Caviar and Pickled Herring
сновым годом!
and
Cousin Ron Pomerleau, the “Builder from New
Hampshire
Visitors
from New Hampshire
I
introduced Cousin Ron to foreign officials as my friend, a “Builder from New Hampshire New Hampshire
General
Hamm, my boss, invited Ron to ride with him in his limousine to a reception at
the Bulgarian Embassy, and KGB watchers must have wondered who this “Builder
from New Hampshire
The
next day, the Chinese Defense Attaché paid a formal call on me. I
invited Ron to join me as the Chinese General made his call. The
General came, as always, with a young Chinese officer who spoke Russian and
English— the General spoke only Chinese— and we had a very pleasant
visit. At
that time relations were strained between the Chinese and the Russians.
We
estimate that the Russian intelligence people assigned to listen to everything
that went on in our living room were really straining to find out the “real
story” of who was this “Builder”?
Caviar
Caviar and
pickled herring with the Builder from New Hampshire New Hampshire Australia
At
the outdoor Russian market you could buy pickled
garlic,
sold in trays that looked like bedpans.
In
the kitchen, cousin Ron and I sat at the kitchen table and drank vodka and
feasted on caviar left over from the various parties we had hosted, and opened
a bucket of pickled herring that we had bought down on the waterfront in Helsinki (Finland
Ron
Pomerleau, The “Builder from New Hampshire
Finally,
after discussing most of the problems of the western world, and absorbing
enough vodka, we retired for the night. The ladies came to
bed a bit later. When Marty entered our bedroom she said there was a “blue pall
of garlic” in the air as she entered.
The Bulgarian National Day
Reception. We didn’t spend a lot of
time with the Bulgarians, but all the attachés were invited to the various
National Day celebrations at embassies. We invited everyone to ours on
the Fourth of July.
We were interested in attending the Bulgarian National Day Reception, because
we knew all the top Soviet military leaders would be there. In those days
of the Cold War, senior Soviets and Americans had relatively few chances to
interact, both here and at social events in embassies around the world.
This was directed by President Carter, and later from President Reagan,
to show American displeasure with Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
We
really valued our visits to the communist celebrations like this, because it
often gave us a chance to see and perhaps talk with these top officials.
I took cousin Ron Pomerleau, “The Builder from New Hampshire
Admiral of
the Red Fleet Sergei Gorshkov
(Time, Feb. 23, 1968)
I saw
Fleet Admiral Sergei Gorshkov, surrounded
by lesser admirals, and I asked my boss, Brigadier General Charlie Hamm, if I
could take him over and introduce him to the venerable father of the Soviet
Navy.
Charlie told Gorshkov that he had received his commission in the Air Force
(upon graduation from West Point )
the same year (1956) that Gorshkov had taken over command of the Soviet Navy.
Gorshkov nodded and asked an aide to fill up his glass because this was an
occasion for a toast. Russians love toasts.
We toasted the New Year, and we toasted Soviet-American Friendship. Then I
talked a bit with Gorshkov, mentioning the Incidents at Sea Agreement which had
recently been completed between our two navies. At this, the stout little
Admiral reached up and tapped me vigorously on the ribbons on my uniform
blouse, saying it was up to you [The
U.S. Navy] to uphold this Agreement.
That Agreement called for swift communication between our navies whenever there was an incident on the high seas which looked like it might escalate to something bad. That agreement probably saved our countries from a shooting war over the years.
That Agreement called for swift communication between our navies whenever there was an incident on the high seas which looked like it might escalate to something bad. That agreement probably saved our countries from a shooting war over the years.
I remember several times on destroyers and submarines in the Mediterranean and Black Seas when
we had encounters with the Soviet Navy that came close to becoming international
incidents and perhaps more.
It was a rare pleasure to meet and visit with Admiral Gorshkov. See his
biography, below.
Admiral Gorshkov’s
Biography: Admiral
of the fleet of the Soviet Union and
commander in chief of the Red Navy while also serving as deputy minister of
defense (1956–1985). Born in Kamenets-Pedolsky, Ukraine, then part of the
Russian Empire, on 26 February 1910, Sergey Gorshkov was commissioned in the
Red Navy on his graduation in 1931 from the Frunze Higher Naval School. He then held a series
of posts in the Black Sea and Pacific Fleets. He advanced
rapidly in rank and responsibility, in part due to the openings at the top
levels created by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin’s purges of the Soviet military.
Gorshkov
developed a strong combat record in the Black Sea Fleet during World War II,
leading naval and amphibious operations against German forces and commanding
the Danube Flotilla in 1944 during Soviet advances into Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. He was promoted to
rear admiral in October 1941
Under Leonid
Brezhnev in the 1970s Gorshkov argued for a more balanced navy. The political
leadership agreed and a massive building program was put in place to provide
not only a large submarine force but the logistical support fleet needed to
sustain it. Gorshkov also saw the need for an expansion of the surface fleet to
allow the extension of Soviet conventional power. He felt the Soviet Navy
should be able to conduct strategic operations, anti-submarine warfare,
transport amphibious troops and be supported by a growing number of aircraft
and helicopters.
This new and
much expanded navy was able to project Soviet power to the Third
World and challenge
NATO in areas where it had previously had free rein.
When he retired
in 1985 he had, by and large, obtained the ships he needed and the navy
he wanted – the Soviet Union was a major nautical power. He
died in Moscow three years later.
The Personal Navigator offers these books and
papers:
Map of Africa from
American Brig Commerce Journal, 1818
American Brig Commerce:
Journal Comprising An Account of the Loss of the Brig Commerce, of Hartford,
(Con.) James Riley, Master, Upon the Coast of Africa, August
28th, 1815; Seventh Edition by Archibald Robbins, 1818. Hartford, CT:
Silas Andrus. Very popular account of author's ordeal as slave of
Wandering Arabs of the Sahara; . Includes many
Arabic words and meanings. Catching and eating locusts. . 275 pp. 11 x 17
cm. Calf on board, very scuffed and worn, text block detached; Only part
of map of author's travels, showing western Africa, remains.
Poor condition. (4820) $60.00 Nautical/Travel/History
Gun and Torpedo Drills for the United States Navy, prepared
under the direction of the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department by Lieutenant Edward W.
Eberle, U.S.N. 1901 Annapolis, MD: U.S. Naval Institute. Author Eberle
(1864-1929) graduated from the Naval Academy in
1885, and wrote this book, the first of its kind, after service as turret
officer aboard USS
Oregon in
the Spanish-American War. Later, in 1923, he became Chief of Naval Operations.
Drill of 3, 4, 5 and 6-inch rapid-fire guns for five or six men per gun:
Captain, Plugman, Loader, 2 or 3 Shellmen. Drills for 5, 6, 7 and 8-inch
quick-fire guns with seven or eight men per gun. Includes detailed
instructions and commands for loading, unloading. Drill of a pair of 8-inch
B.L.R. mounted in turret, with an ammunition-lift for each gun, 10 men, five
for each gun. Drill for pair of 10, 12 or 13-inch B.L.R. mounted in turret.
Secondary gun drills, including 1-pdr. Maxim Automatic Gun. Detailed notes for
Turret Mounts. Smith and Wesson Navy Revolver. Krag-Jorgensen Rifle (.30 inch).
Torpedo Drills for Whitehead Torpedo. Details on Whitehead Torpedo.
Tables for Schedule of Exercises, Regulations for Target Practice, tables for
Subcaliber Practice. For Torpedo firing, Range Table. 222
pp. 10 x 14.6 cm.
Leather cover with gilt lettering and Naval Institute seal, with cover flap.
Text on high-quality fine paper. Inside front hinge cracked. This copy issued
to Commanding Officer USS Monadnock. Leather flap
has 6 cm of biopredation along fold. Fair. (7976) $130.00. Naval/History
German Naval officers and
sailors in Albanian Swamp, 1913
In Fjord und Mittelmeer Fahrten eines Kleinen Kreuzers [In German] von Richard
v. Stosch (author of "Vom Seekadetten zum Seeoffizier") 1914 Berlin, Germany:
Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn, Königliche hofbuchhandlung, Hochstraße
68-71. Author, Richard von Stosch, Kapitänleutnant, writes his
"Vorwort" from Konstantinopel (now Istanbul) in
September 1913. Story of cruise of German cruiser Breslau in
the Baltic and North Sea, including Norwegian Fjords, then into
the Mediterranean Sea. Photos of sailors and ship at Swinemünde (now in
Poland), then in Valetta, Malta and Port Said, photos of Beirut and Baalbek,
Bucht von Smyrna, photo of Der Scheich der tanzenden Derwische, (Sheikh of the
Whirling Dervishes); expedition to Skutari, Albania and photo of Serbische
Maschinengewehre and ruins at Skutari, photo of earnest looking sailors and
officers in very tall grass (In den Sümpfen der Bojana) in wilderness between
Montenegro and Albania. This account, all in German, may give some clues
to the hazy history of combat in this area at the end of the Ottoman
Empire, when Austro-Hungarians and Germans supposedly fought the Serbs at Skutari.
162 pp. 11.8 x 19.6 cm. Decorated paper on board, worn, paper on spine is gone.
Inscription on dedication page is dated "Kiel, 15
Februar 1914." Good. (1832)
$50.00. Naval/History
Jane's Fighting Ships, 1942 [Issued June 1943] Founded in 1897
by Fred T. Jane, 46th Year of Issue 1943McMurtrie, Francis E., A.I.N.A., Editor. New
York, NY:
The MacMillan Co. Forward to this book notes the tremendous difficulty of
preparing this edition, with secrecy on part of combatants and neutrals,
efforts to obscure or propagandize, and ships being sunk daily. Frontispiece
photo of HMS
Exeter, Royal Navy cruiser that bore the brunt of action with the German "pocket
battleship" Admiral Graf Spee at the Battle of
the Plate on December 13, 1939. Text notes that, while the Graf Spee was
scuttled, Exeter was
completely refitted and returned to combat. She was sunk by Japanese air attack
at the Battle of
the Java Sea in
1942. This fascinating real-timre record of naval action in World War II shows
the ships that survived the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor (Dec.
7th, 1941), even noting changes to them as result of repairs after the attack.
Also with 62 pages of advertising for everything you need to outfit a warship.
582 pp. + 62 pp. adv. 31 x 20 cm. Light blue cloth on board with gilt
lettering. Edges worn, tiny white paint spots on cover, good. (6985)
$90.00. Naval/World War II
U.S. Navy Regulations, 1865; Regulations
for the Government of the United States Navy.
[Book belonged to Ens. James H. Bunting, recognized for his action in helping
to destroy a Confederate salt work in 1864.] 1865 Washington, DC:
Government Printing Office. Naval Regulations book belonged to "James.
H. Bunting, U.S. Frigate Potomac", who is recognized in history of
Civil War for his work in leading a naval party from USS
Ethan Allen to
destroy a South Carolina salt work. Navy Regulations include Regulation
Circular No. 1 signed by Gideon Welles, Civil War Secretary of the Navy, August
1, 1865; Regulation Circular No. 4, by Welles, dated Aug. 22, 1866, detailing
books to be carried aboard a cruising vessel by midshipmen. 345 pp. 12.5 x 19
cm. Blue cloth on board, quite worn, front and back outer spine cracked, 1 cm
sword, etc. puncture in book penetrates first 120 pages. Poor. (3761) $150.00.
Naval/Civil War/History
[Boat crews from U.S.S. Ethan
Allan, Acting Master Isaac A. Pennell, landed at Cane Patch, near Murrell's
Inlet, South Carolina, and destroyed a salt work which Pennell, who led the
expedi-tion himself, described as "much more extensive than I expected
After mixing most of the 2,000 bushels of salt into the sand of the beach, the
Union sailors fired the four salt works as well as some 30 buildings in the
surrounding area. The next day, off Wither's Swash, Pennell sent Acting Master
William H. Winslow and Acting Ensign James H. Bunting ashore with two boat
crews to destroy a smaller salt work.]
Popular Mechanics Magazine, written so you can understand it,
50th Anniversary Year, February 1952, Vol. 97 No. 2 Chicago, IL: Popular Mechanics Company. Cover shows U.S. Navy
Landing Ship Dock USS Lindenwald, LSD-6 with
stern doors open and flooded down to receive landing craft. Accompanies
article, "Mother
of the Minesweepers" by Richard F.
Dempewolff. Story about sweeping mines in Wonsan Harbor, Korea,
in October, 1950. New use for World War II amphibious ships and boats. "Detroit Listening
Post" by
Siler Freeman. "1952
may go down as the year of the small car"--Nash's Rambler,
Kaiser-Frazer's Henry
J, and Willys-Overland's first passenger car since World War II days, and
soon, a smaller Hudson. "Rust
Meets its Worst Enemy"by Eric Bennett. "In Battle,
There's Always One More River to
Cross" by
Michael Day. Story about U.S. Army Engineers building "packaged" bridges
in Korea.
50th Anniversary Feature: "Revolution
on the Farm, 1902-1952" by Wheeler
McMillen. 17 x 24 cm. Magazine, very good. (7039) $21.00.
Naval/Scientific/Technology
Coaster's and Fisherman's Guide, and Master's and Mate's Manual:
Laws of the Sea. Including the Passenger Laws of 1819, '47, '48 and '49 by Butts, Isaac Ridler
1849 Boston, MA:
I.R. Butts, No.
2 School Street. Butts (1795-1882) published a whole mass of guide books
for Sailors, Seamen and Fishermen. This Seaman's Assistant provides guidance
for Rights of Merchant Seamen, including hiring, when they may desert, right to
salvage, wages (including tables) and punishment. "...a
master might be excused for knocking a seaman down, under the influence of
sudden passion, from provocation by language of gross insolence.....(further)
kicking and beating the fallen seaman ...would not be justified."
"The master is not justified in stripping a seaman naked, and
inflicting a severe punishment with a cat; at least not for ordinary
violation of the ship's discipline." Also included
are Coaster's Guide, Fisherman's Guide, including Bounty in Cod Fisheries,
Mackerel Fishery, Pickled Fish; Shipmaster's Manual, Passenger Vessels (Act of
1847); In Appendix is Navy Ration for victualling, which stipulates 4 lbs. of
beef per week per man, 3 lbs. pork, 1 lb. flour, 1/2 lb. raisins or dried
fruit, and 1 3/4 pints of spirits. Also guidance for Common Carriers,
Marine Insurance and Book-keeping.. 120 pp. 11 x 18 cm. Paper on board with
cloth tape spine, parts of cloth tape on spine missing, inside back hinge
cracked, pencil inscriptions on back pastedown and back endpaper. Fair. (4742)
$190.00. Nautical
Uncle Sam's Navy, Historical Fine Art Series, Vol. IV No. 3,
April 19, 1898 Philadelphia, PA:
Historical Publishing Co. This series has been prepared for the public, eagerly
devouring whatever news is published about our Navy. Photos of
funeral of victims of the Maine disaster,
Capt. Sigsbee, former captain of USS Maine;
Court of Inquiry in session; Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, consul General of Cuba. Photo of
Gen. Blanco y Arenas, Spanish leader in Cuba. Photos
of officers and crew in Maine. 16
pp. 35 x 28 cm. Paper booklet, crease on cover page, good. (5779) $30.00.
Navy/Nautical
Uncle Sam's Navy, Historical Fine Art Series, Vol. IV No. 3,
April 26, 1898 Philadelphia, PA:
Historical Publishing Co. This series has been prepared for the public, eagerly
devouring whatever news is published about our Navy. Photos of
Spanish battleship Pelayo, Spanish cruisers Almirante
Oquendo and Viscaya.
Photos of crew of cruiser New York,
deck crew of Yorktown, ship's
company of Maine, and
photo of a Minstrel show aboard USS Maine.
Photos of gun crews drilling with heavy ordnance, machine and Gatling guns. 16
pp. 35 x 28 cm. Paper booklet, 10 cm. closed tear on cover page, good.
(5780) $30.00. Navy/Nautical.
United States Navy, The , pictures by E. Muller, Jr. with a foreword by
Rear-Admiral Bradley A. Fiske ©1917 Chicago, IL: Rand McNally & Company.
Photos of super dreadnoughts Pennsylvania,
Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, New York, Texas; crew scenes; Marines; swim
call; holystoning; Guantanamo drilling; coaling operation; Armored Cruisers Pittsburgh,
Pueblo, North Carolina, Montana, San Diego; submarines.
31 x 23 cm. Red cloth on board with tape spine, lettered for library use;
Discarded from Concord Free Library, small closed tears on bottom of many
pages, with tape repairs. Thus, poor. (4464) $30.00. Navy/Nautical
Ship's Business Log of Brig SS Russia and Barque Archimedes ca. 1846-1869, for Samuel Sweetser, Managing Owner; E.D. Lane, Master 1846 Yarmouth, ME: S. Sweetser,
Owner. 81 pp. 20.8 x 32 cm. Detailed record of expenses of merchant ships owned
by Samuel Sweetser-- first, Brig Russia,
operating between Yarmouth and Portland, ME; New York; Newport, RI; New
Orleans; Norfolk, VA; Matanzas, Cuba;
Montego Bay, Jamaica; Baltimore, MD;
Vera Cruz, Mexico; New Castle, England; Elsinor, Denmark; Sligo and
Galway, Ireland and St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ships carried mostly freight, but sometimes passengers, but there are no
passenger lists. Accounts include
loading potatoes, turnips, milk, eggs, pork and beef for crew, duck for sail
repairs, pilot fees, port charges, customs charges, blacksmith charges,
watchman fees, laborers, pay to crew, more.
Gives an interesting glimpse into the business of two ships, one barque
and one brig, plus one page on the Bark Lucy
Ellen, all apparently with E.D. Lane as Master. Quarter leather ledger with marbled paper cover. Eighty
intact pages contain records in elegant calligraphy, but there are several
places where owners must have cut out parts of pages. Very good. (8333) $240.00.
Nautical/ Ephemera
[ This Blog is modified from one published Jan. 2, 2012]
Contact the Personal Navigator: scoulbourn1@verizon.net
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