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The Navy
The Navy
Hardcover
Hardcover
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 12, 2018
Wonderful coffee table book. This over sized book was loan to by a friend after we had a long reminisces of our old Navy days. I really didn't intend to 'read' it, just look through the pictures. But after just reading a few pages, I got hooked. The pictures and illustrations are first rate, but the narrative interesting and informative. It is a combination of the overall history of the Navy sprinkled with stories of individual actions.
One piece of information caught me. Years ago, I read an article about Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy under Woodrow Wilson. Daniels had much to do with modernizing the Navy and bring it into the 20th century. The article mentioned that during the 1890s, the Government wanted to go to war with Chile. But we had to back down when the Navy informed the Government they were unprepared to confront Chile's larger and more modern Navy.
For years I hoped to come across more information, without any luck. This books explained clearly how in 1891, Chile was in the middle of a civil war, and Washington sent the Navy cruiser USS Baltimore to Valparaiso, Chile, to protect American citizens. The civil war finished with the side favored by Washington losing. When the American sailors were given liberty, they went to a local bar, words were exchanged between locals who supported the new government, and American sailors. Push came to shove, and two American sailors were killed and seventeen wounded.
The new Chilean government rejected American protests. President Benjamin Harrison considered asking Congress for a declamation of war against Chile, but in the end, settled for $75,000 in gold.
A very enjoyable read.
One piece of information caught me. Years ago, I read an article about Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy under Woodrow Wilson. Daniels had much to do with modernizing the Navy and bring it into the 20th century. The article mentioned that during the 1890s, the Government wanted to go to war with Chile. But we had to back down when the Navy informed the Government they were unprepared to confront Chile's larger and more modern Navy.
For years I hoped to come across more information, without any luck. This books explained clearly how in 1891, Chile was in the middle of a civil war, and Washington sent the Navy cruiser USS Baltimore to Valparaiso, Chile, to protect American citizens. The civil war finished with the side favored by Washington losing. When the American sailors were given liberty, they went to a local bar, words were exchanged between locals who supported the new government, and American sailors. Push came to shove, and two American sailors were killed and seventeen wounded.
The new Chilean government rejected American protests. President Benjamin Harrison considered asking Congress for a declamation of war against Chile, but in the end, settled for $75,000 in gold.
A very enjoyable read.
August 8, 2022
A must look-at if you're interested in the USN. It's a beast of a book - a true doorstopper full of pictures and a fair amount of text, most of which I have skipped so far.. Why no account of the Battle of Valcour Island??? I did four years in the Navy(1965-69) and saw a fair amount of the world. I think better of that time and the Navy now than I did at the time.
April 14, 2016
Fascinating read. Gave this as a gift and they loved it. Different from what I'm used too, but I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews