All the World's Fighting Ships. By F. T. Jane. Illustrated.
(Sampson Low, Marston, and Co. 12s. 6d. net.)—This cosmopolitan guide to warships is certainly a most compact and concentrated collection of essential figures relating to the several vessels. In this year's issue the number of photographs has been increased, though the pen-and-ink sketches are more interesting, and details of importance have more prominence assigned them. The facts relating to machinery and armour can be seen at a glance in the letterpress, and we notice a great many accidental notes which distinguish ships of a class from one another. For instance, in the German ships ` Blitz' and' Pfeil,' one has a fighting- top on the foremast, the other being without it. Ignorance of such a fact might mean a great deal in time of war, the position of an entire fleet being misjudged. The frequent sketches of dis- similar funnels show Mr. Jane's appreciation of this. We are not sure that the absence of all class distinctions is to be recom- mended: they are a considerable help. A silhouette index of the principal liners has been added, and small warships are now represented by silhouettes instead of pen-and-ink drawings.
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