Force 10 from Navarone

This map was part of the prelude to Alistair MacLean's Force 10 from Navarone, Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1968. I am not sure whether the map has any historic significance.

“’80 percent of our air drops fall in German hands, but that is not important. Those supplies are militarily expendable. What are not expendable are the 7000 men under the command of General Vukalovic here, 7000 men trapped in an area called the Zenica Cage, 7000 starving men with almost no ammunition left, 7000 men with no future.’”

I recently acquired this volumne, a sequel to MacLean's "Guns of Navarone". It has already got its hook in me and so far it has been a good read.

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Updated on 8.16.25 @ 16:48. Added quote and contextual link.

Pravda (Truth/Justice)

"The king stared at the figure in astonishment. It walked with rapid strides, moving its head up and down, so that anyone would have taken it for a live human being. The artificer touched its chin, and it began singing, perfectly in tune. He touched its band, and it began posturing, keeping perfect time..."

Liezi Text, Forth Century BC

The Clock Work Dynasty, Daniel H. Wilson

The Superiority of Scottish Magic

“The magician of Athodel ruled his own island. Athodel is one of the western Isles of Scotland. The island of Athodel has either sunken or has, according to some, has become invisible. Some Scottish historians like to see Athodel as evidence of the superiority of Scottish magic. The Raven King lost his kingdoms, but if the island is indeed invisible and the magician still reigns over the island it must defiantly prove that Scottish magic is superior to English magic. If you can follow that form of logic.”

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PS: I really didn’t believe I was going to reach my goal of fifteen posts this month. Like most months it just happens. I do hope to complete some projects that are currently littering my workbench in this coming month.

Airships, Ether flyers, and Flying Machines

Over the years I have made a few posts under the airship and ether flyers labels. However Voyages Extraodinaires has posted so many of these types of posts under their Flying Machines label. It is an extraordinary collection of references to bygone movies, vintage publications and yes, Flying Michines.

A Song Sung by a Man Waiting to Die

A lark, caught in the hunters net,
And sang sweater then than ever,
As is the falling melody
Might wing and net dissever?

At dusk the hunter took his prey,
The lark his freedom never
All birds and men are sure to die
But songs may live forever.

The song was sung to a maiden in Norman French, the language of the Lords.

The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett.

More of the Duke of Roxburghe’s Library

Formally I made a post that listed the texts of magic that were part of the Dukes collection. What I didn’t mention was the type of books the Duke typically collected. “His grace was fond of poetry, chivalry, history and theology. He collected rare exquisite illuminated manuscripts, editions of the very first printed books produced in the workshops of men of such genius as William Caxton of London and Valdarfer of Venice. Old books delighted him. At the start of 19th century his library was considered one of wonders of the world”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke, 2004.

Ravings of an Old Fool or a Prophecy from the Raven King

Vinculus, the street magician of London, delivered these remarks to Jonathan Strange while he was traveling through the country.

“Two magicians shall appear in England.
The first shall fear me; the second shall long to behold me;
The first shall be governed by thieves and murders;
The second shall conspire at his own destruction.
The first shall bury his heart in the dark wood beneath the snow,
yet shall feel ache;
The second shall see his dearest possession in the enemy’s hand…”

Are these the ravings of lunatic or a prophecy of what is to come?

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke, 2004

The Library of Hurtfew Abby

“The library of Hurtfew Abby was dearer to its possessor than all of his riches. Norrell constructed a beautiful jewel box to house his hearts treasure. The bookcases which lined the walls on the room were built of English woods and resembled Gothic arches laden with carvings. There were carvings of leaves (dried and twisted leaves, as if the season artist had intended to represent autumn,) carvings of intertwined roots and ivy-all wonderfully done. But the wonder was nothing to the wonder of the books.

The student of magic learns that there are books about magic and books of magic. Both are available, the former for two or three guineas from any reputable book seller. The later are extremely rare and can be had for above the price of rubies. At Hurtfew all the walls were lined with bookcases and all the shelves were filled with books; books of magic.”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

This is my second reading of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Although there are a couple subjects I am interested in, these subjects that I somehow over looked or gave them a very lite coverage, I am sure to find other nuggets along the way.

Fictional Military Maps

“To be weak is to invite war: to be strong is to prevent it.”

The Invasion by William Le Queux

While reading The Invasion by William Le Queux I came across the series of maps that Le Queux created for his text. This is my second reading of a story that envisions Britain being invaded by Germany. My first text was The Battle of Dorking, first published in 1871.

Germany's Points of Embarkation
Battle of Royston, Sunday Sept. 9th
Position on the Evening of September 11 for the Battle of Chelmsford
Battle of Harlow; 1st Phase, about 5 A. M. Sept. 13th
Battle of Harlow Final Phase
German Attack on the Lines of London
The Bombardment and Defenses of London on Sept. 20th & 21st
London after the Bombardment
The Defenses of South London on Sept 26th

The full text and all the maps of The Invasion by William Le Queux can be found here:

A Recent Pronouncement of Sir Edward Grey

"Only as recently as March 29, 1909, Sir Edward Grey, replying to Mr. Balfour's vote of censure in the House of Commons, was compelled to admit that— "A new situation is created by the German programme. When it is completed, Germany, a great country close to our own shores, will have a fleet of thirty-three Dreadnoughts, and that fleet will be the most powerful which the world has ever yet seen. It imposes upon us the necessity of rebuilding the whole of our fleet. That is the situation."

The Spies of the Kaiser: Plotting the Downfall of England, William Le Queux

The Startling Truth

“Nobody here dreams the truth-a truth that will be found as startling as it is strange.”

The Spies of the Kaiser: Plotting the Downfall of England, William Le Queux

Fairies and Men Both Have the Faculty for Magic

“According to Richard Chaston (1620-950) both men and fairies have the faculty of reason and of magic. In men reason is strong while magic is weak. With fairies, magic comes very naturally to them, but by humans standards they are barely sane.”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, Susana Clarke

Have all of England’s Magicians been trained by Other Magicians?

“There have been very few of England’s magicians that have not learned from another magician. Gilbert Norrel and Jonathan Strange are examples of magicians that were self-made. Mr. Gilbert Norrel being what you may call an academic magician, spent years locked away with his books and spells. Although Jonathan Strange’s only text was a copy of the Raven King he seems to have a natural inclination toward magic.

Very little is known about the Raven King’s early years, but it is assumed that the Raven King learned both magic and Kingship while at court of the King of Faerie.

Another seemingly self-made magician is Thomas Godbless (1105?-82) of Nottinghamshire. Although Godbless did spend some time with the Raven King, he had been practicing magic for years before this encounter."

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke

Another German Spy Thwarted

Map of the North Shields Reservoirs, And How to Cut Off the Water Supply, Prepared By the Spy John Barker

This seemly innocent letter had along with the roughly sketched map fell into the hand of John Jacox. The letter through careful examination was found to be in a German code which was decoded, later down in the dispatch.

"Berkeley Chambers, "Cannon Street, "London, E.C., "May 3rd, 1908.

"My dear John,

"I herewith enclose the interest in advance—four five-pound notes.

"Continue to act as you have done, and obtain orders wherever possible.

"Business just now, I am glad to say, leaves but little to be desired, and we hope that next year your share of profits may be increased.

"We have every confidence in this, you understand.

"Write to us oftener and give us news of your doings, as we are always interested in your welfare.

"It is unwise of you, I think, to doubt Uncle Charles, for I have always found him to be a man in whom one can repose the utmost confidence. He is, I believe, taking a house near Tynemouth.

"Everyone is at present well, but the spring in London is always trying. However, we are hoping for warmer weather.

"My wife and the children, especially little Charlie,

Frederick, and Charlotte—who is growing quite a big girl—send their love to you.

"Your affectionate cousin,

"Henry Lewis."

That letter, innocent enough upon the face of it, contained certain instructions to the spy, besides enclosing his monthly payment of £20.

The Decoded Message

"Read by the alphabetical instructions with which every German secret agent is supplied and which vary in various districts, the message it contained was as follows:

(Phrase I) I send you your monthly payment.

(Phrase 2) Your information during the past month is satisfactory.

(Phrase 3) Your service in general is giving satisfaction, and if it continues so, we shall at the next inspection augment your monthly payment.

(Phrase 4) We wish you, however, to send us more detailed notes, and report oftener.

(Phrase 5) Cease your observations upon Charles. We have what we require. Turn your attention to defenses at Tynemouth.

(Phrase 6) As you know, the chief (spring) is very difficult to please, for at the last inspection we were given increased work.

(Phrase 7) Remain in negotiation with your three correspondents—Charles (meaning the foreman, Rosser), Charlotte, and Frederick—until you hear further. You may make them offers for the information."

Spies of the Kaiser-Plotting the Downfall of England, William Le Queux

The Secret of the Silent Submarine

The following information was collected by Leon Karff, a German spy, and was luckily intercepted by Raymond and Jacox who were working together to isolate and disrupt the workings of the German spy agencies.

"Report by Leon Karff, late foreman-fitter at Kiel Dockyard, on Submarine 'F 2,' now building in Shed No. 4, Portsmouth Dockyard.

"This boat would appear to me to be of about 700 tons displacement when complete, possibly rather over. She is, as far as I am able to measure, about 180 feet long with an extreme beam a little forward of amidships of 20 feet. She is fitted with three propeller shafts with three small four-bladed propellers on each. As she is provided with what appear to me to be some kind of turbine engines, I imagine that the centre shaft is for going astern only. The propellers on this shaft seem to be attached in such a way that they could be 'feathered' by suitable gearing on board so as not to retard the vessel's way when going ahead. The engines of this boat are of a type which I have never before seen. I imagine that they are a combination of the new 'gas-producer' engine and the turbine system, the explosion of[55] the combined gas and air being split up and passing into the turbine through a number of different channels simultaneously. This would be a very economical system if the necessary power can be obtained, and would be much safer for use below than petrol engines.

"The boat is evidently intended to operate a good deal in an 'awash' position, for there is fairly thick armour-plating over the greater part of the upper side of the bow, while the fore end of the superstructure is made of two 6-inch Krupp steel plates meeting at an acute angle, and so forming a kind of stem when the boat is moving in this way. The space enclosed between these two plates is evidently intended to be used as the conning-tower. Here there are a periscope, steering-wheel, voice-tubes, and everything necessary for the control of the vessel. There are two horizontal propellers or fans, which seem to be driven by electricity derived from an installation of accumulators, and which are certainly intended to secure horizontal immersion, so the vessel will not plunge or dive, but immerse herself horizontally by means of these propellers, which, by the way, work in vertical shafts running completely through the boat, one forward and the other aft, as was the case in the Nordenfeldt, Waddington, and other early submarines.

"Forward there is an air-lock and diving-chamber, as in the 'Lake' boats, so that divers can get in and out of the vessel whilst under water. It would also afford a means of escape for the crew in the case of accident. This is further provided for by a detachable boat or caisson at the after end of the superstructure capable of holding ten men, I should say, or[56] possibly a dozen. There are also appliances which I suppose are telephone buoys for communicating with the surface. There are six torpedo tubes fitted, one forward, one aft, and the others two on either broadside. And there seems to be provision for six other torpedoes of the 18-inch type.

"There is a long rudder for ordinary steering, and four horizontal ones or planes which are placed abreast the horizontal screws and which, I imagine, act automatically in conjunction with them, as they seem to gear up with the shafts for these propellers. There is a big safety detachable weight which fits loosely into a recess amidships, and four broad wheels with ball bearings which do not fold up as in the 'Lake' boats, but always protrude nearly half their diameter. After all they would not obstruct her way when water-borne more than a keel—or very little more. They are quite independent and unconnected with the interior of the vessel, which while resting on them would receive forward impetus from her propellers. In the 'awash' position she would offer a very small and almost invulnerable target."

Chapter 2 The Secret of the Silent Submarine, Spies of the Kaiser-Plotting the Downfall of England, William Le Queux

Spells of Summoning

Over the centuries in Merry Olde England there have been thousands of spells of summoning created, but few perfected. Paris Ormskirk a schoolmaster from the village of Clerkenwell wrote several expositions on magic. He may not have brought anything new to the profession, but he was very diligent and compiled a list of thousands of spells of summoning. These spells were, to the best of Ormskirk’s ability, shifted through and attempted to cast these spells. Eventually, a spell of summoning created by Ormskirk, became very popular. It was this spell that Jonathan Strange perfected and used to bring Maria Absalom into his dream.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke.

The Peril of England-A War of Words

"Who Is Right?

Sir Edward Grey

In the House of Commons, March 29, 1909.

'We have been informed verbally, but quite definitely, that Germany will not accelerate her naval programme of construction, and will not have thirteen ships of the Dreadnought type, including cruisers, till the end of 1912.'

Prince Buelow

In the Reichstag, March 29, 1909.

'Great Britain has never made any proposals which the German Government regarded as a suitable basis for negotiations. Germany regards the question of limitation of armaments as outside the range of practical politics.'

What The Kaiser Says:

His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor declared:—

'The prevailing sentiment among large sections of the middle and lower class of my own people is not friendly to England.—Daily Telegraph, October 28, 1908.'"

Spies of the Kaiser-Plotting the Downfall of England, William Le Queux

A Cryptic Memorandum

Chapter II: The Secret of The Silent Submarine, Spies of the Kaiser, Plotting the Downfall of England, William Le Queux

The story portrays an alternative history of England. The year is 1909. Authors like Le Queux were writing these pieces of fiction to try to get the public and government officials to see menace of Kaisers Germany. This story’s message is similar to a few others that I have read. One in particular, The Riddle of the Sands, by Erskine Childers is of, about the same time period.

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Other Titles by William Le Queux

Book Two: Jonathan Strange (preamble)

“Can a magician kill a man by magic?” Lord Wellington asked Strange. Strange frowned, he seemed to dislike the question. ‘I suppose a magician might’, he admitted, ‘but a gentleman never wood.’ ”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke

I have read the first part of this nine hundred plus page novel and have just started the second part or book two and what a glorious read it has been…

The Pineapple Ale-House-February 1808

“The Pineapple had once been the refuge and hiding place of thief’s and murderers. The current owner thought that its notorious past was somehow advantageous to his business and decorated the walls of his establishment with pictures of those criminals that had been hung and of those who had yet to be. You entered the establishment from a street door and then down three greasy steps. These steps led to a gloomy parlor decorated as previously mentioned.

The Pineapple had its own character and aroma. Its character from the assorted throng that frequented the place. Many were without scruples and notorious characters. The aroma was a combination of the smell of stale tobacco and spilt ale, the natural fragrance of its unwashed cliental, and from the unholy stink of the Fleet River, which had been used as a sewer for countless years. The Fleet ran beneath the Pineapple’s foundations and the Pineapple was generally supposed to be sinking into it.”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke