Current Literature
JANE'S FIGHTING SHIPS, 1927. Edited by Dr. Oscar Parkes. (Sampson Low. 42s.)—In these so-called " piping " days of peace, war-like -books or books with war-like names would appear to have exhausted the interest of the reading public. This can never be said of Jane's Fighting Ships. First produced by the late Mr. Fred T. Jane in 1897, this book has year by year increased in quality of production and accuracy of detail. In the new edition for 1927 we have a volume of naval facts, photographic and otherwise, which should make it impossible for any man or woman to be ignorant of the shape, size, construction and armament of the machines in which live "those who go down to the sea." The failure of the recent Naval Disarmament Con- ference at Geneva and its consequences, both political and economic, must and should be a matter of moment to every thinking person. The present volume with its illustrations and descriptions of the new and projected cruisers, over the size and number of which the Conference was unable to agree, is therefore of special interest. The numerous photographs are excellent both in reproduction and detail, and the new method of shading the silhouettes is a distinct improvement. The reading matter is, as in the past, clear and concise. Alto- gether Dr. Oscar Parkes and Mr. Francis MeMurtrie, the present editors, are to be congratulated on the thoroughness with which they have performed their task, and also for the modest cost of such a comprehensive book.
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