Cruise of the Lanikai: Incitement to WarIn early December 1941 in the Philippines, a young Navy ensign named Kemp Tolley was given his first ship command, an old 76-foot schooner that had once served as a movie prop in John Ford's "The Hurricane." Crewed mostly by Filipinos who did not speak English and armed with a cannon that had last seen service in the Spanish-American War, the Lanikai was under top-secret presidential orders to sail south into waters where the Japanese fleet was thought to be. Ostensibly the crew was to spy on Japanese naval movements, but to Tolley it was clear that their mission was to create an incident that would provoke war. Events overtook the plan, however, when Pearl Harbor was bombed before the Lanikaicould get underway. When Bataan and Corregidor fell, she was ordered to set sail for Australia and became one of the few U.S. naval vessels to escape the Philippines. In this book Tolley tells the saga of her great adventure during these grim, early days of the war and makes history come alive as he regales the reader with details of the operation and an explanation of President Roosevelt's order. Tolley's description of their escape in Japanese warship-infested waters ranks with the best of sea tales, and few will be able to forget the Lanikai's 4,000-mile, three-month odyssey. |
From inside the book
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... that the Lord had marvelously preserved you, and Lanikai, unscathed through so many perils, in order that you might bear witness to the Truth. Excerpt from a letter written by Justice Frederic R. Sanborn to the author. Foreword The ...
... that the Lord had marvelously preserved you, and Lanikai, unscathed through so many perils, in order that you might bear witness to the Truth. Excerpt from a letter written by Justice Frederic R. Sanborn to the author. Foreword The ...
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... find many examples here of“hownot to do it.” I sincerely hope that the readerenjoysthisbook as much asI have. Robert L. Dennison Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired) Acknowledgments Since first treading the deck of that remarkable little. Foreword.
... find many examples here of“hownot to do it.” I sincerely hope that the readerenjoysthisbook as much asI have. Robert L. Dennison Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired) Acknowledgments Since first treading the deck of that remarkable little. Foreword.
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... that the oil was also unavailable to the Japanese. At the Marsman Building, “Champ” had found only Commander Dennison and the flag secretary, Lieutenant Commander A. S. McDill,taking care ofthe lastofthe filesandpreparing to ...
... that the oil was also unavailable to the Japanese. At the Marsman Building, “Champ” had found only Commander Dennison and the flag secretary, Lieutenant Commander A. S. McDill,taking care ofthe lastofthe filesandpreparing to ...
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... that the southern force could slip through to SanFernando. Theselatter had justbegun their withdrawal froma defenseat the enemybeachheads in the mountainousarea east of 7,177 Mt. Banahao.They had close to 120 milesof hard going to make ...
... that the southern force could slip through to SanFernando. Theselatter had justbegun their withdrawal froma defenseat the enemybeachheads in the mountainousarea east of 7,177 Mt. Banahao.They had close to 120 milesof hard going to make ...
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... that the airraidwarning was soundedandyou orderedusto get underway.Frenchy LeCompteandIhad to choose—we couldstayonthe dock withthe equipment, orget it loadedandbring it with us. Wouldyou believe that he andI,withone foot on the dock ...
... that the airraidwarning was soundedandyou orderedusto get underway.Frenchy LeCompteandIhad to choose—we couldstayonthe dock withthe equipment, orget it loadedandbring it with us. Wouldyou believe that he andI,withone foot on the dock ...
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Common terms and phrases
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