A NAVAL WAR
WAR IN THE EASTERN SEAS, 1793-1815, by C. Northcote Parkinson; Allen and Unwin. English price 35/-. "| HE war in the Eastern seas resolved itself into a matter of the obtaining or defending of bases for victualling and refitting. This strategic situation has since repeated itself and will again. The French held Mauritius, a most important base; and, by their allies the Dutch, they held also Cape of Good Hope and Trincomalee in Ceylon. They were to be deprived of the last two by capture and to have the first blockaded for long intervals. Britain’s supremacy at sea enabled her at times to supply her Eastern Command with four or five ships of the line and a number of frigates. Such resources were never to be available to the French who, in addition, were not united in their colonies. French successes were chiefly those of taiders and ptivateersmen, just as were those of the United States in the Wai of 1812. Such a bald appraisal of the situation does not, however, properly pay tribute to the devotion of British nayal and merchant crews nor to the gallantry of French privateersmen like Surcouf. A formal history of this naval war has long been lacking. Mahan, intoxicated by Nelson (and who would not be?) ignored the period 1805-1815. Professer Parkinson -thinks this not well done... for, after all, the naval war went On long after the Admiral was killed at Trafalgar. Furthermore, the materials are available. Every Admiralty operation order, every despatch received, minutes of the Board itself, log of every home-coming ship, records at Paris, at Madrid, The Hague; it’s all there. It is fortunate that the research and exposition of this naval period has been in such competent hands, I think this book should be added to every school and Navy League library. New Zealand is utterly dependent on sea power and we are not conscious. enough perhaps of our obligations to provide it.
F. J.
Foot
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19540723.2.24.4
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 783, 23 July 1954, Page 13
Word count
Tapeke kupu
329A NAVAL WAR New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 783, 23 July 1954, Page 13
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in