CRUISE OF THE LANIKAI-Incitement to War-KEMP TOLLEY-WWII Naval Memoir-Ex HC w/DJ

Hi! You're looking at an outstanding condition book which is OUT OF PRINT and classic World War II memoir written by KEMP TOLLEY, who chronicles his adventures on patrol with the Lanikai on a mission designed to provoke the Japanese into sinking his ship--the book is an unstated FIRST EDITION and a HARDCOVER with the ORIGINAL DUSTJACKET and is NOT a remainder copy and NOT price-clipped, with the original $12.50 price in the upper corner of the front inner flap. This book is in outstanding condition and is a former library copy with typical markings and a mylar plastic sleeve on the dustjacket, which is attached to the back board; the book itself has just slight shelfwear and slight evidence of gentle browsing but no other significant flaws, and the dustjacket has very light dings on the spine tips, lower left edge of the front surface and lower center of the back surface and just very light shelfwear otherwise but no other significant imperfections!  The book is titled Cruise of the Lanikai: Incitement to War and it was written by KEMP TOLLEY; it was published by Naval Institute Press in 1973 and is an unstated 1st Edition copy.

In 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 Lanikai could 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.

A fantastic find, and a beautiful copy of this book!

Thanks for looking, and good luck if you're bidding! Also be sure to check out all of my other great books currently listed on ebay auctions--I can combine shipping for multiple purchases!