12 JUNE 1926, Page 15

"FULL STEAM AHEAD" • • [To the Editor of the SPEcTaTon.j

SIR,—Have you not been needlessly submissive in your footnote to Mr. Caslogan's criticism; p. 860? I. venture to say that the expression "Pull .Steam Ahead" is perfectly correct. An engineer is primarily concerned with the ,working of his engine rather than with the course of the vessiel. The order "Full Steam" directs 'him to 'open fully the valve that controls the adinission. of steam to the cylinders, and " ahead " directs him to put the driVing gear info the forward and not the reverse position. How could these directions be more exactly expressed ?—I am, Sir, &c.,

C. E. F.