Adventure Is Never Done. By Douglas Dixon. John Gifford. 10s.
6d.) IN spite of the " penny-dreadful " title and jacket, this account of one of the war's smaller exploits is well worth reading. Since 1942, the Admiralty has been employing yachtsmen, retired naval officers, businessmen, dentists, engineers—in fact, anyone willing with time to spare—to ferry small craft from the' builders to operational bases. This delivery service was welcomed by the Admiralty because of the saving in active-service crews ; it was welcomed even more by sailors, amateur and professional, who were denied employment in the Forces on account of age or health. Here was something to be done, with fewer questions asked, and they seized the chance. Seventeen of them, led by a full admiral, crossed the Atlantic to commission a fleet tender at Manhatten and sail her to Malta. They had adventures enough during a voyage of more than ro,000 miles in a diesel-driven craft a hundred feet long ; and more than enough discomfort for a crew whose average age was 5o, the senior four being close on 7o. The author was the executive officer, and has written a most entertaining account, although too frequently he leaves the main theme to discuss less interesting topics. This is an excellent book, and well illustrated.
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