BOORS AND BOOKMEN

Evening Star, Issue 16911, 7 December 1918, Page 2

BOORS AND BOOKMEN

‘The Secret of the Navy,’ by Bennet Oopplestono. London : Jolm Mun-ay.

“ Between June, 1916, and February, 1918 (says the author], I contributed a good many articles and sketches on naval subjects to the ‘ Cornhlll Magazine.’ They wore not designed, upon any plan or published in any settled sequence. _As one article led up to another, and information came to me from my generously appreciative readers (many of whom were in the Service), I revised those_ which I had written, and ventured to write still more. The present book contains ‘ Cornhill ’ articles —revised and sometimes rewritten in the light of wider information and kindly criticism —and several additional chapters which have not previously boon published anywhere. 1 have endeavored to weave into a connected scries articles and sketches which wore originally disconnected, and I. have introduced now strands to give strength to the fabric. Through the whole runs a golden thread which °I have called ‘The Secret the Navy.’ ” Mr Copplestoue has accomplished his labor of love in a manner worthy of his great theme. His several chapters bring before the reader in most admirable 0 form and attractive manner several of the most thrilling incidents of that creat sea epic which, after nearly four years and a-half, is but now- nearing its close. That close, as all the world knows, is in harmony with everything which preceded it. What the author calls “wo soul of the Navy” has won through. Thanks to it, we to-day have a free world in charge of free mom Among the battle episodes of which Mr Oopplestono tells in clear, lively, simple language are 1 The' Battle of Jutland ’ (“the great victory,” lie calls it), ‘ A North Sea Stunt,' ‘ The Terriers and the Eat,’ ‘ The Escape of the Gooben and Breslau,’ 1 The Disaster off Ooronel,’ ‘ Tho Falkland Islands Battle,’ /The Sydney and Emden,’ and 1 The Cruise of tho Glasgow.’ Seldom have these great doings been more interestingly set forth for the plain landsman.

< On tlio Knees of the Gods/ by Mabal R. Brookes. Melbourne : Melvillo ana Mullen.

Mrs Ernestine Lawrcy, after two years of war, leaves her home and ohildron in Australia to moot her husband in London. There also she meets some other people—Australian soldiers, _ society folk, vounf and old—and assists in gn ins ° contingents of “boys,” bac.t wounded from tho front, a pleasant time. The tragedy consists chiefly in tho death of the husband:, Major Bmeo Lawrey, and the love element is mainly supplied by Private Jim Galloway’s" {another wealthy Australian) wooino- of a society beauty who had foolishly engaged herself to tho wrong man. An average pleasant story.