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Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10863, 12 January 1901, Page 6

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,ments will be uppermost in the Two Jf those who have read Mr Frank most interesting book describ,l_g "The polity of the Mercantile Marine for 'longshore readers."" One is that the public little realise the debt of gratitude they owe to the.'-Ardy seamen, both officers and men. who "do business in great waters," while the other is that considering the vast importance of her mercantile marine to Great Britain there is an astonishing amount of ignorance regarding the subject among the British public, and of apparent indifference among public men to the grave dangers which threaten not only our commercial supremacy, but our national existence, as a •maritime Power. It is in itself a most significant circumstance that until this book appeared there was no work to winch a parent, yielding to hi* son's importunity to be allowed to go to sea, and seeking to know something of the nature of things on boarijtaf a, merchant ship in detail, could turn with the assurance that he might there find what he needs. Mr Bullen has done the work so well, however, that it was almoßt worth while waiting until now. He is doubly qualified for the fast he has so a-knirably performed. He worked his way up from before the mast to be a first mate, and he has served in many ships in many parts of the world. He, therefore, has his own .practical experience to draw upon, and he possesses a literary style which makes him one of the most attractive writers of the day.

-Most people who have giveo any attention at all to the subject are aware that our mercantile navy is rapidly becoming a foreign navy so far as its "personnel" is concerned. It is not so generally known, we believe, that in many respects American office.- and American sailors are better than our own. The discipline is far stricter on board American ships, and the food supplied to the men is very much better. Mr. Bullen believes that we are " heaping np for ourselves a most awful mountain of disaster," in the way in which we are allowing our mercantile marine to become really a foreign service. At present it is quite possible—indeed, it would bs found actually the case in some jj-Stances—for a British chip to be wholly maimed by foreigners,

from the master to the boy—sailing ships, that is. Foreigners in steamers are mostly confined to the crew, and Mr. Bullen knows of no instance < where foreign engineers are employed in our ships at all. He is strongly of opinion that we .should abandon our " grand air of indifference" in the matter, and apply to the merchant service the rule that is in force in tlie Royal Navy. There no alien, unless he has become naturalised, oan hold any post whatever. It sounds a small reform, but no doubt, as Mr. Bullen says, it would .have the most far-reaching effects.

As to t_e future, Mr. Bullen sees that the sailing vessel is doomed *to early ex■t~action. Presently also, he thanks-, will come the petroleum-propelled ship, the ship, as -tlie carriage of coal becomes more and more Of a burden, -while its price steadily rises. Furthermore, he-thinks, the inventive genius of America will find some way of re-creating for herself a splendid mercantile marine. Like most of us, Mr Bullen deplores the change from sail to steam on sentimental grounds. There is no more beautiful sight than that of a. stately, fullrigged ship, under a fine spread of snowy canvas. And some of the old shipmasters described by Mr Bullen were splendid types of men. Then* attainment-* were not by any means confined to their seamanship, which was indeed a, fine art. They required to •know some law, for example, and among them were some -wonderfully skilful, if rough, surgeons—men of iron, who, if need arose, could, and did, practise the art upon their own bodies, under circumstances of suffering that might well have reduced tho stotitest frame to piteous helplessness. Such a case was that of Captain Samuels, of the Dreadnought, packet ship. Midway across the Atlantic a heavy sea dashed him against the bulwarks, and he sustained a compound fracture of one of his leg-*. Mortification

set in, and he saw that amputation was necjf sary.. The mate was absolutely unable I attempt the job, and the sufferer performcj it upon himself. Successfully, too, for vrhe: a few days after the ship arrived at th Azores, there was nothing left for a fcui geoa to do. It is, perhaps, fortunate tha the sea captains of this new century ar not likely to be called upon to perform sucl heroics feats.