The Submarine Boys, by Victor G. Durham, is a series of adventure books for boys, published by Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1909 through 1920. The series featured three sixteen-year-old boys and their underwater adventures. Victor G. Durham was most likely a pen name, possibly of H. Irving Hancock. He is also referred to as "Lieutenant-commander Victor G. Durham." Characters in the series include: David Pollard, an 'innovator'; Jacob Farnum, a shipbuilder; Jack Benson, the captain; and Hal Hastings, Eph Somers and Williamson, all crew. Submarines in the series include the Pollard, the Farnum, the Benson, the Hastings, the Somers and the Spitfire.

Victor G. Durham was the author of "The Submarine Boys" Series. Most likely the name was a pen name. He is also referred to as "Lieutenant-commander Victor G. Durham"

“The United States Government doesn't appear very anxious to claim its property, does it, sir?” asked Captain Jack Benson.The speaker was a boy of sixteen, attired in a uniform much after the pattern commonly worn by yacht captains. The insignia of naval rank were conspicuously absent.“Now, that I've had the good luck to sell the 'Pollard' to the Navy,” responded Jacob Farnum, principal owner of the shipbuilding yard, “I'm not disposed to grumble if the Government prefers to store its property here for a while.”Yet the young shipbuilder—he was a man in his early thirties, who had inherited this shipbuilding business from his father—allowed his eyes to twinkle in a way that suggested there was something else behind his words.Jack Benson saw that twinkle, but he did not ask questions. If the shipbuilder knew more than he was prepared to tell, it was not for his young captain to ask for information that was not volunteered.The second boy present, also in uniform, Hal Hastings by name, had not spoken in five minutes. That was like Hal. He was the engineer of the submarine torpedo boat, “Pollard.” Jack was captain of the same craft, and could do all the talking.Jacob Farnum sat back, sideways, at his rolltop desk. On top of the desk lay stacked a voluminous though neat pile of papers, letters, telegrams and memoranda that some rival builders of submarine torpedo boats might have been willing to pay much for the privilege of examining. For, at the present moment, there was fierce competition in the air between rival American builders of submarine fighting craft designed for the United States Navy. Even foreign builders and inventors were clamoring for recognition. Yet just now the reorganized Pollard Submarine Boat Company stood at the top of the line. It had made the last sale to the United States Navy Department.At this moment, out in the little harbor that was a part of the shipyard, the “Pollard” rode gently at anchor. She was the first submarine torpedo boat built at this yard, after the designs of David Pollard, the inventor, a close personal friend of Jacob Farnum.Moreover, the second boat, named the “Farnum,” had just been launched and put in commission, ready at an hour's notice to take the sea in search of floating enemies of the United States.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

In 'The Submarine Boys and the Middies. Or, the Prize Detail at Annapolis' by Victor G. Durham, readers are taken on an exciting adventure involving submarines and naval life at Annapolis. The book, written in a straightforward and engaging literary style, provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of naval training and the challenges faced by young sailors. Set in a vividly described naval academy, the story is filled with suspenseful moments and heart-pounding action sequences that will keep readers hooked until the very end. Durham's attention to detail and his ability to create realistic characters make this book a standout in the genre of naval fiction. Fans of adventurous tales and military stories will surely be captivated by this thrilling narrative. Victor G. Durham's background as a naval enthusiast and his passion for maritime history are evident in 'The Submarine Boys and the Middies,' making it a must-read for anyone interested in naval fiction or military history.

Victor G. Durham was the author of "The Submarine Boys" Series. Most likely the name was a pen name. He is also referred to as "Lieutenant-commander Victor G. Durham"

Victor G. Durham was the author of "The Submarine Boys" Series. Most likely the name was a pen name. He is also referred to as "Lieutenant-commander Victor G. Durham"

"The United States Government doesn't appear very anxious to claim its property, does it, sir?" asked Captain Jack Benson. The speaker was a boy of sixteen, attired in a uniform much after the pattern commonly worn by yacht captains. The insignia of naval rank were conspicuously absent. "Now, that I've had the good luck to sell the 'Pollard' to the Navy," responded Jacob Farnum, principal owner of the shipbuilding yard, "I'm not disposed to grumble if the Government prefers to store its property here for a while." Yet the young shipbuilder-he was a man in his early thirties, who had inherited this shipbuilding business from his father-allowed his eyes to twinkle in a way that suggested there was something else behind his words. Jack Benson saw that twinkle, but he did not ask questions. If the shipbuilder knew more than he was prepared to tell, it was not for his young captain to ask for information that was not volunteered.