IN THE WAKE OF THE RAIDERS AND THE MERCHANT NAVY FIGHTS by Divine. A.D

E.P. Dutton New York, 1940. US first edition, hard bound in dust jacket, 6 x 8, VG/VG condition, 274 pages, a few illus.,.-------------------------------------The astonishing failure of the pocket battleships: here is the thrilling story of the exploits and the failureÑof the much publicized German pocket battle-ships, a consecutive account of events at sea. up to the early days of the Nazi invasion of Norway.Germany, with all her resources of science and engineering, built three pocket battleships to he the most effective commerce raiders the world has ever known. After six months of war they have failed in their purpose. The Battle of the Plate was the climax of that failure and by its brilliance and its courage it made the sea safe again for the merchantmen of England. Tin' Deutschland, the second ship had failed before the "Plate" in a prolonged cruise, the third ship the Admiral Scheer Ñhas not appeared since the first Wilhelmshaven raid.And why have they failed? Al r. Divine analyses these failures iii a book that narrates the events of the first months in graphic sequence and ranges swiftly from the Indian Ocean Raid to Montevideo, from the Rawalpindi to the tragi-comedy of the Altmark, re-capturing the brilliance and the gallantry of this first epic of the war at sea. His book is the exciting record of one of the most amazing failures iii recent naval history.The merchant tramps against the U-boats: Mr. Divine tells us also the inspiring story of the four little tramp steamers which faced the peril of the German U-boats in the early days of the war and won.-----------------------------------------------------------------The first was unarmed and sank. The second was armed and fought `'for half the starlit night" until she sank iii turn. The third fought and slid not sinkÑhut the U-boat did. The fourth achieved a like glory. These four ships belonged to a single line to Ropner's, a tramp steamer company, operating out of West HartlepoolÑand between them they have established a record of gallantry and courage in the face of the enemy that is hardly to be matched since the days when the East India Company's great ships fought off the privateers of France.Ordinary tramps all of them, manned by men who might stand for types of the British merchant seamen who sail the seas of the world. IN slow, deep loaded and alone they fought their gallant fights for England and the Merchant Navy.An experienced writer, with a knowledge of the sea, Mr. Divine's acquaintance with the men concerned gives his hook a graphic and stirring quality.