NEW BOOKS REVIEWED

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1935, Page 9 (Supplement)

NEW BOOKS REVIEWED

JUTLAND BATTLE EXPLAINED. A SOUTH AMERICAN DRAMA. “The Riddle of Jutland,” by Langhorne Gibson and Vice-Admiral J. E. T. Harper. Cassell and Co., London. A. J. Fyfe, Ltd., New Plymouth. It is over nineteen years since the Battle of Jutland was fought, and the controversy regarding its importance and outcome has been so clouded through all these years with personal dislikes and loyalties, professional theories and the views of amateur but extremely articulate critics, that . the ordinary Briton has scarcely known whether it was a victory or a defeat. The authors of the “Riddle of Jutland” have no doubt on that score. They have had the advantage of examining the German as well as the British reports of those actually engaged in that heroic struggle, and although annihilation of the German High Fleet was not achieved they have no hesitation in 'concluding that as Jutland left the German fleet in such a position that it could never menace Britain again, never so much as fire another gun in a North Sea battle, there can be no doubt but that to history the Battle of Jutland will be synonymous with British victory. The authors examine exhaustively the controversy that arose about the leadership of Admiral Jellicoe and that of Admiral Beatty. They show what seems overwhelming proof that Beatty was courageous but lacking in strategy, that he failed to make use of the ships placed at his command and that he paid dearly for his errors in the loss of two of his best battle-cruisers. Tactically and in results the first round Of the battle, the struggle between the battlecruisers commanded by Beatty and those commanded by Admiral von Hipper, went to the Germans.

But when the battle-ships of the two fleets came into action the British under Jejlicoe never lost their superiority. But for some amazing mistakes at the Admiralty in not realising the importance of certain information and Beatty’S omission to keep in close touch with the Admiral-in-Chief while the action was in progress annihilation instead of lafer surrender might have been the fate of the German fleet. There is no attempt to belittle the skill or the courage of the Germans.Full honour is paid to Admirals Scheer and Hipper. Good fortune in weather conditions, and in discovering the British night signal, enabled them to escape, but after Jutland the High Fleet which had been created for the purpose of challenging Britain’s supremacy on the seas ceased to be an active agent in the Great War. Jutland convinced Admiral Scheer that he could not defeat the British navy. That conviction drove him to the unrestricted submarine campaign. That policy in turn brought America into the war and the defeat of the German forces on land and sea. Therefore, say the authors of this brilliant and fascinating story, “Jutland can take its place beside Trafalgar as one of the very great milestones" in British' naval history.”

The reasons for the confusion and arguments which arose, after the battle are analysed with much care, and the final conclusion is that: “One point the details of the battle revealed with an emphasis only heightened by time, and that was the extraordinary genius, the decisiveness, and the complete mastery Of Jellicoe’s strategy and tactics—and to the magnificent manner in which the Grand Fleet was able to do what he asked of it under conditions which made performance all bixt impossible.” Apart from controversy, the story of that momentous 12 hours’ fighting is told magnificently. It began with the search of a small coasting steamer, it ended in a great saga of the seas. Technicalities and personal experiences have' been given their true proportion, and the result is a narrative that is full of thrills, and leaves the conviction, moreover, that whether the high command was faulty or not, there was nothing wrong with the British seaman. He proved true to race, tradition and calling. This is a book well worthy of careful study, especially in view of the latest proposals for a new German navy.

“Blind Gunner,” by Rupert CroftCooke. Jarrolds, London. A. J. Fyfe, Ltd., New Plymouth.

A generation ago to write convincingly about imaginary nations in which ;there were systems of government and social traditions entirely different to those of Great Britain it was unnecessary to go far afield. The “Kingdom of Ruretania” created by Anthony Hope needed only the then mysterious atmosphere of the Balkans to give it fascination and elusiveness for British readers. To-day an author must go farther from Western civilisation to obtain that atmosphere, and Mr. Croft-Cooke has chosen South America for the locality of the imaginary State of San Martin, governed by a Dictator-President, General Torriente. Dictatorship had been gained by Torriente 20 years earlier by deposing and executing his predecessor. Unlike him, Torriente had not used office for self enrichment. He had shown skill and vision as an administrator, his relations with neighbouring States were cordial, his people were fairly happy, and if the Dictator’s weakness for pretty women was not always approved, it was not condemned with sufficient determination to cause him much anxiety. Nevertheless Torriente knew there were elements in San Martin that might bring about his downfall. Carlos Garcia, fellow student in the President’s revolutionary days and keeper of the peace since his friend became Dictator, always knew when centres of disloyalty developed. He would suppress them all with a flring-squad, for he had used that method with such good effect that it seemed absurd to him to try any other. Torriente has other ideas. He learns

of a plot instigated by the mistress of the predecessor he had executed and her son and daughter. Garcia would suppress this as he had many earlier plots, but Torriente has a mind to use the hatred of this woman and her children to test how real is the hold he has upon the affection and loyalty of his people. The daughter is made the decoy, and the occasion for arousing public opinion against the Dictator as a man from whose lust no woman is safe.

"The revolution is begun and its evolution makes a thoroughly interesting story. It is one that would be impossible in a British community, although even in such the influence of mob psychology is a factor administrators must reckon with. Mr. Crofte-Cooke succeeds in making his characters real' men and women. His description of the British Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Charles Charles, is very clever. Charles likes his work, he likes Torriente, and he is one Of the few people who can see the greatness of the man who wishes to put liployalty to the test, and who can look at his own accomplishments and laugh at himself. Mrs. Charles is a delight. She refused to learn the language of Sah Martin, and the description of her visit to the city on the day of revolution is a fine tribute to that British assurance and courage which has been manifested so often by women in all parts of the World. This is not a story with tire smell of blood about it all the time. There is much that is likeable—and laughable—about the San Martin government. and people. The author emphasises both characteristics and in doing so has fashioned a pleasant and intriguing story.