22 JUNE 1929, Page 42

In On the High Seas (Philip Allan, 10s. 6d.), Commander

E. Keble Chatterton seems to have been somewhat uncertain about the kind of book he wanted to write, or to have changed his mind half-way through. He calls the book " a collection of yarns," but for the first half of the book yarns are about as thick as raisins in school duff, one to a sufficient helping of matter which is of interest only to the professional sailor Thereafter the book becomes what its author apparently intended to make it all through, a series of " constructive pictures of life at sea." The story of the ' Griper,' whose experiences during one night led her captain to name a certain bay the Bay of God's Mercy" begins the series,

i which ends in an account of some incidents in the late War, given with a clearness and sense of proportion which make them by themselves a sufficient reason for wishing to possess the book.