Inserted by the TOBACCO LEAF MARKETING BOARD CHANGE OF ADDRESS 369 GEORGE STREET, BRISBANE Phone: 218061 The Queensland Tobacco Leaf Industry Ranks as Ike Suit's third largest agricultural Maalry i. >al»e <strong>of</strong> t>ro*Ktio« Continuous research ensures leaf <strong>of</strong> the highest i]ualn> LeagtTe^MustraHiL 6 ,0 Sub,Cr,ber » ,0 ' The N,v »" "lows <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Navy</strong> 'I.T'". h * , P ,ul «» «he Editor and the Pott Offlc. H you would kindly complttt th. form « h ' ensuring that Tha <strong>Navy</strong>" reaches you on time. '•«>»
WALKERS LIMITED ENGINEERS AND SHIPBUILDERS MARYBOROUGH AND MACKAY QUEENSLAND Where Quality Counts Enterprise, Ability, Versatility FOR FUTURE CONTRACTING SPECIFY . . . Suppliers <strong>of</strong> ... Falkiner Chains Pty. Limited Who are Proud to be Associated with the ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY in their Works Programmes • MOORING CHAINS AND BRIDLES For Further Information, write to: MR. A. ROBERTSON FALKINER CHAINS PTY. LTD. THYNNE ROAD, MORNINGSIDE, BRISBANE 99-1122 PHONE 99-1122 SEA POWER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN A history <strong>of</strong> the struggle for sea power in the Mediterranean from the seventeenth century to the present day. By: S. W. C. Pack. 233 pages, numerous photographs. Price: $8.75. Publishers: Arthur Barker Ltd.. London. 1971. Reviewed by: Lieutenant Commander B. R. Nield. B.A.. R.A.N.R. (Retd.) Captain Pack, who has had years <strong>of</strong> service in the Mediterranean area and has published several books on naval history, gives us in this book a short history <strong>of</strong> naval warfare in that area. As he shows skilfully and concisely. the part played there by the Royal <strong>Navy</strong> has been decisive, both in the history <strong>of</strong> Britain and in the general history <strong>of</strong> Europe. As extensive literature on this subject has already been published, but much <strong>of</strong> it would be bewildering to a beginner. Naval historians <strong>of</strong>ten write as if their readers already know the main facts: besides, the technicalities <strong>of</strong> naval warfare have never been simple. This book provides a clear narrative which contains sufficient historical background to explain naval strategy. Captain Pack derives his facts from published material, but he writes as an enthusiast, not as a dull compiler — more than once, he writes in effect: "I was there." He has his dislikes as for King George the Second and for Sir Winston Churchill's political contemporaries, and his likes, as for Pitt the Elder and for Churchill. This partisanship., against which historical evidence can be produced, is only a small part <strong>of</strong> the book, and it actually adds colour to the story. In discussing Napoleon's war and Hitler's war. which were both very complicated. Captain Pack gives accounts which could be followed by readers quite unfamiliar with the facts. Such readers, if they read this short book with reasonable care, will at the end be prepared to study more detailed works, such as the historical writings <strong>of</strong> Richmond and Mahan. the collections <strong>of</strong> original documents published by the <strong>Navy</strong> Records Society, and personal narratives such as Cunningham's Sailor's Odyssey. This book. then, is recommended for historians who have not studied naval affairs, for naval men who have not studied history, and for anyone who wants to know. • • • THE SAGA OF THE SS GREAT BRITAIN By: John O'Callaghan. 178 pages. 24 photographs. Price: $7.65. Published by: Rupert Hart-Davis. London. Reviewed by: Shtandardt. Book supplied by Hicks Smith & Sons Pty.. Ltd.. Sydney. A book <strong>of</strong> this type must embody several qualities. First and foremost the author must ensure that his presentation <strong>of</strong> the facts is accurate. The overall story (which embodies these facts) should be assembled in such a fashion that it flows smoothly and could therefore be read by both enthusiast and researcher with equal facility. On the points <strong>of</strong> accuracy and depth <strong>of</strong> research I have absolutely no complaint. However when taken as a narrative this book was a disappointment to me. In fact I would go so far as to say that I have seldom encountered a more difficult book to read. The author has employed the "flashback" method <strong>of</strong> presentation which, whilst normally being a perfectly legitimate method <strong>of</strong> expression when used once or possibly twice in a story. I feel has been carried to excess in this particular instance. For example. Chapter 1 begins with the actual launching <strong>of</strong> the Great Britain but at this point the author halts, goes back, and relates the entire circumstances <strong>of</strong> the ship's birth. This virtual background information almost takes the form <strong>of</strong> the sub-plot and it continues in this manner till the close <strong>of</strong> Chapter 2. The first page <strong>of</strong> Chapter 3 states that (a) the Great Britain started her first voyage, and (b) the fact that she ran aground on the Irish coast during that voyage. Author O'Callaghan then devotes the next twenty-odd pages to an explanation <strong>of</strong> how she came to be aground in the first place. Chapter 4. which is entitled "Steam Pioneers", deals principally with the origin and progress <strong>of</strong> The Great Western Steamship Company, the firm that was responsible for the building <strong>of</strong> the Great Britain. In my opinion it is this chapter which should be titled Chapter 1. The story could then have proceeded through the various stages <strong>of</strong> her design and construction through to her "launch" by Prince Albert, the fitting out. followed by her maiden voyage, and subsequent grounding. As it is the author has taken each principal event in the ship's life, stated it as a separate entity, and then proceeded to tell the story <strong>of</strong> each <strong>of</strong> these episodes separately and in flashback. This results in a very broken story, one which cannot be put down and picked up with an Page Sixty THE NAVY <strong>May</strong>/<strong>June</strong>/Ju <strong>May</strong>/<strong>June</strong>/<strong>July</strong> THE NAVY
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