"TAFFRAIL'S" NAVAL STORIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12087, 16 August 1917, Page 8

"TAFFRAIL'S" NAVAL STORIES.

Tlie Royal Navy mail who conceals his identity under tho pen-name of "Taffrail" and who has given U9 so much that is illuminative of Britain's Navy life has now put together some more of his short stories written before the war, and these, titled "Minor Operations," are issued in the handy shilling edition (Is 6d in Nsw Zealand), by C. A. Pearson, Litd. There are only half-a-dozen stories in the collection, but each is a gem in its way, written about the King's _ ships by a man who obviously is intimately acquainted with the naval business in its every wonderful branch. Although the stories were written before the war, as the author explains in his preface, at least three of them were curiously prophetic, for the imaginary sea warfare described in them has become the actuality of to-day. There is rich humour with the technical flavour dear to naval men in " Morrison's Mines," which tells how the young commander of a torpedo-boat destroyer outwitted a German squadron which had designs upon a certain Chinese port. Equally diverting is the story of " Thornton's Revolution," in which the captain of a gunboat, whose description will recall that of 11.M.5. Torch and other small craft of the old-fashion-ed masted type, takes a masterful hand in one of the periodical risings on the west coast of Spanish South America. The San Pedro, a cruiser which lias beeu seized by the rebels, is shelling an undefended seaport, and the British Consulate has been struck. The British gunboat deliberately anchors between the cruiser and the shore. The cruiser could have blown the gunboat to atoms, but her. gunners dared not fire on the "White Ensign, neither did they presume to continue the bombardment. LieutenantCommander Thornton then boards the rebel vessel and calmly orders the captain to bring the breech-blocks of his guns aboard the British ship. The order not being comiilied with_. Thornton, having cleared for action and sent down his upper yards and topgallant masts, coolly steams up and runs aboard the big cruiser, quite .in the manner of Nelson's days. " Boarders away!" and the gunboat's crew dashes on to the Dago, and there is a splendid little band-to-hand battle, ending in the British tars taking the ship. Then there is work ashore, but of the diplomatic kind, and the conditions which Thornton draws up for the conduct of the war are embodied in a document typically characteristic of the downright R.X. officer. The capital story ends in the gallant lieu-tenant-commajicler being awarded the "Order of the Purplo Sunset of Culador." "Damn their Purple Sunset, growled tbo ungrateful recipient when ho read the "Gazette" notice 011 his return to England. "I shall be the laughing-stock of the whole Navy." There are four other capital yarns, all reflecting the real Navy spirit, and combining a breezy humour with thrilling action. "Minor Operations," by " Taffrail " C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd., London; through TUitcomho and Tombs, Ltd CJiristchurch, Price, Is (id.