Literary Views and Reviews

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27629, 9 April 1955, Page 3

Literary Views and Reviews

ATLANTIC PRELUDE TO NORMANDY INVASION

Herten Western Ap'ereeelwe- By Rear-Admiral W. S. fhalmers. Hodder and Stoughton. 3*l VPHad Britain lost the Battle of the Atlantic the history of the war would hart been very different. German submarines operating in the area were L-nable of dislocating Britain’s lifeline of food and military supplies, farther. without control of the West--m approaches by sea. the Normandy evasion would not have been posSir Max Horton had a distinguished record as a sub--arine commander, and in the second war as flag officer in charge of submarines. be had done much to disrupt ganmel's lines of supply in the Mediterranean. At the height of the Utoat menace in the Atlantic in November,. 1942, he was appointed Com-mander-in-Chief. Western Approaches. Within six months U-boats had been prept from the Atlantic and Admiral Horton had helped to. turn the scales of the war in the Allies’ favour. To this task Admiral Horton brought not only amazing energy and a firstdass brain, but a considerable scientjje knowledge and a readiness to use new ideas and new inventions. One of his Staff officers wrote of him “He was that rare avis among admirals, a technician who had completely mastered the scientific discoveries and devices brought in to aid the ships and aircraft engaged in the battle against Üboats, an ever-changing battle of tactics and weapons and science. With Ms technical ability, he was a man of immense drive who refused to accept (nutritions, delays, and objections to my scheme on which he had made gp bis mind." Not unnaturally Rear-Admiral Chalmers admirable biography of

Admiral Horton is devoted chiefly to nnt a A, eer ’ but the wri ter does not neglect the personality of this remarkable man, who combined an in!£?sely P ractlcal nature with a deep spirituality and a profound interest in mysticism. This account of Admiral Horton s war-time achievements deserves by its careful documentation to oe ranked as a piece of war history. The book will be all the more valuable to the knowledgeable reader by the xact that it has a number of detailed appendices on technical matters.