The War in the Pacific
Harry A. Gailey. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1995. 528 pp. Bib. Ind. Maps. Photos. $29.95 ($26.95).
Emphasizing the clash of Oriental and Occidental cultures and the economic rivalry between the United States and Japan as causes of the Pacific War, Professor Gailey draws on his extensive knowledge and new scholarship to create this one-volume account of the greatest naval war in history. A particular strength of this new treatment is its emphasis on joint operations throughout the Pacific.
Mermaids and Saguaros: The USS Arizona Silver
Maxine T. Edwards. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State Capitol Museum Publications, 1994. 40 pp. Photos. $9.95 ($9.95). Paper.
When the USS Arizona (BB-38) was sunk at Pearl Harbor, it was assumed that the battleship’s beautiful silver service—a gift of the people of Arizona—had gone to the bottom with her, particularly when a piece of silver mistakenly believed to be a part of the collection was recovered from the wreckage. But fate had a different plan; the elegant and very unusual silver had been spared and today resides in the Arizona State Capitol Museum. The story of the silver’s origins, a brief history of the ship, and an assortment of striking photographs make this short but informative book a unique blend of history and art.
Ships Versus Shore: Civil War Engagements Along Southern Shores and Rivers
Dave Page. Nashville, TN: Rutledge Hill Press, 1994. 410 pp. Bib. Illus. Ind. Maps. Notes. Photos. $ 22.95 ($20.65).
This history of coastal and riverine battles of the American Civil War is augmented by descriptions of the battle sites as they are today. Arranged geographically by state, the battles recounted are primarily those between Confederate forts and assaulting Union forces. Inherent in this account is an analysis of one important strategic aspect of the Civil War—i.e., how, because of some of its early moves in the war, the Confederacy yielded the offensive to the Union.
