.95, paper; ISBN 978-1-59114- Hawaii operation and Mitsuo 568-4. (E-book available.) Fuchida’s discussion of the air attack on Pearl Harbor, the text “History,” it is said “is written by follows the war across the Pacific. the victors,” certainly the case for The result is a fascinating under- the orthodox school of historical standing of Japanese operations and Book Reviews 59 the unique challenges that they overlooked. Mitsuo Fuchida’s dis- faced while conducting them. cussion of Pearl Harbor is a perfect While some of the subjects touch on example of this. His role is legend- obviously key moments, like the ary, being the operational com- battle for Midway, or the naval mander leading the first wave of the struggle around Guadalcanal, the air attack. Often portrayed as real value lies in the inclusion of villainous but precise, the attack on topics which are often forgotten or Pearl Harbor is usually seen as ignored. For example, Toshikazu being incredibly well executed by Ohmae’s discussion of Japanese the best in Japanese naval aviation. operations in the Indian Ocean, Yet we forget that these people Masataka Chihaya’s “the With- were human, and therefore, subject drawal from Kiska,” and Atsushi to the same issues as all of us. It is Oi’s “Why Japan’s Antisubmarine surprising to learn that one of his Warfare Failed” are particularly greatest concerns that morning was unique for shining a light on aspects not executing the plan or the of the Pacific War that are rarely thought that he was leading his discussed. Japanese penetration nation into war. He was afraid of into the Indian Ocean had a massive not being able to find Pearl Harbor. impact beyond the battles fought Odd as that sounds now, we forget there. The continued operations by that over-water navigation in the the Japanese carrier forces helped to period was really an example of degrade and weaken their opera- seat-of-the-pants flying and his tional capability prior to the concern was legitimate. The reader Midway operation and potentially can feel his relief upon receiving a helped lead to the defeat there. The civilian radio broadcast that finally discussion of Japanese activity in told him where he was and allowed Kiska, Alaska, looks at Japan’s him to home in on the islands. withdrawal from its only occupied Unfortunately, collections like piece of North America. Equally this do come with some limitations vital is the antisubmarine story. The and risks. The accounts from the longest U.S. naval campaign in its Japanese side are, of course, written history, the submarine war des- after the war. This leads to a few troyed Japan’s ability to move and different issues that limit the value supply their forces and led to the of these accounts. As written re- starvation of the Japanese home cords are often lost and those that islands. The Japanese perspective remain are almost impossible to on this is essential to any under- access, these accounts are difficult standing of the submarine war. to verify and by their very nature, The story that unwinds within become more of a memoir. They the text is remarkable, not just must be treated carefully and used because it addresses key issues, but with caution, making every effort to because it also reveals a very human back them up with other sources. side of the story that is often Like all memoirs, the narrator’s 60 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord personal bias threatens to destroy www.pen-and-sword.co.uk, 2017. their credibility. This is certainly 600 pp., illustrations, notes, the case with Fuchida and Masatake bibliography index. UK £35.00, Okumiya’s chapter on the Battle of cloth; ISBN 978-1- 5267-0356-9. Midway. Authors of the book Mid- way: The Battle that Doomed Japan In Greek mythology, Mnemosyne, (1955, 2001), Fuchida and Oku- the goddess of memory, gave birth miya’s account has serious issues to the muse of history, Clio. Known for historians. Their version of the for proclaiming, glorifying and cele- battle has been almost completely brating of the past, eminent accepted in the United States for a maritime historian Barry Gough variety of reasons, not the least of cloaks himself in Clio’s mantle by which is it comes from actual Japan- chronicling two British maritime ese participants in the events. In figures from the turn of the twen- fact, despite shaping the foundation tieth century and First World War of much of our understanding of the eras, Winston Churchill and Battle of Midway, their account is Admiral John “Jackie” Fisher. His now dismissed in Japan. Jonathan narrative emphasizes their dispos- Parshall and Anthony Tully’s book itions and individualities by draw- Shattered Sword (2007) has demon- ing upon a host of original strated the fallacy of their version of documents. events. Caution is always urged Churchill and Fisher were, at when working with such memoir- times, both close allies and ardent like materials. adversaries, exemplars of the pop- All in all, David Evans provides ular neologism “frenemies.” Fisher an incredibly valuable text that was resourceful, self-reliant, quick offers a great deal of information to take the initiative and its accom- and an interesting first-hand panying responsibility. The admiral, perspective on the Pacific war. It is who often quoted the Old Test- highly recommended for anyone ament, frequently became offended with an academic or general and vengeful himself. Yet he was interest, and will provide a great very popular with most fellow deal of new insight into the officers and the men who laboured maelstrom of the Second World on or below decks. He ardently War in the Pacific. believed that naval strength both protected and projected Britain’s Robert Dienesch imperial power. Churchill, who be- Windsor, Ontario came the First Lord of the Admiralty, (the American equiv- alent of Secretary of the Navy) was characterized as not particularly Barry Gough. Churchill and Fisher: scholarly yet an appreciator of hist- Titan at the Admiralty. Barnsley, S. ory, an outstanding writer and Yorks.: Seaforth Publishing, persuasive speaker. Staunchly cour- Book Reviews 61 ageous and exceedingly ambitious, was essential to project strength and Churchill had a pugnacious streak resolve rather than frailty and and could be reckless and blunt gloom. Churchill and Fisher were given his hard-right view of British largely amicable warrior-politician politics and national interests. Bold partners in the build-up to what and passionate in his beliefs, he was seemed like an inevitable war with not afraid of ruffling a few over- Germany that was finally ignited by bearing governmental feathers, yet the 1914 assassination of Austria’s both men hobnobbed with the aris- Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the tocracy, a political essential in the Balkans. During the war’s prelude very class-ridden society of the day. and its subsequent engagement, Fisher was interested in naval there came a series of challenges architecture, armament, gunnery, from governmental colleagues and speed at sea, and converting the naval subordinates. Gough visited navy’s fuel from coal to oil, the the sea battles like those at Coronel, technology of day. In time, he came Dogger Bank, the first Falklands, to appreciate , airships Heligoland Bight, but rather than and airplanes but always disdained the battle’s details, he the focused the role of the Royal Army as a on many of the Admiralty’s trials, force to maintain Britain’s place as triumphs and political machinations. the world’s hegemon at the time. He also describes Churchill’s brief, When he assumed the lofty position but little discussed, interlude as a of First Sea Lord (roughly the Chief combat army officer in Antwerp. A of Naval Operations), he was in his graduate of Sandhurst, Churchill early seventies and had successfully participated in 15 Boer War battles orchestrated the building of the for- and received many decorations for midable dreadnoughts (First World his bravery, War battleships), heavy cruisers and The author introduces the torpedo boat destroyers. He wel- reader to a vast array of characters comed the opportunity to work with who both influenced, and were in- his younger friend, Churchill, in fluenced by, Churchill and Fisher preparing His Majesty’s fleet for including Kings George V and what they both saw as a potential Edward VII, four Prime Ministers, clash with Germany for sovereignty Field Marshall Herbert Kitchener, of the world’s seas and seaborne Admirals David Beatty, Charles commerce. Beresford, John Jellicoe and Churchill, who served as First Richard Keyes, and politically Lord of the Admiralty, was a vision- powerful Reginald Esher, Reginald ary of naval strategy as well as McKenna and Canadian Max Ait- affairs of state, but he craved power, ken (later, First Baron Beaver- approval and attention—the reward brook). Gough uses each man’s for successful use of authority. At words to propel his narrative as times he could be theatrical, an robust evidence of the history of attribute in a politician for whom it that time. 62 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

The two most significant naval never a major threat after this engagements and highest toll-taking engagement. Neither Churchill nor conflicts were those at the Dardan- Fisher was directly involved in this elles and later, off Jutland. Still the engagement, but they advanced the subject of analysis and debate careers of Admirals Jellicoe and today, the Campaign Beatty who led the British fleet in was arguably the turning point of this encounter. Once again, Gough both men’s naval careers. Churchill describes the Jutland attacks, but became convinced that a strong rather than dwelling upon the seaborne offensive followed by an battle’s particulars, he thoroughly overwhelming surprise amphibious debates their military and political attack on this difficult terrain would impact. end the war quickly. This was Gough’s highly detailed account reinforced by the intelligence that of the lives of the two main figures the Ottoman defenders were running is well documented through a host short of ammunition. Fisher dis- of primary source materials and agreed and resigned as First Sea carefully selected and evaluated Lord over this dispute. The oper- secondary source documents from ation turned out to be a strategic the books of Richard Ollard, Rud- blunder. The British navy lost three dock Mackay, Geoffrey Penn and dreadnoughts and others were heav- especially, the multiple works of ily damaged along with a heavy Arthur Jacob Marder (a first cousin, cruiser. In the mêlée, roughly 700 once removed, of this reviewer.) crewmen were killed. Also lost was Gough is thorough in his scholar- a vast number of soldiers: roughly ship, although some points are both 165,000 Turkish, 120,000 British, repetitious and redundant. This 27,000 French, 28,000 Australian substantial 600-page book is and 7,500 New Zealand troops, plus enjoyable because of the author’s 145,000 Ottoman combatants. The erudite analysis and fluid prose. campaign resulted in 302,000 allied For a few brief examples: Fisher’s and 250,000 Ottoman dead, wound- “endless reforming zeal stood him ed or suffering from widespread apart from any other Sea Lord. . . debilitating disease. Gough exten- He was forward thinking even if he sively covers the run-up and after- did not understand the full intri- math of this military misadventure cacies of rapidly changing and its impact on the careers of technology. [Yet] he was the last to Churchill and Fisher. realize his shortcomings—hasty The second well-known sea- actions, breaches of confidence, and battle was the Battle of Jutland (or vindictiveness toward those who Skagerrak), the last major sea battle stood in his way.” (492-3) Churchill involving capital ships. Although “was a self-absorbed man of Britain suffered the larger loss of destiny. …He sought the limelight vessels and men, Germany’s navy and danger. …[and] showed an retreated to its homeports and was early capacity as a writer, and this Book Reviews 63 became his principle means of detail the operational and technical livelihood. ...Winston developed achievements of the RNAS and the extreme ambition and a pugnacious dedicated individuals who attained will.” (147-8) these historic accomplishments. As By addressing a vast range of early as 1914, the RNAS had 100 complex military and political officers, and about 700 petty off- issues that were dispatched by men icers and men, in addition to 39 with strong personalities, Gough has airplanes, 52 seaplanes, and seven done the muse Clio proud with airships. Churchill and Fisher. This learned The early twentieth century wit- sojourn is an excellent book, one nessed a naval technological revo- that is destined to become a classic lution with the birth of dread- in the literature of maritime history. noughts, submarines, torpedoes, mines, and aircraft. All of these Louis Arthur Norton inventions greatly increased naval West Simsbury, Connecticut power, but at the same time, each represented a serious threat to the world’s naval fleets. The evolution David Hobbs. The Royal Navy’s Air of balloons and airships before 1914 Service in the Great War. Barnsley, played a vital role as observation S. Yorks.: Seaforth Publishing, platforms and as early bombers. www.pen-and-sword.co.uk, 2017. Admiral Sir John Fisher encouraged xiii+528 pages, photos, maps, and supported RNAS innovations to charts, bibliography, index. maintain Britain’s lead in cutting- UK£35.00; US $44.95, cloth; ISBN edge naval technology. This was 978-1-84832-348-3. the era of “New Navalism,” with the world’s great powers competing for Author and historian David Hobbs a naval advantage and challenging provides readers with a detailed long-standing British naval sup- history of the foundation and early remacy. The Anglo-German naval accomplishments of the Royal Navy race was in full bloom. Germany’s Air Service (RNAS). The book’s airships, or Zeppelins, were a force publication coincides with the cen- to be reckoned with and a continual tenary (1918) of the British Royal RNAS target, along with their Air Force, of which the RNAS was housing sheds. Though the RNAS an important early building block. had some success in shooting down In the course of the First World the Zeppelins, they were a threat not War, the British Royal Navy invent- only to naval vessels, but to British ed naval air warfare with the first cities as well. (Interestingly, the effective aircraft carriers, and by the first British airship, designed and conclusion of the war, the Royal built by Vickers before the war, was Navy was training for a carrier- named His Majesty’s Rigid Airship borne attack by torpedo-bombers. Number One {R1}.) Brown explains in considerable 64 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

One early advocate of airpower adapt ships as seaplane carriers that was Winston Churchill, the first could hoist planes on and off ships. British cabinet minister to fly an Britain developed the early aircraft airplane. As First Lord of the carrier from existing warships by Admiralty (1911–1915), Churchill removing some guns from the deck not only directed the RNAS but and constructing a flat surface there. flew himself on occasion, much to Originally, ships treated seaplanes the displeasure of his wife. Because as virtual cargo, sailing to a drop-off Churchill clearly realized the future point before using a crane to lower power and threat of naval aviation, the seaplanes into the water, where starting in 1912, he worked with the they then took off. Because war- British Navy League to promote the ships had no platforms, pilots RNAS. Like Fisher, he understood returning to convey their that planes could sink ships. reconnaissance intelligence had to In 1913, the British Navy land in the water, where the League formed the National seaplanes were hoisted back Aeronautical Defence Association onboard ships—that is, if shifting (NADA). The RNAS had a combat winds and tides hadn’t caused the role in the ill-fated Dardanelles seaplanes to crash into the water or Campaign (1915), and seaplanes the ship. The logistics made the use were used for the reconnaissance of of seaplanes extremely dangerous, enemy Turkish forts. The results and pilots’ lives were lost. In were less than satisfactory, addition to numerous photos however, as naval gunnery reports showing this complex and risky usually overestimated the damage operation, the book is well- done to the Turkish installations. illustrated, with many photographs Such overestimates led the British from the author’s large personal to mistakenly believe they could collection. force a passage through the No “armchair historian,” Hobbs Dardanelles using ships alone is a retired officer of the Royal without major losses. The Navy and a seasoned pilot with combination of mines and the numerous professional publications Turkish land-based guns were to his credit, including a publication enough to repel the British-French award from the Australian Navy fleet, resulting in total defeat for the League. His breadth of experience Allies. In 1916, at the Battle of includes stints as a museum curator Jutland off the North Sea coast of and as a lecturer on naval aviation Denmark, Britain launched a around the globe. His naval aviator seaplane to observe enemy ships, skills enable his careful analysis of but the effort failed due to the RNAS’ operational and miscommunication with the technical challenges. battlecruiser flagship HMS Lyon. The book is technical, with Hobbs includes interesting generous aviation details, maps, detail on Great Britain’s struggle to charts, and photographs. The focus Book Reviews 65 is on the RNAS from its formation awarded by the National Taiwan (1914) and war service to its University in 2011. The steamship merging with the new Royal Air business in China has been an Force in 1918, a merger David international focus since 1862 and Hobbs laments. He agrees with the Kwang-ching Liu’s 1962 classic, U.S. decision to maintain an Anglo-American Steamship Rivalry independent naval aviation arm. in China, 1862-1874, made it clear For historian Hobbs, “The crowning that British shipping dominated the achievement of the RNAS was the Chinese market before the First design, commissioning, and the World War, after the Americans preparation for operation of HMS left. Hsiao’s book addresses the Argus, the world’s first true flush- situation after the Japanese pene- deck capable of trated the Chinese market, linking launching and recovering aircraft business, diplomacy and war and the progenitor of every together, all of which are all subsequent carrier.” important components of modern This book is not for the general Chinese history. reader, but for students of British Hsiao’s first chapter discusses military history, and naval aviation earlier research on the topic, based in particular. A more extensive on archival sources consulted in running commentary on domestic China, Japan, the United States, politics would have been helpful, as Great Britain and Taiwan. In the it was the politicians who controlled second chapter, he uses this rich and determined the ultimate fate of material to explore the development the RNAS. Still, David Hobbs is of Japanese shipping in China after unmatched in his field, and the 1914, and proves that the Japanese RNAS has found its definitive expansion in the shipping business historian. in the 1920s was largely the result of the profits made during the war, W. Mark Hamilton rather than from the later subsidies, Alexandria, Virginia as suggested by some studies. Furthermore, this chapter contains an accurate summary of the ship- Ming-Li Hsiao. “The maritime ping world in the China of the industry to raise the nation and the 1920s, including a description of shipping business to save the various shipping firms and their nation”: the Japanese steamship operations. rivalry in China: 1914-1945. Since 1927, the Nationalist gov- Taipei: National Taiwan University ernment had controlled most parts Press, www.press.ntu.edu.tw, 2017. of China and the regime remained ISBN 978-9-86350-252-4. stable before the conflicts with Japan became intense in 1937. In This book is a revision of Dr. chapter three, Hsiao argues force- Hsiao’s Ph.D. thesis, which was fully that the relatively stable 66 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord political situation along with admin- Japanese overseas shipping istrative modernization and reform expanded after the military action caused the Chinese shipping towards Taiwan in 1874. No one industry to expand during this time, denies the relationship between war a period sometimes called “the and shipping in Japan before 1945. Golden Decade”. While the Chinese In his case study of China, Hsiao generally dominated trade in completes an excellent study on the southern China and the Yangtze rise and fall of Japanese shipping. region, Japanese business interests He also offers wealth of information remained influential in northern on the shipping activities in Chinese China and Manchuria, the latter of waters. It is a welcome and long- which constituted the earlier Greater awaited book that should be read by East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. students interested in East Asian Beginning in July 1937, military history, especially the effect of war conflicts between Japan and China on shipping history. escalated. In April 1938, Japan passed a law ordering general mob- Chih-lung Lin ilization and the government began Taiwan to monitor all industries, including shipping, intervening further in shipping operations in 1939. Hsiao Larry Jeram-Croft. The Royal Navy traces how Japan mobilized ship- Lynx: An Operational History. ping before the Pearl Harbor attack, Barnsley, S. Yorks.: Seaforth focusing on the way shipping res- Publishing, www.seaforthpublish ponded to the mobilization, includ- ing.com, 2017. xiii+289 pp., illus- ing the use of flags of convenience, trations, tables, appendices. UK by both the Chinese and Japanese £25.00, US $44.95, cloth; ISBN shipping industries during wartime. 978-1-47386-251-7. Japan declared war on China, the United States and the United This work is a combination Kingdom in December 1941. Chap- technical/operational history and ter five, which discusses the des- oral narrative of both the Royal truction of Japanese shipping during Navy’s Lynx helicopters and the the Pacific War, is the most interest- crews who flew them in both the ing part of this book. The neglect of Falklands and the Persian Gulf, iron-ore and coal shipments from compiled by 30-year Royal Navy China meant that once Japan lost veteran, retired Commander Larry command of the sea, shipping was Jeram-Croft. Intended to “tell [the largely unable to meet the demand Lynx’s] story and put the record for fuel under the wartime plans. straight” regarding “the most With Japan’s surrender in 1945, the successful weapons system entire shipping forces were destroy- deployed by the Royal Navy since ed. The rich narratives in this chap- 1945,” Jeram-Croft delves not only ter could fill another book. into the evolution of the airframe Book Reviews 67 itself, but also the experiences of wartime operations led to new aircrews under combat and extreme improvements to the craft’s sensors, weather conditions. This adds a armaments, and general capabilities. human element to the narrative and The final two chapters examine the offers a variety of perspectives, all Lynx’s impressive history as a based on experiences with the Lynx. rescue helicopter and its service (xiii) The work is set up chrono- around the world, with the former logically, following the path of the making use of award citations to aircraft’s origins and peacetime help illustrate activities, while the service through the Falklands Wars latter covers more unusual assign- and into post-war improvements, ments, such as Antarctic expedi- concluding with the Lynx’s service tions, counter-drug operations, and in the Gulf and the operations of the postings to and the Indian current Mark 8 version. Aircrew- Ocean. produced cartoons and personal Forty percent of the main text, a photographs are interspersed amidst total of 111 pages, is devoted to official images throughout the text, recollections of the , and three appendices conclude the provided by Lynx crews and aircraft piece with a glossary of terms, tech- maintainers assigned to 13 different nical specifications, and “A Dum- ships, along with accounts from 815 mies Guide to Flying a Helicopter” Squadron Headquarters Flights. (284). Accounts are divided by ship, with The sections covering the initial each Flight member and assigned development of the Lynx, its later airframe noted before the account is evolution, and primary peacetime relayed. These sections include roles are interspersed before, be- talks of how crews used ingenuity to tween, and after the two primary overcome unforeseen obstacles, first-hand account sections dis- such as repurposing parts of an cussed later in this review. Within office chair into a machine gun these chapters, Jeram-Croft covers mount, or scavenging parts from a the origins of the Westland manu- wrecked jet to jury-rig a repair facturing firm, the Lynx design when there were no spares available requirements, and the path from (45-47, 103). Accounts range from paper to prototype. Unique design matter-of-fact to more dramatic in elements, such as the monobloc description, offering a variety of rotor head and conformal geared viewpoints that showcase not only gearbox, are described, showcasing the war the men fought in, but the how ingenuity and risk-taking versatility of the craft. Conflicting helped craft “one of the first truly viewpoints between the personal aerobatic helicopters in the world” accounts do arise, often in regard to (8-11). The Mark 3 and Mark 8 the then-new missile evolutions each receive their own system. One of the most interesting short chapters, covering how stories is the post-war correspond- lessons gained from testing and ence and gatherings that several of 68 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord the Flight members have had with includes wire strikes, tail rotor their former Argentinian adver- failure, formation tip strikes, sliding saries. Given the state of inter- off a ship, ditching, and rough national affairs regarding the weather scenarios. While these Argentinians and their commonly incidents were often hair raising, expressed views surrounding Jeram-Croft points out that such Britain’s rule of the Falklands, it is occurrences come from a long interesting to see the respect and service life around the world and in camaraderie Argentinian veterans varied conditions, and that seem to have for the helicopter compared to other naval helicopters, crews of the Royal Navy (51, 65-66, “the Lynx has an excellent safety 84, 86-87). record, which is a tribute to its The 50-page section covering design and the quality of those who Lynx operations in the Persian Gulf have operated it” (236). from 1980 into the present day In terms of possible makes up another large percentage improvements, there are a few that of the text. The arrangement is come to mind. The captions of similar to that of the Falklands photos and cartoons throughout the chapter, with the focus being on the work are often written in the accounts of three ship flights during manner of a personal photo album. the First ’s Operation While this does convey the GRANBY. The most detailed of sentiments of the author and these accounts is offered in the Falklands/Gulf contributors and are H M S Gl o u ce s t e r F l i gh t ’ s an interesting aesthetic choice, they recollection of the 30 January 1991 a r e s o me t i me s l e s s t ha n Battle of Bubiyan, in which the explanatory. If these captions were ship’s operations room narrative is followed up by more technical or paired with debriefings for a analytical comments, particularly minute-by-minute account of the relating to the comics that were Lynx actions (188-197). The designed specifically to entertain section concludes with a statement Royal Navy helicopter crews, they regarding the Mark 8 Lynx’s might be more effective. The other continued service in the Gulf, possible improvements lie within transcribing a 2005 article the notation of the work itself, describing the newer challenges specifically the lack of footnotes, faced by the heavier variant bibliography, and index. While the helicopter as seen by the Flight of absence of footnotes and a HMS Argyll. bibliography is not a problem in the Of particular interest is chapter first-hand accounts due to their eight, entitled “There But For the nature, the historical and technical Grace of God Go I…” and sections of the work could benefit recounting various “lucky escape” greatly from their addition. Without incidents with Lynx helicopters such notations and sourcing, there is over their service life (215). This no easy way for interested readers Book Reviews 69 to carry out research of their own Richard Larn. The Isles of Scilly in using the same materials, or the Great War. Barnsley, S. Yorks.: examine other data within said Pen & Sword Military, www.pen- sources that may have been left out and-sword.co.uk, 2017. 176 pp., of this work. The lack of an index illustrations, bibliography, index. reduces the reader’s ability to UK £12.99, US $24.95, paper; quickly reference the work when ISBN 9788-1-4738-6766-6. searching for specific subjects, such as certain ship crews, discussions Like politics, all wars are local. regarding certain systems, and the Historians record the sweep of like. By adding these features to armies across vast plains and future editions, Jeram-Croft could deserts, chronicle strategic and extend his work’s accessibility and tactical bombing campaigns that usefulness further for the scholarly wreak havoc on an enemy’s indust- community. rial infrastructure, and tell of vast The Royal Navy Lynx: An fleet actions that determine control Operational History is an excellent of the world ocean. But beneath it primer on the experiences of those all (sometimes quite literally), are who have flown the Lynx airframe millions of more or less hapless over the past four decades. Jeram- civilians, countless tens of thou- Croft’s personal experiences as an sands of whom were brutally aircraft engineer and pilot of the executed in twentieth-century wars Lynx undoubtedly helped fuel his while others were bombed or passion for this project and gave burned to death or turned out of him access to resources used in its their homes. Still other relatively writing. The firsthand accounts of fortunate ones, in physical safety far the Falklands and Gulf conflicts are from battlefields, waited in trepid- of special interest, as they offer ation for the ring of the doorbell and insight into often-overlooked parts the heartbreaking telegram. of those military actions, and help There are relatively few studies explain why certain design choices that concentrate on twentieth- and were made in the evolution of the twenty-first century “peoples’ Lynx airframe. While the inclusion wars.” Yet the fate of home fronts of citations and an index would be caught up in total war could be as desirable, this work does stand as an poignant as that of soldiers, sailors excellent compendium of Lynx heli- and airmen. Recently, the United copter history and crew experiences Kingdom publishing house, Pen & from the days of initial testing to the Sword, has set about rectifying the present. omission, issuing a series of short monographs under the overall title Charles Ross Patterson II “Your Towns & Cities in the Great Yorktown, Virginia War.” Throughout that 1914-18 con- flict, each British settlement, large 70 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord or small, suffered uniquely. The had to be buried.” Evading the villagers on the Isles of Scilly were local customs officials provided a never invaded nor seriously great deal of entertainment for the bombed. Yet, along with half a locals who melted barrels of lard in thousand other untouched fortun- pans to eliminate sand and stones, ates throughout the country, “from the residue then being used for a August 1914 onward the town hall variety of purposes. “Great slabs of on St. Mary’s was deluged with expensive candle wax measuring 18 government orders and instructions in by 18 in and 2 in thick came regarding war aliens, Defence of the ashore for a time, which were Realm Act, the possibility of air melted down and poured into candle raids, travel restrictions, economy moulds saving the islanders of food and coal and recruiting.” money.” On the “off islands” the (21) After 1915, Scillonians rather emergency lockers of wrecked abruptly found themselves in the ships’ lifeboats were rifled and midst of a new and frightening form pillaged for their “sealed tins of of warfare. The waters that lapped thick, hard ship’s biscuit, 8 in tins their shores became a torpedo of dried vegetables or a dried meat junction as Germany’s U-boat cam- compound known as Pemmican, all paign emerged and intensified. A of which were welcome additions to Home Guard of “Local Defence an already lean Scillonian diet” Volunteers” was organized, uni- (115). Amidst this activity the formed and armed; a Coast Watch inevitable casualty announcements was formed. A Royal Navy Auxil- appeared in ever growing numbers iary Patrol fleet (RNAPS) compris- as the war on the Western Front less ing some 20 armed trawlers and than a hundred miles away, steadily drifters was hastily mustered and mounted. based on St. Mary’s Island. So, too, The author shrewdly eschews by mid-summer of that first full year dry recitation in favor of copious of war was created an “embryonic” quotations from surprisingly Royal Naval Air Station that by dramatic distress messages and 1918 had grown to substantial pro- signals as the U-boat war portions. Hotels and homes were approached the Scilly shores and requisitioned for hospitals and head- adjacent waters from Penzance on quarters. Late pub openings were the nearby Cornish coast round to forbidden. the Lizard Peninsula. The author is Much wartime life was shaped quite good at depicting tensions by wrecked and sunken ships that over shipping losses that mount provided a lively business in sca- steadily into 1918, then ebb as the venged goods. By 1917, “many enemy is gradually subdued. His items of cargo were now being relatively brief narrative, buttressed washed ashore all around Scilly with several score contemporary including dozens of dead horses and photos, is worth the read. mules on Bryher and St. Agnes that Book Reviews 71

I have only one complaint, but it and the Science Museum is significant. In his zeal to provide in London to illustrate, in consider- an immediate audience with a able detail, how the ships were dramatic narrative of its past, he built. The previous volumes in the fails the general reader in providing History in Ship Models series are any kind of geographic guide. This The Sailing Frigate and The Ship of reviewer, who has never been to the the Line. This book is devoted to islands, was forced to constantly the way the ships were constructed, consult internet maps of the Scillys the shipyards and the skills of the which proved unsatisfactory. shipwrights who built them. Overall, however, Larn is to be In seven chapters, Lavery des- congratulated in providing a cribes the phases in the construction compelling template of local of a ship in the order they occurred. wartime history that can be more First, the assembly of materials, the generally applied as a growing shipwrights and other workers. number of scholars seek out this This is greatly aided by photographs hitherto largely neglected corner of of models or dioramas of shipyards; social history. especially by a model of Chatham Dockyard made in 1772-74. It Lisle A. Rose shows ships in various stages of Edmonds, Washington construction and in drydock, timber of all kinds neatly laid out ready to be shaped and used, and the stores, Brian Lavery. Wooden Warship sail loft, residences and other Construction. A History in Ship buildings. These dockyards were Models. Barnsley, S. Yorks.: large and important industrial Seaforth Publishing, www.pen-and- endeavours. sword.org, 2017. 128 pp., illustra- Then comes chapters entitle tions, appendix, bibliography. UK Starting the Ship, Framing, and £25.00, cloth; ISBN 978-1-47389- Outside Planking, Inside the Hull 480-8. and then Fittings (steering arrange- ments, capstans, pumps, and so on) Brian Lavery is one of the world’s and finally the work that had to be leading naval historians. His works done after the ship was launched. are wide in scope, covering not only They are all illustrated by photo- eighteenth-century warships, but the graphs of ship models and some Royal Navy in the Second World paintings. (Launches with all the War and other topics. This slim shipping bedecked with flags were a volume is one of those dealing with favourite subject for English marine Royal Navy ships built between artists). Lavery does not cover 1715 and 1815. It is the third in a masting and rigging, but there are series that uses the beautifully many books that deal with that preserved contemporary models in subject. the National Maritime Museum at 72 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Nowadays, it is possible to salvage. All of these forms of sea- produce books with superb colour faring and underwater intervention illustrations at a rather reasonable are analyzed the context of the price. This is one of the best. If humanistic philosophical movement you have the other two books in the that is characteristic of early mod- series, you should add this one. It ern Italian scholarship. would also interest and perhaps, The book opens with a dis- inspire ship modellers as well as cussion of Battista Alberti’s ~1446 making a good addition to any attempt to salvage one of the vessels nautical library. on behalf of Cardinal Prospero Col- onna, on whose family property C. Douglas Maginley lago di Nemi was located. Colonna Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia recognized the vessel’s antiquity and sought to tie its presence to the greater ancient Roman landscape in John M. McManamon. Caligula’s the area. As with many shipwrecks Barges and the Renaissance Origins today, the vessels were discovered of Nautical Archaeology under by local fishermen working on the Water. College Station, TX: Texas lake. This was a period of great A & M University Press, experimental engineering. Alberti www.tamu.press, 2016. 288 pp., used his research in the study of the illustrations, map, bibliography, Ars Technica to design and rig a index. US $65.00, cloth; ISBN 978- rafted hoist with which he recovered 1-62349-438-4. pieces of hull and other artifacts. This discussion of Alberti’s The first thing a reader must initial investigative work at the site understand about Caligula’s Barges is followed by the analysis of the and the Renaissance Origins of site and its materials by Biondo Nautical Archaeology under Water Flavio. Flavio was considered an is that it is not actually about Cal- expert on ancient Roman history, igula’s barges, the ancient Roman and would act as a sort of local tour vessels located in lago di Nemi guide for Cardinal Colonna, who in outside of Rome. Nor is it about the return, provided Flavio access to his scientific origins of what modern extensive library. The third human- scientists think of as Maritime istic scholar who discussed the Archaeology. It is about so much Nemi shipwreck in his scholarly more. McManamon uses the writing is Pope Pius II. McMan- fifteenth-century discovery and amon then contrasts the approaches novel investigation of the Nemi of the three scholars to provide a shipwrecks as a cornerstone around holistic view of Renaissance scho- which to explore the interconnected larship towards ancient antiquity at subjects of maritime transportation, that time: technical (Alberti), naval warfare, exploration, infra- geographical/historical (Flavio), and structure, naval maintenance, and socio-religious (Pius II). Book Reviews 73

McManamon then veers from a all for the casual reader or perhaps focus on scholarship centered on the even the historian or archaeologist Nemi shipwrecks and the socio- unfamiliar with ancient Roman or technical innovations that supported early modern boatbuilding, mari- interest in them and their study. time engineering, and humanistic Much of the remaining text follows scholarship. While comprehensive, several interwoven themes: the well documented, and very well history of early modern Italian written, there is an assumption that scholarship, the wealthy landown- the reader has a foundational know- ing elite that controlled the Roman ledge of ancient boatbuilding and region, and the role of the church in vessel structure; early modern boat- both; harbour and river infra- building, engineering, and craft structure design in support of mili- specialization; Italian renaissance tary activities; swimming and diving scholarship, writing and publishing; as a social skill and profession in and a basic knowledge of the Latin both ancient and early modern and Italian languages. Considering times; the integration of ancient the breadth of scholarship that this Greek and Roman boatbuilding volume covers, I do not think it techniques into early modern naval would be possible for the author to architecture; and the theoretical and approach it otherwise. experimental efforts in engineering The biggest drawback of the breathing apparatuses for traveling publication is the lack of illus- and working underwater. Extensive trations. The nine provided space is also given to the discussion primarily depict lago di Nemi plus a of the etymology of ancient Greek couple additional images of free- and Roman boat nomenclature. The diving apparatus designs. Much of depth of research undertaken on the book, however, includes these topics is evident, though how detailed descriptions of technical they relate to the central theme of and/or artistic drawings of ancient the book—the origin of scientific and early modern boats, bridges, analysis of submerged material underwater infrastructure, and culture—is sometimes unclear. underwater intervention machinery McManamon does occasionally and personal gear. It is clear that pivot back to the Nemi shipwrecks the author had access to these indicating to this reviewer that the documents; but in many cases, it is function of these shipwrecks in this very difficult to picture what these book is primarily to provide a con- images may have looked like, as archaeological example of there are either no extant physical early modern Italian interest in examples of what is depicted, or for humanistic technical exploration which testable prototypes were and control of submerged spaces. never built. The biggest limitation of the Caligula’s Barges is a book, though this is by no means a meticulously researched book that denigration of it, is that it is not at illustrates in great detail the 74 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord importance of contemporary U.S. involvement in the Vietnam academic and socio-religious War. Despite the horrors of war, worldview for understanding the conflicts can often have positive choices that were made in early outcomes in terms of technological modern Italy for the practical, and managerial improvements. technical, literary, and philosophical World War 2 (WW2) is remem- study of the visible, ancient Roman bered as the dividing line that world. Tangible material culture, ushered in the industrial era known exemplified by the Nemi ship- as the Jet Age. The prosecution of wrecks, provided the means through has received less which Roman ecclesiastical elites, attention. As a “limited conflict”, such as Cardinal Colonna, could rather than a war of survival, it is link the power of the church as well most noted for advancing the use of as their own social and fiscal power helicopters, napalm and peace pro- to that of the Roman Empire, and testors. Mercogliano presents a create a narrative that positioned very different account of this themselves as inheritors of its engagement. Through the lens of the authority. Understanding the sealift and maritime logistics he processes that inform how scholars recounts the effort required to choose archaeological sites to study support 10 years of military engage- and subsequently interpret provides ment in a theatre of war located half insight in how we conduct research way around the world. The lessons today. This book is highly learned in Vietnam shaped the recommended. development of military logistics and propelled the use of contain- Alicia Caparaiso erized shipping that subsequently New Orleans, Louisiana revolutionized world trade. The maritime logistics of the Vietnam War is an interesting story Salvatore R. Mercogliano. Fourth on many levels. The book has five Arm of Defense. Sealift and Mari- sidebars that put a human face on time Logistics in the Vietnam War. the hard facts and illustrate some Washington, DC: Naval History & significant events. Risk and Heritage Command, www.history heroism, challenge and innovation, .navy.mil, 2017. 78 pp., illustra- failure and achievement are all tions, map, table, bibliography. US addressed in short vignettes. The $19,00, paper; ISBN 798-0-945274- text is accompanied with excellent 96-4. (Free e-version available.) photographs and maps that document changes in the logistical The Fourth Arm of Defense, by system between 1965 and 1975. The Salvatore R. Mercogliano, docu- narrative of the book is set out in ments the development of the chronological order from the build- modern marine logistics supply up to the final withdrawal of chain that evolved as a result of the refugees. Book Reviews 75

The term “fourth arm of de- 500,000 troops in the field. New fense” is attributed to President wharves were constructed, harbours Franklin D. Roosevelt as his dredged and mooring points estab- description of the merchant marine lished to unload petroleum products during WW2. Mercogliano draws through underwater hoses to attention to the pivotal role played farms on shore. It was also by these civilian sailors and the recognized that loading ships and strong leadership of the U.S. Navy hoping that the right materials met in meeting the herculean task the needs in the field was completed by 6,799 voyages to inefficient. The logistical system southeast Asia. was changed from “push” to “pull” New challenges awaited the as troop demands determined what U.S. military’s supply chain at was loaded. every turn in Vietnam. The first The time to unload ships at the issue was capacity. Some 1,500 Vietnam ports became a key bottle- vessels were anchored in reserve neck in the supply chain. Malcolm thanks to the building program of McLean had recognized this WW2, but many of these ships were problem at the U.S. ports, and in obsolete by 1965. The merchant 1956 he demonstrated the benefits marine was more modern, but also of containerization. In 1965, had a commercial market to serve. McLean went to Vietnam to con- Once sealift capacity had been vince the military that containers established, the reality of delivering could help in the war effort. After freight emerged as the next barrier. initial resistance, the idea was em- The “last mile problem” is a classic braced and championed from issue in logistics, but for the mili- within. The impact of container- tary planners in Vietnam it quickly ization was so great that by the end became a crisis. By November of the conflict 10 percent of all 1965, 122 fully loaded ships were freight was carried in containers. waiting at anchor off Saigon and With the $450 million that McLean nearby holding areas. Inadequate earned during this period, container- port facilities were compounded by ization made it past the tipping the lack of ground transport. Goods point and experienced rapid growth had to be transhipped to WW2 tank for the next 35 years. landing ships (LSTs) and trans- In this very readable mono- ported to beaches or ramps graph, Mercogliano sets out a broad positioned along the coast. The array to topics and themes. This is a Mulberry harbours, another legacy story about war, and there are of WW2, were adapted to relieve casualties in the merchant marine. the backlog of waiting ships. The logistics system was recognized The exigencies of war demand- by the enemy as a key target. Viet ed capital investment and inno- Cong sappers were a constant threat vation to deal with the volume of to anchored ships and dredges. Tugs supplies necessary to sustain pulling barges up the rivers were 76 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord always at risk of attack from the House, 1977; republished in full by shore. These subjects, like a mutiny University of Kansas Press, 2002): and refugee evacuations, are treated David Butler’s The Fall of Saigon with dispassion and respect. (New York: Simon & Shuster, For such a slim monograph, The 1985) never received the attention it Fourth Arm of Defense, carries a deserved. large cargo of information and Now in a short, workmanlike colour for those who are interested monograph, academic military in military or business logistics. It is historian Malcolm Muir seeks to hard not to be impressed by the reconstruct the maritime aspects of scale of their accomplishment, and those few somber weeks when tens to appreciate how lessons learned in of thousands of Cambodians and the Vietnam sealift continue to Vietnamese fled their homelands to shape the world for decades after- avoid the North Vietnamese Army ward. and the Khmer Rouge. In a sudden rush, American naval and air force Dr. Barry E. Prentice, staffs had to plan massive air, Winnipeg, Manitoba riverine, and sea evacuations from Phnom Peng, Danang, Cam Ran Bay and Saigon. The enterprise dis- Malcolm Muir, Jr. End of the Saga. played “the disconcerting spectacle The Maritime Evacuation of South of the abandonment of allies and, on Vietnam and Cambodia. Washing- a more human level, of a host of ton, DC: Naval History and individuals who had worked and Heritage Command, www.history. fought for common aims.”(1) navy.mil, 2017. 67 pp., illustra- Nonetheless, Muir insists that tions, maps, bibliography. US “behind the undeniably tragic $19.00, paper; ISBN 978-0- elements of the picture, the 9452474-92-6. evacuations highlighted the skill and courage of American uniformed The fall of Saigon was America’s personnel. . . . Despite a tangled Dunkirk. But, whereas Britain’s command structure and amid an evacuation of the Continent in 1940 atmosphere of intense crisis and was prelude to ultimate victory, the extreme danger, American sailors, American departure from Southeast marines and airmen saved tens of Asia 35 years later marked the end thousands of people with a minimal of a failed war. The final, often loss of life.” (1, 62) panic-stricken days were so trau- Some evidence supports his matic that they have received almost contention, some does not. At no attention from American journal- moments of crisis, cool headedness ists or academics. The CIA tried to and even sensitivity often prevailed suppress, then blocked for years, among those on the ground. When much of Frank Snepp’s Decent an aghast Philippine Govern- Interval (New York: Random ment—confronting the prospect of Book Reviews 77 some 70-80,000 refugees suddenly ships that “if they had the means to flooding the country—initially balk- get back to shore,” they should “go ed at allowing dis-embarkation, an home.” (ibid.) admiral on the scene not only And the indelible images re- concluded that it was “an inhumane main, especially of those 400 odd policy,” but also “suggested” to a souls together with the South superior that Manila’s willingness Korean embassy staff who might to allow the relative handful of have been rescued at the last Americans to transit but not the moment, but were not. Muir admits mass of Vietnamese “would be that “Six more CH-53 flights could considered a racial thing in the have rescued those individuals, but United States. . .” (45). He won his U.S. command authorities never point despite the fact that the great learned of their existence and thus, majority of fleeing Vietnamese did not order more missions.” One were not poor farmers but “people rearguard marine, who was rescued, of means and education.” One remained eternally bitter: “That aircraft carrier sailor recalled that morning, there was [sic] kids, many refugees were not “in women, children, and ever since wretched condition. They were then I’ve felt like a coward because from Saigon, a big city, and were I ran out on them. Those people mostly middle class.” (37). Indeed, deserved to get out of there [but] some came aboard their rescue ships our government had turned and run with shoe boxes full of gold. out on them.” (27) But cool calculation could also Evacuations, even those produce callousness. successful operations like Hungnam Steele, the commander of Task in December 1950, are among the Force 76 off Saigon, later remarked bitterest experiences of war. Cam- that he was “reluctant to pick up a bodia and South Vietnam were no whole lot of” those fleeing by sea exceptions despite the competence “unless it was quite clear that if we and grace under pressure frequently didn’t do it, they were going to die.” displayed by those charged with Having witnessed earlier maritime impossible tasks. Eventually, evacuations from Danang and Cam thousands of Vietnamese, relatively Ran Bay, Steele, “had this feeling well-housed in Guam, would reach that we were taking poor people the United States to enrich their who were probably going to be lives and ours. Their ordeal was the alright, who the [incoming c u l mi n a t i o n o f y e a r s o f Communist] regime on top wasn’t miscalculation on the grandest of going to touch very much. They scales; Malcolm Muir has told the wouldn’t be taken away from a life final chapter, as well as any author they knew.” (41) Having moved his could, in an un-indexed 63-page fleet further offshore to discourage study. He makes a strong, if not refugees, Steele had his people tell indisputable, case that nothing so those who still managed to reach his 78 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord became America’s Vietnam Persia at Tyre in 332 BC, Caesar’s adventure like the leaving of it. twice successful amphibious invasions of Britain in 55-54 BC, Lisle A. Rose Britain’s victorious assaults at Edmonds, Washington Louisbourg in 1745 and 1758, and Wolfe’s attack from the sea at Quebec followed by Britain’s Gary J. Ohls. American Amphibious triumph over France in Canada in Warfare. The Roots of Tradition to 1759. 1865. Annapolis, MD: Naval Turning to America, Ohls tells Institute Press, www.usni.org, 2017. us that in 1776 in the midst of xxiv+274 pp., illustrations, maps, Colonial rebellion, and in an effort notes, bibliography, index. US to end the conflict, Britain assem- $39.95, cloth; ISBN 978-1-68247- bled her largest amphibious force up 088-6. to that time to seize New York City, and sever New England from the In American Amphibious Warfare rest of the continent. The “ease with The Roots of Tradition to 1865, part which” the British Navy “could of the series New Perspectives on operate on the multitude of waters Maritime History and Nautical surrounding New York” pleased the Archeology, Gary J. Ohls describes British command “as much as it and analyses major amphibious dismayed General Washington” landing and defensive deployments (17). Of British victory Ohls by U.S. forces from the Revolution concludes, that “at no time in the to the Civil War. Employing a case- eighteenth century did any military study approach, he examines the force exe c u t e a mp h i b ious operational and strategic signi- evolutions more skillfully” than the ficance of seven American British did at New York (29), but amphibious actions, and assesses Americans learned important their impact on U.S. traditions and lessons too. Washington lost the planning today. In so doing, he battle for New York, but through his gives us an appreciation of the “operational agility,” he saved his origins of American amphibious army and the Revolution through warfare, and a comprehensive his strategy of defensive amphibious history of U.S. naval and military withdrawal and retreat. manoeuvres since 1776. Five years later, Washington Ohls’ introduction reminds us achieved a complete and final that amphibious warfare did not victory over British forces at the start in early America, and provides amphibious siege of Yorktown in a us with a useful chronology of the joined and combined allied subject. He cites in particular operation involving French and Athens’ amphibious victory over American armies in conjunction Sparta at Sphaeteria in 425 BC, with the French fleet on the littorals Alexander’s amphibious defeat of of Virginia. The most complex Book Reviews 79 operation of the Revolution invol- Derna by U.S. amphibious forces ved diverse forces drawn from compelled the Pasha of to widely scattered points in North accede to American demands in the America and the West Indies, all matter of tribute, hostages, and converging in a timely fashion. ransom for American mariners. Ohls credits the allied victory at Discussing the , Yorktown to Washington’s superior Ohls identifies several waterborne strategic thinking. He recognized operations, both British and Amer- that French naval power coupled ican, but focuses on the American with U.S. ground forces were the preservation of Baltimore, in what key to American independence. “At he calls the finest example of a Yorktown Washington orchestrated defensive response to an the use of naval power, amphibious amphibious invasion at the time. evolutions, and traditional land Having already sacked Washington, operations to win a tactical and British invaders set their sights on operational victory,” which became Baltimore as the “richest and most “the most important American democratic city in America and one offensive amphibious operation of that should be ‘laid in Ashes’” the war” (59, 60). (100). According to Ohls, an Moving on to the late eighteenth important characteristic of an and early nineteenth centuries Ohls amphibious operation involves informs us that the capture of integration between naval and American ships and the enslavement landing forces, and the inability of of their crewmen by Barbary the British to achieve this task at corsairs fueled a hue and cry in Baltimore in 1814 is the lesson to be America for a maritime force able to drawn here. U.S. leaders built their protect U.S. commerce abroad. In defenses to prevent a joint the mid-1790s, government obliged concentration by the enemy against by creating a Navy Department and their city. The battle of Baltimore launching several new frigates. In would provide Americans with a the Barbary War against Tripoli body of information from which to (1801-05), offensive amphibious base future defensive amphibious operations proved a major element actions. in American victory as the U.S. In the 1840s, offensive established roots in expeditionary amphibious operations became a warfare that have grown and key part of America’s war with expanded into the twenty-first Mexico (1846-48), and here Ohls century. Ohls details the first describes various patterns of American expedition to foreign amphibious manoeuvre. In the shores where amphibious operations conquest of California, small displayed America’s military and amphibious incursions contributed naval might against an enemy in to an overall synthesized support of U.S. diplomatic goals. amphibious campaign. From San The capture of the coastal city of Francisco to Monterey, San Pedro, 80 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord and San Diego, and along the shores policies today. Moreover, his of the Gulf of California and the sources, inclusive of materials from Mexican Pacific Coast, American national and military archives, commanders successfully inserted published primary and secondary small amphibious forces at points of texts, and military publications and enemy weakness, avoiding direct directives, amply support his argu- attacks on strongly-held positions, ment. The battle maps are helpful, thereby undermining Mexico’s will and the photo presentation to resist. Thus, U.S. leaders based embellishes Ohls’ scholarly study. their California campaign on the In an attempt to fill what he calls a principle of operational manoeuvre gap in the historiography of from the sea, he says, long before America’s naval and military story, modern naval and military thinkers his American Amphibious Warfare developed it as a standardized The Roots of Tradition to 1865 doctrine for amphibious warfare. succeeds admirably. Meanwhile, and simultaneously, on the other side of the continent, William L. Welch the successful U.S. landing at Vera- Natick, Massachusetts cruz in 1847, a large-scale amphibious operation that led to victory in the Mexican War, Michael Pasdzior and Peter “ f o r e s h a d o w e d A m e r i c a n Haefcke. Europas Atlantikküste / amphibious actions in World War Europe’s Atlantic Coast. Hamburg: II…and established the U.S. as the Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft, www. preeminent amphibious power in the koehler-books.de. 2015. 236 pp., world” (152-53). photographs by Peter Haefcke and Ohls concludes his study of Michael Paszdior. EURO 49,00€, American amphibious warfare in the cloth; ISBN 978-3-7822-1239-7. 1860s, detailing Union attacks on Confederate-held Fort Fisher, North This fine collection of photographs Carolina, during the Civil War. is actually two coffee-table volumes Aimed at closing the port of Wil- in one. Perused in one direction mington, through which Lee’s Army from left to right, starting with the of Northern Virginia obtained cover-page, it presents Peter foreign supplies, Yankee success in Haefcke’s striking black-and-white securing Southern littorals made a photographs. Flipped over from major contribution to Northern bottom to top, then read in the usual victory in 1865, and added to the manner, one discovers a volume of American amphibious tradition in Michael Pasdzior’s coloured photos, ways useful to the future. together with its own distinctive Ohls builds a strong case by book cover. The two photographers claiming that American amphibious have been travelling companions for operations prior to 1865 presaged, many years, always seeking out and also inform, U.S. amphibious coastal scenery. Their contempla- Book Reviews 81 tive volume—seascapes and sites testimony to how I see the coast, from Portugal, Spain, France, they don’t need much explanation.” England, Scotland, Ireland and His colleague Pasdzior would agree. Iceland—is a distillation of Pasdzior himself follows intui- haunting, enchanting and austere tive principles that have evolved beauty. during the practice of his art. Each half of the volume is Capturing atmosphere, mood, and a introduced by a separate sense of mystery are key among commentator: Britton Scholz, them. He finds himself drawn to known in Germany for her photographing people in strange, i n t e r v i e w s o f p r o m i n e n t and yet quite ordinary, situations. personalities from the world of arts He exploits the opportunities and fashion, introduces the Pasdzior provided by grey days for capturing collection of coloured photos; she the contrasting movements of light does so in typical Q&A format, and shadow. He tends to look at without playing the critic. By con- coastlines from a distance, and to trast, art curator Dr. Henriette Väth- pick out traces of human life along Hinz, who introduces the Haefcke the shore. By contrast, Haefcke collection of black-and-white focuses in the raw power of nature, pictures, espouses the professional and characteristically, as Henriette art critic’s approach of reflecting on Väth-Hinz explains, exhibits an the meaning and style of the “eye for the unspectacular in a complete oeuvre. Both interlocutors spectacular setting.” He “gets closer are competent and perceptive, and to the borderline between water and both approaches have their rock.” advantages: one triggers thoughtful The photographs in this album responses to well-prepared are not commercial art typical of q u e s t i ons, and th e o t he r travelogues and advertising, though conceptualizes an integrated both of the cameramen have worked mosaic. English translations ac- in these areas. Instead, they set off company the German text, though on their annual journeys in order to occasionally in abbreviated form. escape such constraints. For both of For her part, Scholz drew out the them, these wanderings are two photographers, both of whom liberating experiences. Asked were present at the Pasdzior during his interview with Britton interview. As it turns out, neither Scholz how they go about seeking one of the photographers seems sites and scenes to photograph, particularly keen on scholarly Pasdzior quickly responded: “My interpretations of their camera work. proven guideline is a quotation by They are both too down-to earth for Picasso: ‘I don’t search. I find.’” that. As Haefcke interjected, “My That seems a guiding principle for opinion is that a picture either both photographers on their appeals to you or it doesn’t.” Or vagabonding along the coasts of again: “my photographs are a Europe. 82 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Väth-Hinz’s reflections on this explanation.” In the words of art seemingly undirected and un- curator Henriette Väth-Hinz: “They planned approach inspired her to are pictures that make waves.” And cite from German novelist Hermann she’s right. Hesse’s novel Siddharta (1922) for illustration. As she doubtless would Michael L. Hadley have known, Siddharta is a richly Victoria, British Columbia poetic expression of Indian philosophical thought—with a tip of the hat to Buddhism. The novel David Paul. Liverpool Docks. A promoted the notion of an Short History. Oxford, UK: Fonthill unfettered, sensuous apprehension Media, www.fonthillmedia.com, of life. In the abbreviated lines of 2016. 190 pp., illustrations, tables, the English translation from Hesse bibliography. UK £16.99, US which she chose: “To search means $29.95, paper; ISBN 978-1-78155- having a goal. To find, however, 518-7. (E-book available.) means to be free, to be open, to not have a goal.” The thought runs as a A mere hamlet on the muddy shores counterpoint to those of Picasso of a stream called Liver Pool and which photographer Pasdzior had the river Mersey, the place that taken as his guiding principle. became Liverpool had little going Significantly, both Siddharta and for it in the early thirteenth century. Hesse’s bestselling Der Steppenwolf Developing slowly over time, (1927) —from which the Los Liverpool ushered in 200 years of Angeles rock band took its name in wealth and prosperity in 1790, with 1967—had played key roles in the the construction of the first of many free-spirited Hippy movement. locks. The first—experimental Hesse’s influence earned him the —lock was built in the style of the sobriquet of “Saint Hesse among the day, brick by brick. Locks Hippies,” especially for his impact alongside the Mersey connected upon student life in California Liverpool to world-wide trading during the 1960s. routes and enable its evolution into This volume of photographs a major centre of the trading makes for wonderful browsing. universe. It was a tempestuous Each photograph tells a unique journey. From Liverpool, textiles, story; each story contains alluring rum and manufactured goods found sensory appeal; and each implicit their way to Africa, from where story lays itself open to the more than a million African slaves interpretation and enjoyment of were transported to the Americas. each individual viewer. As to what Liverpool gained power and wealth they ultimately mean, photographer from the slave trade while American Michael Haefcke put it in the goods like sugar, tobacco and cotton clearest light: they are yours to formed the main cargo for Great ponder, “they don’t need much Britain in this triangular trade. The Book Reviews 83 city entered an era of unprecedented city is now home to communities commercial expansion that resulted from all over the world. in a significant population increase. Along with a fascinating By 1815, fifty years later, the history, the author presents population of Liverpool had interesting pictures; ships, cargoes quadrupled to 100,000 people. The and quays, sailors, dock workers, abolition of slavery in 1833 put an shipbuilders, truck drivers, agents, end to a flourishing business and and, of course, the spectators. To unimaginable human suffering. wrap nine centuries of history in In the nineteenth and twentieth less than 200 pages requires not centuries, the city profited from the only skillful restraint, but also mass migration of people seeking a mastery of the word. better life in the New World and the age of luxury cruising. In all, nine Jacob Bart Hak million people sailed from Leiden, The Netherlands. Liverpool, most bound for the United States and Britain’s colonies. After the First World War, Graham Pitchfork. Shot Down and the port of Liverpool sunk into a in the Drink. True Stories of RAF slow decline. The docks were alive and Commonwealth Air Crews when people did most of the work. Saved from the Sea in World War II. From the start of the container era, London: Osprey Publishing, www. however, automation took over; ospreypublishing.com, 2017. xii + dockworkers were made redundant; 276 pp. illustrations, bibliography, docks fell into decay; and shipping index. UK £10.99, US $15.00, CDN companies moved out or went $20.00, paper; ISBN 978-1-4728- bankrupt. Finally, the citizens of 2727-2. Liverpool came to their senses and began redeveloping the city, The term, “Air Force” immediately sending it into another phase of conjures up images of warplanes revival. and courageous pilots. But an air- The introduction of the shipping crew’s worst nightmare must surely container heralded a new era, be to be shot down by enemy fire or changing the shipping industry downed due to mechanical failure forever. The result was more cargo over water. The possibility of being handled by fewer people, auto- lost at sea is ever-present. In res- mated, never-ending, just-in-time ponse to this danger, by the Second delivery. Mass transport by ever- World War, Great Britain’s Royal larger container ships required more Air Force (RAF) developed an air- space than the dock area had ever sea rescue (ASR) system consisting had. The recently developed of sea-going rescue launches and project, Liverpool2, promises a new air-sea rescue aircraft. Shot Down era for Liverpool. The history of and in the Drink chronicles this Liverpool is not just about trade; the little-known and often overlooked, 84 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord but absolutely vital component of territory and rescuing men under the RAF. fire. Author Graham Pitchfork, a The author writes well and his retired RAF officer, begins his narrative does not lag. The biblio- narrative with the background to the graphy lists the many primary as ASR system and the need to deve- well as the secondary sources used, lop it. Since most British combat providing the narrative with a sound flights were over land, not water, historical base. He includes enough during the First World War, there detail, down to the serial numbers of was not a major need for an ASR the distressed aircraft, the rescue system. But by 1935, with the aircraft, and/or launches involved, Royal Air Force based literally to satisfy even the most meticulous world-wide and the impending reader. He also names the Second World War, the RAF Air personnel involved, both rescued Staff approved the development of and rescuers. The photographs High Speed Launches (HSLs) that illustrating the narrative are helpful could quickly reach a downed and well-chosen. The various aircraft and rescue its crew. aircraft used (there were many (Curiously, the author does not aircraft types throughout the Second mention the part that Airman E. World War) and the variants of the Shaw, better known as T.E. launches developed are related. The Lawrence—the famous “Lawrence narrative highlights the vital work of Arabia— played in developing of the Vickers Warwick aircraft, a HSLs. Shaw/Lawrence developed development of the Wellington and tested several rescue craft for b o mber, which was use d the RAF.) extensively in ASR work. The Pitchfork describes the ASR Warwick freed up other aircraft system’s early organization, aircrew types for combat service and, as training, survival equipment, and such, it found its service niche. Nor location aids. The balance of the does Pitchfork overlook the Royal book is organized geographically: Navy’s (RN) contribution to the the succeeding three sections relate ASR work. He properly notes that ASR operations in Northwest the RN had 78 launches of various Europe, the Mediterranean and types stationed at bases around , and and the Far Great Britain and often participated East, respectively. An epilogue in ASR work, either on their own or rounds out the narrative. These in conjunction with the RAF’s ASR sections recount some of the system. incredible rescues made by the ASR Pitchfork’s book is a valuable system —landing aircraft in contribution to Second World War difficult seas, landing larger flying literature. It fills an important gap boats on the sea, and the launches in our knowledge of how downed rescuing aircrew near occupied aircrews were rescued, whenever and wherever possible. The often- Book Reviews 85 ignored Air-Sea Rescue service was readers. It has lent persuasive cur- responsible for saving many air- rency to foundational myths about crew, Allied as well as enemy; the Captain William Bligh (1754-1817) gratitude of the saved airmen to- and European exploration and wards their rescuers must have been settlement in southern seas. Indeed, inestimable. The book’s as historian Leonard R. Guttridge organization and the stories has pointed out, few episodes of included therein mean that Shot revolt and high seas endurance have Down and in the Drink can be read triggered such a wealth of literature in individual sections or in a as the Bounty affair. He cites “the straight-line narrative. It is intimidating bibliography” of Gavin recommended. A companion Kennedy’s Bligh (1978) in support volume, Shot Down and on the Run, of that view. Yet, despite a virtual furnishes a number of good escape industry of works on the subject, stories from enemy territory, which Guttridge’s own Mutiny: A History also complements the many works of Naval Insurrection (1992) points available on Second World War out that, “ the story of the Bounty is, prison escapes. after more than two hundred years, what it has been all along, an Robert L. Shoop authentic mystery played out amid Colorado Springs, Colorado lonely seas and upon corruptive tropic shores” (11). “If solved,” he adds, “the riddle of the Bounty Diana Preston. Paradise in Chains. would long ago have lost its The Bounty and the Founding of attraction.” Australia. New York, NY: Diana Preston’s magisterial B l o o m s b u r y P r e s s , Paradise in Chains draws upon rich www.bloomsbury.com, 2017. archival and secondary sources to xii+333pp., illustrations, notes, weave a graphic and compelling bibliography, index. US $30.00, tale. With access to both digitized, cloth; ISBN 978-1-63286-610-3. and original documentation, her deeply textured historical writing “He was gone—the finest seaman elicits the craft of the accomplished under whom I have ever had the novelist. She blends swiftly moving good fortune to sail. From the narratives with insightful character bottom of my heart I wished him sketches; she embeds private fates God Speed.” So ends Men Against in the broad political and social the Sea (1932), the second volume context of Great Britain’s imperial of the classic Nordhoff and Hall ambitions; she marshals fine details trilogy Mutiny on the Bounty. The about technology, shipping, crim- trilogy—republished regularly in inal law, personalities, race rela- virtually every decade since its first tions, and, of course, human publication—has not only gripped violence. It was literally “in the imaginations of generations of chains,” in the words of her title, 86 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord that convicts were transported to the allegations of financial and Australia; and “in chains” that commissary irregularity leveled captured mutineers crossed the seas against Bligh” by contemporary homeward to face British courts. witnesses. We encounter vivid And metaphorically, it was “in scenes underscoring “his reputation chains” that the Aboriginal as a quarrelsome leader” (261). inhabitants of Australia forfeited Bligh did resort to flogging, though their ancestral lands to the violence arguably, somewhat less frequently of British ambitions and than others of his rank and station. exploitation. Preston might well Still, Preston’s judgement is have sub-titled her book The Bounty balanced, though the evidence she and the Theft of Australia. For the marshals inclines more toward convicts transported there in chains, Bligh’s vices, and downplays his this proved to be no paradise. Many scant virtues. Certainly, he emerges attempted to escape their sea-bound as a highly competent skipper, prison. In one gripping adventure, navigator and explorer. But in nine fugitive adults and two interpersonal matters, he was a children took an open boat north tartar, completely insensitive to the along the eastern seaboard of effects of his excoriating language, Australia, and through the dreaded and often erratic and unbridled Torres Strait to safety: 3,254 treatment of individual members of nautical miles in 69 days. The his crew. daunting voyage challenged Bligh’s Despite the splendid panorama own open-boat record of 3,618 of the Bounty Affair which Preston nautical miles with 18 of his loyal has created, we are left with a hung crew. jury as to precisely who was the The ubiquitous character of catalytic villain in the mutiny. William Bligh draws it all together. Bligh himself blamed it upon “the We read of his “tantrums” at sea, allurements of Tahiti,” the island and witness his impetuous and paradise, which reduced his crew to explosive behaviours which many a life of lassitude and lust. Yet, the regard as the cause of the mutiny. key piece of evidence will always The narrative reveals him as what be missing. “Since Fletcher Christ- Preston calls “a blamer,” always ian, its instigator, left no known blaming others for every adversity written records of his thoughts that befell him, however petty. We either before or after the mutiny,” learn of his corrupt dealings in Preston writes, “no one can be sure squirreling public monies into his of the precise cause” (278). Yet she own pockets both aboard ship and concludes both justly and grac- during his appointment as governor iously, that on the basis of of New South Wales. As Preston Christian’s remarks relayed orally notes: “the well-documented evi- by witnesses, Bligh’s abuses had dence of the corrupt land deal [in put him in a disturbing state of Australia] gives credence to some of mental turmoil such that he could Book Reviews 87 bear it no longer—and snapped. In really established naval theory. her words, the roots of the mutiny Mahan and Corbett, however, repre- lay in Fletcher Christian’s “unwill- sent the pre-Second World War era ingness to tolerate any more of what of writing regarding the use of naval he considered undue abuse from power. They also reflect the study Bligh” (278). of the greatest naval power of the On Bligh’s return home to time, Great Britain, in an effort to England after the mutiny, he was understand how fleets are used to the darling of the nation. His best- build and preserve a great empire. selling book, A Narrative of the One name that rarely receives a Mutiny (1790), captured the public great deal of attention is that of imagination. An adoring media did Sergei Georgiyevich Gorshkov. the rest. But by the time some the Writing in the post-1945 period, he alleged mutineers had been brought represents a decidedly modern back for trial, British authorities had interpretation of naval power. For scented a shift of political winds. nearly 30 years, Gorshkov, a Soviet The French Revolution was now in naval officer whose career event- full course, and Thomas Paine had ually saw him rise to the rank of defended the French “principles of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet freedom” in his Rights of Man Union, oversaw the rebirth of the (1792). Admiralty scheduled a trial Soviet Navy from a largely coastal sympathetic to the defendants for a force to one of the most powerful time when Bligh—their key wit- maritime forces that the Russians ness—was once again out of the ever possessed. In the process, he country. managed to give the Soviet Union A riveting, insightful read. unprecedented influence far from Soviet shores and a power to rival Michael L. Hadley the United States. Victoria, British Columbia A prolific author, Gorshkov wrote many articles over the years, mostly published in Morskoy Sbor- Kevin Rowlands, ed. 21st Century nik, the Soviet/Russian Naval Gorshkov: The Challenge of Sea Digest. Rowlands’ book is an Power in the Modern Era. edited volume of some of the most Annapolis, MD: US Naval Institute significant of Gorshkov’s writings. Press, www.usni.org, 2017. x+178 Broken into seven parts, each sec- pp., notes. US $21.95, paper; ISBN tion emphasizes a specific theme of 978-1-68247-159-3. importance. Bracketed by an introduction and notes, Rowlands When it came to naval theory, most presents ch a p t e r s e n t i tles people who have an interest in the Teamwork, Ethos, Science, Art, and subject know the names of Alfred larger issues like Navies, Power, Thayer Mahan or Sir Julian Corbett. Prosperity, Sailing the Global After all, these are the authors who Commons, and The Lessons of 88 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

History. Each of these sections The only notable liability of the opens with a discussion of the key text is the fact that this is the issues of the subject, followed by “selected” writings of Gorshkov. one or more articles by Gorshkov. By the very nature of the sources The introduction plays a particularly selected, the reader is guided significant part of the work. towards an understanding of the Gorshkov proved to be an man and his influence, but it always incredibly complex individual. His leaves the reader wondering what role as a war hero was matched by other work did he produce? Are his political role within the Soviet there other articles or treatises of his Union, an architect of the Soviet that might present a slightly fleet, and strategist. It is his role as different perspective? And, of the author that links these worlds course, the question remains, will together. His writings were meant those articles, too, see publication in to help educate the Soviet Navy’s the west? This is not meant to personnel about what he saw as the disparage Rowlands’ work at all. key issues affecting the fleet. The need to be selective of the texts The scale of his writing is most used immediately leads to impressive. Gorshkov addressed al- speculation about what did not most every aspect of the naval appear, and what might be even experience from the situation of the more valuable but still restricted by lowly sailor through to high level language and access. Perhaps that strategic thinking. Starting with is one of the greatest strengths of sailors and the ethos of the fleet and the text, the fact that it encourages how this helped to build up the our desire to look for more on esprit de corps, Rowlands demon- Gorshkov and his influence. strates the scale of Gorshkov’s On the whole, this is an writings. While the first two incredibly useful text. Its value is sections cover the basis of the fleet, even greater considering that this its sailors, the rest of the book represents Cold-War-era Soviet focuses on the fleet itself. This naval thinking and as such, includes the significance of science, represents an incredibly rare look strategic thinking and the art of into the development of Soviet using the fleet, the relationship of theory and doctrine and the forces the fleet and Soviet Power as a that shaped them. It is strongly world-wide tool. In the process, the recommended for anyone deeply breadth of Gorshkov’s thinking interested in the history of sea matches that of Mahan and Corbett power during the Cold War. In at so many levels, but on a fact, anyone interested in Soviet decidedly modern level. The role of history might want to look through the submarine, nuclear power, and the writings, especially Goshkov’s power projection is clearly balanced role as a political leader and the with the idea of a large surface fleet. extent that the party and Soviet political system shaped him and his Book Reviews 89 work. All told, an incredibly board while passengers and crew enjoyable read and one definitely were hoping for rescue. Because no recommended. paper records survived the sinking, just why the ship was off her normal Robert Dienesch southbound track during her night- Windsor, Ontario time passage down the Lynn Canal from Skagway to Juneau remains Aaron Saunders. Stranded. Alaska’s unknown. Her 61-year-old master, Worst Maritime Disaster Nearly Captain Locke, was very familiar Happened Twice. Toronto, ON: with the passage. Departure from Dundurn Press, www.dundurn.com, Skagway had been delayed by three 2015. 144 pp., illustrations, notes, hours because a train bringing bibliography, index. CDN $19.95, passengers from the Yukon had paper; ISBN 978-1-4597-3154-7. arrived late. The next scheduled (PDF available.) port was Juneau. Visibility was limited in snow and there were Next October 25 will be the one strong northerly winds. Princess hundred anniversary of the loss with Sophia, running at an estimated 11 all on board of the CP coastal to 12 knots with heavy winds from steamer Princess Sophia, roughly astern, drove on to a ledge known as 30nm north of Juneau, Alaska. It Vanderbilt Reef in the darkness at remains the heaviest loss of life at 0210, doing extensive damage to the sea—over 343 victims—on record hull before her momentum was on the northwest coast of North stopped. Tides can reach 15 feet in America. Several books have al- the Lynn Canal. The subsequent ready been published about this C a n a d i a n o f f i c i a l i nquiry marine disaster with its poignant determined that the time of story of a doomed vessel perched on stranding was close to high water in a reef with rescue ships unable to “an abnormally high tide arising help because of prolonged heavy from various causes.” The reef, weather. Aaron Saunders interlaces which is extensive and in places the story of the Princess Sophia dries to 12 feet at low water, was with that of a P&O cruise ship, the submerged at the time of grounding. MV Star Princess, that struck a rock At that time, it was marked only by in the same area on 23 June 1995; a small unlighted buoy. Sophia fortunately, without any casualties would remain on the reef for nearly and without loss of the ship. 40 hours while the continued high Saunders is a Vancouver-based winds and surf were judged too journalist who specializes in writing severe for various vessels about cruise ships and itineraries. summoned promptly by radio to In his “Notes on Sources”, he attempt rescue. Eventually, while explains that the focus of his the rescue craft sheltered in the narrative about the Princess Sophia evening darkness during a new is to portray what happened on blizzard, another high tide and very 90 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord strong northerly winds lifted about the disaster —including this Princess Sophia clear and twisted one—have probed the extent to her almost 180 degrees off the reef which the company’s ships, in fact, and into deeper water where she slowed in poor visibility in familiar foundered. waters. Saunders does re-cycle Groundings along the indented speculation that echoes from the coastline were not uncommon in ship’s whistle might have been in those pre-radar days. Princess use to determine location in a Sophia had gone aground in 1913 channel (59) but does not address not far from Vanderbilt Reef, and whether this technique would have on her northbound voyage days been valid in falling snow. He earlier, had been diverted to assist speculates that Captain Locke and another passenger ship that had his Chief Officer might have wanted stranded south of Prince Rupert. to press on smartly down the Lynn The subsequent Canadian official Canal despite restricted visibility inquiry did not speculate on what because this was to be their last led to the grounding. The inquiry voyage south for the season. (27) In did conclude, from the evidence of fact, a further voyage had been the rescue craft, that the weather scheduled to call at Skagway on 3 had moderated until the afternoon of November (Coates and Morrison, the first day the ship was aground The Sinking of the Princess Sophia and that passengers could have been (1990), (195). As for ‘gremlins’ in transhipped “without very much, if the narrative, no less an authority any risk to life.” It balanced this than Salmon Rushdie recently told a opinion, however, with an CBC Victoria radio interviewer that observation that the passengers on critics seemed to read his books far board included large contingent of more carefully than editors or captains, crews and officers of publishers. Stranded gives the Yukon River steamers along with number of people lost in Princess men familiar with travelling by Sophia as 353 (41) and 343 (112); it coastal steamer and that their views also places Sidney on Vancouver “would prevail” in making a Island as southeast instead of north decision about attempting to land of Victoria (52). passengers that fateful forenoon. Saunders provides a fine The inquiry ruled that, in the description of how the 63,000 ton circumstances, the decisions of the Star Princess grazed a marked rock Master not to attempt rescues could south of Vanderbilt Reef in “Mid- not be faulted; “the ship was lost night Sun” dark twilight at 0142 on through peril of the sea.” Aaron 23 June 1995, 77 years after the Saunders cites the admirably clear Sophia disaster, resulting in two notices about exercising “extreme long underwater gashes and 7 care” in “thick weather” issued to million dollars’ worth of repairs the captains of the CP coastal plus 20 million in lost revenue service (55). None of the books while under repair in Portland. The Book Reviews 91 ship’s captain took charge promptly hadn’t told the pilots’ association and all 1,568 passengers were sub- about his medication use. He had sequently landed safely. This been off duty for 16 hours before narrative is based on a US National taking over the watch, but it was Transportation Safety Board Report determined that he suffered from a which found the pilot to be a fault, sleep disorder that might have but also pointed to the failings in caused fatigue; the Safety Board “bridge resource management” concluded that Effexor use did not because the ship’s officers on watch contribute to the accident. As so did not work effectively with the frequently happens, several factors pilot. They had, in fact, plotted a resulted in Star Princess standing fix 12 minutes prior to the into danger, including how the pilot grounding that put them on the apparently became distracted while dangerous side of their planned managing a passing situation with a track. More seriously, they failed to northbound cruise ship. The other project their track forward, which liner passed abeam just as Star would have shown that they were Princess struck the underwater rock. steering directly for an obstruction The Safety Board ruled that he “was and did not remonstrate with the not adequately responsive to the pilot. It’s interesting that according threat of grounding”. (Safety Board to the Safety Board Report, Captain Report, p. 31). Robert Nerup, the 57-year-old pilot Dundurn has produced this on watch was an Annapolis grad- book in an attractive soft cover for- uate with 24 years of naval service. mat. Very few photographs exist of He had then spent 15 years as a Princess Sophia because CP State of Alaska marine pilot. He apparently suppressed them after had apparently done 300 to 400 the disaster but Stranded is transits of the Lynn Canal as a pilot illustrated with several good and was well familiar with Star pictures of her sister ship and other Princess, having navigated her for contemp o r a r y ve s s e l s , all some 10 trips. The ship’s officers reproduced in a large format. were Italian; the well-qualified Strangely, it is bereft of any Second and Third officers were on photographs of Star Princess, a the bridge monitoring her progress well-known cruise ship that has but did not question the pilot’s continued to operate under several actions because as one told the names, and was most recently Transportation Safety Board, “he is renamed Columbus in 2017 and a professional…he knows where we currently sails under the UK flag. should be.” (126) Captain Nerup There is a useful diagram of Prin- had been using a medication called cess Sophia, but the book lacks a Effexor for three years to deal with single map. This seriously detracts depression following a collision from the reader’s understanding of which had resulted in his losing his the stories of these two groundings. licence as a pilot for six months. He In fact, they happened so close to 92 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord each other that a single map would comprehensive look at this little- have sufficed. known aspect of The Great War. Stranded is a fluid telling of the Beginning in the 1880s and stories of two passenger ship continuing into the first decade of groundings in Alaskan coastal the twentieth century—the Pacific waters. The account of the sinking became a theatre of competing of the Princess Sophia in 1918 is interests. Imperial Germany under not as comprehensive as that found Kaiser Wilhelm II acquired colonies in other books about the tragedy, in the Pacific such as Samoa, the and, frankly, offers nothing new. Caroline Islands, the Marshall The story of how Star Princess, a Islands, the Marianas, Palau, part of well-found, modern cruise ship the Solomon Islands, the Bismarck came to grief in the same area Archipelago, and forced China to almost 80 years later, is on the other grant Germany the territory known hand, well told and includes as Tsingtau. Imperial Japan interesting insights into the emerged from isolation, defeated relationship between a marine pilot China in the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese and the ship’s officers. War, defeated Imperial Russia in the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War, Jan Drent and asserted its new-found strength. Victoria, British Columbia The United States of America defeated Spain in the 1898 Spanish- American War and acquired Pacific Charles Stephenson. The Siege of territories such as Guam and the Tsingtau. The German-Japanese Philippine Islands. As well, Great War 1914. Barnsley, S. Yorks: Pen Britain had established a Pacific & Sword Military, www.pen-and- presence through its possession of sword.co.uk, 2017. 256 pp., Hong Kong, Malaya, various islands illustrations, notes, bibliography, and its newly independent former index. UK £39.95, cloth; ISBN 978- colonies, Australia and New Zea- 1-52670-292-0. land. When the First World War broke out in August, 1914, it was Prior to the First World War, inevitable that the Pacific would be Imperial Germany acquired colonies involved. While the German island in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. All colonies were quickly overrun by of those colonies were sites of Australian and New Zealand forces, combat in that war. The conflict for two German forces had to be Imperial Germany’s African reckoned with: the German East colonies has been written about; but Asiatic Cruiser squadron under Graf little about the First World War in von Spee, and the German colony at Asia or the Pacific. Stephenson’s Tsingtau. The Siege of Tsingtau. The German- Stephenson begins his account Japanese War 1914 is a with the German acquisition of the various Pacific islands and Tsingtau Book Reviews 93 and then relates political and met a Royal Navy force at Coronel military background of the various off eastern South America and sank countries involved, and how they three British ships. (A fuller ac- interacted with each other prior to count of Coronel, and von Spee’s the war. It is noteworthy that, dur- ultimate defeat at the Falkland ing the American Navy’s blockade Islands can be found in Robert of Manila Bay in the 1898 Spanish- Massie’s book, .) American War, a German naval The chapter following the force at first refused to honour that account of von Spee deals with the blockade and caused a minor actual siege of Tsingtau. The Ger- international incident. man forces there, augmented by the Stephenson completes the Austro-Hungarian cruiser, Kaiserin British side of the story by showing Elizabeth, were heavily outnumber- how Australia and New Zealand— ed by an Anglo-Japanese force. literally across the globe from the Though the German garrison mother country, viewed the resisted to the fullest, the outcome emergence of Imperial Japan as a was never in doubt. The siege and threat and the plans that Britain, battles lasted a week before the Australia, and New Zealand, made German Governor, Meyer-Waldeck, for defence of those countries. surrendered. In contrast to its treat- The heart of the book comes in ment of prisoners of war in the three chapters: one describing the Second World War, the German and defenses of Tsingtau, the weaponry Austrian prisoners of Tsingtau seem fortifications therein, the initial to have been reasonably well- Japanese attacks on Tsingtau. treated. Interestingly, both the Japanese and The book ends with an Germans made early use of aerial interpretive chapter describing the reconnaissance and bombing: the meaning of the brief German- Japanese had four airplanes used for Japanese portion of the First World those purposes, and the Germans War. He rightly notes that this con- had one lonely aircraft and pilot flict was a mere sideshow to the which performed the same functions main conflict in Europe, and the for the defenders. outcome of the Pacific conflict was Following that is a chapter on of very little consequence. Its real the activities of the German East significance came in the next war: Asiatic Cruiser squadron under von the Japanese took possession of Spee. This force represented a many of the former German island threat to Australia and New Zealand colonies. Though the Japanese did and had to be dealt with. One not start to fortify those islands until German raider, the Emden, detached 1940, the familiarity with those from the squadron and conducted a islands gained by the Japanese in successful raid on British shipping the 1920s and 1930s gave the and ports in the Indian Ocean. The Japanese an edge in the next war. main body of von Spee’s squadron 94 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Stephenson is an excellent writ- Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Press, er; the narrative rarely flags. He www. chicagoreviewpress.com, shows mastery of the many primary 2017. ix+ 326 pp., illustrations, sources he used—many in German maps, notes, bibliography, index. and Japanese, and some dating back US $26.99, cloth; ISBN 978-1- a long time. He has included good 61373-758-3. organization charts of the combatants, relevant maps and On 25 January 1917, HMS charts, and the photographs show Laurentic struck German mines off much of the fighting. In fact, at the coast of Ireland, and sank with least one of the German the loss of 354 lives, and 44 tons in fortifications still exists and a recent gold destined for a still-neutral photograph of same is included. America to purchase arms and In recent years, the long- supplies as Britain struggled to win vanished German colonies have re- victory in the Great War of 1914- ceived attention from writers. The 1918. Williams’ The Sunken Gold: struggle for Imperial Germany’s A Story of Espionage African colonies was well- and the Greatest Treasure Salvage chronicled in Byron Farwell’s 1987 in History is the first full account of book, The Great War in Africa. Laurentic’s sinking, the heroic That work was joined in 2017 by eight-year ordeal to recover her Robert Gaudi’s African Kaiser. treasure and the revolution in deep- Further, Osprey Publishing’s Men- sea diving techniques that made the at-Arms # 490: Imperial German salvaging of Laurentic’s bullion Colonial and Overseas Troops possible. 1885-1918 (2013) is an overview of Built in 1908 for the White Star all of Imperial Germany’s colonies. Line, Williams calls Laurentic a The Siege of Tsingtau complements “Titanic in miniature”.(5) Though those books in that it fills in an one-third Titanic’s size, Laurentic often-overlooked portion of the lacked nothing by comparison in First World War and thus, terms of luxury and grace, inclusive completes the historical picture. of all the amenities, appointments, The expert or the reader unfamiliar and innovations, and in general with this topic will learn much from opulence. A popular vessel in White this work. It is recommended. Star’s fleet, Laurentic crossed the Atlantic regularly, connecting Robert L. Shoop Liverpool with Montreal and Colorado Springs, Colorado Quebec City. With the outbreak of war in Europe in 1914, however, the Royal Navy impressed her into Joseph A. Williams. The Sunken military service and refitted her as Gold: A Story of World War 1 an armed merchant cruiser. Espionage and the Greatest By 1915, with the land war in Treasure Salvage in History. Europe at a stalemate, to challenge Book Reviews 95

Britain’s superiority at sea, would be heavily anchored and used Germany focused on sinking as a platform for his divers and the Albion’s merchant ships in a cam- derricks needed to haul up debris paign of unrestricted submarine from below. Damant chose the warfare. Based on notions of mooring lighter Volunteer at 135 surprise attack and ambush, victims feet, calling her a “bug trap.” With of submarine warfare, belligerents her single, squat funnel and spidery as well as neutrals, complained that mast, she was indeed, less than German policy violated the beautiful. Volunteer was crowded traditional rules of war, allowing as well with a crew of 35 officers enemy merchant ships to be and men, plus diving equipment, detained and searched, and their dresses, boots, helmets, air pipes, a personnel disembarked to places of steam-driven air compressor, and a safety, before a prize was recompression chamber. dispatched. But, as Laurentic Williams details the problems departed Liverpool for North faced by Damant in accessing America with her cargo of gold in Laurentic’s gold. His divers were January 1917, Germany was already clad in canvas diving dress, with determined to intensify her heavy boots, and huge metal underwater naval campaign. helmets, tethered by lifelines and air When Laurentic was sunk off pipes, often tangled, to Volunteer at Ireland, Britain’s Sea Lords focused surface. Too often divers contracted on recovering her cargo, but they “the bends,” or decompression had to keep salvaging operations sickness, which was why Damant, a quiet, since they feared alerting the renowned expert in the recompress- Germans to the presence of the ion process, was assigned to head gold. To begin with, any salvage the mission. At sea bottom, the team would be exposed to the full wreck of Laurentic was compacted run of North Atlantic weather, accordion-like due to storms and winds, currents, and tides, so the shifting waters. Tons of her plating Sea Lords chose their most and bulkheads had to be exploded experienced officer to head the risky and removed to locate her gold, mission, Commander with the whole operation constantly Guybon Damant. Damant requested exposed to lurking German U-boats. a command vessel, not overly large, Then, with only a portion of the and seaworthy enough to keep a gold recovered, in late 1917, the good position over the wreck. “I Admiralty abruptly suspended had had enough experience of salvaging operations. diving in the open sea to realize the With the Laurentic mission most important thing is to be able to halted, Damant was transferred to hold your ship vertical over the England on “special service.” Brit- wreck, the smaller the ship the ain was suffering tremendous easier she is to hold.” (105) His shipping losses from Germany’s vessel needed flexibility too, as she relentless U-boat attacks. First Sea 96 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Lord Jellicoe called it “the greatest made a Commander of the Order of peril which ever threatened this the British Empire (CBE). country and the Empire.” (145) Williams tells one of the great British Naval Intelligence had work- sea stories of the First World War, ed tirelessly throughout the war to involving U-boats, lost treasure, gather strategic information on the tenacious divers, and the recovery movement of German U-boats. But of gold bullion, a story of human without inside knowledge, it persistence, bravery, and patriotism. became impossible to effect a suc- He also deals with behind-the- cessful antisubmarine plan. Direct scenes British politics, as well as access to submarine cipher keys, scientific advancements in diving code and signal books, minefield technology. His research is metic- schematics, and other secret ulous. He has combed the National documents was vital. These Archives and the National Maritime materials could be found inside the Museum in London and the wrecks of sunken German U-boats Museum of the Royal Navy in that littered the English Channel. If , UK for his sources. He divers could obtain this material, it discovered an unpublished memoir would assist British codebreakers, written by Damant, and he inter- and win the war. In 1917-18 viewed Damant descendents. Damant and his Laurentic team, Pictures, photos, diving diagrams, with their diving expertise, provided and maps further enhance his study. this “special service.” By war’s Students of the Great War, end, Williams estimates, that historical technology buffs, and Damant’s divers had surveyed or Royal Navy aficionados will find explored at least 15 different U-boat this book a rewarding read. wrecks and gathered secret materials which, according to William L. Welch British Naval Intelligence, was of Natick, Massachusetts the “highest caliber” (176, 192), contributing significantly to Allied victory in the First World War. With the Great War ended, Damant lobbied the Navy to resume the salvaging of Laurentic, and in 1919 his diving team returned to the site of the wreck. Despite various obstacles, by 1924, after eight years and seven salvaging seasons, his divers had recovered 99 percent of Laurentic’s gold, thought to be lost to the sea. In recognition of his services to the nation, Damant was