The Project Gutenberg eBook of The captain of the "Mary Rose"
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online
at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States,
you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located
before using this eBook.
Title: The captain of the "Mary Rose"
A tale of to-morrow
Author: William Laird Clowes
Illustrator: Fred T. Jane
Edouardo de Martino
Release date: December 26, 2025 [eBook #77546]
Language: English
Original publication: London: Thacker & Co, 1898
Credits: chenzw, Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAPTAIN OF THE "MARY ROSE" ***
THE CAPTAIN
OF THE “MARY ROSE”
[Illustration: “THEY WERE ALL A MASS OF LIGHTS.”
_See page 35._
]
THE CAPTAIN
OF THE “MARY ROSE”
A Tale of To-morrow
BY
W. LAIRD CLOWES
UNITED STATES NAVAL INSTITUTE
_ILLUSTRATED BY THE CHEVALIER EDOUARDO DE MARTINO
AND FRED T. JANE_
SEVENTH EDITION
LONDON: W. THACKER & CO., 2 CREED LANE, E.C.
CALCUTTA: THACKER, SPINK & CO.
1898
[_All Rights Reserved_]
To
REAR-ADMIRAL
JOHN ARBUTHNOT FISHER, C.B.
ONE OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY
AND
CONTROLLER OF THE NAVY
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
IN REMEMBRANCE OF
TWO PORTSMOUTH LUNCHEON PARTIES
(AUGUST 19TH AND 25TH, 1891)
EACH OF WHICH WAS ENLIVENED BY A KIND HOST’S WIT
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I.
A BOLT FROM THE BLUE 1
CHAPTER II.
THE BATTLE OFF TOULON 25
CHAPTER III.
SOME STAGGERING BLOWS 65
CHAPTER IV.
A LETTER OF MARQUE 105
CHAPTER V.
THE ATTACK ON THE ROCK 135
CHAPTER VI.
THE SAILING OF THE “MARY ROSE” 164
CHAPTER VII.
THE FORCING OF THE STRAITS 192
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CHASE TO MALTA 227
CHAPTER IX.
A “GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE” 258
CHAPTER X.
“HOME AND BEAUTY” 300
ILLUSTRATIONS.
_From Drawings by the CHEVALIER EDOUARDO DE MARTINO and FRED T. JANE._
PAGE
“They were all a mass of lights” (_see page_ 35) _Frontispiece_
“Even some obsolete gunboats” 9
“Masthead electric lights of novel design are being fitted to
some of the larger battleships” 13
“Was only a steam yacht” 19
“Certain craft were ordered to use their search-lights
in combination” 29
“A number of French ships were coming out” 33
“Suddenly a ship near the centre of the French line began to use
her search-lights” 37
“The effect of the light when it shines in the eyes of the
spectator is confusing” 41
“It is impossible to guess how far off the projector is” 45
“A torpedo hit us on the port bow” 49
“By the enemy’s terrible fire” 53
“Remember what they will say at home” 57
“The _Alexandra_ has also arrived” 61
“The Channel Fleet has been ordered home” 67
“Ships were taking in powder and shell” 71
“A couple of first-class torpedo boats were sent out” 75
“Every vessel opened in the direction of the foe” 79
“They rendered all the other craft of the enemy invisible” 83
“It was fearful work; the very silence of the grey boats made
the scene the more impressive” 87
“The blowing up of the _Minotaur_” 91
“The attack on the _Hercules_” 95
“May I never live to have another so awful experience” 99
“A torpedo exploded under her own port quarter” 103
“The _Bellona_ ashore” 107
“Whose steam launch narrowly escaped being run down” 111
“The Fleet at Spithead” 115
The letter of marque _Valdivia_ (afterwards _Mary Rose_) 121
Deck plan of the _Valdivia_ 129
“Off the Rock” 139
“They opened a furious fire” 143
“All night long the bombardment continued” 147
No. 70 153
“I have done it!” 159
The _Mary Rose_ escorted out of the Tyne 171
“The foretop over which peeped the covered muzzle of a gun” 177
“Give her the bow 9·4-in. gun” 185
The _Mary Rose_ and prizes entering Plymouth Sound 189
Coaling off the Wadi Gloug 197
“Steaming with his coal” 201
“Ordered the starboard 9·4-in. gun to be fired” 207
“It was impossible to distinguish the order in which the
French Fleet was steaming” 217
_Mary Rose_ torpedoing an ironclad 223
“Suspicious-looking objects were creeping up” 241
“It was short, quick, terrible work” 245
“Their white bow waves betrayed them” 249
“Suddenly a rocket shot up” 253
“The _Troude_ was warily coming up” 259
“On board the _Cécille_ a perfectly awful state of affairs
was found” 263
The _Cristoforo Colombo_ 275
“In the days of sailing ships” 279
An Atlantic greyhound 283
“Gib” 287
The _Royal Sovereign_ 291
“I had the misfortune to lose the _Dreadnought_” 295
A “glorious first of June” 301
PREFACE.
To every Briton, the question: “What will the sea-fighting of to-morrow
be like?” is of supreme interest and importance. Ours is a sea empire.
The confines of our dominions lie, not upon our own coasts, but upon
the coasts of our neighbours; and unless in the future we can, as we
have done in the past, hold our dominions, be they shore or be they
ocean, against all comers, our national glory will be eclipsed, our
wealth will vanish, and our greatness will be annihilated.
It is primarily in order to put forward a tentative answer to this
question that I have written the story of the _Mary Rose_. I have
seen no real fighting at sea. There are very few who have. But I have
seen an immense amount of sham-fighting--more, it is possible, than
anyone else; for, besides witnessing manœuvres abroad, I have for
eight successive years gone afloat to follow the operations consequent
upon the annual mobilisation in our own home waters. The sham thing,
I am quite aware, must be very different from the terrible reality.
It affords, nevertheless, a key to the reality; and, armed with that
key, I have been so bold as to endeavour to open the future. Similar
endeavours have been made before. In conjunction with my friend,
Commander Charles Napier Robinson, R.N., I myself made the endeavour
in 1886, when Messrs. Hatchards re-published for us, from the pages
of the _St. James’s Gazette_, “The Great Naval War of 1887.” Not long
afterwards another friend, Mr. H. O. Arnold-Forster, now M.P. for West
Belfast, contributed to a monthly magazine his excellent forecast
called “In a Conning Tower; or, How I took H.M.S. _Majestic_ into
Action,” and last year he re-published it. Last year, also, appeared
“The Last Great Naval War: An Historical Retrospect,” by “A. Nelson
Seaforth,” whom, I shrewdly suspect, I have the pleasure of knowing
under a name which, in the Navy, is closely identified with lamps,
signals, speeches at the Royal United Service Institution, and letters
to _The Times_. Other endeavours I need not particularly allude to. The
present one is intended to differ from its predecessors in being less
technical, and in paying attention to some aspects of naval warfare
that have been neglected by all the rest. These aspects, I venture to
hope, will especially recommend themselves to British boys. If they
will take an intelligent interest in modern naval developments, we
shall not, twenty or thirty years hence, have to lament that upon naval
questions the tax-paying public is ignorant or apathetic; for not only
the boy is the father of the man, but also the study of matters naval
is so seductive that, I believe, no Englishman who has once taken it up
has ever willingly relinquished it.
My first aim, then, has been to give a readable tentative answer to
the question: “What will the sea-fighting of to-morrow be like?”
My second has been to call attention to our position in the
Mediterranean. We maintain there a large Fleet of fine ships, and it is
our duty to do so; because we are a Mediterranean Power of the first
rank; because, while we are paramount in the Mediterranean, we are,
to a far greater extent than is commonly realised, the peace-keepers
of Europe; and because our paramount position in the waters of the
Mediterranean is essential to the preservation of most valuable
material interests, which, if we once lost them, we might never be
able to regain. And so we maintain a large Mediterranean Fleet. But
“large” is, after all, only a comparative term. France has at her
immediate disposal a far larger one in the same sea, and unless we
keep our naval strength in the Mediterranean, as elsewhere, superior
to that of France, our only dangerous naval rival, we imperil our
position. The ships which are mentioned in the story are all existing
ships. The Mediterranean ships mentioned are practically the existing
Mediterranean Fleets.
In writing as I have written, I have been animated by no unfriendly and
by no unfair feeling towards France. I have represented French officers
as being fully as scientific and brave as their British “opposite
numbers,” and I have never represented a Frenchman as doing a thing
which, if done by an Englishman, would shame him. In the past, when we
have been enemies, we have, I trust, been honest and cordial ones. I am
sure that, in the future, if fate should unhappily make us opponents,
we shall not be less loyal foes than we were ninety years ago, and
that afterwards we shall not diminish our respect one for the other.
I am most fortunate in having had, in this work, the co-operation of
my friend, that most distinguished of marine painters, the Chevalier
Edouardo de Martino. He volunteered to illustrate what I should
write; and to receive such an offer from so admirable an artist was,
of course, to gladly accept it. When, as he and I believed, we had
completed our labour, he was called to South America. The editor of
_The Engineer_ was then so good as to think that the story of the _Mary
Rose_ might be welcome to the readers of his paper. He wished, however,
to have additional illustrations, and these were in due time supplied
by Mr. F. T. Jane, a young artist who has already made his mark in this
particular branch of black and white drawing. While the story was being
published in _The Engineer_, Mr. Jane offered to prepare a number of
further illustrations, and these, now printed for the first time, will,
I think, be found among the most effective of his contributions. To the
proprietors of _The Engineer_, for their permission to use Mr. Jane’s
first series of illustrations, and for the facilities which they have
placed in my way, I tender my grateful thanks.
NEW TRAVELLERS’ CLUB,
PICCADILLY,
_November, 1892._
THE CAPTAIN OF THE “MARY ROSE.”
CHAPTER I.
A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.
On the morning of Tuesday, April 28th 189--, the publication in
London of the following Reuter’s telegram created no small amount
of uneasiness and excitement in commercial as well as in political
circles. The telegram was dated, “Toulon, Monday Evening,” and it was
thus worded:--
“This afternoon a bluejacket, belonging to the British Mediterranean
Fleet, which arrived here yesterday, got into an altercation in a
_café_ with a French seaman. Other sailors, British and French, who
were present, took sides; the argument assumed the dimensions of a
quarrel; blows were freely exchanged; and the British bluejackets were
at last driven into the street, and thence to their boats. In the
course of the disturbance some revolver and rifle shots were fired,
it is believed by the Frenchmen, and, unfortunately, there seems to
have been bloodshed, and possibly loss of life. Owing, however, to the
excited attitude of the local population, to the extreme reticence
of the police, and to the fact that a military cordon has been drawn
round the scene of the outbreak, it is as yet impossible to obtain any
trustworthy particulars. The Maritime Prefect at once went on board
the British flagship _Victoria_. It is supposed that his object was to
offer or to ask for explanations; but, upon his return to the shore, no
public announcement was made, and nothing definite is therefore known.
The situation, without being serious, may at any moment become so. The
local authorities are in brisk telegraphic communication with Paris.”
This telegram was, in itself, alarming; but the gravity of its import
was increased a thousandfold by an announcement which followed it in
the columns of the _Times_.
“The above news,” said that journal, “is, so far as we can learn, the
latest that has been received from France. It reached the _Times_
office shortly after eight o’clock last evening. We at once took steps
to obtain further particulars. We were, however, informed that between
half-past seven and half-past eight telegraphic communication with
France had been totally interrupted, and that all the Channel cables,
as well as the Irish cable from Havre to Waterville, had ceased to
work. There is reason, therefore, to fear that the Toulon affair is of
graver importance than Reuter’s agent seems to have suspected when he
sent off his dispatch. Up to the hour of going to press, no further
intelligence bearing upon the matter has reached us. We hope, however,
to receive further news in the course of the night by way of Belgium or
Holland, communication with those countries being still open. A copy of
Reuter’s telegram was, immediately after the arrival of the message,
posted up in all the clubs, and exhibited in the windows of several
newspaper offices in Fleet Street. The news caused much speculation and
excitement, and, for the remainder of the evening, formed everywhere
the sole topic of conversation. It is a subject for congratulation
that Parliament is sitting, and that all the Ministers are in town. In
the Commons, as will be seen on reference to our Parliamentary report,
the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs rose at nine o’clock, and,
apologising for interrupting the senior member for Northampton, who at
the moment was speaking in support of the motion for the appointment
of a Royal Commission on International Arbitration, read the telegram
to the House, which listened in hushed silence. In reply to several
questions, the right honourable gentleman stated that he had no further
information, and that he trusted that, until further news should be
forthcoming, the House and the country would, in deference to the
susceptibilities of a friendly Power, refrain from demonstrations of
any kind. He hoped that the affair would have no serious results; and
he had every confidence, he said, that the French Government would
act in the matter with absolute fairness. In answer to a question as
to the alleged interruption of telegraphic communication, he replied
that he had no information. At a late hour all the Ministers met in
informal conclave in the Prime Minister’s room in the House of Lords.
They had not separated when we went to press, and nothing, therefore,
is known of the upshot of their deliberations. But in the lobbies, and
among private members, the fact of the interruption of communications
was definitely substantiated soon after ten o’clock, and it naturally
excited much alarm. There is very little doubt that the cables have
been deliberately cut; though a few sanguine people assert that the
non-receipt of further news is due entirely to the effects of the storm
which raged during the evening, and which, pitiless as it was, failed
to disperse the crowds that thronged the neighbourhood of St. Stephen’s
in anxious expectation of hearing that some additional Ministerial
announcement had been made. The behaviour of the people was strikingly
quiet and orderly. Strong feeling was, of course, general, but, for
the most part, its exhibition was suppressed. That there were very
few noisy demonstrations or patriotic harangues in the streets, may,
however, be partially attributed to the effect of the rain, which fell
in torrents.
“Upon inquiring at midnight at the French Embassy at Albert Gate, we
were assured that no information as to the Toulon affair had been
officially received.
“For the satisfaction of those who may be ignorant on the subject, we
give below the strength of that portion of the Mediterranean Fleet
which anchored off Toulon on Sunday afternoon.
---------------------------------------+--------+--------+-------+------
| Tons. | H.P. | Guns. | Men.
---------------------------------------+--------+--------+-------+------
Battleship, 1st class--_Camperdown_ | 10,600 | 11,500 | 10 | 526
” ” _Sanspareil_ | 10,470 | 14,000 | 15 | 587
” ” _Collingwood_ | 9,500 | 9,570 | 10 | 459
” 2nd class--_Colossus_ | 9,420 | 7,500 | 9 | 325
” ” _Dreadnought_ | 10,820 | 8,210 | 4 | 440
” ” _Edinburgh_ | 9,420 | 7,500 | 9 | 445
” 1st class--_Nile_ | 11,940 | 12,000 | 10 | 500
” 2nd class--_Inflexible_ | 11,880 | 8,010 | 12 | 460
” 1st class--_Benbow_ | 10,600 | 11,860 | 12 | 500
” ” _Trafalgar_ | 11,940 | 12,000 | 10 | 500
” ” _Victoria_ | 10,470 | 14,000 | 15 | 500
Belted cruiser-- _Australia_ | 5,600 | 8,500 | 12 | 460
” _Undaunted_ | 5,600 | 8,500 | 12 | 460
Torpedo ram-- _Polyphemus_ | 2,640 | 5,520 | -- | 132
Cruiser, 3rd class-- _Fearless_ | 1,580 | 3,300 | 4 | 140
” _Scout_ | 1,580 | 3,200 | 4 | 140
Dispatch vessel-- _Surprise_ | 1,650 | 3,030 | 4 | 93
---------------------------------------+--------+--------+-------+------
“The rest of the Mediterranean Fleet consists exclusively of unarmoured
cruisers and light vessels, and is composed of H.M. ships _Amphion_,
_Dolphin_, _Cockatrice_, _Gannet_, _Hecla_, _Imogene_, _Landrail_,
_Melita_, _Phaeton_, and _Sandfly_, with one or two stationary vessels.
Several are in the Levant or the Red Sea, and none are nearer to Toulon
than Malta or Gibraltar. Of the French ships at Toulon we have at
present no particular information. We know, however, that there are at
least twelve ironclads ready for, or actually in, commission, several
powerful cruisers, and a considerable number of torpedo boats, both
large and small.”
In a leading article on the Toulon affair, the _Times_ advised its
readers to suspend the formation of opinion until further news should
be received; to abstain from any demonstrations which might make worse
a state of things that was already sufficiently grave; and loyally to
support the Government in whatever measures it might deem itself called
upon to adopt. Much the same advice was given by all the other London
morning papers, not one of which, it should be added, contained any
more detailed news than appeared in the _Times_.
And, upon the whole, the advice was faithfully acted upon throughout
that Tuesday of anxiety and agitation. A few roughs raised insulting
shouts outside the French Embassy, and some truculent individuals
broke a window there with stones; but in each case the police promptly
interfered, and took the offenders into custody. No more news reached
London until shortly before midday; but the early editions of all
the evening papers contained the following telegram, which had been
received by way of Brussels and the Middelkerke-Ramsgate cable:--
“Advices from Toulon report that, shortly after nine o’clock last
night, the British Mediterranean Fleet, consisting of eleven
battleships, two belted cruisers, and four other vessels, quitted its
anchorage off that port. A French squadron hastily put to sea at
about the same time. The object of these movements is unknown, and in
consequence, the most alarming rumours are current. Toulon is in a
state of great excitement, and bodies of men patrol the streets singing
patriotic songs. Several British bluejackets were killed in yesterday’s
affray. The authorities refuse to give any information; but it is
known here that last evening at a late hour all the submarine cables
connecting the British Islands with France were cut by order of the
French Government. All messages that cross the Franco-Belgian frontier
are now jealously scrutinised, and several have been stopped.”
During the day, with very brief intervals between them, many still more
alarming telegrams poured in. The more important of them are quoted
below:--
“OSTEND, Tuesday, 12.15 p.m.--The British Ambassador to the French
Republic has suddenly arrived here. Late last night he was roused from
his bed and ordered to quit Paris at two hours’ notice; and he was
subsequently conducted by an armed escort to the Belgian frontier.
He leaves at once by special steamer for England. The French Toulon
Fleet, it is rumoured, put to sea yesterday evening, with orders to
prevent the British Fleet from leaving until full satisfaction should
be given for the alleged murders by British sailors during yesterday’s
riots. It is also rumoured that, in defiance of the Maritime Prefect’s
order to the contrary, the British Admiral has quitted his anchorage.
The situation is regarded as most serious; and the dismissal of the
Ambassador clearly points to a rupture. French troops are being
rapidly concentrated at Cherbourg, Brest, Lorient, Dunquerque, and
other coast towns; and it is whispered that, as a precautionary
measure, a Belgian army corps is to be mobilised and is to occupy the
frontier. Numerous British refugees from France have already reached
this place.”
“DOVER, Tuesday, 12.38 p.m.--The passenger steamer _Victoria_ started
this morning as usual for Calais. When she was at a distance of about
two miles from the French coast, a French gunboat hailed her and
informed her captain that communication between England and France is
forbidden, pending the issue of further directions from Paris. The
_Victoria_ had, therefore, no alternative but to return. Two other
passenger steamers have been similarly treated. The excitement here is
intense.”
“BRUSSELS, Tuesday, 1.50 p.m.--The French Government last night sent
to the Admiral at Toulon orders which, if they be acted upon, can only
bring about immediate war between France and Great Britain. The orders
were to prevent, at all hazards, the British Fleet from putting to sea
so long as the serious questions which were raised by yesterday’s riot
should remain unsettled. The exact nature of these questions lies in
some obscurity. The prospect of war is said to have already provoked
unbounded enthusiasm in Paris.”
“FLUSHING, Tuesday, 3.20 p.m.--It is reported that the formal
declaration by France of war with Great Britain is only a question
of hours; and it is believed that this precipitancy is due to
the conviction which is entertained in French Government circles
that England is just now very ill-prepared, particularly in the
Mediterranean; and that France, by striking a sudden and unexpected
blow, may produce results such as she could scarcely hope to attain,
if ample time were allowed her adversary for the making of complete
preparations. In the meantime the French army is mobilising.”
[Illustration: “EVEN SOME OBSOLETE GUNBOATS.”]
“PORTSMOUTH, Tuesday, 3.30 p.m.--Orders have just been received here
for the immediate commissioning of every ship in harbour that can,
by any exertion on the part of the dockyard officials, be made ready
for the pennant, and for the hurried preparation of all the rest,
not excluding several old vessels that have recently been advertised
as ‘For Sale,’ or even some obsolete gunboats. Similar orders have
been telegraphed to each of the naval ports. The dockyard, where,
until to-day, work was slacker than it has been since the departure
of the ships for last year’s Naval Manœuvres, is already the scene
of feverish activity. The coastguard ironclads have been directed to
assemble with all haste at Spithead, and not to wait for their full
complements, but to leave their respective ports as soon as they
can get up steam. Some of them are expected to-morrow. The Naval
Commander-in-Chief is now concerting with the General in command of
the Southern District elaborate measures for the defence, by means of
mines, booms, and picket-boats, of the port and of the anchorage at
Spithead, and to-night the carrying out of their plans will be begun.
Masthead electric lights of novel design are being fitted to some of
the larger battleships. These are so arranged as to shed a zone of
illumination all around the vessel, but to leave the craft herself in
comparative darkness, and it is confidently expected that they will
be of great value should our squadrons be obliged to anchor at night
within raiding distance of the enemy’s torpedo boats. Some experienced
officers, however, are of opinion that a ship which desires to remain
exempt from attack should on no account exhibit a light of this kind,
since it must of necessity be visible from a considerable distance to
the foe; and they do not hesitate to say that, even if they be supplied
with it, they will not use it. The advantage of the light lies in the
fact that no ship, so long as she employs it, can possibly be closely
approached by any enemy that does not to a very dangerous extent expose
himself. On the other hand, it is pointed out that the apparatus is
large, and offers so fine a mark for machine-gun fire, that it could
doubtless be easily extinguished by moderately good gunners at 3000
yards, or even more. Experts here are loud in their regrets that this
device, which is quite new, has not, together with other electric
lighting devices which are much older, been properly experimented with
in peace time, and that, in consequence, no certainty exists as to
either its practical utility or its vulnerability. Unfortunately there
are symptoms of the existence of a certain degree of friction between
the naval and military authorities; nor can this be wondered at when
it is remembered by how vague and arbitrary a line their respective
functions are divided. The feeling here is strongly to the effect
that all the defences on the sea-front should be unreservedly entrusted
to the Navy and Royal Marines. On the other hand, there is an undoubted
lack of both officers and men even for the manning of the vessels
which are to be commissioned. So great, indeed, is the scarcity of
stokers, seamen-gunners, and signalmen, that only by calling out all
the reserves can even the immediate necessities of the situation be
supplied. It is not certain, however, that the reserves will be of much
use, seeing that the engines of modern men-of-war greatly differ, as a
rule, from those of merchant vessels; that few men of the Royal Naval
Reserve have any practical familiarity with heavy breech-loading guns;
and that hardly any men, outside the service proper, are qualified
as signalmen. There is also a scarcity of lieutenants, and a good
many small craft will, if commissioned at all, apparently have to be
commanded by gunners, carpenters, and boatswains. As for the local
permanent defences, they are very imperfect. Many of the works on the
land side have no guns at all, and the re-arming of Southsea Castle and
the Spithead forts has not yet been completed. War is here regarded
as as good as declared. No one, and least of all naval men, can look
forward to it with anything like light-heartedness, and many Portsmouth
people regard the prospect with distinct apprehension, and propose to
leave the town as soon as they can conveniently do so; yet the naval
and military population here shows an admirable spirit, and numbers of
retired officers of both services are offering their assistance to the
Government.”
[Illustration: “MASTHEAD ELECTRIC LIGHTS OF NOVEL DESIGN ARE BEING
FITTED TO SOME OF THE LARGER BATTLESHIPS.”]
“BRUSSELS, Tuesday, 5.8 p.m.--There are grave reports from the South.
It is said that a conflict of some nature has actually taken place
between the British and French Fleets off Toulon, but no details of any
kind are given. There is also serious news from Paris. A declaration of
war is undoubtedly by this time on its way to London. It was to have
been dispatched at noon. The French capital is violently excited, and
extremely enthusiastic. Very little news reaches this city, and that
little slips through the fingers of very jealous French censors, dozens
of whom must be employed along the frontier.”
“BARCELONA, Tuesday, 5.20 p.m.--The Italian steamer _Monte Pulciano_,
which arrived here this afternoon, reports that very late last night,
when off Toulon, she heard the sound of heavy firing, and saw in the
sky the reflections of what seemed to be explosions on a very large
scale. She did not, however, call at any French port, and so brings no
definite intelligence.”
“GENOA, Tuesday, 6 p.m.--The news of difficulties having suddenly
arisen at Toulon had scarcely reached this place ere rumours began to
arrive to the effect that the French Admiral had received orders from
Paris to destroy the British Fleet in case it should attempt to quit
Toulon Roads. No one credited this report at first, but it must now
be admitted that corroborative evidence of a kind is not lacking. A
correspondent at Hyères telegraphs that much heavy firing took place
late last night off that town, but, apparently, at a great distance
out at sea, and that to-day some French men-of-war, which seemed to
be somewhat damaged, re-entered Toulon. All messages from France
are subjected to strict censorship, in consequence of the strained
relations between that country and Great Britain. Too much reliance
must not, therefore, be placed upon the trustworthiness of this news.”
Then came the most unambiguous telegram of the eventful day.
“DOVER, Tuesday, 6.20 p.m.--A French torpedo boat named the _Lance_
has just entered the harbour under a flag of truce. The lieutenant
in command of her brought dispatches which have already been sent
on by train to the French Ambassador in London. Their purport is,
however, no secret. They contain an announcement to the effect that
the British Admiral having refused to consider the legitimate demand
of the authorities at Toulon for apology and reparation in the
matter of yesterday’s riot, and having, in defiance of French orders
to the contrary, quitted Toulon Roads while the grievances of the
French Government remained unredressed, the French Republic recalls
its Ambassador and declares war against Great Britain. The French
lieutenant, who was of course not allowed to land, departed as soon as
he had communicated with the coastguard boat which went out to meet
him. The civil population is apprehensive lest the town may be shelled
to-night. Steam is being got up to work the turret on the Admiralty
pier; and the men are to sleep beside their guns both there and in the
various batteries on the heights. Stringent measures are to be adopted
to preclude all possibility of a _coup de main_; and no vessels will
in future be allowed to enter or leave the port until they have been
searched. Very few people here are likely to sleep much to-night.
Numbers of nervous folk are going inland without even waiting to pack
up their effects. A large French man-of-war is now visible in the
Strait, but her name is not known. It is hoped that she may be brought
to action by the _Audacious_ from Hull, the _Hotspur_ from Harwich, or
the _Iron Duke_ from the Forth; for all these ships have been ordered
to rendezvous at Spithead, and one or more of them is expected to
pass Dover to-night. Here there is not so much as a gunboat; but it
is believed that, at the latest, by Friday, some of the coast-defence
ironclads will be assembled in the Downs, where, in case of need, they
will be within easy reach of this most important position. No lights
are to be shown to-night, and the windows of even private houses are
ordered to be darkened. Pickets are to go round to enforce this rule.
The town is already, in fact, though not in name, in a state of siege;
and so long as hostilities last, it must be a prey to continual and
very harassing alarms, if to nothing worse.”
A later telegram explained that “the large French man-of-war” which had
excited Dover was only a steam yacht.
[Illustration: “WAS ONLY A STEAM YACHT.”]
These were not the only telegrams that brought the country to a quick
realisation of the fearful suddenness with which she had fallen
into a state of war with her nearest neighbour and most powerful
maritime rival. There were many others, but the effect of all was
the same. They startled England, not only with the definite news of
imminent hostilities, but also with the vague report, which was far
more terrible, that some paralysing blow had already been dealt against
the Power which, for three centuries at least, had prided herself upon
being mistress of the seas. The nature and result of that mysterious
blow were alike unknown; but lack of knowledge, fed by apprehension,
often produces strange popular impressions; and the very absence of
definite news from the Mediterranean Fleet was, at such a juncture,
almost by itself sufficient to create very wild alarm.
The excitement in London increased, therefore, as the day wore on. The
House met early, but the Ministers were able to say little that was
encouraging. They were prepared, in case of necessity, to maintain
the honour of the Sovereign and of the Empire; they had adopted such
measures as prudence and the counsel of the most experienced officers
suggested, and as their immediately available resources rendered
possible; and they were, until late in the afternoon, not altogether
hopeless that peace might still be preserved; but they had only the
most meagre information to give: they were unable to inspire the public
with that confidence which they professed to feel; and worst of all,
they had absolutely no intelligence concerning the Mediterranean Fleet
save that it had left Toulon on Monday night.
In the afternoon crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square and other public
places; and, in spite of the efforts that were made by the police to
disperse the people, addresses--treasonable as well as patriotic--were
delivered by persons who, whether they were loyal or not, would in
the circumstances have more wisely kept their mouths shut. Most of
the theatres opened as usual; and those which opened were thronged,
for the temperament of the population at the moment required that
men should congregate in any place where the latest news was likely
to be obtainable. But no attention seemed anywhere to be paid to the
performance. People loitered in the passages and foyers, and talked
or listened with tongues and ears devoted to one topic only. As the
successive editions of the evening papers came out, copies were brought
in and handed round, and struggled for even by the musicians in the
orchestra. Twenty-four hours previously, war had seemed the most
improbable of catastrophes. It was now practically certain, and what
its end might be no one could foretell. At the Lyceum Theatre “Macbeth”
was being played. Towards the conclusion of the first act the curtain
was suddenly lowered, and the familiar figure of Mr. Irving immediately
appeared before it.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” said the great actor, who was much moved, “news
of a very grave character has this moment reached the theatre; and I
deem it my duty to interrupt the performance in order to communicate
it to you. I regret to have to say that, according to a telegram
which I hold in my hand, the British Fleet in the Mediterranean
was yesterday attacked by a French Fleet of superior force, and was
very severely handled. There are, unfortunately, no details. I trust
that the news is not really so grave as it at present sounds; but
even if it be untrue that war has actually broken out, and that our
brave bluejackets have already been surprised by anything in the
remotest degree resembling disaster, I feel that I shall only, in the
circumstances, be forestalling your wishes, when I announce that the
performance cannot continue. Ladies and gentlemen, it is not for me,
standing before you in this dress, to say much; but this I must say:
the opportunity seems to have arisen for us to show that we are still
the sons of our fathers. This, you will agree with me, we may do, not
merely by volunteering or otherwise directly contributing towards the
defence of our country; but also by lending a steadfast and loyal moral
support to her most gracious Majesty’s Ministers in this moment of
terrible anxiety and public danger. England, facing her enemies, has
always hitherto been as one man. Let us see to it that she be one man
now. Let us banish all divisions; let us think not of ourselves but of
our country; and, believe me, though the path through this difficulty
may be dark and terrible, we shall emerge into the light.”
The earlier part of this brief address was listened to almost in
silence. The latter part provoked first low expressions of approval
and then cheers. When Mr. Irving had concluded the audience, as
with one accord, stood up bareheaded; and, as the orchestra played
the first note or two of the National Anthem, there began a scene of
indescribably contagious enthusiasm. People leapt upon the seats and
waved hats or handkerchiefs; women burst into tears; and there was a
confused babel of sounds which, in a few moments, blended into the
noble and solemn chorus of “God save the Queen.”
CHAPTER II.
THE BATTLE OFF TOULON.
What, then, had happened off Toulon?
The _Times_ of Wednesday morning was the first newspaper to give
anything like a full account of the affair. This it did in the
following painful telegram:--
“SAN REMO, Tuesday Night.--I have just been landed here, thanks to the
courtesy of the commander of the Italian dispatch vessel _Agostino
Barberigo_, and, with much grief, I telegraph to inform you of the
sudden and terrible disaster which early this morning overtook the
Mediterranean Fleet. That Fleet, as your readers will see on referring
to any of the service papers of last week, consisted of the battleships
_Camperdown_, _Nile_, _Collingwood_, _Colossus_, _Dreadnought_,
_Edinburgh_, _Benbow_, _Inflexible_, _Sanspareil_, _Trafalgar_--flag
of the Rear-Admiral--and _Victoria_--flag of the Commander-in-Chief.
On Sunday afternoon these vessels, together with the belted cruisers
_Australia_ and _Undaunted_, the armoured ram _Polyphemus_, and the
unarmoured craft _Fearless_, _Scout_, and _Surprise_, anchored off
Toulon, and found the French Mediterranean Fleet lying there also.
This squadron, which had come in earlier in the day after a cruise,
consisted of the battleships _Amiral Baudin_, _Courbet_, _Dévastation_,
_Formidable_, _Duguesclin_, _Hoche_, _Marceau_, _Vauban_, _Caïman_,
_Bayard_, _Neptune_, and _Indomptable_, with the cruisers _Cosmao_,
_Troude_, and _Lalande_, the torpedo dispatch vessels _Vautour_, and
_Condor_, and the torpedo gunboats _Dragonne_, _Dague_, _Aventurier_,
_Kabyle_, _Audacieux_, _Ouragan_, and _Téméraire_. Up the harbour,
in addition, lay the battleships _Trident_, _Colbert_, _Terrible_,
_Redoutable_, and five other ironclads, all belonging to the ‘Escadre
de Reserve,’ which has been newly constituted. There were also up
harbour several cruisers and torpedo vessels.
“We exchanged salutes in the usual way; the Admirals called on
one another; and yesterday after dinner about four hundred of our
bluejackets were allowed to go ashore. I was, at the time, on board
the _Benbow_, and can give, therefore, only a hearsay account of what
occurred in the town.
“It appears that at about four o’clock in the afternoon some of our
men, who were drinking in a wine-shop, got into an altercation over the
merits of the two navies with several French seamen belonging to the
_Colbert_. The Frenchmen boasted that their ships were in every way
superior to ours; Jack strongly objected; from words the disputants
went to blows; and, in less time than it takes to write it, our fellows
were retreating down the street, pursued by a mixed crowd of French
soldiers, sailors, and civilians. Reports vary as to the damage done,
but it is, unfortunately, certain that at least a dozen of our men lost
their lives, and that the French loss was nearly as severe.
“We, of course, lay too far out to be able to hear or see anything of
the hubbub on shore. The first hint of what occurred came to us from
the ship’s chaplain, who, returning on board in a shore boat, reported
that a row was going on in the town. I went up into the top, whence
through the glass I could see our men crowding into other shore boats
and pushing off in great haste. There was much struggling, and I saw
occasional puffs of smoke, which, I knew, could not proceed from our
fellows, all of whom were, of course, unarmed. Being closely followed
by boats full of Frenchmen, our men made for the _Surprise_, which lay
closer in than the rest of the squadron. By this time the pursuers
were using firearms freely, and we realised that the business was a
very serious one. We were therefore ordered to man and arm boats and
to cover the retreat. Our fellows pulled like demons, and, with oars
and boat-hooks, fairly sunk one craft which came too close. Those of
us who remained on board were all on the bridge or in the top; but
just as we were wondering whether we should not have to open fire
with our machine guns, we were disappointed by the Commander-in-Chief
semaphoring from the flagship that, bearing in mind the evident gravity
of the situation, nothing must be done that might complicate matters.
This order did not, however, prevent our captain from directing the
magazines to be opened, and all preparations to be made that could
be made without too pronouncedly attracting the attention of the
French. Meanwhile our boats had gained the _Surprise_, and the men
were scrambling on board as fast as they could. A regular swarm of
French boats of all kinds was crowding round the ship, and the people
in them were screaming and gesticulating as if they were madmen. The
Commander-in-Chief went in his steam launch to the _Surprise_. Through
our glasses we watched his crew shoving the French boats aside, and
I doubt whether the shore people would have made room for the launch
to get alongside the dispatch vessel if a French officer had not
opportunely arrived on the spot in a torpedo boat from up the harbour.
When he appeared the French retired to a respectful distance, but
continued vociferating so loudly that we could quite plainly hear them.
The French officer followed our Admiral on board the _Surprise_, and
there had an interview with him. Not long afterwards they were joined
by a stout gold-laced, red-sashed dignitary from the shore; and the
two Frenchmen between them made out, or tried to make out, that our
bluejackets had begun the row, had deliberately murdered some men in
the wine-shop, and, in fine, that they only were to blame. Our Admiral,
of course, promised to institute the fullest inquiry; but the French
officers took a high-handed attitude from the first. They demanded that
all our men who had been ashore should be surrendered. Compliance with
this was out of the question. They then said that they had telegraphed
to Paris for instructions. Before the Commander-in-Chief got back
to the flagship, we saw that most of the French ships in harbour were
getting up steam.
“At a quarter to six all our captains were ordered on board the
Admiral. When our captain returned, he looked very serious, and sent
first for the commander, and then for the Fleet Engineer and all the
lieutenants, most of whom remained with him in his cabin for three
quarters of an hour. The French Admiral had promised to dine in the
evening on board our flagship, but he sent a somewhat awkward excuse.
If I may judge from what I saw in the wardroom in the _Benbow_, where
I was a guest, the business spoilt the dinners of every one in both
Fleets, for all our people had no end of work to do. We made as many
preparations for action as we could without actually going to quarters:
we got up steam for full speed; we kept unusually strict watch, and
allowed no boats to approach us; and most of us unshipped all the
pictures and breakables that we had in our cabins.
[Illustration: “CERTAIN CRAFT WERE ORDERED TO USE THEIR SEARCH-LIGHTS
IN COMBINATION.”]
“At seven, the _Surprise_, by order, shifted her berth, and took up
a fresh position outside our lines--we were anchored in two columns.
The _Scout_ and _Polyphemus_, under easy steam, went round the Fleet
and swept their search-lights shoreward continually. To guard against
sudden attack by torpedo boats, certain craft were ordered to use their
search-lights in combination in such a manner as to form a complete
path of brightness round the Fleet. The effect was very striking, but
it was also very puzzling, for the illumination not only intensified
the surrounding darkness, but also rendered it extremely difficult for
us to again ‘pick up’ any craft--and there were several about--after it
had once crossed the protected zone; and when half-an-hour’s experience
had thoroughly demonstrated this, the experiment was ordered to be
discontinued. The eyes of many of us had not, however, recovered from
the dazzling results of the trial when, some hours later, we needed our
best night sight; and I doubt whether we should not have been wiser had
we relied solely throughout upon such natural light as was vouchsafed
to us. At a quarter to nine a French steam launch went on board the
Commander-in-Chief, and half-an-hour later we all knew what it had come
out for. It brought a formal demand for the surrender by nine o’clock
this morning of every officer and man who had been ashore during the
day, and an imperious order that in the meantime no British vessel was
to leave the roadstead.
[Illustration: “A NUMBER OF FRENCH SHIPS WERE COMING OUT.”]
“As soon as the French launch had shoved off again, the
Commander-in-Chief signalled the Fleet to weigh. Almost at the same
moment the _Scout_ reported that a number of French ships were coming
out. They soon began to play their search-lights freely on us, but
we went on weighing as before, until one of their flagships, a great
ironclad as big as the _Trafalgar_, but much higher out of the water,
was abreast of the _Victoria_. It seems that the Frenchman hailed
the Commander-in-Chief, and with great politeness demanded whether
he intended to go to sea. Our lights showed us that all the French
ships were cleared for action, and were full of men. I suppose that
our Admiral said ‘Yes,’ and we half expected from the threatening
attitude of the enemy that fire would be opened at once. But the
French Fleet passed on, and went quietly out in single line ahead,
the battleships being between us and their own light craft, which,
naturally, kept off, and seemed to be in no regular formation. They
were all a mass of lights, and we could plainly see the officers in
full dress standing on the bridges and poops, and saluting us as they
passed, some of them at a distance of less than a couple of cables from
us. As far as I could count, there were sixteen battleships, eight or
nine cruisers, and over a dozen torpedo boats.[1] When they had got
well outside of us, they suddenly extinguished all their lights, as if
by preconcerted agreement, and ten minutes later another launch from
the shore went on board the Commander-in-Chief. One of our lieutenants
was in the flagship at the time for orders, and he told us on his
return that the French had sent to say that any further attempt on our
part to get away that night would, without hesitation, be prevented by
force. Of course we were at once sent to quarters--we had really been
at them all the evening, in the _Benbow_, at least. It was realised
that, right or wrong, it was impossible, in the circumstances, to
obey the dictation of any foreigner. At ten minutes past ten we got
under way, and formed in two columns of divisions line ahead, the
_Victoria_, _Camperdown_, _Edinburgh_, _Collingwood_, _Sanspareil_,
and _Inflexible_ constituting the starboard division in the order
named, and the _Trafalgar_, _Nile_, _Benbow_, _Colossus_, and
_Dreadnought_ the port. The _Polyphemus_ was a mile and a half ahead,
the _Undaunted_ an equal distance on the starboard bow, the _Australia_
an equal distance on the port bow, the _Scout_ on the starboard and the
_Fearless_ on the port quarter, and the _Surprise_ a mile and a half
astern. A rendezvous, which, for obvious reasons, I suppress, was given
us, and the course, so soon as we had made an offing, was south-west.
Although a guest on board, I, of course, volunteered to be of what use
I could.
[1] For the exact composition of the French Fleet, _vide_ the statement
at the end of this chapter.
“It was an intensely dark night, and there was a nasty sea from the
south-east, but very little wind; half a gale, which had been blowing
during the afternoon, having dropped at sundown.
“It is not my business--and, indeed, I am still far too fagged and
knocked up--to tell you much about our individual feelings and actions.
I believe that we were all determined to do our duty, and I venture to
think that, in what followed, most of us did it, although, for once,
the luck was against us. You at home must remember, ere you judge us,
that we were outnumbered, that several of our heaviest guns were very
defective even before the action began, that the speeds of our ships
were very unequal, and that, upon the whole, the French vessels were
better protected at the water-line than ours. I am bound to mention
these facts in justice to the hundreds of brave fellows who are gone.
It was not their fault that guns broke down, or that the Fleets were
un-equally matched. With anything like equal forces, the results of
this, the bloodiest naval fight that the world has yet seen, would,
I am confident, have been different. Surely the blame lies, not with
those who had to use the weapons, but rather with those who forged them
too weak and too few for the work required of them.
“For three hours we steamed at about ten knots, the slowness of the
older turret ships preventing our easily doing much more, save under
great pressure. We saw nothing of the French, and, as we showed no
lights, we had much difficulty in keeping station.
“At half-past one this morning, the _Polyphemus_ flashed a signal to
the effect that she had sighted the French Fleet about two miles ahead
of her, apparently lying to. We therefore altered course six points to
the eastward, so as to head south-south-east, and, if possible, avoid
the enemy; but I suspect the French must have seen the flashes by which
the order was signalled, for half-an-hour later, the _Scout_ reported
them a mile on her starboard quarter, steaming fast, and apparently
coming up with us. We then put on full steam to the utmost capacity of
our slowest ships, and again altered course two points to the eastward,
so as to bring our heads due south-east; but the Fleet, as a whole,
could not, it was soon found, do more than 10½ knots against the
sea which was running, the _Inflexible_ doing barely that, and lagging
behind in the most dangerous way. The Frenchmen, therefore, steadily
drew up with us, having altered course soon after we did, and being
able to steam fully 11½ knots, and perhaps more.
“It must have been inexpressibly galling to our gallant
Commander-in-Chief thus to be obliged to show his heels even to an
enemy of obviously superior force. But it is clear that he could not
have remained at Toulon, where he could have accomplished nothing
against the forts and batteries; and would, moreover, have been exposed
to destruction from mines, submarine boats, and torpedoes worked from
the shore, besides having to reckon with the French Fleet. It is clear,
too, I think, that in the circumstances it was his duty, if possible,
to avoid action; though on this point, there will probably be great
differences of opinion. When once the French were outside of him, he
had to think of Malta and Gibraltar, his immediate bases. I must,
however, leave these questions for others to discuss.
“At this time I was sent for by the captain, who was on the bridge
intently watching the _Nile_, whose huge hull ploughed through the
water two cables ahead of us, leaving in her wake a broad strip of foam
on the broken waves. The _Benbow’s_ bows plunged ever and anon into the
seas, which dashed aft against the barbette, well-nigh hid the muzzle
of the great gun as they burst, and deluged us with spray. We must have
had hundreds of tons of water at a time upon the forecastle, but the
ship rising, shook them off with scarcely an effort, and then plunged
again, as the rolling seas lifted her by the stern.
“We had no torpedo boats with us, and, had we had any, they would have
been only so many encumbrances in such a sea as was running. Even our
biggest boats--the 135 ft. ones--do not steam well in circumstances
like those which environed us early this morning; and, unfortunately,
we had nothing between them and the regular torpedo cruisers, _Scout_
and _Fearless_, vessels of 1580 tons displacement. Very useful indeed
to the Commander-in-Chief would have been a few fast gun-vessels of
the _Grasshopper_ or _Sharpshooter_ class, not so big as to be easily
visible, yet big enough to stand the knocking about and still preserve
a decent speed of 15 or 16 knots. Alas! we had nothing of the kind,
the _Landrail_ and _Sandfly_ being detached. The French, on the other
hand, were well provided in this respect. They had with them several
large torpedo boats, or _avisos-torpilleurs_, of the _Bombe_ class,
which served them in particularly good stead as scouts, and which,
being craft of over 300 tons displacement, could breast the sea. With
these, as we speedily found, they were able to creep up and observe us,
without being sighted until they were close upon us. We, therefore,
had an uneasy feeling that we were all the time being watched by spies
which remained almost invisible.
“Finding, at last, that it was hopeless to think of getting rid of the
foe by out-steaming him, the Admiral--the French being now reported
broad-on the _Inflexible’s_ starboard quarter, at a distance of between
two and three miles--decided to attack. He, therefore, in accordance
with a previously concerted arrangement, led his division ahead of
the other one, so placing himself in the van of a long single column
disposed in line ahead; and having completed this change of formation,
ordered the battleships to alter course in succession ten points to
starboard, and the cruisers to obey previous instructions, which seem
to have run to the effect that they were to be as useful as possible,
and to be ready to tow the ironclads, but not to needlessly imperil
themselves.
“It looked at first as if we were going to engage the enemy in the
old-fashioned manner, for the French were steaming in a direction
nearly at right angles with our line, and in single column; but they
very speedily altered formation, so as to bring themselves into a line
abreast in groups of three. In this formation the two fleets neared
one another, the _Trafalgar_ leading, the _Nile_ coming next, and
after us in succession coming the _Benbow_, _Colossus_, _Dreadnought_,
_Victoria_, _Agamemnon_, _Edinburgh_, _Collingwood_, _Sanspareil_, and
_Inflexible_.
[Illustration: “SUDDENLY A SHIP NEAR THE CENTRE OF THE FRENCH LINE
BEGAN TO USE HER SEARCH-LIGHTS.”]
“It was about half-past two o’clock. Suddenly a ship near the centre
of the French line began to use her search-lights on us, and fired a
blank charge. Immediately all the other vessels did the same, and we
soon followed suit, not, however, firing. Both sides seemed to feel
that to engage in darkness would be doubly dangerous; but, in truth,
the electric lights served only to render the situation more puzzling.
The effect of the light when it shines into the eyes of the spectator
is confusing in the extreme. It is absolutely impossible to decide, or
even to guess, how far off the projector, whence the beam comes, is;
and when the glare permits of surrounding objects being seen at all,
it seems generally to show them distorted or misplaced. Moreover, in
certain conditions of atmosphere, dependent, no doubt, upon the amount
of moisture in the air, the beam, instead of being translucent, has the
effect of a dazzling and semi-opaque white screen. Upon it, in these
circumstances, shadows can even be cast, and phenomena resembling the
mirage or the ‘Brocken spectre’ may be produced. I remember hearing Sir
Nowell Salmon, years ago, tell how once in his steam launch he actually
went in chase of one of these apparitions, and how he only discovered
that he was pursuing his own shadow when he had occasion to shake his
fist at the artificer in charge for not getting more speed out of the
boat. I mention this solely because I am sure that more harm than good
is, as a general rule, likely to be done during night actions by the
use of the search-light.
[Illustration: “THE EFFECT OF THE LIGHT WHEN IT SHINES IN THE EYES OF
THE SPECTATOR IS CONFUSING.”]
[Illustration: “IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GUESS HOW FAR OFF THE PROJECTOR
IS.”]
A moment later the French opened a perfectly awful fire on us,
apparently from every gun that would bear. It seemed as if the whole
horizon had become a mass of ragged smoke and belching flame. Only a
very few of our men happened to be on deck, but nearly all these were
killed or wounded. The captain himself, who was still on the bridge,
was wounded in the right leg, but he refused to go below. We got him
into the conning tower, however, without further injury, and I remained
at his side until the end, the enemy’s fire continuing, without
intermission, from the moment when it first began until the action was
over.
“The wind being so light as to scarcely stir the air, and that little
coming now from the north-west, such smoke as did not hang rolled
gently down the French line, and shrouded from us the greater part
of it. Almost ahead of us was a group of ships, which I took to be
the _Formidable_, _Hoche_, and _Marceau_. As the Admiral neared them
he swerved to port and went straight for the _Formidable_, while we
swerved to starboard and headed for what I believe was the _Marceau_.
The _Nile_ went for the remaining one. We thus put ourselves to
windward of the flagship, and the smoke of her guns, as she opened
fire, hid her from us. But I could see our immediate opponent quite
plainly, a great towering single-funnelled three-masted ironclad, with
a central battery, lofty sponsons, and a high forecastle. At less than
a cable’s distance we got one shell from our fore barbette gun fairly
into her starboard bow, where it burst, wrecking all the fore part of
her. At almost the same instant, however, something struck our conning
tower and caused nearly everything in it to fly, so depriving us of
our communication with the people at the guns, except by means of
the voice tubes which still held, but which were, in the din, nearly
useless. There were only the captain, the staff-commander, myself, and
two signalmen in the confined little box, from which, of course, no one
could be spared, and which, for the moment, was practically cut off
from the rest of the ship. The 6-inch guns in our starboard battery
fired once; but in vain did we shout down the voice tubes for them to
continue, although we were now almost brushing the paint off the
Frenchman’s side as she just managed to escape our ram, and although we
might, had we given her a broadside from our guns well depressed, have
blown her bottom out. In the meantime she was treating us terribly; and
it was not until we had passed through the enemy and well beyond him
that it was possible for us to send a man below to convey orders and to
report upon what had happened.
“The news that came up soon afterwards was even worse than I had feared
to learn. The whole starboard side of the box battery was beaten in,
two of the guns in it were dismounted, and every man in the battery had
been killed or wounded. Part of the hydraulic loading apparatus of the
gun in the fore barbette had broken down, and the gun was useless; the
funnels were so knocked to pieces as to seriously reduce our steaming
power, two 5½ inch projectiles had hit us and pierced us below the
water-line, and two of our compartments were flooded. There were many
other damages, the details of which were not reported, and there was no
time, of course, for full inquiry.
[Illustration: “A TORPEDO HIT US ON THE PORT BOW.”]
“The captain, in spite of his injuries, was still able to retain
command, and he had, after clearing the French line, brought the ship
round sixteen points to port, in order to renew the action with the
_Marceau_; or, in case we could not discover her, to engage some other
ship. But scarcely had we turned ere we were attacked by two of the
_avisos-torpilleurs_, to which I have already alluded, as well as by
several torpedo boats of a smaller type. Ahead of us the battle was
raging, and the night was lurid with flash and explosion; but abreast
and astern of us all was darkness, and out of this darkness our little
foes dashed upon us suddenly from all directions. At the first onset,
as I have explained, our men had been driven from the quick-firing and
machine guns on the upper deck by the enemy’s terrible fire. Many of
these guns had been dismounted or injured, and the torpedo boats came
on while those guns which had escaped were being again manned. For a
few seconds, in consequence, we had nothing with which to meet the
attack, and, in the meantime, the enemy was blazing away at us from
his 3-pounders and machine guns. We tried to use our search-lights
once more, but we could not get them to work, probably because the
cables had been destroyed. We did, however, succeed in opening fire to
a limited extent before the enemy got very close, and, I believe, we
sunk one of the small boats. But, although the men behaved splendidly,
and worked at the guns with admirable steadiness, the game was up. A
torpedo hit us on the port bow, just under the forward sponson; and, in
an instant, or, rather, as soon as we realised what had happened, we
knew that the dear old _Benbow_ was done for. The shock was tremendous,
and threw us all down, for the ship’s bows rose violently into the air,
and trembled as if they had been wrenched and twisted by some angry
giant. But, bruised and bloody as we were, we were soon up again. The
entrance to the conning tower was half blocked with the _débris_ of
boats and booms, yet the captain, in spite of his wound, managed to
struggle out on deck, and I followed. Several boats were by this time
almost alongside, and, as we appeared, a French lieutenant in one of
them cooly removed his hat, and made a motion as if to ask whether we
surrendered. The captain fired his revolver at the gallant fellow, and,
even as he did so, fell back, shot through the chest by a bullet from a
machine gun. ‘Don’t haul it down while we float,’ he cried, as he lay
writhing in his last brief agony: ‘remember what they will say at home.’
[Illustration: “BY THE ENEMY’S TERRIBLE FIRE.”]
[Illustration: “REMEMBER WHAT THEY WILL SAY AT HOME.”]
“We did not haul it down. We drove the boats off, and gave them a weak
cheer as they went, but the ship was by that time settling rapidly down
by the head, with a frightful heel to port. The boats were ordered to
be got out. They were, however, all knocked to pieces. We did our best
also to steam back into the still battling fleets, feeling that no fate
could be much worse than the one which immediately threatened us; but
the water had got into the stokeholes, owing, I suspect, to some of the
bulkheads having given way under the pressure, and we could not move.
Just when everything seemed most hopeless, I saw what looked like a
small cruiser rapidly making for us, with all her lights showing. But
she came too late for most of us. While she was still a full mile away
the _Benbow’s_ stern rose high out of the water, so high as to send
everything and everybody on deck adrift, and then, with a great gurgle,
the ship dived down bows first.
“I have no further recollection that helps me to explain how, when the
day was beginning to dawn, I found myself clinging to a splintered
grating, alone upon the sea. I was dizzy and chill, and sore from
head to foot, and I was almost naked, but I clung on mechanically.
Indeed, my arms were so stiff that it seemed that I could scarcely have
unclasped them, even if I had wished to do so. As the sun rose I caught
sight of a vessel under steam, less than half a mile from me; and,
although I was able to make no effort to attract attention, I was, in
another quarter of an hour, so fortunate as to be picked up by a boat
which was sent for me by the commander of the _Agostino Barberigo_, and
to be taken on board by the kindly Italians. They tell me that at first
I could give no account of myself, and that I could neither speak nor
stand, but they treated me so well that by midday I recovered.
“My first question was, naturally, about the Fleet. Terrible, even
beyond my apprehension, is the fragmentary story which my rescuers told
me. The _Agostino Barberigo_ had been almost within gunshot during
the action, which had lasted for less than an hour. After the battle,
her commander had hailed the French ironclad _Amiral Baudin_, and had
learned that, of our ten battleships, five--namely, the _Benbow_,
_Camperdown_, _Edinburgh_, _Inflexible_, and _Collingwood_--had been
either sunk or compelled to strike, and that of the remainder, two at
least, although they had temporarily got away, were entirely disabled.
One of these was understood to be the _Victoria_, in which, quite
early in the engagement, there had, apparently, been some serious
accident. The fate of the _Polyphemus_ was unknown, but she had rammed
or torpedoed and sunk the _Trident_. The _Australia_ had got away,
but the _Undaunted_, towards the end of the action, had made a gallant
endeavour to ram the _Vauban_, and, although she had considerably
damaged her, had been sunk, firing as she went down. The _Surprise_
had got away, but was on fire when last seen. The _Fearless_, after
colliding with one of our own vessels and having her bows stove in, had
been taken. The _Scout_ had rammed and sunk the cruiser _Sfax_, but had
herself gone down, though I am glad to be able to add that most of her
officers and crew are safe on board the cruiser _Cécille_. Finally, in
addition to the _Trident_ and _Sfax_, the French are said to have lost
the _Vautour_ cruiser and the _Kabyle_--_torpilleur de haute mer_--as
well as two small torpedo boats.
“But the victory, which is an undoubted one, lies with them. Our
Mediterranean Fleet, as such, exists no longer. Half of it has
been destroyed or taken; the other half is disabled, and, in all
probability, scattered. Never before, in all her history, has England
experienced so complete a disaster upon the sea, and it can be but
slight satisfaction to us to know that to purchase this grand success
our enemies have spent an old second-class ironclad, a large but not
very new cruiser, and three or four small craft, even when we know also
that many of their other vessels must be severely damaged.
“When I was picked up I was nearly ten miles from the scene of the
action; and, so far as I know, I am the only one of my ship’s company
that has escaped, though one cannot but trust that others were picked
up by the cruiser which was approaching us when we went down. The
_Agostino Barberigo_ had, however, on board about thirty bluejackets
and a wounded sub-lieutenant, whom she saved when the _Camperdown_
sank; and it is certain that in the French Fleet, the greater part of
which put back to Toulon, there are many other survivors.
“I can add no more. As a British officer who, as a volunteer, has tried
to do his duty, I cannot, nevertheless, avoid expressing the opinion
that if we had had a proper Mediterranean Fleet--one equal or superior
to that of the French, this grievous disaster would not have occurred.
We allowed ourselves to be lulled to sleep by the peaceful aspect of
affairs here; and the unforeseen storm has found us unprepared to cope
with it. Such Fleet as we had was weak, not only numerically, but also
in armour and armament; for enormous guns and partial belts have proved
a failure. We have been pinning our faith too much to these partial
water-line belts, and to guns of monstrous proportions. The only one of
the _Sanspareil’s_ big guns that was fired broke down; the other could
not, for some reasons which I have not been able to discover, be fired
at all. And I am informed, by a seaman who belongs to the _Victoria_,
but who had been lent as a signalman to the _Camperdown_, that the
accident already alluded to as having occurred in the _Victoria_
was, in fact, the bursting of a 110-ton gun in her turret. If I can,
ere I start for home, learn any further details of our unexampled
misfortune, I will lose no time in telegraphing them. I am aware
that this account leaves much to be desired. The awful circumstances
in which it is written must be my excuse. The fact that I have, in a
short hour, lost, as I cannot but believe, most of my shipmates and
dearest friends, gives me personally such poignant pain that I can
barely concentrate my thoughts; but even more am I overwhelmed by the
consciousness of the irreparable loss in officers and material that
has fallen upon the country. Would that half the gallant fellows who
perished to-day were still at the call of England; for sorely will she
need them.”
Thus the bolt fell from a clear sky, and, within a few hours, the two
most powerful naval nations of the world found themselves engaged in
deadly struggle.
Elsewhere in its issue of that Black Wednesday, the _Times_ gave
particulars (see Table, p. 64), derived from other sources, of the
victorious French Fleet. It also mentioned, in a leading article, that
the telegraphic dispatch above quoted had been sent to it by Lieutenant
Thomas Bowling, R.N., an officer on half-pay, who had been present
as a guest in the ill-fated _Benbow_. And in its later editions it
contained a great deal of bad news from a spot far less distant than
the Mediterranean. This news will be found in the next chapter.
-------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE.
_French Fleet Engaged in the Action of April 27th-28th._
-----------------------+---------+--------+-------+----------
| Tons. | H.P. | Guns. | Men.
-----------------------+---------+--------+-------+----------
Battleship-- | | | |
_Amiral Baudin_ | 11,380 | 8,320 | 15 | 500
_Courbet_ | 9,652 | 8,112 | 14 | 670
_Dévastation_ | 9,639 | 8,154 | 14 | 685
_Formidable_ | 11,441 | 9,700 | 15 | 500
_Hoche_ | 10,650 | 11,300 | 20 | 660
_Marceau_ | 10,581 | 12,000 | 21 | 660
_Amiral Duperré_ | 10,487 | 8,120 | 19 | 664
_Caïman_ | 7,200 | 6,000 | 6 | 332
_Friedland_ | 8,824 | 4,428 | 16 | 676
_Indomptable_ | 7,168 | 6,605 | 6 | 332
_Richelieu_ | 8,767 | 4,240 | 19 | 720
_Trident_ | 8,456 | 5,083 | 16 | 730
_Colbert_ | 7,713 | 6,230 | 6 | 332
_Redoubtable_ | 8,857 | 6,071 | 14 | 700
_Vauban_ | 6,150 | 4,561 | 11 | 440
_Bayard_ | 5,986 | 4,538 | 12 | 450
| | | |
Cruiser-- | | | |
_Cosmao_ | 1,877 | 6,000 | 4 | 150
_Troude_ | 1,877 | 6,000 | 4 | 150
_Lalande_ | 1,877 | 6,000 | 4 | 150
_Sfax_ | 4,502 | 6,522 | 16 | 473
_Jean Bart_ | 4,122 | 8,000 | 10 | 360
_Cécille_ | 5,766 | 9,600 | 16 | 486
_Faucon_ | 1,240 | 3,233 | 3 | 134
_Vautour_ | 1,280 | 3,391 | 5 | 134
_Condor_ | 1,240 | 3,582 | 5 | 134
_Wattignies_ | 1,310 | 4,000 | 5 | 140
| | | |
Torpedo gun-vessels-- | | | |
_Dragonne_ | 395 | 2,000 | Q.F. | 63
_Dague_ | 395 | 2,000 | ” | 63
_Leger_ | 450 | 2,200 | ” | 63
_Bombe_ | 395 | 2,000 | ” | 63
_Levrier_ | 450 | 2,200 | ” | 63
-----------------------+---------+--------+-------+----------
And the first-class torpedo boats _Ayéla_, _Audacieux_, _Coureur_,
_Ouragan_, _Téméraire_, _Kabyle_, _Orage_, _Aventurier_, and _Eclair_.
CHAPTER III.
SOME STAGGERING BLOWS.
In the first edition, already extensively quoted from, of its issue of
Wednesday, April 29th, the _Times_ contained the following telegram
from its Portsmouth correspondent:--
“PORTSMOUTH, Tuesday, 9.30 p.m.--H.M.S. _Invincible_, guardship
at Southampton, arrived here early this afternoon, and is now at
Spithead, where H.M.S. _Hero_, _Minotaur_, _Hercules_, _Glatton_,
_Galatea_, _Latona_, _Iris_, _Bellona_, _Seagull_, and _Rattlesnake_,
all vessels belonging to the A Division of the Fleet Reserve of this
port, are also at anchor. The ten ships last named represent the
only Portsmouth vessels that are immediately available, and several
of them are not really quite fit for sea. Moreover, they are all, at
present, short-handed. It may be recollected that some time ago, when
the five cruisers and two gun-vessels of the Australian Squadron were
commissioned, the rule restricting service on the Australian station
to men of five years’ standing and upwards was suspended in order to
provide crews for them, and that, in addition, many men were taken out
of the harbour ships. From the depletion which was thus caused, the
Royal Dockyards and the various Naval Barracks have never completely
recovered; and in consequence there has to-day been the greatest
difficulty in finding for the mobilised vessels even sufficient crews
to take them to Spithead. Other ships could be sent thither, if only
men were forthcoming. The ten warships that have been commissioned here
would, to man them properly, need 2800 officers and men. Barely 1200
were available, and, although a few men of the Royal Naval Reserve have
offered themselves, and have been gladly accepted, I doubt whether the
total number of people now on board the ships in question exceeds 1500
all told. All kinds of civilians are volunteering, but none of them are
accepted pending the receipt of instructions from the Admiralty. The
ships are in the meantime busily engaged in getting in their powder and
shell, and work is, while I write, being energetically carried on by
the aid of the electric light. All the seaward forts are manned, and
many of the buoys and beacons have been to-day removed, nor were the
usual lights exhibited this evening; but unfortunately the conflict
between the naval and the military authorities continues, and it is but
too evident that the rapid perfecting of our defensive preparations
is being dangerously delayed by the fact that the local command is
divided. I learn, as I close this dispatch, that the _Alexandra_,
flagship of the Reserve Squadron, from Portland, has also arrived and
has anchored at Spithead. The _Hotspur_ from Harwich, the _Audacious_
from Hull, the _Shannon_ from Bantry, and the _Neptune_ from Holyhead,
are expected in the course of to-morrow, and the _Iron Duke_ from
Queensferry, the _Superb_ from Greenock, and the _Belleisle_ from
Kingstown on Thursday.”
[Illustration: “THE ‘ALEXANDRA’ HAS ALSO ARRIVED.”]
The same issue also contained the appended brief reports from Plymouth
and the Medway:--
“PLYMOUTH, Tuesday, 11 a.m.--The _Conqueror_, _Achilles_, _Gorgon_,
_Hecate_, _Prince Albert_, _Forth_, _Inconstant_, _Thames_, _Spanker_,
and _Sharpshooter_ have to-day gone out of harbour, and are now
anchored with the _Black Prince_ within the breakwater. They are
the only vessels at this port that are in anything like a state of
immediate readiness for sea, yet they are only half manned, and there
is no probability, so far as can at present be seen, of providing
proper complements for more than half of them.”
“SHEERNESS, Tuesday, 11 p.m.--The following vessels of the Medway
Fleet Reserve, A Division, are now here--_viz._, _Empress of India_,
_Northampton_, _Cyclops_, _Hydra_, _Narcissus_, _Arethusa_, _Mersey_,
_Medea_, _Medusa_, _Barracouta_, _Grasshopper_, _Salamander_,
_Skipjack_, and _Sheldrake_. Though all of them have been officially
reported as ready for sea, several--notably some of the cruisers and
gun-vessels--are suffering from various temporary defects, and not one
is, or at present can be properly manned, as neither lieutenants nor
men are available in sufficient numbers. The _Empress_ is reported to
have developed defects in her big guns, and is therefore partially
useless. The _Blenheim_ is not completed, but she may be got ready in
ten days.”
[Illustration: “THE CHANNEL FLEET HAS BEEN ORDERED HOME.”]
It was further announced that the Channel Fleet, consisting of the
battleships _Royal Sovereign_, _Anson_, _Howe_, and _Rodney_, the
belted cruisers _Aurora_ and _Immortalité_, and the small craft
_Curlew_ and _Speedwell_, was at Vigo, and had been ordered home by
telegraph, _viâ_ the Falmouth-Vigo cable. It might be expected at
Spithead on Saturday morning. Most of the above-quoted news was of
an unsatisfactory nature; for though the mention of so many ships as
being more or less ready for sea inspired a certain vague confidence in
the mind of the average layman as he sat at his breakfast table, the
admission that, owing to lack of men, half of them were really useless,
was one the significance of which could not but strike even him who
had only the most casual knowledge of naval affairs. To the expert the
reports were still more painful, for every expert knew well enough that
ships like the _Minotaur_, _Shannon_, _Achilles_, _Prince Albert_,
and others were, manned or unmanned, of little value save on paper.
Naturally, therefore, the early morning news, and particularly the
terrible intelligence of the catastrophe off Toulon, aroused immense
excitement and universal uneasiness. But excitement does not at once
betray itself. Men must first meet and talk, and hear one another’s
views and apprehensions concerning what has happened and what is to
come. And ere they had time to meet and talk on that awful Wednesday,
more alarming news than had yet reached them arrived, and drove them
from a state of repressed excitement into a condition of panic.
The French had struck boldly, promptly, and effectively at Toulon,
but, alas! not only there. Before ten o’clock a second edition of
each of the morning papers announced the occurrence of a fresh and
more humiliating catastrophe than that which had befallen us in the
Mediterranean. The _Standard’s_ account is here given:--
“PORTSMOUTH, Wednesday, 6.45 a.m.--While lamenting the magnitude of the
misfortune that has just overtaken a great part of the Fleet assembled
here, and the dreadful fate that has overwhelmed I am afraid to say
how many hundreds of Her Majesty’s officers and men, it is impossible
to avoid admiring the energy and dash of an enemy who, almost as soon
as war is declared, succeeds in planting a deadly blow at our very
vitals. What has happened is shocking in the extreme; but it is also
marvellous. With a suddenness that seems almost inexplicable, the
squadron at Spithead has been practically destroyed. Late last night it
seemed ready to go anywhere and do anything; this morning the little
that exists of it is a shattered remnant, barely able to keep itself
afloat, and utterly useless for any of the purposes of the immediate
future.
“I had, as you are aware, obtained authority from the Admiralty to
proceed to sea as a passenger on board H.M.S. _Alexandra_ during the
Channel cruise, which it was yesterday announced the Reserve Squadron
would undertake as soon as it could be assembled at Spithead. The only
ships of the squadron to arrive yesterday were the _Invincible_ from
Southampton and the _Alexandra_ from Portland. The latter did not
take up her anchorage until between nine and ten o’clock at night;
but as she had been previously sighted and signalled, I--with some
difficulty--engaged a shore boat and was at Spithead, ready to board
her when she appeared. The ships already there were anchored in two
lines, which stretched from the south-west, nearly abreast of No
Man’s Land and the Horse Sand to the north-west, abreast of Gilkicker
Point and Ryde. The heavier part of the Fleet formed the line which
lay nearest to the Isle of Wight, and, beginning from the south-east,
consisted of the _Hercules_, _Minotaur_, _Alexandra_, _Hero_,
_Invincible_, and _Glatton_. The cruiser squadron formed the line
which lay nearest to the harbour, and, beginning from the south-east,
consisted of the _Rattlesnake_, _Bellona_, _Iris_, _Galatea_,
_Latona_, and _Seagull_. There were thus six vessels in each line, the
_Rattlesnake_ being abreast of the _Hercules_, the _Bellona_ of the
_Minotaur_, and so on; and there was a distance of two cables between
the ships of each line, and of four cables between the lines.
[Illustration: “SHIPS WERE TAKING IN POWDER AND SHELL.”]
“Most of the ships, when I reached Spithead, were taking in powder and
shell, and were doing so by the light of their search-lights, from the
hoys and barges which lay alongside. Some ships, also, were completing
with coal. All, moreover, were taking in sea stores and supplies of
every kind, the result being that night seemed to be turned into day,
and that Spithead was crowded with boats and launches. I boarded the
_Alexandra_ as soon as she had taken up her berth between the
_Minotaur_ and the _Hero_; but, though it was getting late, there was,
of course, no thought of turning in. Indeed, even if there had been
no work on hand, and if Spithead had been as quiet as it commonly is
at ten o’clock, there was so much anxiety in every ship concerning
the news from the Mediterranean, and such continuous expectation that
weighty intelligence of some sort would presently be brought off by
one of the numerous craft from the shore, that no one cared to go to
sleep lest perchance he might not hear the first word of definite
intelligence. The few officers who had leisure to sit in the ward-room
and smoking-room could talk of nothing but the war and the ships up the
Straits. Those who had to be on deck thought, if they did not talk, on
the same subjects. The Vice-Admiral and captain had gone ashore to see
the Commander-in-Chief; the ship was in charge of the commander; and I
had nothing better to do than to take stock of the scene around me.
“Alongside the _Hero_ a hoy was hoisting out powder cases and boxes
of ammunition, which were stacked around the turret on her low deck
forward, and thence gradually removed to the magazines below. The
_Minotaur_ was filling up with coal, and had a barge on each side
of her. The _Iris_, abreast of us, was, like the _Hero_, taking in
her powder, and also a number of huge electro-contact mines--great
red-painted iron cases, which must have weighed nearly a ton a-piece.
We at first did nothing, but soon a coal barge came alongside, and we
began not only to fill up our bunkers, but also to pile coal on our
decks, for the order had gone forth that every ship was to be coaled
to her utmost capacity. Usually when a ship is coaling her ports
are closed, and pains are taken to exclude as much as possible the
all-pervading dust; but we and the other ships were coaling cleared for
action, and with half the guns loaded and run out. No vessel had her
torpedo nets completely down, as all had craft alongside; but all had
a certain number of boats out, and the whole anchorage between the Nab
on the east and Hurst Castle on the west was supposed to be patrolled
by these and by torpedo boats. A large amount of material in the shape
of spars and buoys had been towed out of harbour during the day, with
a view to constructing substantial defence booms, within which ships
might lie in safety; but the work of construction had not been begun,
and most of the material was anchored on No Man’s Land, where it was to
remain for the night. No one, I think I may safely say, thought that
there was the slightest probability of our being attacked. At midnight,
however, with a view to making all sure, a couple of first-class
torpedo boats were sent out by each entrance, and the four were ordered
to scout between Christchurch and Selsea Bill, and at the back of the
Isle of Wight.
[Illustration: “A COUPLE OF FIRST-CLASS TORPEDO BOATS WERE SENT OUT.”]
“Portsmouth, as the crow flies, is only about seventy knots--nautical
miles--from Cherbourg. A vessel steaming, therefore, at a speed of
fifteen knots, should do the distance easily in five hours. Our
enemy must have come from Cherbourg. He can scarcely, indeed, in the
circumstances, have come from anywhere else; and he probably left
Cherbourg at about nine o’clock, for he came upon us soon after two
this morning. The sea was smooth, the night was dark and chilly, and
our vitality was at its lowest, as most men’s vitality is in the small
hours, when suddenly, apparently not more than two or three miles from
us, we heard the boom of a gun. In an instant all were on deck. Some
declared that the sound had come from the east; others swore that they
had seen the flash light up the sky over Egypt Point to the westward.
The commander at once ordered away all the craft from alongside, and
directed that the nets were to be fully rigged out; but, as everyone
knows, lighters and barges cannot be got rid of in an instant, and long
before the order could have been obeyed, we and our consorts were in
the midst of one of the bloodiest struggles of which history gives any
record.
“Within a minute of the time when we heard the first report we heard
others, and saw over Bembridge Point the bouquet of a rocket which,
we knew, had been fired by one of our boats as a signal that the
enemy was approaching in force. I am not exaggerating, and I in no
way do injustice to our officers and men, when I say that a scene of
the direst confusion followed. The captain of the _Hercules_ was the
senior officer present. He signalled by means of flash lights from his
mast-head, ‘Cruisers will slip their cables and proceed with dispatch
to sea in search of the enemy, those lying to eastward of the _Galatea_
going out by the eastward, and those lying to westward of the _Iris_
going out by the westward entrance. Rendezvous, Spithead, 8 a.m.
Battleships will prepare to slip cables and follow--’ But the signal
was never completed. The shore boats and lighters were still pushing
off; our officers were still shouting at them from the bridge and
gangways for their delay, and the poor bum-boat women were shrieking,
partly from fear and partly because they and their goods had been
separated, when another rocket and yet another went up from a point
well on our side of the Nab, and, under the glare of their explosions,
we saw, not a mile and a half from us, three or four low-lying black
hulls, which we knew could only be those of the torpedo cruisers of
the enemy. In an instant, and forgetful of our torpedo boats, which
must have sent up the warning rockets, and which must, therefore,
have been not far out of the line of fire, every vessel that could
bring a gun of any kind to bear, opened in the direction of the foe.
The roar was infernal, and, for a brief period, the dense smoke hid
everything from us; but such slight air as there was gently carried the
smoke to the westward, and soon we could see the enemy again. He was
apparently none the worse for his reception, and was now much nearer
to us. Fire was re-opened, and maintained with fury. The _Alexandra_
was incommoded somewhat by the ships to windward of her, and fired
only occasionally; but the _Hercules_, _Minotaur_, and _Rattlesnake_
seemed to blaze away almost without intermission, and the volumes of
smoke that came slowly to leeward showed how freely they were spending
their powder. The enemy fired very little. We expected to hear him
using his torpedoes. And use them he did, but not from the direction
which we anticipated. That attack had lasted, I suppose, a quarter of
an hour, and there had been little, if any, cessation of the firing
from our side, when, to our consternation, a second attack quickly
developed itself from the westward. It is quite clear to me now that
the eastward attack by three or four torpedo cruisers--probably vessels
of the _Condor_ and _Bombe_ types--was merely a feint intended to amuse
us while the real attack from the westward was being made. The Needles,
or westward passage to Spithead, is not a particularly easy one in any
circumstances, and is commanded not only by numerous batteries, but
also by the Brennan torpedo station at Fort Cliff End; but our enemies
chose to take the risk of coming to grief in their attempt to find
their way in by that passage, and it must be sadly admitted that the
results have more than justified their temerity.
[Illustration: “EVERY VESSEL OPENED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FOE.”]
[Illustration: “IT WAS FEARFUL WORK; THE VERY SILENCE OF THE GREY BOATS
MADE THE SCENE THE MORE IMPRESSIVE.”]
“The real attack was delivered by torpedo boats only, some being of
the ‘_haute mer_’ type, and others of the ordinary first-class. The
larger vessels seem to have acted as ‘division boats,’ and there appear
to have been four divisions engaged, each division on this occasion
consisting of one _torpilleur de haute mer_ and three torpedo boats,
making sixteen craft all told. I do not pretend to be certain either
as to the exact numbers or as to the exact constitution of the force;
but those who had the best opportunities of knowing, place both as I
have given them. The flotilla must have evaded our scouts, possibly
by first making the land near Christchurch and then by keeping close
under it; for it was not seen until, almost like a flash, it steamed in
close order past Fort Cliff End. Both Fort Cliff End and Hurst Castle
were using their search-lights, and it was owing to this fact that
the enemy was discovered. But the forts were unprepared for instant
action, and ere fire of any kind could be opened, the boats were
somewhere abreast of the Bramble, and within ten or twelve minutes’
steam of their quarry. Even when the forts did open they did no harm,
for the smoke of the action which was raging at the other end of the
anchorage was drifting between them and the enemy. Besides, when the
search-lights from the forts, or later, from the ships, fell upon
any particular craft, they rendered all the other craft of the enemy
completely invisible; and the operators, speedily becoming conscious
of this fact, and being anxious to show up as many of the enemy as
possible, shifted their projectors so rapidly as to confuse the eyes
of the men at the guns. The truth seems to be that the most effective
shelter under which a torpedo boat can approach to do damage is the
shelter afforded by a search-light played upon some other vessel by the
intended victim. Moreover, very few guns could be brought to bear, the
chief works being so constructed as to be almost powerless for action
on the Solent side, and being mainly designed to impede the foe as he
comes in from the west-south-west, not to destroy him after he has got
in. Thus the French steamed up without let or hindrance to within quite
a short distance of the _Glatton_ and _Seagull_, which formed, as
I have already said, the north-eastern extremities of our two lines.
These ships, or their picket boats, sighted the flotilla when it cannot
have been anything like a mile from them. At the first shot from the
Fleet, or perhaps before it, the divisions must have separated in
order to act in accordance with orders previously given to them. Two
divisions, now formed in a single column of line ahead, came up at full
speed between our lines. The other two divisions, disposed respectively
on the port and starboard quarters of the central divisions, came up
also in columns of line ahead, one on each side of the still anchored
Fleet. The central divisions came on therefore at a distance of about
two cables from the ships on either beam of them. The other divisions
kept about as far outside the lines, and the speed I imagine was fully
eighteen knots. As the boats executed that terrible rush through us,
they were saluted with a perfect hurricane of projectiles; but they
did not, so far as I know, fire a gun in reply, and I fear that a
good many of our own shot intended for the central divisions must
have done more harm to friend than to foe. It was fearful work: the
very silence of the grey boats made the now brilliantly illuminated
though smoke-dimmed scene the more impressive. One could not help
admiring so splendid an exhibition of pluck, even though one was fully
conscious of the magnitude and imminence of one’s own peril. But
there was little time for thought. Our lines were less than a mile in
length. Travelling at eighteen knots a boat covers a mile in about
three minutes, and in five or six minutes at the outside the dismal
tragedy had begun and ended. The French launched their torpedoes with
wonderful precision, the central divisions discharging both right
and left, and the outside divisions, which approached a few seconds
later, apparently endeavouring to rectify any mistakes or omissions
which their comrades of the centre had been guilty of. Too well, alas!
did they do the business. It is as yet too early to send you details,
save of what happened to the vessels immediately within my own sphere
of vision; but there is no hope, that, by waiting, I can obtain any
less disheartening general results than those which I can already
give you. The _Hero_, _Invincible_, _Iris_, _Galatea_, and _Bellona_
have been sunk or have been obliged to run ashore to avoid sinking;
the _Minotaur_ has been blown up, the explosion of a torpedo having,
it is believed, fired some of the explosive stores which she had just
taken on board; the _Alexandra_ has a great hole in her port quarter
and a compartment full of water; and the _Glatton_ has a hole in her
bows. Only the _Hercules_, _Latona_, _Seagull_, and _Rattlesnake_
have escaped uninjured. A torpedo, barely submerged, seems to have
actually exploded in contact with the _Hercules_, but that ship’s stout
construction and armoured belt saved her from anything worse than a
very severe shaking. Several lighters and small craft were also sunk;
and the loss of life, in one way and another, is, I fear, frightful.
It is doubtful whether more than fifty of the _Minotaur’s_ people
survive. The blowing up of the vessel was so violent that we, who were
anchored immediately astern of her, felt as if we were jerked out
of the water, and a moment later our decks were covered with and even
set on fire by her burning fragments. May I never live to have another
so awful experience. Limbs, ragged pieces of charred flesh, scraps
of clothing, as well as wreckage, fell on board of us; and the shock
of the explosion smashed everything in the _Alexandra_ that had not
already been shattered by the bursting of a French torpedo under her
own port quarter. The _Iris_ was struck just before we were, and, being
in a sinking condition, was run on to the Sturbridge Sand, where she
lies with her bows in two and a half fathoms. The _Bellona_ is on the
Harrow Bank, immediately under Fort Monckton. The _Galatea_ and _Hero_
lie sunk at their anchorages; and I am sorry to have to say that, in
the struggle, a quantity of ammunition on the _Hero’s_ deck blew up,
killing and injuring a number of people. The _Invincible_ sank while
endeavouring to run on to the outer Spit. The heaviest losses were
suffered by the _Minotaur_, _Hero_, and _Galatea_. The other ships have
lost very few men killed, but have had a good many wounded; and in all
the vessels which were torpedoed there were numerous sufferers from
the poisonous and suffocating effects of the explosive gases and from
shock. The _Alexandra’s_ loss is ten killed, and sixty-four wounded or
otherwise injured. The torpedo which struck her threw down everyone on
board, and raised a column of water of such volume that when part of it
fell on deck, it washed men into the scuppers just as if it had been a
heavy sea.
[Illustration: “MAY I NEVER LIVE TO HAVE ANOTHER SO AWFUL EXPERIENCE.”]
[Illustration: “THEY RENDERED ALL THE OTHER CRAFT OF THE ENEMY
INVISIBLE.”]
[Illustration: “THE ATTACK ON THE ‘HERCULES.’”]
“The enemy also have suffered, but very slightly in comparison with
us. Two _torpilleurs de haute mer_ and four torpedo boats are said to
have been sunk or blown up, and of those which got away several are
known to have been badly damaged. Whether our fire did any harm worth
mentioning to the small cruisers which began the affair is more than we
can tell. We cannot, however, claim to have done much more than destroy
six little craft, and to have worked other harm which, altogether,
may represent a quarter of a million. The French have done us damage
to the extent of at least two and a quarter millions in money alone.
They may have lost a hundred in killed and wounded; we, at the lowest
computation, have lost nearly a thousand. The blow, therefore, is one
the seriousness of which it would be folly to shut one’s eye to. It is,
as far as the Portsmouth squadron is concerned, a thoroughly crippling
one.
“That the French attack was both well designed and well carried out it
is impossible to deny. It came swiftly after the declaration of war;
it was so arranged as to give the attacking torpedo boats the full
advantage not only of the feint from the eastward, but also of such
wind as was moving; and it was designed in such a way as to place the
torpedo boats, after they had done their work, in a position whence,
in case of necessity, they could be rescued by their friends the
cruisers. In fact it cannot be doubted that, after their wild rush
through our lines, some of the boats must have been very glad to run at
once under the protection of their larger consorts; for several of
them were certainly badly mauled. Of our own four boats which went out
at midnight to scout we have as yet heard nothing; but there is every
reason to fear, at least with regard to those which were on the eastern
side of the Isle of Wight, that they have been destroyed or captured.
The _Rattlesnake_ slipped her cable and followed the retreating enemy
for some miles, but was recalled by the Vice-Admiral, who was returning
from the shore when the alarm was first given, and whose steam launch
narrowly escaped being run down by the port line of French torpedo
boats as the vessels turned at the head of our port line in order to
rejoin their friends. The Spithead forts, I should add, did not fire
during the engagement. It is rumoured that they had not been supplied
with ammunition. The Commander-in-Chief has just left harbour in his
yacht, the _Fire Queen_, to inspect the ships which are damaged or
aground, and to settle what is to be done. In the meantime the town
is in a panic, other attacks being feared. The blowing up of the
_Minotaur_ broke nearly every pane of glass in Southsea, and created
such alarm that several aged people are reported to have died from
fright.”
[Illustration: “WHOSE STEAM LAUNCH NARROWLY ESCAPED BEING RUN DOWN.”]
[Illustration: “THE BLOWING UP OF THE ‘MINOTAUR.’”]
The second edition of each of the morning papers contained a dispatch
to the above effect. The bad news, owing to the lateness of its
arrival, was printed without comment; but immediate comment was
unnecessary--the intelligence spoke for itself. We had been suddenly
deprived of the services of five ironclads and three cruisers; which,
added to the tale of vessels that had been lost or taken off Toulon,
made a total of ten ironclads and five cruisers accounted for by the
enemy within forty-eight hours of the commencement of hostilities.
The panic that ensued has had no parallel in the history of the
country. The violation of our coasts, and indeed of our chief naval
port, was an exploit which the majority of Englishmen had for
generations deemed beyond the power of any foreigner or combination
of foreigners: and the shock of knowing that it not only could be,
but had been effected, threw nearly all men off their balance. The
less-educated classes entirely lost their heads, and, at hastily
summoned meetings in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere, wildly denounced
not only those who were, but also those who were not, responsible
for the disaster. It was, perhaps, difficult to apportion the
responsibility among those who might be fairly blamed--among, for
example, the members of the Government, the Lords of the Admiralty, and
the chiefs of certain departments--but it was ridiculous to blame, as
many mob orators did, the admirals and captains who had been concerned.
Steadier brains realised this, and their views were substantially
represented on this occasion by the _St. James’s Gazette_, which in the
course of its reflections that afternoon, said:--
“Let us be under no delusion as to the real causes of our misfortunes.
These may be easily catalogued. For years we have had naval manœuvres
every summer; and all of these have been full of valuable lessons, to
the majority of which we have, nevertheless, kept our eyes shut. For
years we have had a large number of ships on the list of the Royal
Navy; but we have not taken the trouble to make certain that the
greater part of these shall always be ready for immediate service. For
years we have had a Naval Intelligence Department; but we have not made
it large enough to be thoroughly efficient, and we have never raised it
to the level which it ought to occupy as the supreme adviser of what
should and what should not be done in naval affairs. For years we have
known that the French Fleet at Toulon was being gradually increased,
but we have never taken care that our Mediterranean Fleet should be
in all respects superior to it. For years we have had it dinned into
our ears that divided command at the naval ports--especially with
regard to coast and harbour defences--is a source of danger, but we
have not listened. For years we have been told that we were lamentably
short of stokers, seamen-gunners, and, indeed, bluejackets of all
sorts; but our efforts to increase their numbers have been spasmodic
and half-hearted. For years we have been aware that excessively big
guns were a broken reed on which to depend, but no action has been
taken in consequence. We might extend the lamentable catalogue of
our omissions and commissions, but it is useless and undignified to
moan over the unalterable past. The future only is now our concern.
Existing arrangements have convincingly demonstrated their feebleness
and inadequacy. Some means must be provisionally adopted for properly
managing the naval affairs of the Empire. It may be a bad thing to
swap horses when one is crossing a stream; but if one’s own horse be
sinking, there is no better course open. The Admiralty has collapsed;
yet, although it is moribund, it still has the power to work harm.
Let it, therefore, gracefully and promptly hand over its duties to
stronger men. We do not blame their Lordships so much as we blame the
system under which they have worked. But we have no time for making
compliments or for considering excuses. Already we have been hardly
hit. Another blow may paralyse us altogether. The safety of the country
is the one thing to be thought of, and we trust that neither the
Admiralty nor the public will think of anything else. To the one we
recommend unselfishness and resignation to the needs of the moment;
to the other, calmness, loyalty, and patriotic devotion. Ours is not
an inheritance to vanish in a day, but neither is it a treasure to be
trifled with.”
[Illustration: “A TORPEDO EXPLODED UNDER HER OWN PORT QUARTER.”]
CHAPTER IV.
A LETTER OF MARQUE.
It has already been said that the account of the battle of Toulon had
been sent to the _Times_ by Lieutenant Thomas Bowling, R.N., a half-pay
officer who had been a guest in the _Benbow_. In thus corresponding
with a newspaper this officer had, of course, broken the regulations;
and it must be admitted that the peculiar circumstances of the case did
not tend to diminish his fault in the eyes of his superiors. All that
he had to say should have been said to their Lordships, and not to the
public; and when the natural excitement consequent upon participation
in the stirring events concerning which he telegraphed had subsided,
Mr. Bowling was as willing as anyone to admit this. Unfortunately, he
had acted upon the impulse of the moment, and under the conviction that
a whole country was waiting in awful suspense to hear what he happened
to be able to relate; and this rashness cost him dearly. On Wednesday
the moribund Admiralty summarily removed Mr. Bowling’s name from the
Navy List, and ordered that the delinquent should be informed that his
services were no longer required by Her Majesty.
The next step taken by their Lordships was more important, and possibly
more necessary. They convened by telegraph a meeting of certain naval
officers of high rank and great experience at the Admiralty. They
also obtained the presence of the sorely-worried Prime Minister, and
of several of his colleagues; and by three o’clock in the afternoon
of Friday, the Admiralty, as such, had ceased to exist. Its place had
been taken by, and its powers transferred to, a Supreme Board of War,
and the nominations to the Board had all been duly confirmed by Her
Majesty. This Board was constituted under the presidency of one of the
Royal princes, a personage of great tact and experience in the conduct
of affairs, and devoid, of course, of political bias; and it consisted
of two branches, the Naval and the Military. Of the Military it is
unnecessary here to say more than that it was not, as the Naval branch
was, a new formation. The Naval branch was placed under the control of
a Chief Director of Fleets; and for that high and responsible office
Sir Humphrey Thornbeigh, an Admiral of the widest knowledge, remarkable
decision of character, and unrivalled administrative ability, was
chosen by acclamation. Immediately under him were the chiefs of the
various departments--_viz_., the Staff and Intelligence Department,
the Construction Department, the Engineering Department, the Ordnance
Department, the Victualling Department, the Hydrographic Department,
the Stores Department, the Sanitary Department, and the Secretarial
Department. Many of the old permanent officials were retained, but
many also were discharged; and for these, retired officers and a few
civilians, who were chosen because they possessed special technical
knowledge, were substituted. The chiefs of departments were, in all
cases, officers of flag or post rank; several being men who, although
they were on the retired list, were still full of work and energy;
and, in spite of the fact that the new arrangements could obviously be
not expected to work with perfect smoothness at first, the knowledge
that such officers as Sir Humphrey Thornbeigh, Sir George Lyon, Sir
William Howl, Sir Mewstone Hewart, and their like, had undertaken
the management of affairs, exerted, from the very first, a salutary
influence on the rather depressed spirits of the Royal Navy.
[Illustration: “THE ‘BELLONA’ ASHORE.”]
The Channel Fleet had sailed from Vigo before the advent of the new
Board to office: but several fast cruisers were despatched to intercept
it, and new orders were sent to the coastguard vessels and the various
dockyards; with the result, that by Saturday, May 2nd, without the
occurrence in the interim of any further mishap, the following ships,
with steam up and everything ready for sea, were assembled within
proper defences at Spithead. Battleships: _Hercules_, _Neptune_,
_Audacious_, _Iron Duke_, _Hotspur_, _Belleisle_, _Royal Sovereign_,
_Anson_, _Agamemnon_, _Howe_, _Rodney_, _Triumph_, _Superb_,
_Conqueror_, _Achilles_, and _Black Prince_. At Plymouth were the
coast defence ironclads _Hecate_, _Hydra_, _Gorgon_, _Cyclops_, and
_Prince Albert_, and the armoured cruisers _Northampton_, _Shannon_,
_Aurora_, _Immortalité_, and _Narcissus_. And in the Channel were
the lighter cruisers _Forth_, _Thames_, _Mersey_, _Indefatigable_,
_Latona_, _Melampus_, _Inconstant_, _Intrepid_, _Naiad_, _Arethusa_,
_Medea_, _Medusa_, _Barham_, _Bellona_, _Barossa_, _Seagull_,
_Rattlesnake_, _Spanker_, _Sharpshooter_, _Barracouta_, _Grasshopper_,
_Salamander_, _Skipjack_, _Curlew_, _Speedwell_, and _Sheldrake_.
These ships were largely manned by Naval Reserve men, who had by this
time become available in considerable numbers, and by members of the
recently-disbanded Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, a corps which at
last began to be appreciated. The reinforced French Channel Fleet,
consisting of the ironclads _Tonnerre_, _Requin_, _Victorieuse_,
_Furieux_, _Suffren_, _Vengeur_, _Fulminant_, _La Galissonnière_, and
_Tempête_, with the cruisers and gun-vessels _Surcouf_ _Aréthuse_,
_Coëtlogon_, _Duguay-Trouin_, _Epervier_, _Lance_, and _Salve_, besides
torpedo vessels, had gone out with the intention of meeting our Fleet
on its way from Vigo, but had been evaded, and was still at sea. For
the moment the country was almost reassured, although reports that
were in themselves sufficiently bad reached England almost every hour,
of merchant vessels captured or burnt, both in the Channel and in the
Mediterranean as well as elsewhere.
[Illustration: “THE FLEET AT SPITHEAD.”]
In the meantime, Mr. Thomas Bowling, after having travelled with all
haste by way of Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Holland, had reached
England on Friday, May 1st, and had found, to his intense chagrin, that
his occupation had deserted him. An officer who loved his profession
as he did could have received no heavier blow. No one doubted his
bravery, his capacity, or his single-heartedness. He owed the loss of
his commission to no fault that reflected on his honour, but solely to
the very impulsiveness which, in other circumstances, might have shown
him the way to professional distinction. His position was not enviable,
so far as his professional prospects were concerned.
Thomas Bowling, or, as he was invariably called in the service, Tom
Bowling, was a lieutenant of a little more than eight years’ seniority,
and had worn his extra half stripe for scarcely three months when all
was taken from him. Rich and well connected, a favourite in society,
and a man of great ability, he was, according to the opinion of nearly
all his unprofessional friends, wasted in the service. They would have
preferred to see him in Parliament, or in the army, or even living the
life of an English country gentleman. But Tom Bowling did not adopt
that view. He was not fond of unnecessary talk, therefore he had no
Parliamentary aspirations. He did not think that the army opened a
more suitable career than the Royal Navy to an Englishman. And as for
country life, he liked it only as a temporary relaxation. It must be
admitted that he was not particularly well fitted for military life as
we know it in England. His small wiry figure would have looked wholly
insignificant in the uniform of any regiment; and he had for what may
be called the superior niceties of dress an unaffected contempt, which
would scarcely have harmonised with the pipe-clay conventionalities
of the parade ground, or the fashions of a woman’s boudoir. The sea
was the only place where he felt completely at home. He could shoot or
hunt on every day of a fortnight’s leave, but at the end of that time
he had always had enough of it, and invariably longed to be on board
ship again. He was completely wrapt up in his profession; and although
he had an income of nearly twenty thousand a year, he would, when he
returned to England on the 1st of May, have gladly surrendered the
whole of it rather than lose his commission.
He heard the news as soon as he arrived in town, and for a moment it
overwhelmed him. But he was not a man to be for long cast down. He
had been foolish, but he had done nothing to be ashamed of. His naval
friends still had confidence in him: he was rich, young, and strong,
and he had an equable buoyancy of spirits that no misfortune could
permanently depress.
“They have kicked me out of the service,” he said to an officer whom
he met in that cheerless waiting-room in which the Admiralty has for
generations permitted its professional visitors to cool their heels,
“and I suppose that they are right. But if I live I am going to find my
way in again, so I’m not going to sell my uniform yet, though I hope
that when I put it on once more, I shall find another half stripe at
least on it.”
“I’m devilish sorry, Bowling,” said his friend, “and I wish you all the
luck in the world, but you’ll find it an uphill game, I’m afraid.
After all, you know, they’ve let you down pretty easily. They might
have court-martialled you.”
“And shot me, perhaps,” continued Bowling, laughing; “for Heaven only
knows what they can do in war time. One of the things that I must
certainly do is to take a course of Queen’s Regulations before I get
back into the service.”
“And what else are you thinking of doing in the meantime?” asked his
friend.
“Well, I’ve come here to take Uncle Humphrey’s advice, if I can get it,
and whether I can get it depends upon whether, in his new billet, he
has leisure to see me. I was at sea with him years ago. You see, France
has decided not to observe the stipulations of the Treaty of Paris, and
both she and we are issuing letters of marque. My own idea is to get
a ship and make a privateer of myself. Do you know of anyone who will
stand in with me?”
The officer smiled. “I shouldn’t mind something of the sort myself,” he
said, “but I’m going to commission the _Gossamer_ to-morrow morning. I
wish you were going with me, old chap; and I’ll take you on board as a
passenger if you like to come; but as for helping you in the privateer
business, why, I haven’t any money to put into it. I wish I had.”
“I can get the money, I suppose,” said Bowling, awkwardly. “The most
serious difficulty is to get men. It is a pity that I can’t serve under
you as my skipper. That’s what I should like.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” returned Lieutenant St. John warmly; “but
I am booked. If you take my advice, you will command your own craft.
You won’t find a better qualified man. They are digging up all the
retired commanders and lieutenants for the new men-of-war, the coast
defence business, or the merchant cruisers. There is a terrible dearth
of officers, as well as of seamen-gunners and stokers; and I really am
almost astonished that they plucked up courage to get rid of you. You
may take it as settled that you won’t be able to get any retired naval
officer, who is fit for duty, to join you.”
“That’s encouraging. Then I must get the best men I can. Do you know
any yachtsmen who are worth their grub and who know something of
navigation?”
“I know Day. He would, I am sure, go with you if I were to advise
him to do so. I will give you a line to him. He is a barrister, who,
instead of practising, likes to wander about the world in a twenty ton
yawl, or to hunt for treasures on desert islands, or to do anything
of that kind. You may trust him as a sailorman as you would trust
yourself, and I happen to know that he is in town. I daresay, too, that
he can introduce you to some more men of the same sort. How are you
going to get a ship?”
“I haven’t the ghost of an idea yet. I only got home this morning, and
I haven’t had time to look about.”
“And what sort of a sum are you prepared to pay for her? Don’t think me
inquisitive. I may be able to help you.”
“As much as I can raise,” answered Bowling. “I’m ready to put all I am
worth into the business, and I fancy that I know others who will take a
share. Do you really know of a vessel?”
“Yes, I do, but the figure is high. Of course, since war broke out,
no man-of-war that happened to be lying in the contractors’ yards has
been allowed to leave. Now, there’s a very fine armoured cruiser in the
Tyne. She has been built for one of the South American Governments, and
she is practically ready for sea. Indeed she was to have been handed
over yesterday. I happen to know that the builders are going to offer
her to the Admiralty for £300,000. That’s a big sum, but the craft is
a very smart and likely one, and she can do her 17 knots without using
forced draught. Why not try to get her? The Admiralty--I mean the Board
of War--is scarcely likely to buy her; for we can hardly man the ships
we have.”
Bowling knitted his brows and gazed reflectively at the bare floor.
“Humph!” he exclaimed after a pause, “it is a big sum; but I’ll think
about it. Who are the builders?”
“The Elswick Company; and the ship’s name is the _Valdivia_.”
“Then give me that line to your friend Day. I’m staying at the Grand
Hotel.”
St. John scribbled a hasty note and gave it to Bowling. “Good-bye,”
he said, “and good luck to you, and don’t forget to drink the saucy
_Gossamer’s_ health.” And, having been at length summoned to the
presence of one of the chiefs, he hurried away upstairs.
Bowling himself saw Sir Humphrey Thornbeigh, or Uncle Humphrey as
he was affectionately called in the service; but when, after giving
him as many details as possible of the Toulon affair, he sounded him
upon the subject of restoration to the Navy, the Admiral assumed a
rather horny-eyed expression, and gave him no encouragement. “You have
contravened the Queen’s Regulations; you must take the consequences
as they have been dealt to you by the late Board.” That was Uncle
Humphrey’s verdict, and the brief interview was ended.
But Bowling, who knew the Admiral well, was not very astonished when,
later in the day, a messenger brought him a note which ran: “My dear
Bowling, make it convenient to take an unofficial breakfast with
me to-morrow morning at the Admiralty at eight o’clock, and in the
meantime believe me yours faithfully, Humphrey Thornbeigh.”
It was barely noon when Bowling left the Admiralty--noon on Friday,
the 1st of May. He walked thoughtfully to his hotel, sat for five
minutes with a pipe between his lips in the smoking-room, and then rose
suddenly, left a message as to where he might be found, and hurried
across the road to Craig’s Court. His solicitor had an office there.
The solicitor was a little Jew, shrewd, but honest as the day.
[Illustration: THE LETTER OF MARQUE, “VALDIVIA” (AFTERWARDS “MARY
ROSE”).]
“Look here, Lawson,” Bowling began, as soon as he was in the presence
of the lawyer. “I’ve not come to spin you a yarn about the battle,
and I don’t want sympathy, and I don’t want advice; I just want your
help. Can you give me the rest of the day, luncheon time and all?”
“I suppose I can, if it is a matter of business,” said Mr. Lawson.
“Very good. First of all, tell me how much money have you in the house?
I want a deuce of a lot at once. In the meantime be good enough to send
this note to Mr. Day, of Gray’s Inn, and let the messenger ask Mr. Day,
with my compliments, whether he can make it convenient to call and see
me here as soon as possible.”
The solicitor called a clerk, and despatched him with the note. “I
could let you have a thousand in an hour, Mr. Bowling,” he said.
“A thousand! Why, man, that’s of no use to me. I want heaps more. What
am I good for? How much can you raise on me? How much can you borrow on
me?”
“What do you want?”
“I want three hundred thousand pounds by this time to-morrow.”
Mr. Lawson fell back gasping. “Three hundred thousand pounds!” he
ejaculated. “What?”
“Three hundred thousand pounds,” repeated Bowling. “Can you raise it,
or can you not?”
“I daresay I can raise it, if only I have time enough; but by this time
to-morrow--”
“If you can’t do it, or the greater part of it, someone else must. But
you can do it; you have interest with bankers and people of that sort.
Now, be a good fellow and spare no pains and no expense; and, above
all, waste no time over the business. Sell me up entirely if necessary,
body and soul. Get rid of everything.”
“But, Mr. Bowling,” said the solicitor, who suspected his client of
sudden madness, “in justice to yourself, let me know what you are going
to do?”
“You know that they have deprived me of my commission?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m going to buy it back again. I’m going to endeavour to render
them anxious to have my services once more. To be brief: I’m going to
buy a ship and take out letters of marque, and get to sea as soon as I
can manage it. Now you know all you want to know.”
“But surely you are not going thus hastily to embark your whole fortune
in such a precarious venture?”
“Well, don’t let us argue: that is my intention. Now, will you take the
needful steps at once? This office must be mine for the next day or
two. You must give me a room in which I can see people, and a clerk to
write letters, and a boy to run messages; and I must be able to carry
on here, if necessary, night and day.”
Lawson made no audible reply, but rang a bell, in answer to which a
second gentleman of Hebrew physiognomy entered.
“Lazarus,” said the solicitor, “Mr. Bowling wants to raise three
hundred thousand pounds at once--mind you, at once. Please see what can
be done, and don’t lose a moment. You have the papers, and Mr. Bowling
will be close at hand. I wish him to have a table here. Put another
also for Mr. Brownlow, who is to hold himself at Mr. Bowling’s entire
disposal until further notice. I can undertake no further business
to-day. If anyone calls, say that I am engaged.”
Mr. Lazarus disappeared. “He’ll do his best,” said Lawson, “and I’ll do
mine.”
Mr. Brownlow was a most capable clerk and shorthand writer, and he
saved Bowling no end of trouble. He took down from Bowling’s dictation
a long telegram to Sir W. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co., asking that firm
to send immediately to London an agent fully competent to negotiate for
the disposal of the _Valdivia_. He also took down telegrams to several
people who, Bowling imagined, might be willing to assist or join him.
Finally, the clerk took down a telegram addressed to the proprietors of
the _Times_. “In consequence of my dispatch to you from San Remo,” it
ran, “the Admiralty has removed my name from the Navy List. I intend
to take out letters of marque, and I shall be glad to learn what
assistance or co-operation you may be inclined to render me in fitting
out a vessel. Time presses.”
In the course of the afternoon Mr. Day called in reply to Bowling’s
note. He was a tall, untidy, slim, slightly bowed man, with black hair
and moustache, spectacles, and a somewhat hesitating and nervous
manner of speech. He looked very little like a barrister, and still
less like a sailor; and at first, Bowling was very far from being
favourably impressed. But it soon appeared from his conversation that
Mr. Day knew a good deal about the sea, and, what was perhaps as
important, he proved to be an intimate friend of the Duke of Norland, a
nobleman who, besides being of immense wealth, possessed an adventurous
spirit, and had much influence.
“It is very curious,” said Day, after Bowling’s plans had been
partially explained to him, “that only last night, when I was dining
with the Duke, he suggested that I should buy a steam yacht and fit
her out as a privateer. He offered to supply some money--he didn’t
say how much--and I told him that I was quite ready to put down what
I could afford, though that, I am sorry to say, is only a matter of a
few hundreds. The worst of it is, however--and I told him so--that I
know nothing about steamships. I’m quite willing to join you in any
capacity; indeed I shall be only too pleased if I can be useful. I’ll
go and see the duke at once, and try whether I can’t persuade him to
take a hand in your venture. Of course, he won’t go himself; but I
don’t doubt that he’ll take a share, possibly a big one.” And Mr. Day
departed, promising to lose no time and to return later.
This was satisfactory, as far as it went. Not less so was the reply of
the proprietors of the _Times_, who, in the course of the afternoon,
sent a representative to Craig’s Court. This gentleman, after thanking
Bowling for his account of the Toulon affair, listened to the outlines
of the scheme, and then said he was empowered by his principals to take
on their behalf a twentieth share in the first cost of the vessel, on
condition that a twenty-fourth share in the net profits--if any--of
the venture should be guaranteed to them, and that Bowling should
contrive to act as their correspondent. Lawson at once drew up a form
of agreement to this effect, and the representative of the _Times_ took
it away with him, he also promising to return later.
The next visitor of importance was an emissary from Elswick. He had,
upon receipt of Bowling’s telegram, been despatched by special train to
town, and brought with him full particulars of the _Valdivia_. These
were briefly as follows:--
The _Valdivia_ is a steel twin-screw armoured cruiser of 6900 tons
displacement, with engines capable of developing 8000 indicated
horse-power with natural draught, and of giving a speed of seventeen
knots; and capable of developing 12,000 indicated horse-power with
forced draught, and of giving a speed of nineteen knots. The vessel’s
dimensions are: length, 328 ft.; beam, 60 ft. 8 in.; depth to upper
deck beams, 35 ft.; mean draught, 21 ft. 10 in. She has a complete
water-line belt of compound armour, over 6 ft. 5 in. wide, with a
maximum thickness of 11¾ in., a complete protective deck of 2-in.
steel, and above the deck a light central redoubt 134 ft. 6 in. long,
armoured with 4-in. steel. The armament consists of four 9·2-in. 23-ton
breech-loaders thus disposed--_viz._, one on the forecastle, having
an arc of training over 135 deg. on each bow; one on the poop, with a
similar arc of training on each quarter; and one in a sponson on each
broadside amidships, with an arc of training over 180 deg. on the beam.
Each of these guns fires _en barbette_ over an armoured breastwork,
and is covered by a steel screen. The secondary armament consists of
eight 4·7-in. quick-firing guns disposed in pairs in lightly armoured
steel turrets, one on each bow somewhat abaft the barbette, and one
on each quarter somewhat before the barbette. These guns all train
over arcs of 135 deg. The twelve guns above named are on the upper
deck, where also are mounted four 6-pounder quick-firing guns, and six
5-barrelled Nordenfelt machine-guns. In each of the two tops there
is a Maxim gun of rifle calibre; and on the main deck there are ten
6-pounder quick-firing guns, three being on each broadside within the
redoubt, two forward and two aft. There are six ejectors for Whitehead
torpedoes, one in the bow and one in the stern being under water.
There are also three powerful electric search-lights, a steam cutter,
and steam pinnace, and the usual boats and fittings. The ship has two
funnels, and has fore-and-aft sail on two light masts, each of which is
provided with a military top. The coal capacity of the bunkers is 400
tons, an amount sufficient for 7000 knots, steaming at a speed of ten
knots.
[Illustration: DECK PLAN OF THE “VALDIVIA”.]
The Elswick agent laid before Bowling these, together with more
detailed particulars, as well as plans, diagrams, and inventories; and
Bowling very speedily decided that, if he could raise the necessary
money, the vessel would exactly suit his views. She was of a
type, fast and well armed and fairly well protected, especially at
the water-line, that was absolutely unrepresented in the Royal Navy,
although the Chilian ship _Arturo Prat_ was on very similar lines.
He felt that, while she promised to be an excellent cruiser, she was
powerful enough to tackle, in case of need, any but the most formidable
battleship. Having, therefore, engaged the agent to remain for
twenty-four hours in London, and to keep open Messrs. Armstrong’s offer
for that length of time, Bowling set to work with renewed energy to
solve the financial problem.
In this he was greatly assisted by the Duke of Norland, who in the
course of the evening drove to Craig’s Court with Day. The Duke was an
eminently practical man. He was too old, he said, to go to sea in the
_Valdivia_, and he could, he knew, be more useful on shore. What he
would do was this. He would undertake, in conjunction with his friends,
to form a syndicate which should take a half share in the cost and a
two-fifths share in the proceeds of the venture, provided that Bowling
and his friends would bear the remaining half of the cost and accept
the remaining three-fifths of the proceeds. In the meantime, Bowling
might draw on him personally to the amount of a hundred thousand pounds.
During the interview, in the course of which this unexpectedly
satisfactory arrangement was arrived at, several of Bowling’s friends,
who had been summoned by telegraph, called; and as Day had mentioned
the business to some of his acquaintances who were yachting men,
several of them also dropped in. Moreover, the representative of the
_Times_ returned; the Duke sent round to the clubs for certain of
his friends, naval and otherwise, in whom he placed confidence; and
the emissary from Elswick was summoned from his hotel. By midnight,
therefore, a committee of ways and means, with full powers, was in
session in the largest room of Mr. Lawson’s office, and when it broke
up at daylight, nearly everything was settled. The Duke drove home;
Day and two of his friends departed to visit the various ports and to
engage men; and Bowling, finding that it was nearly five o’clock, and
remembering that he was due at Sir Humphrey Thornbeigh’s breakfast
table at the Admiralty at eight, relinquished every idea of turning
in, and, instead, wrote some letters, had a cold tub in the kitchen by
favour of Lawson’s housekeeper, and then walked over to Whitehall.
Sir Humphrey was waiting for him. “Well, Bowling,” he said, “yesterday
you came to see the Admiral, who, I hope, made you feel that you had
behaved most improperly. To-day you have come to breakfast with the old
friend and shipmate, who is very sorry that you are out of the service,
and who will do all that is in his power to help you. I don’t mind
saying that I look upon you as too good an officer to lie rusting on
shore in such times as these. What are you going to do? Have you any
plans?”
Bowling related not only what he proposed to do, but what he had
already done; and Uncle Humphrey’s grey eyes sparkled. “You haven’t
let the grass grow under your feet,” he said: “but you don’t suppose
that I’m going to let you take such a fine fighting craft as the
_Valdivia_ out of the country, and man her with a lot of ‘long-shore
ullage’ that will render her anything but a credit to everyone
concerned. Not I! yet since you have been so prompt, so energetic, and,
I may add, so disinterested, I don’t feel that I should be altogether
consulting Her Majesty’s interests by thwarting you. Perhaps, even, it
is my duty to help you a bit. Oblige me by ringing the bell, Bowling.”
A servant appeared, and Sir Humphrey ordered him to bring in certain
volumes and lists which he mentioned. When they were before him, he
said, “Now, Bowling, you know how hard pressed we are for men. I’m
afraid we can’t spare you much that is worth having. But here are the
names of some retired officers, commissioned and otherwise, whom we
intend to call out. Some have not been long out of employment, as you
may see. If you like to choose half-a-dozen of them, and can let me
know that they are willing to go with you, I’ll undertake that the
Royal Navy shall not want them just at present. Do you understand?
I believe that they may be as useful with you as with us, for the
_Valdivia_ is a fine craft, and you ought to be able to make something
of her. But, mind you, I reserve the right to take these officers when
I want them, and I expect you to submit yourself in a general way to my
orders. You know me well enough to understand exactly what I mean. You
have your chance, Bowling, and it seems to me a bright one. May God
bless you.”
Bowling was much moved by Sir Humphrey’s kindness to and confidence
in him. He selected two warrant officers and three lieutenants,
substituting for his first choice one or two names which Sir Humphrey
suggested as being more suitable. Then, with a feeling that some of
his most formidable initial difficulties had been removed, he bade
good-bye to his patron, walked to his hotel, packed up his gear, and,
in pursuance of an understanding which had been come to at the meeting
in Craig’s Court, took the earliest possible train to Newcastle,
where, alone, he could attend to the immediate fitting for sea of his
first command. In the train he enjoyed the most refreshing sleep that
had come to him since the catastrophe off Toulon, for new hopes and
enthusiasms had taken the place of old anxieties and despondencies.
CHAPTER V.
THE ATTACK ON THE ROCK.
The naval policy of France in almost all her wars with Great Britain
has been to gain, if possible, some material advantage without
deliberately risking a Fleet action. The naval policy of Great
Britain has simply been to seek the enemy’s Fleet and to endeavour
to sink, burn, or take it. On numerous occasions France has missed
the opportunity of gaining a great victory because she has preferred
the prospect of securing ultimate advantages. On occasions still more
numerous Great Britain has won a great victory because she has had
no eye for anything more distant than the foe. The methods of action
have been contrasted over and over again, and most ably by Captain A.
T. Mahan, U.S.N., in his volume on “The Influence of Sea Power upon
History.” This valuable work appeared some time before the sudden
outbreak of hostilities off Toulon; and so convincing is it, at least
to the Anglo-Saxon mind, on the subject of the relative values of the
traditional naval policies of the two Powers, that it is difficult
for an Englishman to believe that, after the publication of that book,
France could ever again have been capable of playing her old part.
But service traditions are not easily destroyed; and after having,
in a moment of unreflecting rage, fallen upon the British in the
Mediterranean and practically annihilated them there, France settled
down into her usual modes of war. It is true that she reinforced her
own _Division cuirassée du Nord_, and sent it, as has been shown, in
search of the home-coming British Channel Squadron; but that was on
the impulse of the first heat of hostilities. She soon dispatched
word to it to proceed to Gibraltar, whither she also ordered a strong
squadron from Toulon, leaving in that port only sufficient vessels
to watch the very small and enfeebled British force which, after
the Toulon disaster, had assembled at Malta. The captains of the
partially disabled British ships would, no doubt, have all proceeded to
Gibraltar after the battle, especially as Gibraltar had been named by
the Commander-in-Chief as his rendezvous; but several of the vessels
were so mauled and leaky that they needed immediate docking, and, as
everyone knows, there is unfortunately no dock at Gibraltar, while at
Malta there are good facilities for ships of all sizes. The consequence
was that, after the Toulon affair, the _Colossus_, _Sanspareil_,
_Victoria_, _Polyphemus_, and _Surprise_ went to Malta, and only the
_Trafalgar_, _Dreadnought_, and _Australia_ to the Rock.
Thither also went the French _Division cuirassée du Nord_. The
_Australia_, which, having received but little damage in the action,
was kept on scouting duty in the Strait, sighted it early on the
morning of May 2nd, and at once steamed in to report. Of course, a
British force of two battleships, a belted cruiser, and the three
first-class torpedo boats, Nos. 7, 18, and 70, which, apart from
stationary and harbour craft, constituted the entire floating strength
at Gibraltar, could hope to do very little against a French Fleet of
eight ironclads and six cruisers, besides torpedo boats. The Malta
cable informed the Admiral that he must, for the present, harbour
no hope of succour from the eastward. He depended, therefore, for
help upon the Fleet which he knew was gathering at Spithead, and, in
the meantime, he made up his mind to confine himself mainly to the
defensive. But his prospects looked blacker than ever when, on Sunday,
May 3rd, a second hostile Fleet coming from Toulon was sighted. This
included the ironclads _Formidable_, _Dévastation_, _Hoche_, _Amiral
Baudin_, _Terrible_, and _Indomptable_, which, with the _Victorieuse_,
_Requin_, _Furieux_, _Suffren_, _Fulminant_, _Vengeur_, _Tempête_,
and _Tonnerre_, made a fleet of fourteen ironclads, besides smaller
vessels, designed for the attack on Gibraltar. The idea of the
directing brains in Paris was, no doubt, that, if Gibraltar fell, Malta
would fall too; and that, after the capture of these strongholds, the
Mediterranean might be reduced to the condition of a French lake.
Gibraltar had been held, even by many French writers, to be
impregnable. A very great number of heavy ordnance, including
two 100-ton, and a battery of 38-ton guns, of tolerably modern
construction, had been mounted in it, and in the matter of water and
of provisions it was better prepared against a siege than it had been
at any previous period of its history. But it lacked armoured defences
of the most recent kind, as, for example, Gruson cupolas; and it also
lacked a proper supply of quick-firing and machine guns. Yet it was
very strong. So, too, was the French Fleet.
[Illustration: “OFF THE ROCK.”]
The two French Fleets, having effected a junction, kept under easy
steam off the Barbary coast between Ceuta and Tangier during the
whole of Sunday, and never approached within about ten miles of the
Rock; but after sunset, having crossed to the European side opposite
Tarifa, they steamed eastward under cover of the land, and kept barely
outside the limit of Spanish territorial waters. Thus they reached
the mouth of Gibraltar Bay, where, formed into two divisions, they
opened a furious fire, at a range of about 9,000 yards, on that face
of the fortress which extends from Europa Point to the new Mole. Each
division moved independently and slowly in a circle, and, the wind
coming briskly from the north-west, the smoke was borne away in such
a manner as to inconvenience neither side; but, as the night was
dark, the practice was at first very indifferent. The garrison and
the warships lying off the old Mole replied promptly and spiritedly,
but used search-lights, and so, after a time, assisted the aim
of the enemy, who, throughout, showed no lights at all. Discovering
their mistake, the defenders turned off their lights, and used instead
rockets, which were fired well to seaward, and burst, if not over,
at least in the direction of the foe, and, for brief intervals,
showed them clearly under the bright blaze of the magnesium stars.
But the range of the rockets was not sufficient to render their light
thoroughly effective, and they seemed to help the attack fully as
much as the defence. The French further improved their situation by
occasionally throwing on to the Rock a species of carcase, which burnt
very brilliantly, and could not be extinguished. Whenever one of them
fell near a battery, the enemy seemed to find no difficulty in getting
the range, and immediately poured in so hot a fire that for a time
that particular position became almost untenable. Even the solid rock
failed to resist the enormous force of the heavy mélinite shells which
were hurled against it in bouquets, as light and opportunity served,
and which, bursting, brought down hundreds of tons of _débris_, choking
up the casemates, and sometimes burying guns and gunners in common
ruin. These shells also, when they burst, as they once or twice did,
in a gallery, or in any comparatively confined space, evolved such[2]
suffocating fumes that all near were obliged to crawl away, or to
remain and be stifled. All night, from sunset to dawn, the bombardment
continued without intermission, for not until daybreak was the Fleet
out of sight behind Cabareta Point, and it continued its fire as long
as it was within range. It withdrew apparently intact, and a few hours
later it was seen cruising as before on the south side of the Strait,
still fourteen ironclads strong. Some ships, no doubt, had suffered;
but the Rock, it was tolerably clear, had suffered more. The loss of
life, it is true, had been small in comparison with the huge number
of projectiles that had been thrown into the place, but the damage
to the material had been enormous; and both inhabitants and garrison
looked forward with considerable uneasiness to the prospect of a long
succession of nights similar to the sleepless night of the 3rd of May.
The ships at anchor off the old Mole had not been struck, and they
were therefore able, upon the withdrawal of the French, to proceed to
the mouth of the Bay, so as to be ready, in case of need, to afford
some protection to any British vessel that might seek shelter beneath
the fortress; but they could attempt nothing more, and, indeed, the
whole attitude of the defence, during the days of anxiety and nights of
horror that followed, was, so far as the men-of-war were concerned,
perforce a very passive one.
[2] Picric acid is supposed to form the main constituent of mélinite.
“Picric acid is very deficient in oxygen, as its formula shows. The
productions of its explosion will, therefore, largely consist of the
actively poisonous carbonic oxide, and hence, as a blasting agent in
mines, it would be objectionable. In digging out some shells which had
been charged with some picric acid explosive and fired into earth, some
French soldiers were poisoned by the noxious fumes some time after
the shells had been fired and burst.”--Major Cundill’s “Dictionary of
Explosives.” 1889. Page 87.
[Illustration: “THEY OPENED A FURIOUS FIRE.”]
[Illustration: “ALL NIGHT LONG THE BOMBARDMENT CONTINUED.”]
But there was an opportunity for the torpedo boats; and nobly did
they avail themselves of it. The following account of the exploits
of boat No. 70 on the second night of the attack is taken from the
_Daily News_. No. 70, it should be explained, was a 125 ft. boat,
13 ft. broad, with a displacement of about 75 tons, engines of 670
indicated horse-power, and a smooth water speed of 19·5 knots. She
was built at Poplar by Messrs. Yarrow & Co., in 1886, and carried, in
addition to her torpedo armament, three machine guns, and a crew of
sixteen officers and men. The _Daily News_ correspondent, who was,
by profession, a medical man, was permitted to accompany the boat as
volunteer surgeon. There were thus seventeen all told on board the
little craft when she went out on as perilous a mission as was ever
undertaken.
“GIBRALTAR, Tuesday, May 5th.--Last night at ten o’clock, the
French Fleet having about an hour earlier renewed the bombardment,
the Admiral, after consultation with the Governor, sent for the
three lieutenants commanding the torpedo boats in harbour here, and
explained to them that he was desirous of trying whether or not it
might be possible to do damage to the enemy, but that he could not
afford to risk the sacrifice of the only three boats at his disposal.
He therefore asked one of the lieutenants to volunteer. All three
volunteered at once. The Admiral pointed out the great danger of
the mission, and offered to allow the officers to reconsider their
decision. All volunteered again. He then thanked them handsomely, but
said that he could not avail himself of the services of more than
one; upon which the officers, retiring for a few minutes to consider
the matter, ultimately settled it by throwing poker dice. Lieutenant
Penherne, of torpedo boat No. 70, won, throwing five sixes. The losers
then begged to be allowed to accompany Penherne in any subordinate
capacity, but this was not permitted by the Admiral, who nevertheless
complimented the other lieutenants on their zeal. Penherne was ordered
to wait his opportunity for going out, and, acting in accordance with
his own judgment, to run into the enemy’s Fleet, and do his best to
torpedo one or more of their ships. With some difficulty I obtained
permission to go with him.
[Illustration: NO. 70.]
“By a quarter to eleven we were all on board, with steam up for full
speed. The enemy was at the time throwing in a very heavy fire on our
batteries, which were replying steadily; and there seemed to be a good
opportunity for us to get away without exciting much attention; but
it was rather too light to suit Lieutenant Penherne. There was very
little moon. The stars, however, were bright between the masses of
scudding cloud, and he decided to wait until some heavier masses of
vapour which were coming up from the westward should give him a greater
degree of concealment. Knowing, as I did know, how anxious this gallant
young officer was to get at the enemy, I could not help admiring
the coolness which prompted this decision. There was a brisk westerly
breeze, with a short lumpy sea not altogether most suitable for torpedo
boat work; but the unsuitableness of the weather would, we hoped, give
us the better chances of success, by putting the enemy to some extent
off his guard.
“By half-past twelve, the bombardment still continuing with full
fury, Lieutenant Penherne found the sky to be much more obscured, and
determined to cast off. We had lain during the previous hour and a
half inside the old Mole, watched with curiosity by a small crowd of
people who, though they did not know on what mission we were bound,
had discovered for themselves that we were about to leave harbour. Our
first movements could not greatly have enlightened them, for as soon
as we were clear of the Mole head we steered straight to the westward
across the Bay, as if we were making for the mouth of the Palmones. Our
immediate object was to get out of the way of shells, and we succeeded,
but not until we had had a very narrow escape. Scarcely had we started
ere a big projectile came screeching over the Mole, sent the people
flying panic-stricken, and pitched quite close to us in the water,
where it burst. We were not more than twenty feet away, and part of the
column of mud and water that shot up fell on us, while the waves caused
by the explosion made us heel over until our port side was altogether
under. But we were not damaged. Penherne had ordered all of us to put
on cork belts, had seen that the machine guns were well supplied
with ammunition, had loaded all five of our torpedo tubes--after
having carefully examined the torpedoes--and had had the dingy’s cover
removed. By this time we were under the Spanish side of the bay--very
much, I am afraid, within Spanish waters. We altered our course to
port, therefore, and steamed slowly down the coast, and so near to it
that as we passed Algesiras Island we could see the Algesiras people,
backed by the lights of their town, watching the bombardment. We
could even hear--for we were sheltered by the shore, and such wind as
reached us was from the right quarter--the exclamations of the crowds
whenever any exceptionably loud or brilliant explosion attracted their
attention. I could not resist being reminded of a firework night on
the terrace of the Crystal Palace, though the circumstances were so
terribly different. So occupied were the Spaniards that they did
not seem to notice us, in spite of the fact that we passed within a
couple of cables of three of their gunboats; and we went quietly on,
confidently expecting to find a French cruiser, or at least a torpedo
boat, waiting somewhere off Cabareta Point to upset all our plans.
Surely enough we did sight a craft of some kind there, but keeping
inside Pigeon Island, we avoided being noticed by her, and thus reached
the open Strait. Here we altered course again, this time to starboard,
and still stole along under the coast. From our new position the
scene behind us was fearfully grand. The wild puffing rattle of heavy
projectiles in the air was continuous. Ever and anon, high in the
darkness, there came out a red blotch of flame and silver smoke, and a
minute later we heard the report of an exploded shell. More than once,
several of these blotches of red flashed out almost simultaneously.
Below them, on each side, tongues of flame leapt out at the rate, I
should suppose, of from forty to fifty a minute. Those from the grim
old Rock came from all sorts of elevations. Those from the enemy came,
of course, all from the water, but were directed upwards. And against
the dense bank of smoke that rolled to leeward the dark hulls of the
French ships stood out clearly and plainly at every flash.
“We went westward until we were abreast of Tarifa, and until the
flashes from the French ships seemed to spring up, not from dark
hulls, but from the horizon. ‘You must go below now,’ said Lieutenant
Penherne, coming slowly to me aft where I was sitting on the after
conning tower. ‘I will only have the fighting hands on deck. But you
can get inside this conning tower if you can find room alongside the
lookout there. If we get into the thick of it, I may go into the
forward conning tower; but I don’t yet know whether, when we are
steaming at full speed, I shall be able to see anything from it; and,
if I can’t, I shall stay on deck, and not use the director, or anything
else, but discharge the torpedoes with my own hands. Now’--with a
smile--‘down you tumble. England, you know, expects every man to do his
duty. You have to write a dispatch, and patch us up if we get hit; so,
down you tumble, and out with your stylograph pen and your saws and
bandages. You must cut us up on the cabin table. Let us have a look at
it.’
“He led me below, and stood by, cutting up some tobacco in his palm,
while I opened my instrument case and loosened my bundles of lint
rolls. I recollected that between me and the enemy’s shot there would
be no better protection than is afforded by a steel plate about as
thick as a piece of cardboard, and I admit that I felt very nervous;
but Penherne was absolutely cool. When he had cut his tobacco, he said:
‘Those beggars will see the spark of my pipe if I’m not careful. Can’t
you lend me something to cover it up?’ I offered him the top of a small
metal box. This he fitted to his pipe, after he had bored a few holes
through the tin with the point of his knife. Then hastily cramming
in the tobacco, lighting it, giving a couple of vigorous puffs, and
clapping on his impromptu cover, he climbed on deck again, and, as he
went up the ladder, cried, ‘I hope this pipe will last me till the
business is over. So long!’
“No sooner was the lieutenant on deck than he altered the boat’s course
again, and headed his craft right across the Strait for Al Kazar Point.
It was already nearly a quarter-past two, and seeing that the sun would
rise at half-past four, we had less than a couple of hours’ darkness
before us. But we were now steaming fast, and gradually swerving more
and more to the eastward; and as, in the middle of the Strait, there
is a constant current in that direction, we were making good progress.
From my place in the after conning tower, I could only see the
points of Penherne’s elbows as he held his night glass to his eyes,
for he stood just forward of the funnel; but I heard him, from time to
time, giving the order to alter course one point more to port, and I
knew that we were getting up behind the French Fleet. Soon, indeed, I
could see it on our port bow, still circling slowly in two divisions,
with a bank of smoke to leeward, and the vivid flashes of guns and
bursting shells all around it. The spray was now flying over us, and
the boat was throbbing from stem to stern with the vibration of her
machinery, for Penherne had clapped on full speed. Right ahead loomed a
long low black mass, without lights. It must have been a French torpedo
boat on the look-out. Another point to port enabled us to clear it
easily. The enemy must have either not seen us, or mistaken us for one
of his own boats; for there was no hail and no symptoms of alarm; and
now, not two miles before us, was the leeward division of the foe’s
ironclads.
“Penherne laid down his glass, and stepped to the foremost broadside
torpedo tubes, which were trained upon the beam. Taking the lanyards
in his hands, he stood upright between them. The enemy must, by this
time, have seen us, for the flames glowed above the top of our funnel,
and shone on the spray that came swishing over our nose. Nearer and
nearer we drew, but still there was no sign that the enemy believed
anything to be wrong. His ships were circling in column of line ahead,
with about three cables between the vessels; and the leader of the
line--apparently a flagship--was just coming round to port, after
having delivered her fire, when we came within range of her. Confident
that he was mistaken for a friend, Penherne altered course yet another
point or two to port, as if to pass under the ironclad’s stern. There
was at once some indistinct shouting from the ship’s bridge and poop;
but Penherne did not heed it, and when he was on the enemy’s quarter,
and not a hundred yards from it, he pulled his right-hand lanyard, and
I saw the starboard torpedo glisten for an instant as it leapt with a
splash into the waves. The French, too, must have seen this, and I can
only attribute the fact that they did not immediately open a heavy fire
on us to the probable circumstances that the starboard guns, having
just been engaged, were cooling, and so, of course, were unloaded.
The second ship of the line was by this time coming up slowly on our
starboard bow. Penherne shouted ‘Hard-a-port!’ and even as he did so,
I heard the muffled explosion of our first torpedo. We swung round
quickly, crossing close under the second ship’s forefoot; and, while
she towered over us, Penherne pulled his left lanyard and sent his
second torpedo into her broad bows. The weapon had barely fifty yards
to travel, and the almost instantaneous shock of its explosion jolted
us up as if we had ridden over a submarine volcano, and, smashing
the glass in the little scuttles of the conning tower, covered me
with the fragments. But there was so much smoke, spray, and darkness
that I could not see the results. ‘Helm amidship!’ shouted Penherne,
running aft to the other two torpedo tubes. ‘Keep her steady now;’
and once more steaming with wind and current, we tore across to where
the rearmost ship of the French line was still firing deliberately at
the Rock. She, however, ceased that fire as we approached, and devoted
her whole attention to us. Her consorts also began blazing at us from
almost every side; for we had placed ourselves, as it were, within
the horseshoe formed by the encircling squadron. Nor was this all;
the shells from Gibraltar were dropping all around us. Yet Penherne,
who, at the after tubes, was quite close to me, was calm and cool. Red
rents began to open in our funnel as the Hotchkiss projectiles struck
it. Machine gun bullets, fired at too acute an angle to penetrate,
rattled upon our deck. ‘Come in, Penherne,’ I cried involuntarily.
‘You have done enough, in all conscience.’ But he took no heed, for
he was carefully training the port after tube upon the last ship. We
neared her rapidly. A perfect storm of bullets swept over us, and some
penetrated my tower. Penherne stumbled backwards, and, knowing that he
was hit, I rushed to the companion. But as soon as my head appeared
at the top of it, he sang out, ‘Don’t be a fool! Keep below!’ and I
saw that, though he now lay at full length on deck, he was watching
the foe, and had the lanyard ready in his hand. I could not obey him;
indeed, for a moment I could not move. We were passing the last ship’s
port quarter. Her side was crowded with men, who were firing at us with
rifles. Penherne struggled and cried out as if with pain, and then the
spell passed away from me, and I clambered on deck and ran to him. He
had the lanyard in his teeth, and, as I reached him, he raised himself
with an effort, threw himself violently backward, and discharged the
torpedo. ‘I have done it!’ he cried. And then came a roar behind us,
and a blast of wind, as our third torpedo struck its mark.
[Illustration: “I HAVE DONE IT!”]
“That explosion relieved us, for the last ship of the line fired no
more, and we left her in the darkness.
“Penherne, as gallant an officer as ever ornamented the Navy, was
dead. No fewer than five bullets had struck him, and two at least had
inflicted wounds, either of which would have been mortal. It was with
the last ebbing remnants of his strength and consciousness that he
pulled the lanyard.
“Sub-lieutenant Smith, who had been all night in the fore conning
tower, and who had been wounded in the shoulder, took command of the
boat, and brought her into the Bay just before sunrise. Although
Lieutenant Penherne was the only person on deck while we were under
fire, we have lost two bluejackets killed and five wounded, by shots
which pierced the vessel’s deck or sides. The boat herself has been
struck by over a hundred Hotchkiss and machine gun projectiles, and has
a good deal of water in her; but her engines and boilers are untouched,
and she can easily be made ready for work again in a few days.
“The French temporarily drew off almost immediately after we left them.
As I write, they are in sight on the other side of the Strait; but
there are only eleven instead of fourteen of their ironclads, and we
have, therefore, the best grounds for hoping that we have disabled--if
not actually sunk--three vessels. This, looking to our comparatively
small loss, is very satisfactory. Yet the fall of so marvellously brave
and cool an officer as Lieutenant Penherne is a heavy price to pay for
success. His body has been brought ashore in the Admiral’s barge, which
was expressly sent for it, and it is to be buried this afternoon with
all honours.”
It afterwards appeared that No. 70 had actually sunk the _Victorieuse_,
and had so seriously disabled the _Suffren_ and _Tonnerre_ as to oblige
those vessels to proceed, under convoy of the _Troude_ and _Lalande_,
to Toulon, to be docked and repaired. This misfortune, though it did
not relieve the British force at the Rock from the presence of any
considerable part of the enemy, had the effect of rendering the French
very shy and careful. Each night they renewed the bombardment; but
not until they had first surrounded their Fleet with such a crowd of
torpedo boats that undetected approach from any quarter was rendered
almost hopeless. On the night of May 6th, torpedo boat No. 18 tried
to steal out and repeat the exploit of No. 70, but was at once driven
back by a heavy fire from some French craft which were lying in wait
in the shadows on the Spanish side of the bay, where, apparently, the
Spaniards were quite willing to shut their eyes to their presence.
This may be explained by the fact, since discovered, that the French
ambassador at Madrid, without asking for any pledges in return,
secretly informed the Spanish Government that, if Gibraltar fell
into French hands, it should, upon the conclusion of hostilities, be
delivered over to Spain.
Two nights later, on the night, that is, of Friday, May 8th, the French
made a counter attack upon the _Trafalgar_ and _Dreadnought_, which
lay with their nets out, as far up the Bay as was considered safe. The
_Dreadnought_ was the southernmost of the two; the _Trafalgar_ was
two cables astern of her, and both vessels headed to the southward.
Around them and outside their nets was a strong boom composed of
spars and wire hawsers. It was jumpable by torpedo boats, but it was
very securely moored, and was, moreover, so thoroughly fitted with
ugly spikes and hooks that no boat could hope to jump it without
receiving severe damage. The attack was made at about midnight by two
divisions, each of six torpedo boats of the 114 ft. class. They crept
in under the Spanish shore, and were unseen until they were nearly
opposite Algesiras. A chance beam from one of the search-lights of
the _Australia_, which lay inside the ironclads, then showed them
up for an instant. The officer on the _Australia’s_ bridge promptly
extinguished the light, and flashed to the _Trafalgar_: “Torpedo boats
about to attack from direction of Algesiras.” The senior officer had
already directed what was to be done in the event of such an attack,
and, as the night was not so dark but that the enemy, when once his
position was known, could be pretty easily seen, the French were under
observation some minutes before fire was opened upon them. One division
attacked the _Trafalgar_, and the other the _Dreadnought_. Some of the
boats fired their torpedoes from outside the boom; others jumped the
boom and fired afterwards. Two torpedoes exploded in rapid succession
against the _Trafalgar’s_ nets, and three against the _Dreadnought’s_;
but no harm worth mentioning was done, and, in the meantime, the boats
themselves were suffering awfully. Two were “hung up” on the boom;
five got over it, but were almost blown to pieces when inside by the
concentrated quick-firing gun fire from the ships; and all these five
were sunk. The two on the boom struck their flags and called for
quarter, and the remaining five either got away to the French Fleet or
were run ashore on the neutral ground to save them from foundering. The
loss on the side of the attack was, in addition to the loss of boats,
at least sixty men killed or wounded; while the defence escaped with
only two men wounded.
This ill-judged but pluckily executed onslaught had been covered by an
unusually hot fire from the French Fleet, which, on perceiving that the
attack had wholly failed, drew off for the rest of the night, and was
not anywhere visible in the morning. The garrison’s hopes that it had
gone elsewhere were, however, disappointed, for on the evening of the
9th the bombardment was resumed with greater fury than ever; and for
several nights afterwards it was continued. It was only temporarily
interrupted by an incident, an account of which will be found in the
next chapters.
CHAPTER VI.
THE SAILING OF THE “MARY ROSE.”
It is true that Mr. Thomas Bowling was engaged to be married to Mary
Rose, youngest daughter of Admiral Sir Taffrail Stormer, G.C.B. That
may be why he renamed the _Valdivia_ the _Mary Rose_, but, on the
other hand, it may not; for, for nearly four hundred years, _Mary Rose_
has been a good old ship-name in the Royal Navy of England, and it is
a name as historically venerable as _Dragon_ or _Lion_, and more so
than _Royal Sovereign_, _Antelope_, _Unicorn_, _Falcon_, _Phœnix_,
_Triumph_, or _Victory_. A _Mary Rose_, of 600 tons, capsized during
the action with the French at Spithead in 1545, and from fifty years
before that time until the close of the last century, there was nearly
always a _Mary Rose_ in the Navy List. Moreover, when she figured
there, she generally figured there to some effect.
One thing, however, is certain. Sir Taffrail, accompanied by his
daughter, ran down to Newcastle while the ship was preparing for sea,
and lunched with Bowling in his half-fitted cabin; and there being on
the luncheon table an unopened bottle of champagne, Bowling carried it
on to the forecastle, and persuaded Miss Stormer to fling it against
the gilt scroll-work on the cruiser’s bows, and to say: “I re-christen
you _Mary Rose_.” All of which she did very prettily, and with many
smiles and some blushes.
That was on Wednesday, May 6th, the day preceding the night on
which torpedo boat No. 18 made the unsuccessful attempt to get out
of Gibraltar and attack the French Fleet. All that day and all the
following night the Elswick people worked like bees on board; and
next morning Bowling, who had scarcely taken off his clothes, or even
slept, for four days, was able to telegraph to London, “I shall be
ready to sail this evening.” Later in the day he had the satisfaction
of receiving a private dispatch from Sir Humphrey Thornbeigh. In
the meantime, the ship took on board her shell and her ammunition,
including, for all weapons, cordite as well as ordinary powder.
Bowling had succeeded in collecting a much better ship’s company than
he had dared to hope for. Germany and America, and, indeed, nearly all
countries, had issued formal proclamations of neutrality, but these
did not prevent a certain number of excellent German and American
seamen from shipping with him; and some of each nationality had, he
was delighted to find, served in their own navies, and, if not quite
up to his standard of what bluejackets should be, knew what man-of-war
discipline was, and had a certain acquaintance with modern guns and
modern conditions. He obtained most of his engine-room staff with much
less difficulty than he had anticipated. The slower merchant steamers,
harassed by the numerous fast cruisers which the French Government
chartered, armed, and sent to sea immediately after the outbreak of
war, had already begun to lie up, and, although the Admiralty took
over many of their engineers and stokers, Bowling managed, with the
assistance of agents at Hull, Glasgow, and Liverpool, to engage all
he wanted, and even to pick and choose a little. His chief engineer,
a rugged Scot named Macpherson, had volunteered into one of the
Congressional ships during the Civil War of 1891 in Chili, and had
then, on more than one occasion, evinced his complete coolness and
his fulness of resource. He came, surrounded by a legend, which he
professed to laugh at as utterly baseless, that once, when a shell
burst in his engine-room, causing a frightful outburst of steam, he
ordered all his juniors away, went in alone, shut off everything, and
was found so badly burnt as to have his life despaired of: but the
frightful white scars with which his hands and face were nearly covered
lent probability to the story, and helped to inspire a confidence,
which, it may be said at once, was never misplaced.
Bowling saw no necessity for cutting loose from all the traditions
in which he had been brought up. He therefore assumed for himself
the title of captain, and gave his executive officers the title of
lieutenant. The _Mary Rose’s_ staff, when completed, and set down as it
would have been had the cruiser been one of Her Majesty’s ships in the
Navy List, was:--Captain, Thomas Bowling (late R.N.); lieutenant, John
K. Maintruck, R.N. (retired); lieutenant (N), Benjamin Binnacle, R.N.
(retired); lieutenant (G), Henry B. Tompion, R.N. (retired); lieutenant
(T), James Water Tripper (late R.N.); lieutenant, Frederick Day;
lieutenant, William Salthorse, R.N. (retired); surgeon, Arthur Rhubarb,
M.D.; paymaster, Noah Nipcheese, R.N. (retired); chief engineer,
Alexander Macpherson; sub-lieutenant, Henry Echo (late R.N.A.V.);
gunner, George Prism Brown (late R.N.); boatswain, Benedict Tiller
(late R.N.); carpenter, Michael Plane.
There were also, of course, subordinate engineer officers, and there
were three young gentlemen, Messrs. Williams, Roberts, and Harris, who
had been senior cadets in the _Worcester_ or the _Conway_, and who, at
the urgent request of their parents, who were retired naval officers
without interest, were permitted to join the _Mary Rose_ as midshipmen.
Each of these had had a little experience at sea in a merchant ship.
Mr. Maintruck was an admirable all round officer, whose only service
fault was that he had no influential friends. He had seen service
in all parts of the world, and after having been twenty-two years a
lieutenant, had been obliged, on the score of age, to retire. Like
several of his fellow lieutenants, he insisted upon sinking his
seniority in favour of Bowling. He was a somewhat old-fashioned man in
his notions, and, in common with Mr. Salthorse, who was very little
his junior, he affected greatly to regret the days of masts and sails,
and to think that modern naval officers were very indifferent seamen.
With these supposed opinions of the two old lieutenants Mr. Binnacle
agreed. They were really his opinions, though not really theirs. He
fervently believed that seamanship and navigation, save in so far as
they were preserved in his own person, were nearly lost arts. They
merely grumbled as a matter of principle, and in their hearts--although
they would never admit it--were staunch admirers of what is called
“new navy.” Mr. Tompion and Mr. Tripper were thorough-going scientific
officers of the modern school. Tompion had fallen in love, and retired
in order to marry; but, having retired, had almost immediately lost
his inamorata, who had faithlessly married a subaltern in the Buffs.
This blow, while it had soured Tompion so far as the whole fair sex
was concerned, had rendered him more than ever devoted to his lost
profession; and he had therefore seized with avidity the opportunity
of going afloat again. Tripper had, in a moment of disgust, retired in
order to become manager to a firm which promised, in its prospectus, to
provide the world with a torpedo of a new and subtle dirigible type;
but the company having collapsed before its torpedo had been adopted
by any government, Tripper had found himself thrown without occupation
upon his own resources. The Admiralty, annoyed at losing him, had
insisted upon his returning his commission, and had thus surrendered
all claim upon his services. Otherwise, no doubt, their Lordships would
have been glad enough to get back so good a torpedo officer.
Mr. Day, barrister-at-law, has already been introduced to the reader as
a determined amateur yachtsman. Salthorse declared that he would not
join the _Mary Rose_ at all unless he was allowed to join as junior
lieutenant; for he urged that he had not been to sea for many years,
and, in the quasi-retirement of a coast-guard billet, had grown very
rusty. Thus it was that he ranked junior even to Day; although in his
time he had been first lieutenant of an ironclad in the Channel, and of
a guardship in one of the Scottish ports, and had commanded a gunboat
on the West Coast. His modesty met its reward in the respect with which
he was regarded by everyone on board.
Dr. Rhubarb was a civilian, young and enthusiastic, and a clever
surgeon as well as a learned physician. He threw up a rapidly-growing
London practice in order to accompany Bowling; and, as he was a
bachelor, no one had a right to prevent him. Mr. Nipcheese, the oldest
officer in the ship, was a gentleman who sincerely believed that the
bone and marrow of the Royal Navy was represented by the accountant
branch of the service, and this being his opinion, he was, of course,
although retired, a very superior person in his own estimation, and
invariably behaved himself as such, except, on occasions, after
dinner, when, if he had been able to lay hands on any Madeira, he
would sleep in the ward-room with his feet on the stove, and by turns
snore and mumble incoherencies, some of which sounded suspiciously
like blasphemies, aimed, however, at nobody and nothing in particular.
He would sometimes, when awake, unbend sufficiently to listen to a
good story, and even to smile at it in a superior kind of way; but
he was never known to tell one. Mr. Echo, by profession a barrister,
was a keen officer of a type which was by no means uncommon in the
unfortunate Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers. He was an enthusiastic
all-round yachtsman, and had, moreover, devoted full attention to
gunnery work. Ever since the disbandment of his corps he had continued
to keep himself _au courant_ with naval matters, in hope that some
day the R.N.A.V. would be re-established. He was fully equal to a
lieutenant’s duties, he was smart and tireless, he volunteered to do
any work for which a volunteer was required, and his good nature and
ingenuous character rendered him a general favourite. Of Mr. Brown
and Mr. Tiller it need only be said that they were pensioned warrant
officers, barely over fifty, and as good as the Navy has ever produced.
As for Mr. Plane, he had been carpenter in a crack Cunarder, and
belonged to the Royal Naval Reserve.
Thursday, May 7th, when the _Mary Rose_ sailed, was a great day on the
Tyne. Sir Taffrail Stormer and his daughter lunched on board again, and
remained by the ship until she had dropped down to the Narrows, below
North Shields, where they were put on board one of the several tugs and
steamers that had come out to bid the cruiser good-bye. As they went
over the side, Tompion, who was on the bridge, heaved a sigh of relief.
[Illustration: THE “MARY ROSE” ESCORTED OUT OF THE TYNE.]
“I beg your pardon, sir?” said Echo.
“Oh! I didn’t say anything,” answered the gunnery lieutenant; “I was
only pleased to see the last of that little petticoat. I was half
afraid that the skipper wouldn’t be able to cast off from it. Thank
heaven! That’s gone! A ship is never a ship while there’s a petticoat
on board.”
Bowling was shaking hands with the Admiral at the starboard gangway.
“And look here, Bowling,” said Sir Taffrail, “if, with a ship like this
under you, you don’t come back a bigger man than you sail, I shall
think that the Admiralty dealt with you as you deserved. And remember,
she shan’t marry a man who’s not in the service. My father was in the
service and my grandfather. I’m in the service, and my son-in-law is to
be in the service, and I’ll have my grandsons in the service if I live
to have a word to say to their mother. God bless you, my boy.” And the
Admiral, very red in the face, went over the side after his daughter,
sat down in the sternsheets of the boat which was to carry him to the
tug, took the tiller-lines, swore at the crew, just as if Miss Stormer
had been a hundred miles away, and, when he thought he was unobserved,
brushed a tear from his eye, and muttered, “God bless him!” in so loud
and angry a tone that the men at the oars thought that the objurgations
had begun anew, and pulled as if his Satanic Majesty himself was
coxing them. Mary Rose, who had stood up to wave her handkerchief to
Bowling, was capsized by the suddenly-increased impetus of the boat,
and fell upon her father’s knees, whereupon the Admiral picked her up
very tenderly, placed her at his side, and frowned around him as if to
say: “Who dares to tell me that the daughter of Sir Taffrail Stormer,
G.C.B., can’t stand up in a boat and wave a handkerchief? If there be
any such person, let me get at him.”
It is therefore fortunate that he did not hear Tompion’s ungallant
exclamation to Echo: “There, didn’t I tell you so? Serves her right,
poor little beggar, for not having stayed on shore.”
Bowling ran up to the bridge as soon as his friends were fairly away.
In the pleasure of having so fine a ship as the _Mary Rose_ under his
command, he forgot alike the disappointment of his removal from the
Navy, the personal sacrifices which he had made, the terribly hard
work of the past week, and the pain of parting with the girl he loved.
He felt that untold possibilities were within his grasp; he believed
that, while he might render his country splendid services, he might
also reinstate himself. And it was in the highest spirits that he took
command, ordered full speed ahead, and steamed out against the salt
breeze of the North Sea--the first English privateer to leave a British
port in the service of Sovereign and country for many a long year. But
he was not only in the service of Sovereign and country; he was in the
service also of himself and his fellow-owners of the _Mary Rose_, and
it was his business as much to make prizes from as to do damage to the
foe. He was, moreover, to some extent in the service of Sir Humphrey
Thornbeigh personally; for, but for Sir Humphrey, the ship could not
have been officered as she was. Bowling was beginning to congratulate
himself that, though he was serving so many interests, he was still
mainly his own master--when he recollected that, enclosed with Sir
Humphrey’s dispatch of that day, there was a sealed envelope marked,
“To be opened only after you have left port. Private and confidential.
On Her Majesty’s service.”
He took the dispatch from his pocket, and, pulling out the envelope,
opened it. Within were a letter and another envelope, the latter being
addressed to the Admiral-Superintendent, Malta Dockyard. Bowling read
the letter, which ran:--
“MY DEAR BOWLING,--I haven’t the least idea where you are going to
cruise or what you propose to attempt, and it is not my business
to inquire; but _if you find yourself in the Mediterranean_, and
will deliver this, you may render the country _and yourself_ a
considerable service. Of course I am taking other measures to get the
letter, a copy of which I enclose, delivered at Malta; but the enemy
seems to be holding the Strait pretty closely, and my messengers
may not get through, while you may. I don’t advise you one way or
another. You have duties to yourself and to your owners. But the
Mediterranean used to be a fine privateer’s cruising ground, and may
be so still, and _there’s honour to be gained there_. You have all my
good wishes, and I suspect you will not disappoint them. But, again I
say, remember your duties to your owners and _yourself_, and don’t
be influenced by your sincere friend,--H. T.”
Bowling whistled and gazed up speculatively at the foretop, over which
peeped the covered muzzle of a gun. “He wants me to go to Malta,”
thought he, “and yet he doesn’t want to formally advise me to do so. I
should surely pick up more prizes in the Channel. But Uncle Humphrey
has something in the wind, and, if I don’t take his suggestions, I
feel that I shall be a fool. He’s not the man to throw out these hints
without an object; nor is he the man to mislead me. He has helped me,
so, by Jove, if I can possibly see my way to it, I’ll help him. But how
we shall get into the Mediterranean, heaven only knows!”
He thrust the papers back into his pocket, and looking round and seeing
that the ship had by this time steamed well clear of the river’s mouth,
he ordered the course to be altered eight points to starboard.
It was nearly three bells, and the sun was setting over the land in a
blinding blaze of golden splendour. The sea was perfectly smooth; such
light breeze as there was came from the north-west, and the ship came
round so gently and sped southward so quietly that it was difficult to
believe that she was making even the 10 knots which the captain had
ordered.
“Running at this speed, when shall we be off Dover, Mr. Binnacle?”
asked Bowling of the second lieutenant, who stood by his side.
[Illustration: “THE FORETOP OVER WHICH PEEPED THE COVERED MUZZLE OF A
GUN.”]
Mr. Binnacle went into the chart-house, set to work with his ruler and
dividers, and in half a minute came out again, touching his cap, with
the reply, “At about three o’clock to-morrow afternoon, sir.”
“Thank you; very good. Messenger, run down and ask the chief engineer
to be so good as to speak to me.”
A boy who was in waiting sprang down the ladder, and very speedily Mr.
Macpherson came upon the bridge.
“She runs very easily,” said Bowling. “We will keep her at ten knots
for the present. But I should like steam, if you please, for seventeen
knots at eleven o’clock to-morrow morning, and after that time you must
be prepared, until further orders, to use forced draught, if necessary,
while we are running down the Channel. Is everything going well below?”
“Couldn’t go better, sir,” said the chief. “I never had better engines.”
“Very good, Mr. Macpherson; I won’t try them more than I can help.
Thank you.”
“We must make shift to get the men smart with the guns, Mr. Maintruck,”
said Bowling. “They must be practised at general quarters as much as
possible, and I shall go to night quarters to-night, though you needn’t
let anyone know it. I don’t want to tire out the crew, and I hope they
will understand that; but we are all rather fresh to our work, and we
have no time to waste. Who knows whether we shan’t have to fight an
action to-morrow? So we must lose no opportunities. Perhaps you will
be so good as to speak to Mr. Tompion on the subject. For the present
I don’t see how we can manage to run any torpedoes; but you may tell
Mr. Tripper that I shall bear him in mind, and give him a chance when I
can.”
Mr. Tompion needed no inciting to duty. Assisted by the gunner, he
had long since made out his quarter bill, and had already exercised
his men at the guns, though, of course, he had not yet been able to
fire, except on the morning of the 5th, when the ship had been out to
test her gun-mountings. In all departments the regular sea-routine
of a man-of-war was observed, and it was astonishing with how little
friction the men fell into their places, and how rapidly things settled
down. From the first the ship was kept partially cleared for action,
and the guns were always loaded; but, as all the guns were on the
upper-deck, where there was but little protection from the weather,
Bowling did not think it necessary to make the men sleep at their
quarters. That night, at half-past eleven, he went up on to the bridge
and ordered the ship to general quarters, and when less than four and a
half minutes later everything was reported ready, he felt that he had
with him the material for an extraordinarily smart ship’s company, and
that it would be very bad policy on his part either to unnecessarily
expose, or to unnecessarily weary, a very willing crew.
There were no further alarms during the night. The sun rose at about
twenty minutes past four, but already Mr. Maintruck was busy on deck;
and all the morning, with but rare intervals, drills of one kind or
another were going on. At ten, Bowling ordered targets to be dropped,
and then exercised his guns’ crews for an hour at firing at a mark.
The practice, especially with the 4·7-in. guns, was much better than
could fairly be expected, but naturally it was not very brilliant.
In all directions, however, there were signs of improvement, and as
officers and men alike were exceedingly keen, the captain was more
than satisfied. Soon after three in the afternoon, the speed having
already for some hours been increased to nearly 17 knots, the ship
was off Dover, and exchanged signals with the shore. Bowling altered
course very little, and headed diagonally across the Strait, making
for the direction of Havre, so that by ten o’clock at night he was off
the mouth of the Seine. Many craft of all kinds were sighted in the
Channel, but very little attention was paid to them. They were chiefly
British and German vessels, and the captain’s immediate idea was to
leave as quickly as possible those waters, in which he could not expect
to encounter something well worth the trouble of capturing. Both Mr.
Echo and the carpenter knew almost every steamer that traversed the
Atlantic. Bowling therefore ordered them to keep watch and watch on the
bridge that night, and having altered course to the westward, reduced
his speed to 10 knots, and began to look out for a homeward-bound
French liner.
The French Government, with marvellous promptitude, had issued as early
as April 30th a code of private signals, copies of which had been given
to all outward-bound vessels leaving French ports on and after that
date. Captains were directed to communicate with all French ships
which they might meet at sea, apprise them of the outbreak of war,
and deliver to them a copy of the signals. They were directed also to
sink or destroy the signal-books in the event of their capture being
probable; and, as the adoption of these measures had been reported in
England several days before the sailing of the _Mary Rose_, Bowling
felt pretty confident that, although hostilities were less than a
fortnight old, he would have to depend, not upon ruse, but upon speed
and force, for any prize which he might be so fortunate to make. While,
therefore, reducing his speed to ten knots, he still kept steam for
seventeen.
Day and Echo relieved Salthorse and the carpenter at midnight. There
was a clear moon, and the sea was still smooth. The dark mass of Cape
La Hogue was visible to the south-west, and behind it Alderney was just
opening out, like a black cloud upon a field of silver.
Day took his station on the bridge; Echo, glass in hand, climbed into
the foretop, and had not been there more than a quarter of an hour when
he hailed Day with the information that he had sighted three sail in
company, at a distance of about eight miles on the port bow, coming up
Channel, one, at least, being evidently a big passenger vessel.
Day went into the chart-house and roused the captain, who was sleeping
there as best he could, coiled up on some bunting and coats in a
corner. Bowling was upon his legs and wide awake in a moment, and, in
half a minute more, was in the top by Echo’s side. He had no difficulty
in perceiving the strangers, though he could not make out what they
were.
“One of them looks uncommonly like the _Normandie_ of the Compagnie
Générale Transatlantique, sir,” ventured Echo.
“And one is a man-of-war, if I’m not mistaken,” added the captain;
“and not one of ours either. Keep your eyes open, Mr. Echo, and report
all their movements.” And Bowling scrambled down again, and mounted
to the top of the chart-house, where he was not too far removed from
the bridge to be able to give his orders. No sooner was he there than
he directed the crew to be sounded off to quarters. Almost at the
same moment two rockets went up from the centre ship of the three,
and glittered for a second against the dark blue of the sky. This was
clearly a private night-signal, for several lights were also shown, and
then suddenly extinguished.
“Full speed, if you please, Mr. Day,” shouted Bowling, keeping his
glass on the strangers, “and keep her a point nearer in.” Day gave the
necessary directions to the engine-room and to the quartermaster at the
wheel, but, by that time, Mr. Maintruck and Mr. Binnacle, both looking
very sleepy, were on the bridge, and he was free to go to his station
at the quick-firing guns aft.
The strangers, who had clearly been making for Havre, altered course
a little when their signal was not answered, and seemed to be about
to attempt to get into Cherbourg; but, as Cherbourg was already broad
on the port beam of the _Mary Rose_, they soon recognised this as
hopeless, and, rounding Alderney, headed southward for St. Malo or
Cancale Bay. The one which looked like the _Normandie_ took station
ahead, and the one which looked like a man-of-war took station astern,
the three vessels thus steaming in column. In ten minutes’ time they
were shut out from view by the land, but already it was plain that the
_Mary Rose_ was rapidly gaining on them.
The three ships were, in fact, the _Normandie_, 6217 tons,
homeward-bound from New York; the _Paraguay_, 3450 tons, homeward-bound
from South America, and owned by the Chargeurs Réunis; and the cruiser
_Duguay-Trouin_, of the French navy. The cruiser, detached from the
Division Legère de l’Atlantique, had been sent to the mouth of the
Channel to look out for homeward-bound ships, and to see them safely
into port, and, having fallen in with the _Normandie_ and _Paraguay_
almost simultaneously off Ushant on the previous afternoon, was
convoying them at the speed of thirteen knots--all that the _Paraguay_
could manage--to Havre, which was their normal destination.
In an hour the privateer rounded the cape, and enjoyed once more a
view of the chase. At half-past two the _Mary Rose_ was off Cap de
Flamanville, and was well within gunshot of the cruiser, which still
kept station at the rear of the column.
“She has a lot of guns, sir,” said Tompion, who, for a few minutes, had
been consulting a book by the light of the binnacle lantern. “There
are five 6·4-in. and five 5·4-in., besides four quick-firers, and
five revolving cannon; and she has a couple of torpedo tubes stowed
somewhere.”
“I’m glad that you know so much about her. Probably she can’t make head
or tail of us. If she be really the _Duguay-Trouin_, as you make out,
I ought to know something about her myself, for I lunched on board
her some years ago at Brest. She’s an iron ship, with no protection
whatever, and we could blow her out of the water. Now, I’m going to
pass her, Mr. Tompion; and if she doesn’t fire at me, I shan’t fire at
her. I want the other ships first.”
But the gallant Frenchman had determined to make an effort to save his
charges. Just then the _Duguay-Trouin_ yawed a little, and, at about
two thousand yards, fired as much of her port broadside as would bear
at the _Mary Rose_. No projectile struck, but the spray from more than
one splashed across the privateer’s deck.
[Illustration: “GIVE HER THE BOW 9·4-IN. GUN.”]
“Give her the bow 9·4-in. gun, Mr. Tompion,” said Bowling. “I don’t
want to sink her; but perhaps you can disable her screw or steering
gear. Don’t fire, however, until we are a little closer to her. Let the
men lie down, Mr. Maintruck. And, by the way, Mr. Tompion, please keep
the starboard midship gun trained on her as we come up on her quarter.”
Again the _Duguay-Trouin_ yawed to port, and delivered her broadside.
A storm of projectiles shrieked past the _Mary Rose’s_ bridge; a few
splinters flew from the wood-work of the chart-house; and a shell burst
harmlessly against the base of the sponson of the starboard barbette.
Had the officers remained on the bridge, some of them would doubtless
have been hit, but, at the first sign of the enemy’s yawing, Bowling
had made them take shelter behind the conning tower.
The privateer was now coming up so rapidly that the Frenchman dared
not again yaw to port for fear of being rammed; but he began to circle
round to starboard, so as to bring his starboard broadside to bear;
whereupon Bowling ordered the two big barbette guns, of which he had
already spoken, to be fired. They were discharged almost simultaneously
at the cruiser’s stern; and, when the smoke had cleared away, it was
evident that at least one of them had spoken with effect, for the
enemy’s mizzen topmast was seen to have toppled over her starboard
quarter, and to be hanging with all its hamper in such a position that,
as the cruiser continued to circle, it must infallibly foul her screw.
And this is indeed what happened a minute later.
But the _Duguay-Trouin_, though temporarily disabled, did not cease to
fire as the privateer passed under her stern, and beyond her, in hot
chase of the convoy.
“Leave her alone for the present,” said Bowling; “I intend to pass
the next ship, and stop the leading one. Don’t use the big guns
again without orders. We can tackle these gentlemen with the small
quick-firers and machine guns.”
The _Paraguay_, the centre ship, was easily overhauled and passed;
but the _Normandie_, having increased her speed to 15 knots, was not
so easily come up with, and she was off St. Catherine’s Bay, Jersey,
ere the _Mary Rose_ ran alongside her and hailed her to strike.
She of course had no alternative; and Bowling, having hastily lowered
a couple of boats and put Mr. Williams, an assistant engineer, and
five-and-twenty well-armed men on board of her, returned to look
after the other ships. The _Paraguay_, immediately after having been
passed, had altered her course sixteen points and fled again to the
northward. The _Duguay-Trouin_ had made sail, but the wind being light
she had scarcely moved, and before daybreak the privateer was once more
within shot of her. Bowling fired a gun across her bows, whereupon
she replied with a broadside, which did a little damage and wounded
three men; but a couple of well-aimed rounds, at 750 yards, from the
privateer’s 9·4-in. guns, brought the French captain to his senses;
and at a quarter-past four, being on fire and having thirty men killed
or wounded by the bursting of a shell in his battery, he surrendered.
Lieutenant Tripper and fifty men went on board and took possession;
150 of the cruiser’s crew were for safety’s sake removed into the
_Mary Rose_, and the _Paraguay_ having got into Cherbourg and given
the alarm, Bowling and his two prizes made the best of their way to
Plymouth, where they dropped anchor soon after noon on Saturday, May
9th.
[Illustration: THE “MARY ROSE” AND PRIZES ENTERING PLYMOUTH SOUND.]
CHAPTER VII.
THE FORCING OF THE STRAITS.
Plymouth Sound was a scene of great bustle and activity, and it was
by no means easy for a ship like the _Mary Rose_, which had no claim
upon the services of a single man in the place, to get anything done.
By nightfall, however, Bowling had not only handed over his two prizes
to the proper authorities for adjudication, and communicated his
directions to his agents concerning the vessels, but had filled up with
coal, and put to sea again.
To make up for the time which he had lost, he steamed out of the
soundings at a speed of fifteen knots, and, heading for Cape
Finisterre, determined for the present to think no more of making any
prizes beyond those which he could not do without. By breakfast time on
the morning of the 10th he had passed Brest without sighting any French
warship, and very early on the morning of the 11th, Cape Finisterre
was visible, distant about ten miles on the port beam. That evening
at sunset, in lovely weather, the privateer passed Lisbon, and on the
morning of the 12th she was in the latitude of the Straits, but about
two hundred miles to the westward.
Bowling had decided to run at all hazards into the Mediterranean, but
he was not disposed to attempt so bold an undertaking without first
replenishing all his coal bunkers. He knew that, if he got through
the French Fleet that was engaged at Gibraltar, he would probably
be chased, and he had no mind to be taken owing to lack of fuel. He
therefore reduced his speed to 10 knots, hoisted French colours, and,
keeping a little outside those waters which he felt were likely to be
patrolled by the French scouts and cruisers, he set to work to look for
a vessel that would serve his turn.
She came sooner than Bowling had ventured to hope. That afternoon at
about six o’clock a trampish-looking steamer was sighted, labouring
along, at a speed of between seven and eight knots, from the southward.
The _Mary Rose_ passed close to her and hailed her, and her skipper, a
little old man whose face was of the texture and almost of the colour
of a dried raisin, replied in French that his ship was the _Gédéon_, of
Rochefort, homeward-bound from Gabon with a cargo of palm oil, copal,
and caoutchouc. The man was ordered to heave to, and Day, who spoke
French like a native, went with a boat’s crew to him.
The dried skipper met Day at the gangway, and unsuspectingly informed
him that he had heard down the coast some rumours of war. “Were they,”
he asked, “true?”
Day told him that they were quite true, and that a French Fleet was at
that moment busy in an attack upon Gibraltar, whereat the Frenchman
looked very proud and happy.
“But there are a great many English cruisers about,” continued Day;
“and if you don’t look very sharp, you’ll be snapped up before you get
into the Charente. Are you steaming so slowly because you are short of
coal?”
“Oh, no,” said the man; “I have plenty of coal. The reason is that I
can’t steam any faster. But come to my cabin and take a glass of wine,
and let us drink to the confusion of these English.”
“I’m much obliged to you,” replied Day; “but really it isn’t wine, but
coal, that I’ve come in search of. That ship is an English privateer,
and....”
The Frenchman’s face grew black. “This is a trap, then?” he asked.
“As you please. You perceive that my ship is now flying her own
colours. You cannot escape from her. You must therefore allow her to
take such coal as she requires.”
“I will allow nothing of the sort. Quit my deck, sir!” And the little
dried man assumed an attitude so well expressive of the direst and most
contemptuous wrath that he looked positively noble.
“My ship will take you in tow,” said Day, not replying to the
Frenchman’s outburst.
“Never!” cried the little man; and flying at Day, he flung his arms
round the lieutenant’s waist as if he intended to heave him overboard.
Day’s men were all in the boat; and therefore, although he could have
very easily tackled the irate master mariner alone, the officer was
at a great disadvantage when a couple of stalwart Frenchmen sprang
forward to reinforce their chief. Day lost his glasses, without which
he was as blind as a bat; but he was too proud to cry for help, and he
struggled manfully against the overwhelming odds; until at last, hot,
dishevelled, and angry, he found himself tied ignominiously to the
bitts at the foot of the steamer’s mizzen.
During this time Day’s boat alongside was hanging on, and suspecting no
evil.
“Now, sir,” said the French skipper to the prisoner, “I will give your
friends coal. Ho, there, François and Jacques! Go below and bring up
the largest and finest piece of coal you can find.”
Day bit his lip, but said nothing. “They must see me from the cruiser,”
he thought; but he was so short-sighted that he did not perceive that
the bulwarks of the _Gédéon_ were too high for anyone on the bridge of
the _Mary Rose_ in her then position to be able to see over them. In a
couple of minutes François and Jacques appeared, staggering beneath a
lump of coal which may have weighed nearly a hundredweight.
“_C’est beau, ce gros bloc, n’est ce pas?_” asked the French skipper,
with a leer. “_Croyez-vous que ça suffira? Moi je le crois bien.
Essayons-nous! Dégouttez moi ce charbon dans le canot de monsieur.
’Suis etonné qu’on envoie un canot si fragile pour une telle cargaison.
Vite! Laissez tomber!_”
And before poor Day, with his bad sight, had realised what was in the
wind, François and Jacques had hoisted the coal over the bulwarks and
dropped it clean through the bottom of the _Mary Rose’s_ boat.
It has been noted that the crew of the privateer was drawn from several
nationalities. Cosmopolitan, in consequence, was the bad language
which, as the boat filled and sunk, arose from the men who were left
floundering in the water. Bowling, from the _Mary Rose’s_ bridge, saw
what had happened, and at once ordered out another boat, but long
before it was under way for the _Gédéon_ the men from the water had by
some means managed to scramble up to the Frenchman’s deck, to send the
little dried skipper sprawling, to release Day, and to haul down the
tricolour. No one but the French captain dreamt of resisting.
By this time the privateer had come under the Frenchman’s stern, and
Bowling was able to see for himself how matters were going. “Send a
hawser to us, Mr. Day,” he cried, “and we will take you in tow. You
shouldn’t have let yourself be caught napping in that way. Ha! ha! No
one is any the worse, I hope. Can you take charge of her?”
Day, who had recovered his glasses, and who, with them on his nose, was
equal to anything, sang out, “Aye, aye, sir! No one hurt!” and sent the
end of the hawser, by the second boat, to the _Mary Rose_, which in a
few minutes passed ahead, and, with the Frenchman in her wake, steamed
off to the south-east.
[Illustration: COALING OFF THE WADI GLOUG.]
By daybreak next morning the privateer and her prize were off the
mouth of the Wadi Gloug, a little stream which comes down from the
mountains of Morocco and enters the Atlantic about twenty miles to the
southward of El Araish. There, in seven fathoms, Bowling anchored,
and, having brought the _Gédéon_ alongside, set to work to take out of
her as much coal as his own ship could hold. He adopted the precaution
of putting the _Gédéon_ outside the _Mary Rose_, so that, if he were
attacked while coaling, his prize would afford him some protection,
while he, in consequence of his superior height out of the water,
could fire over her. But he was not disturbed. A few boats from the
wretched shore came off, and curiously observed what was going forward.
Others brought fish, milk, fruits, and vegetables for sale. The
natives, however, seemed to know nothing of the war, and to realise
the existence of no difference between British and French; and if the
_Mary Rose_ had arrived to seize their country they would apparently
have been equally ready to do a little trade with her; for even in
that far-away spot Her Majesty’s image, on a gold or silver coin, was
recognised and duly honoured. In the meantime Lieutenant Tripper was
able to try most of his torpedoes.
Bowling invited the French skipper to breakfast with him; and the
honest man, who felt that he had done all that duty and patriotism
demanded, graciously accepted.
“I don’t know what to do with your ship,” said Bowling. “It seems
barbarous to set you and your men ashore on such a place as this, and
to scuttle the _Gédéon_; but I don’t see any alternative.”
“I am your prisoner, sir,” said the skipper, “and I can do nothing, but
I warn you that my country will amply avenge this insult.”
“Yes, I know. And of course, if I were to let you go, you would, as
soon as possible, find out the nearest French cruiser and set her on my
track.”
“I should have that honour,” assented the little Frenchman.
“Then I can’t let you go; that’s all. You must remain here!”
“Sir! It is an outrage, an indignity, a barbarism, a piracy!”
“I can’t help it. I’m very sorry. Will you remain here ashore or
afloat?”
“Sir, you may put me ashore and destroy my ship. That is as you please!
But if you leave me master of my ship, nothing shall prevent me from
steaming as fast as possible to denounce your dastardly interference
with me--your unheard of robbery.”
Bowling touched the bell at his elbow, and, when his servant appeared,
sent to beg the chief engineer to speak to him.
“I want to know, Mr. Macpherson,” he said, when that officer arrived,
“whether, without doing the _Gédéon_ any permanent damage, you can so
deal with her engines that she shall be unable to move from here for a
week?”
“Certainly, sir.”
“Then be so good as to do so, and let me know when the business is
finished.”
And thus it happened that late that afternoon, when the _Mary Rose_
steamed proudly away to the northward, the little dried skipper stood
stamping and cursing on his quarter-deck, with the knowledge that the
engines beneath him had been deprived of half-a-dozen small pieces of
metal, without which they were useless. The little pieces of metal were
not far off. Mr. Macpherson himself had dropped them overboard, and the
depth was only seven fathoms. The local natives, moreover, were capital
divers, and the bottom was pretty clean, so that the valuable fragments
were not likely to be lost. But they would require a good deal of
looking for. And no wonder that the little dried Frenchman stamped and
swore until the _Mary Rose_, steaming with his coal, was below the
horizon.
[Illustration: “STEAMING WITH HIS COAL.”]
Mr. Macpherson also swore. “This is,” he said, “the very dirtiest and
vilest coal that I have met with in the whole course of my experience.”
And Mr. Maintruck, as he saw his white decks growing blacker and
blacker, and watched the plumes of funereal smoke above the cruiser’s
funnels, swore too, but solaced himself by remarking to Salthorse,
“Well, they may take us for anything but an Englishman. This is a
deuced sight more deceptive than flying a dozen French ensigns. I never
saw anything like it, unless it was the smoke from the German squadron
at Spithead in ’89. Whew! I got a whiff of that, and I shall never
forget it.”
It is but about eighty miles from the mouth of the Wadi Gloug to the
mouth of the Strait of Gibraltar. Maintaining a speed of ten knots,
but having ordered steam for full speed to be ready by ten o’clock,
Bowling followed the coast as far to the northward as Arzilla, and
then, altering course four points to port, kept away to seaward. At
eight o’clock, and again at half-past nine, he increased speed until he
was running at sixteen knots, and until at midnight Cape Spartel bore
S.S.E., eighteen miles. He was therefore about fifty miles due west of
the narrowest part of the Strait.
The men, excepting the watch, had turned in at the usual hour, but at
midnight Bowling turned up all hands, and briefly addressed them. He
said that, so far as he knew, the French Fleet was still bombarding
Gibraltar; but that, whether or no, he was going to rush the Strait. If
the French were there he intended to do them as much harm as possible
in his passage. He was going through at full speed. He did not purpose
to use the ram, as he had no desire to damage himself, and as he knew
how difficult it was to use the ram with effect. Whatever work might
be done must therefore be done with the gun and torpedo. If he got
through, he would, no doubt, be chased--perhaps all the way to Malta,
whither he was bound. The men, consequently, must be prepared for
a long spell of hard work. He had absolute confidence, however, in
their willingness to stand by him and his officers. They had already
made two very valuable prizes, the due proportion of the proceeds of
which, upon their return home, would be at their disposal, and in the
Mediterranean there would doubtless be other prizes not less worth
having, but that night he was not looking for prizes, but for glory.
The men, who received the address with enthusiasm, were then dismissed
to their quarters, and Bowling, mounting to the bridge, ordered speed
to be further increased to seventeen knots, and headed his ship to the
eastward.
It was a cloudy and rather dark night. There was but little wind, but
there was a heavy swell from the Atlantic, and the _Mary Rose_, as she
bounded away before it, took the water over her bows in great showers
of spray, and pitched pretty deeply, although, as she had plenty of
freeboard, she seldom or never absolutely buried her nose.
“It’s not much of a night for torpedo boats,” said Bowling to Tripper.
“I doubt whether we shall be troubled with them. They will all have run
for shelter.”
“Well, even if they are out,” answered the torpedo lieutenant, “they
will steam very badly in this swell, and we shall have the legs of the
best of them.”
“I think that we won’t use our above-water torpedo tubes,” continued
Bowling. “I don’t quite like the risk of having such quantities of
explosives where a chance shell from the enemy may get at them and blow
us up. In case of our having an opportunity, I will manœuvre so as to
enable you to use the bow and stern under-water tubes, and these must
suffice for to-night. But please, Mr. Tripper, be ready with a second
and third torpedo for each. I’m going to do all the damage I can; and
it won’t be my fault if our friends in the Strait don’t remember this
13th of May.”
“Sail right ahead!” hailed the look-out in the foretop.
“Kindly go up and have a look at it, Mr. Salthorse,” said Bowling.
Salthorse, who, in spite of his seniority in the Navy, was not lacking
in activity when serious business was doing, went up with an agility
worthy of a midshipman, and reported that the stranger looked like a
cruiser, but was still too far off to be exactly made out.
“Now for the rush, then,” cried Bowling, as he bent over the
engine-room speaking tube. “Put on the forced draught,” he shouted
down, “and give me all the speed you possibly can.” To a messenger he
said, “Take my compliments to the chief engineer, and beg him to make
the best arrangements for getting plenty of coal and for keeping plenty
of steam. We shall probably want forced draught all night.” And to the
gunnery lieutenant, “Please, Mr. Tompion, have every gun that will bear
trained on this ship as we come up with her, and be ready to fire at my
direction, but not before. Make your men lie down when you safely can,
and see that there is plenty of ammunition on deck.”
Then he glued his eyes to his night-glass, and with legs apart and
greatcoat flapping in the wind made by the ship, gazed over the
spray-washed bows into the pregnant darkness.
When a vessel is moving by night at a speed of about twenty statute
miles an hour she very quickly closes any stationary or nearly
stationary objects that may be sighted lying near her course. Soon,
therefore, Bowling saw a huge masted mass looming up ahead of him:
and his familiarity with the outward appearance of most of the ships of
the French _Escadre de la Méditerranée_ at once told him that this dark
monster was the great protected cruiser _Tage_, the largest unarmoured
cruiser in the French Navy. She was a vessel of 7045 tons displacement
and 12,410 indicated horse-power, built at St. Nazaire in 1884, and
carrying, in addition to numerous lighter weapons, six 6·4-in. and ten
5·4-in. guns. She was moving very slowly diagonally across the _Mary
Rose’s_ course, with her nose to the south-west, and she did not appear
to see the privateer until the latter was within a mile of her. Having
seen her, she increased speed a little, and came towards the intruder,
whereupon Bowling, who by that time felt quite sure that it was the
_Tage_ and no other craft that was approaching him, starboarded his
helm a bit, and as his ship came round, ordered the starboard 9·4-in.
gun to be fired at the Frenchman, who, when the word was given, was
barely three cables away.
[Illustration: “ORDERED THE STARBOARD 9·4 IN. GUN TO BE FIRED.”]
The _Tage_ was clearly taken by surprise, and before she returned the
compliment the _Mary Rose’s_ people had fired their big starboard gun a
second time, and had poured in a perfect hail of projectiles from their
4·7-in. and smaller guns. The enemy, who had sent up three rockets,
then replied with a broadside, which, being badly aimed, did no damage,
and with a dropping fire, which had scarcely begun to be effective ere
it ceased.
The ships had been moving on two ever-nearing arcs, and were nearly
broadside to broadside, when the _Tage_ ceased firing. At the same
instant she appeared to lose her way.
“Look out, sir,” cried Echo suddenly to Bowling, “she has fired a
torpedo. I saw it enter the water. There!” and he pointed to a luminous
streak which was lengthening out from the _Tage’s_ side and rapidly
approaching the _Mary Rose_.
Bowling put the helm hard over to starboard, and reversed one engine,
so that he quickly showed his stern to the enemy, and so handy was the
ship, that, to his delight, almost as much as to his relief, he was
able to let the torpedo pass harmlessly along her whole length, and
slowly vanish into the gloom beyond.
The few seconds during which the danger was imminent were trying ones
for all who were aware of it; but the men at the guns were in blissful
ignorance, and they continued to pound the _Tage_ and to make excellent
practice at her. Bowling completed the small circle which the discharge
of the torpedo had forced him to begin, and while he was completing
it the enemy resumed her fire, although she now fired feebly and in a
desultory manner. Several of the _Mary Rose’s_ men had fallen and had
been carried below, and the captain, anxious to make an end as soon as
possible of the unsatisfactory combat, put himself in the Frenchman’s
wake, and almost immediately discovered that in that position he was
very little exposed to the enemy’s fire, and was, indeed, comparatively
safe.
But, since first sighting the _Mary Rose_, the _Tage_ had greatly
improved her pace, and, although cinders and flame, as well as smoke,
were pouring from the privateer’s funnels, and the ship was throbbing
like some wild thing burdened with a heart too big for it, the British
vessel was little, if at all, superior to her opponent in speed. The
_Tage_ was heading direct for the narrow part of the Strait, and there
Bowling realised that he must expect to find nothing but enemies, while
the other would probably find nothing but friends.
Mr. Binnacle, with his sextant to his eye, carefully watched the chase.
“I think we are coming up a little, sir,” he would say at one moment,
and at another: “I believe she is gaining a trifle again, sir.”
“What is her distance, do you think?” asked Bowling.
“Well, sir, I haven’t the height of her spars, but I should imagine not
more than four cables.”
“Too far for a torpedo, I’m afraid,” remarked Bowling, regretfully:
“surely we ought to be able to stop her with our guns. Where is Mr.
Tompion?”
In less than a minute Tompion saluted the captain.
“We’re not making very good practice, Mr. Tompion, I’m afraid,” said
the latter. “I know it’s very difficult shooting with so much water
coming over our bows, and with the ship pitching so freely, but we must
stop the enemy if we can.”
“We can only hope for a lucky shot, then, sir,” returned Tompion. “I
have fired two or three rounds myself, and I know the difficulty.
Perhaps if you were to yaw a little, so that I could bring one of the
sponson guns to bear, I might be more successful. I don’t like to fire
them right ahead for fear of damaging the ship, but if you would yaw
two points I could manage it, though, of course, we should lose ground.
However, there is much less motion with the sponson guns, and the
shooting would certainly be better.”
“No! I won’t yaw yet,” decided Bowling. “I should lose too much. For
the present, please, go on firing as before with the bow gun, but see
that they don’t waste the ammunition.”
Below, on the privateer’s forecastle, the scene was an exciting one.
Not only the 9·4-in. gun was engaged; the four 4·7-in. guns immediately
abaft it were firing too. But every few seconds, as the staggering
ship pitched into the water, sea and spray flew tempestuously over her
bows, and threatened to wash the men from their quarters. The guns had
no chance of getting hot. They were kept far too wet for that, but
that was the only advantage of the situation. The dark object which
represented the _Tage_ was now hoisted high on the swell, and now
nearly hidden by it; and even had there been no spray, it would have
been exceedingly hard to hit so unstable a mark.
Meanwhile, the flying enemy was sending up signal rockets at frequent
intervals, and, at the same time, firing desultorily. Tompion was sent
for again to the bridge. Macpherson and Tripper were also summoned
thither. But Tompion could make no better practice than before;
Macpherson could not provide an ounce more steam than he was already
providing; and Tripper held out no hope that a torpedo, discharged
at so great a range and at a fast retreating target, would reach its
mark. “The torpedo will make its twenty-seven knots, sir,” explained
the last named officer, “but the enemy is doing her nineteen, and is
already four cables ahead of us. We should only waste the torpedo, for
it would have to run over a mile and a half at full speed to catch up
the chase, and I never yet knew a torpedo run more than fourteen or
sixteen hundred yards before stopping altogether.”
It was therefore tolerably certain that, barring accidents, the _Tage_,
if her friends were still off the Rock, must escape. Bowling, whose
temper was usually very equable, could not conceal his annoyance, but
his attention was suddenly distracted by an unexpected hail from the
look-out in the top. “Two sail in chase on the starboard quarter,” sang
out the man, who had lungs of brass. And there, truly enough, coming
out from under the shadow of Cape Spartel, were a couple of black
hulls, from whose funnels were trailing sheets of flame, and sparks,
and shrouds of smoke of the very blackest. They were a good two miles
off, when first sighted, but a brief break in the thick clouds let the
moonlight down to them, and Bowling speedily recognised them as two
cruisers of the _Surcouf_ class. There was no room for doubt. Everyone
who saw the _Surcouf_ herself at Spithead, in the summer of 1891, and
who recollects her, must agree that a craft of her type is not easily
to be taken for anything else that floats and steams. They were, as
afterwards appeared, the _Cosmao_ and the _Coëtlogon_, third-class
cruisers of about 1850 tons displacement and 6000 horse-power, each
mounting four 5·4-in. breech-loading, three quick-firing, and four
machine guns, carrying five torpedo tubes, and having a speed nominally
about half a knot superior to that of the _Mary Rose_.
Bowling looked at the chase, half expecting to see her turn, and
mentally calculating whether, if she did so, it would be worth while
to endeavour to ram her; but he quickly decided that it would not. He
recollected that never, up to that time, in the history of modern naval
warfare, had the ram been effectively used while the enemy still had
sea-room and control of her machinery and steering gear. If he could
first disable his opponent, the ram might, he concluded, be his proper
weapon, but not unless.
The two vessels astern had already opened fire, but they did no harm,
the distance being too great and the swell too heavy. The projectiles,
however, came near enough to the bridge to make themselves loudly
heard; and, as the _Tage_ also was now firing freely from several
revolving cannon which she had got up on to her poop, as well as from
the few larger guns that would bear, Bowling determined not to expose
himself and his officers more than was absolutely necessary, and to
fight the ship, for the present, from the quarter-deck, instead of from
the neighbourhood of the conning tower. He still kept the tops manned,
of course, with a midshipman in each of them; and, as a matter of fact,
the men, even had he ordered them to come down, would have been very
unwilling to do so, for, in such circumstances, the tops are the most
exciting positions in a ship.
But although Bowling nominally fought his ship from the quarter-deck,
he did not continuously remain there. Followed by a bugler and a couple
of messengers, he went everywhere, now watching the firing of the
guns on the forecastle, now mounting upon the hammock nettings to get
a wider view, and now revisiting the bridge, in order to consult the
chart with Binnacle. For half-an-hour the relative positions of the
ships did not apparently vary by a couple of cables’ lengths.
Then, in the west, were seen innumerable lights, as of a floating city,
and, above them, in the black night, shone patches of red, green, and
violet stars, as the great French Fleet--stretching half across the
Strait--came westward, alarmed by the repeated signals of its scouts,
and signalled in return promises of succour.
Bowling saw this sight first from the bridge. Soon he could see it from
the forecastle, as the ship rose on the swell. His heart beat, one may
suspect, a little faster than usual; but his voice was only a trifle
rougher and harder than his ordinary voice, when, having summoned his
officers, he said, briefly,--
“Gentlemen, there is the French Fleet. I want you to help me to take
the _Mary Rose_ through it. If I fall, the officer who commands must
carry her to Malta, and hand over to the Admiral there a dispatch which
is now in my pocket. I have weighted it, so that it may be sunk if
necessary. But God forbid! If necessary also, the private signals must
be sunk. Mr. Tripper, I shall use the underwater bow and stern tubes:
I confide in you to have everything ready. Mr. Macpherson, you have
done nobly, so far, in your department. Give us, please, all the help
you can. Mr. Tompion, man both sides, and tell the officers of quarters
not to lose a shot, and not to fire at a greater range than a thousand
yards. Gentlemen, to your quarters, and may our work be well done.”
Owing to the fact that she carried nearly all her guns on the upper
deck, the _Mary Rose_ had been fitted with a considerable number of
shot-hoists, which worked through scuttles in that deck. These were,
of course, open in time of action, and Bowling had already made up his
mind that, rather than trust to mechanical or electrical signalling
apparatus, he would pass all orders to the main deck by word of mouth
or bugles through the scuttles. Instructions were given for the orders
to be handed on in the same way to their destinations, and thus,
independent of wires, tubes, bars, and levers, the captain was able to
communicate pretty promptly with every department, no matter where he
might be. Not the least advantageous feature in this arrangement was
that an officer standing near a scuttle could obtain a certain amount
of protection from the shield of the gun, for the service of which
the scuttle was designed, and could thus derive from the shelter some
of the benefits of a conning tower, while, at the same time, the real
conning tower, the natural target for all hostile projectiles, was
unoccupied.
[Illustration: “IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH THE ORDER IN WHICH THE
FRENCH FLEET WAS STEAMING.”]
It was, at first, impossible to distinguish the order in which the
French Fleet was steaming, for across the privateer’s bows stretched a
confused row of lights that bobbed upon the swell, and that seemed
to have little or no order at all; but soon Bowling made out that the
cruisers, in line abreast, were about a couple of miles ahead of the
battleships, which were in similar formation. The entire Fleet was
coming out in a body. It, therefore, evidently believed that it was
being attacked in force, and that a general action might be expected.
The _Tage_ held on, heading straight for the centre of her friends, and
pouring forth more flame, sparks, and smoke than ever. The _Mary Rose_,
three or four cables astern of her, held on also, the quartermasters
at the wheel having general directions to follow the _Tage_ into the
enemy’s line. All firing at the cruiser had ceased, although the _Tage_
continued to fire as before; and the _Mary Rose’s_ men worked silently
at their guns, training them on the high hulls that were so rapidly
approaching, and eagerly awaiting the word to begin.
The speed of the advancing French was not more than eleven knots, but
that of the privateer was nineteen. The two were thus closing one
another at a speed of about thirty knots, or, as nearly as possible,
one thousand yards a minute. At first, it was quite clear, the French
did not know what to make of the situation, but it may be assumed that
the _Tage_ made some kind of signal to them, for, when their first line
was a mile or so from the privateer, their cruisers began to converge
towards the _Mary Rose_, and, as was evident from their augmented
smoke, to endeavour to greatly increase their speed.
Bowling stood immediately above the main deck wheel, from which his
ship was being steered. He had unsheathed his sword, and he leant upon
it as he stooped from time to time over the scuttle to shout down his
orders. His face was bloodless, but his lips were set. Behind him stood
the bugler, who looked as if, at that moment, he could not have blown
a call to save his life. The enemy, on both bows, began to fire. Once
or twice the projectiles from their machine guns swept across the deck
like hail, until the range was again lost. Then the bigger guns opened,
at about a thousand yards, and splinters began to fly from the woodwork
above, and from the boats.
Bowling looked up and saw that, owing to the converging movement, the
first French line had drawn in to nearly half its former breadth,
and that the ships on his port bow had converged somewhat more
than those on his starboard, having made a more sudden turn. In an
instant, therefore, he ordered his own helm to be put somewhat over to
starboard, thus bringing his course nearly parallel with that of the
right flank of the French. At the same time he gave the word to open
fire, and every gun in the ship at once answered him.
The _Mary Rose’s_ last movement had had the effect of placing all the
French cruisers, except one, upon her starboard bow and beam. To get
near her, the vessels which had been carrying starboard helm would,
Bowling knew, have either to risk making an awkward turn, which would
expose them to his ram, or to continue going round to port. The one
evolution would get them into difficulties with their ships of the left
flank, the other would cause them to lose a great amount of valuable
time. As a matter of fact, none of these ships ventured to port the
helm, but the outside ship, seeing herself, as it were, cut off for the
moment from her friends, was obviously determined to endeavour to ram.
She was easily recognised as the _Davout_, a fine steel twin-screw
protected cruiser of over 3000 tons displacement, and 9000 indicated
horse-power, that had been launched at Toulon in 1889; and, as she
headed straight for the privateer’s port bow, and came on rapidly, she
towered a magnificent object. Bowling shifted his helm a point or so,
so as to offer his bow, and shouted in rapid succession: “Ready, bow
tube!”... “Fire, bow tube!”... Then, when the two ships were almost in
collision, he swung the _Mary Rose’s_ head still more to port.
The torpedo hit its mark, striking the _Davout_ on the port bow
immediately under the anchor davit; and, even while the huge column
of white water from the explosion was still in the air, the _Mary
Rose_ swept close along the _Davout’s_ starboard side, and, with guns
depressed to their utmost limit, fired down through her armoured
deck. The _Davout’s_ people must have been lying down in preparation
for the shock of ramming, for only one of her guns replied to that
tremendous salvo; but that one sent its 6·4-in. shell clean through the
privateer’s thin citadel armour. It burst, with terrible result, on the
main deck, close to the wheel above which Bowling stood, and killed or
wounded every man in the vicinity; but Bowling, although temporarily
blinded and half suffocated by the smoke and dust which poured up
through the scuttle at his feet, was unhurt, and, almost ere the ship
had had time to fall off, the wheel was taken by others.
The _Mary Rose_ had passed the line of cruisers. She had still to
pass the line of battleships a couple of miles ahead, and she now had
half-a-dozen cruisers close at her heels.
“I can’t see astern as well as ahead,” cried Bowling to Maintruck.
“Station someone here to pass the word down promptly. I must go into
the conning tower, or on to the bridge, and chance it.” And up he went.
There was but a brief respite. The privateer headed due east, and
plunged gallantly through the seas towards the second line, and, in
three minutes, she was in the thick of a fire ten times heavier than
anything which she had previously experienced. Strange to say, the
machinery in the conning tower worked. The unseen brain in that little
steel bandbox directed, for a few moments, everything and everybody in
the ship. The manœuvre which had succeeded so well with the _Davout_
was tried again, more or less successfully, with an ironclad. The after
torpedo tube was also discharged. The wheel on the main deck spun
this way and that. The ship darted hither and thither in the smoke.
She trembled with the bursting of shells. She echoed with the short
shrieks of injured men, she shook with the firing of her own guns, she
heeled as the helm was put hard over in order to avoid a blow. But all
happened so quickly, that to tell it would occupy an hour for each
minute of that sharp hot piece of work. Somehow, to be brief, the _Mary
Rose_ got through the line, thanks to the guiding eye of Bowling; but
barely was she clear ere a shell burst against the conning tower and
wrecked it. In a moment the guiding intelligence ceased to influence
her. Everyone was conscious of the change, and would have been, even
had the cause of it not been so plainly evident.
[Illustration: “MARY ROSE” TORPEDOING AN IRONCLAD.]
“Poor old Bowling!” cried Tompion to the first lieutenant. “Take
command, Maintruck. The skipper’s done for. God rest him!”
And so, therefore, it was to Maintruck that fell the duty, now that
the _Mary Rose_ had traversed her enemies, of saving her from their
pursuit. Yet, happily, Bowling was not done for. The shell had
shattered everything in the conning tower, and the flying objects had
injured him seriously. Moreover, he was stunned by the shock, and, when
found, was bleeding from eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, and was quite
unconscious; but, though the sight of one eye was destroyed, and he had
received a dozen other wounds, he had sustained no mortal hurt.
Would that as much could be said for the members of the brave ship’s
company! Lieutenant Day had his left arm broken by an iron splinter;
Lieutenant Salthorse had an ugly wound in the chest from a machine gun
bullet; Mr. Roberts, midshipman, and Mr. Plane, carpenter, were killed
by the bursting of the same shell, and of the crew, fifty-seven were
killed, and thirty-nine badly wounded. Of small wounds nearly everyone
had several, for enormous numbers of splinters had been flying about.
Indeed, scarcely a single person, except those whose duties had kept
them below, had escaped unscathed, and Dr. Rhubarb had his hands full.
Burnt with powder, stained with blood, splashed with horrible relics of
unrecognisable humanity, the main and upper decks of the _Mary Rose_
presented a sickening sight. The two quick-firing guns on the starboard
quarter were literally covered with the mangled remains of the guns’
crews, who had been blown to pieces at their duty. The starboard
sponson gun had become unshipped from its mounting, and had to be
lashed for safety, and almost every place between decks was simply a
hole full of wreckage.
But the engines and machinery, and, indeed, the ship as a whole, were
as sound as ever. Very little water came in over the armoured deck,
and none below it, and Maintruck, as he looked back at the French
cruisers, now in full pursuit, and saw the glint of the rising sun upon
their white bow waves, felt easier concerning them than he had felt at
midnight.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CHASE TO MALTA.
Before proceeding with the account of the _Mary Rose’s_ cruise, it
may be well to insert here two newspaper extracts. One is from the
_Gibraltar Guardian_ of Wednesday, May 14th; the other is from the
Paris _Moniteur de la Guerre_ of two or three days later.
Said the Gibraltar paper: “Something mysterious occurred last night
to disturb the enemy. At dusk he renewed the bombardment as usual,
and with, if possible, more than his usual fury, and the batteries
replied as they have replied every night since the 3rd inst. Soon
after midnight it was reported from the top of the rock that rockets
had been observed at the mouth of the Strait to the westward. A little
later the entire French Fleet ceased firing, formed in two columns of
line abreast, and steamed away in the direction in which the signals
had been seen. Heavy firing followed, but though the flashes were
distinctly visible, it was impossible to make out what was going on.
The warships, which for some days have been lying in the Bay with
banked fires, were ordered to get up steam for full speed, it being
believed that our Fleet had come down in force to raise the siege, and
that the co-operation of the naval flotilla here might be desirable.
In about an hour the French came back pell-mell, and apparently in
no sort of order, firing furiously. They went away to the eastward,
as if in flight or pursuit, but that they were not in flight became
evident early this morning, when most of them were discovered in their
ordinary position under the African shore. Speculation is rife as to
exactly what occurred, but it is certain that the enemy was surprised
and seriously disturbed. One opinion is that heavy reinforcements have
run through in order to strengthen the squadron at Malta. No news
bearing on the subject has come in from the Spanish side, and, all the
cables being cut, it is only from that side that we can hope to get any
definite explanation.”
The _Moniteur de la Guerre_ was more precise, but less accurate. It
headed its dispatch, “One more Victory in the Mediterranean,” and
described the affair as follows: “Early on the morning of the 14th,
the cruiser _Tage_, which had been dispatched to the westward by the
Admiral in command off Gibraltar to observe the mouth of the Strait,
signalled the approach of the enemy in force, coming from the direction
of the Atlantic. The enemy was soon afterwards observed by the cruisers
_Cosmao_ and _Coëtlogon_, which had been lying under Cape Spartel.
The three vessels, undismayed by the superior strength of the enemy,
advanced to the attack, and taking position on the flanks of the
English squadron, discharged a succession of terrible broadsides,
which must have been very murderous, but the effect of which could
not in the darkness be accurately measured. Certain vessels were, it
is declared, sunk by our fire; but the enemy was too powerful to be
destroyed by only three ships. It was therefore with a sense of relief
that the brave captain of the _Tage_ remarked that his signals had
been observed, and that, in reply, the whole of our magnificent Fleet,
abandoning for the moment the bombardment of Gibraltar--which, we are
assured, is already a heap of _débris_--was coming to complete the
destruction which he had so nobly begun. It approached in two lines. In
vain did the unfortunate English manœuvre to evade it. The shock was
tremendous. It is recounted that our splendid ironclads rammed several
of the enemy, which sank without leaving a trace. The struggle was
desperate. One could not suspect that our brave Fleet could sustain
so determined an attack without grievous loss. Alas! The beautiful
cruiser _Davout_, struck by a torpedo near the bows, when she had
already suffered severely from the gun fire of at least three ships,
sank in less than an hour. The ironclad _Terrible_ was also struck by
a torpedo, but, though cruelly injured, is capable of being repaired.
As for the brave _Tage_, she has received at least fifty balls, and has
suffered horribly; but she remains with the Fleet. It is believed that
but one vessel of the enemy escaped the disaster. She is an ironclad
of the largest size, and of immense speed; but, pursued by some of our
fastest ships, she should be by this time captured. Thus gallantly
has our immortal Fleet confounded the efforts of the enemy to put once
more his squadrons into the Mediterranean. That sea, cleared forever
from the presence of the usurper by the glorious battle of Toulon,
remains, and will remain, French. We offer the homage of our warm
and enthusiastic congratulations to the brave Admiral and the brave
officers who have added this triumphant page to the brilliant history
of our great country.”
The _Moniteur de la Guerre_ was not, it should be explained, an
official print; but as the Parisians preferred its accounts to the
official dispatches--which were by many degrees more modest--the paper
deserves to be quoted as a representative of French views. Even the
French Admirals were not able to give the true story of the night’s
work; but that was not their fault. Of nothing is it more difficult to
obtain a correct impression than an unexpected night action at sea.
It was true that some of the fastest ships of the French Fleet were
engaged in the pursuit of the _Mary Rose_. When the sun was well up,
Maintruck had little difficulty in making out that astern of him, at
distances varying from two to six miles, were the _Cécille_, _Alger_,
_Troude_, and _Cosmao_. The first, a new protected cruiser, of 5766
tons displacement, headed the enemy; then came the _Alger_, of 4122
tons, and, in order, the remaining pair, craft of 1877 tons. The two
smaller vessels were nominally the fastest of the flotilla, having done
at their trials about 19·5 knots, or half-a-knot more than the other
two; but they were not big enough to do that speed in broken water,
and, indeed, both chased and chasers were not actually doing much more
than 17·5 knots, for all experienced some little difficulty in getting
the coal out of the bunkers. Maintruck was assured, however, by Mr.
Macpherson, that, if things came to a pinch, the privateer had nearly
a knot of speed in hand, but the trimmers and stokers, who had been
working like niggers all night, were naturally very much exhausted, and
the chief engineer deemed it wise to spare them as much as possible.
There was much to be done that morning. The ship was in an awful
condition, blood, splinters, and wreckage being everywhere; but a
liberal use of the hose, and the exertions of the carpenter’s mate,
Mr. Prism Brown, and Mr. Tiller, soon reduced things to something like
order, and cleared away the most repulsive traces of the fight. The
dead men were reverently committed to the deep, Maintruck reading over
them the appointed simple service; and the wounded were attended to
more fully than had been possible during the heat of the action. The
enthusiasm of all hands was now extraordinary. Even men who had been
badly hurt, and who, of course, had not closed their eyes for more
than twenty-four hours, men who had worked hard at coaling ship off
Wadi Gloug, and who had worked harder at the guns all night, declined
to return themselves as injured, stuck to their posts, and expressed
themselves as quite ready for another brush with the enemy. And Bowling
himself set the example. He could not walk, but he caused a splintered
arm-chair to be taken from his cabin and set on the quarter-deck, and
then had himself carried up and placed in it in the warm sunshine,
whence, as the good ship pitched slightly, he could see the foe in
hot chase, with the spray flying white from their bows and the smoke
rolling black from their funnels.
“Glad to see you on deck, sir,” said Maintruck, “though I suspect that
you would be better in your bunk.”
“Nonsense,” said Bowling, “this air does one good. Besides, it doesn’t
do to knock under. It shows a bad example to the men. It will be time
enough to turn in when I get to Malta. But I’ll have you, Mr. Binnacle,
and Mr. Tompion turn in at once. It won’t do for you to break down.
Mr. Echo and one of the midshipmen shall keep watch, and you shall be
called if necessary. How are Mr. Day and Mr. Salthorse?”
“They are both on deck, sir, and won’t go below,”
“Then send for them, if you please, Mr. Maintruck.”
The two officers quickly appeared, Day with his left arm in a sling
and a bloody bandage, and Salthorse with his coat cut open, and his
blood-stained shirt showing through the aperture. Both were pale but
cheerful.
“Why don’t you go below, Mr. Day?” asked the captain. “I’m sorry to see
that you are badly hurt.”
Day took his glasses from his nose, and said: “Oh, it’s not much,
sir. If I stay on deck I can carry on well enough, but if I turn in,
you know, I may get stiff, and not be able to be up when they come on
again.”
“And what have you to say, Mr. Salthorse?” demanded Bowling.
“Say, sir?” returned Salthorse. “Well, you know how long I’ve been at
sea, and you know that, until this cruise, the only fighting I have
ever seen has been with niggers, Egyptians, Arabs, and that sort of
ullage. Never had a chance, sir. Now there is a chance, sir, and with
your permission I don’t intend to lose it. I’ll go below, but if I go,
sir, you must put me under arrest.” He said this almost angrily, as
if he suspected Bowling of aiming in an unjustifiable manner at the
liberty of the subject.
“I shan’t order you below, then, at present,” replied Bowling, with
a painful smile. “But do take care of yourselves, please, gentlemen.
There may be plenty for us to do yet. Get chairs on deck or on the
bridge, and then, if you really think that we can keep watch among us,
I’ll order all the unwounded officers, and as many of the men as can be
spared, to turn in. That is, perhaps, the best economy. We are not good
for much more fighting just now, but we can keep some sort of look-out.”
And thus it happened that soon after breakfast, few beside the wounded
remained on deck. Those who had only been bruised or scratched, or
who had escaped unhurt, were all asleep or, at least, lying down.
None took off their clothes, and hardly any enjoyed much more than
broken snatches of slumber; but a sailor does not need sleep in
large quantities at a time, and for him a rug on the bare deck or a
ward-room sofa makes as pleasant a resting-place as any other in war
time.
The _Cécille_ occasionally fired her bow guns and the machine guns in
her tops; but the range was long, the motion was still considerable,
and Salthorse, who had placed a chair for himself behind the wreck
of the conning tower, was able to keep a good look-out without much
exposing himself. Nevertheless before dinner-time one man had been
killed, and a second had received a further wound. The enemy’s vessels
gained little if anything on the _Mary Rose_; but by noon they were
more together, and the _Alger_ was nearly abreast of the _Cécille_,
and had also begun to fire. Bowling had the chart brought down to him,
and having caused an observation to be taken, and having looked at the
log, made out that at eight bells the ship was still 960 miles from
Malta, and that if all went at the best, she could not get into Valetta
Harbour before five or six o’clock on Saturday, May 16th. She had still
therefore, or might have, to run for about fifty-four hours before the
enemy. He shook his head doubtfully, and having got a bluejacket to
bring him his pipe, considered the matter silently, until, at half-past
three, Maintruck--who had had a bath and some tea--came on deck again,
declaring that he felt quite refreshed and fit for anything.
“Look here, Mr. Maintruck,” said Bowling, “we have before us a fifty
hours’ run to Malta. After what we have been doing, our boilers can’t
be as good as they were. A hundred slight accidents may occur to
temporarily disable us. Tubes may burst or leak, the bearings may
heat, a chance shot may damage our helm as the ship lifts; or we may
smash a shaft. Even if we have no accidents, how can we expect the
engine-room staff to carry on for another fifty hours on end? Flesh and
blood can’t stand it. I wonder that I haven’t had reports already of
men knocking up. They are sticking to it like Britons down there, but
we musn’t forget that they are human beings. Now, what do you think?”
“Perhaps, sir, if the night is dark,” said the first lieutenant, “and
if for a few hours we can pile on that extra knot which Mr. Macpherson
tells us he has in reserve, we might manage to give the enemy the slip,
especially if we steam without lights.”
“That’s the point,” soliloquised Bowling aloud. “First, can we give
them the slip? I think not. If we pile on that extra knot, we shall
have such a flame dancing from the tops of our funnels that we shall be
visible all over the Mediterranean. Secondly, do we want to give them
the slip? Again I think not. There are four ships there, it is true,
but not one of them is armoured, while we, after our last night’s work
especially, may almost be classed as a battleship. The question, then,
is: Shall we run, or shall we turn; shall we flee, or shall we fight?”
“I see what you mean, sir,” said Maintruck. “Of course we are now very
short-handed, and the men, particularly the stokers, are tired.”
“They will be more tired if we carry on like this for long. No,
Maintruck; I think that we will fight. That’s what the people at home
would like us to do. Here is what I intend to attempt. Just before it
grows dusk I shall crack on that extra knot of Mr. Macpherson’s. This
will induce the enemy, who now seem to think that if they can’t catch
us they can at least hold on, to crack on steam also. The result will
be that in a few hours we shall spread them out in a long tail as they
were the first thing this morning. We will carry no lights. Suddenly we
will shut off steam, and let the enemy come down right on top of us.
They will think that some accident has happened to us. One or two of
them will perhaps be venturesome; and then, starting our engines again,
we will let them have it. The swell is very much less than it was. We
shall make far better shooting than we did last night. What do you
think?”
Mr. Maintruck was not the officer to shrink from any action that
promised the remotest chance of success; and this project, though
a daring one, seemed, upon the whole, to be less risky than the
alternative of keeping everybody and everything at the highest possible
tension for another fifty hours. “If that is your plan, sir,” he
answered, “all I have to say is that I am sure your officers and men
will try to carry it through.”
“Then, if you please, send all hands aft that I may explain things to
everyone.”
No one who was able to move and who was not detained by duty failed to
appear in answer to the call. It was a motley assemblage. Half the
men wore bandages, the clothes of all were torn and dirty, all were
powder-stained and unkempt; but all were ready for anything; and there
was not one who preferred fleeing to fighting when Bowling, from his
arm-chair, told them how matters lay. Their general demeanour removed
from the captain’s mind any traces of hesitation that may have lingered
there. “My men,” he said warmly, when he saw how they received his
ideas, “I am proud to command you; and if you do your duty as I believe
you will, you will be hereafter as proud as I shall to have sailed in
the _Mary Rose_.”
The events of the previous night had given everyone great confidence
in the captain, and after Bowling’s brief address the men clustered
together as if debating something which caused them considerable
uneasiness. Suddenly a tough old quartermaster stepped forward. “We
means no offence, sir, to any of the orficers,” said he bluntly; “and
we’ll do our best no matter who commands us, but we begs respectful to
arst whether you feels yourself well enough, sir, for this ’ere bit
of work, seein’ as if you don’t, and if you think as ’ow you might
feel more inclined like to-morrow night, why, sir, we ain’t got no
objections to waiting for you. Only we do ’ope, sir, as you’ll command
the ship, sir, if so be as it’s conwenient.”
Bowling laughed, and managed to rise. It hurt him to laugh, and it cost
him a most painful effort to stand up, but it did him good to have
this awkward but honest token of the confidence of the lower deck.
“My men,” he said, “I’m not much use, as you may see, but no bones are
broken, and while I can stay on deck I shall be the captain of the
_Mary Rose_. You needn’t fear about that.”
The chase continued without much incident all the afternoon, except
that the _Cosmao_, having apparently broken down, abandoned the
pursuit, and that shots were exchanged at intervals. The swell almost
disappeared, and the shooting consequently became less wild. Indeed,
some very fair practice was made with the _Mary Rose’s_ after guns,
both the _Alger_ and the _Cécille_ being struck more than once. On the
other hand, a shell from the _Alger_ burst in the captain’s cabin of
the _Mary Rose_, and would, had Bowling been present, have infallibly
made an end of him.
The gun on the starboard sponson was, as has been noticed, disabled.
Bowling, determined, therefore, to fight his port side as much, and
his starboard side as little as possible. Just before dusk, as he
had intended, he increased speed to the utmost limit, and, as he had
expected, this induced the _Cécille_ to forge a little ahead of her
consorts. The truth, no doubt, was that all day she had been adapting
her speed to theirs, so as to avoid leaving them or being herself
unsupported, and that now, with darkness coming on and the _Mary Rose_
drawing away, she was afraid of losing sight of the privateer in the
night. Mr. Binnacle, who gave the subject his very careful attention,
was of opinion that when the _Mary Rose_ quickened to 18·5 knots the
_Cécille_ did the same, and that thus she left her consorts each hour
about a knot further behind her in her wake, for they appeared to be
incapable of materially increasing speed.
Speed was raised at seven o’clock, and was admirably maintained by
Mr. Macpherson and his people. The result was that at eleven o’clock,
when about two miles still intervened between the _Mary Rose_ and the
_Cécille_, there was a gap of at least six miles between the _Cécille_
and the _Alger_, and a further gap of over one mile between the _Alger_
and the _Troude_.
Bowling, with a rug thrown over him, had since about eight o’clock been
dozing in his arm-chair on deck, after leaving word that he was to be
roused at one bell. He was not, however, able to secure as much sorely
needed rest as he had bargained for. At about ten minutes past eleven
the enemy played a wholly unexpected card, which, but for the _Mary
Rose’s_ admirable look-out, and the coolness and discipline of the men
at the guns, would have inevitably and very summarily decided the game.
The chasing squadron must either have been accompanied by, or have
fallen in with and picked up a division of torpedo boats. It is
possible that the boats followed the chase all the way from Gibraltar,
and that the “tailing off” of the French cruisers may, after all,
have been deliberately devised in order to enable the torpedo boats
to remain well out of sight in the rear without losing touch of
the privateer. On the other hand, the boats may have been scouting
independently, and have been accidentally sighted by the French senior
officer and then taken under his orders. The point is immaterial, and
in all probability it will now never be cleared up. All that is certain
and material is that, at a few minutes past eleven, the look-out in
the _Mary Rose’s_ mizzen-top reported that three suspicious-looking
objects were creeping up ahead of the _Cécille_, one being nearly under
her bows, and the two others betraying a tendency to work round on the
_Mary Rose’s_ quarters. Bowling was at once apprised of the discovery,
and he caused himself and his chair to be carried up on to the after
end of the superstructure at the foot of the mizzen, whence he could
not only see the enemy, but could direct the fire of all the after
guns, _i.e._ of the 9·2-in. breech-loading and the four 4·7-in. guns
on the poop, of two 6-pounder quick-firing and two Nordenfelts on the
upper deck, of the Maxim R.C. machine gun in the mizzen-top, and of
two 6-pounder quick-firing guns mounted in his own cabin on the main
deck. It was by no means very dark, and, bearing in mind the experience
gained in the action off Toulon, Bowling, who speedily saw that a
torpedo attack was pending, gave orders that, though the search-lights
were to be kept in readiness, they were on no account to be used
without special and definite instructions. He also ordered cordite
ammunition to be got up for all the quick-firing and machine guns, and
no other to be employed. On previous occasions he had used ordinary
powder, except for rifle fire; but he realised that in the coming
crisis smoke would seriously inconvenience him, and be of no possible
counterbalancing advantage.
[Illustration: “SUSPICIOUS-LOOKING OBJECTS WERE CREEPING UP.”]
The boats, as has been said, were first noticed at 11° 10′. The _Mary
Rose_ was then doing about 18·3 knots, and the _Cécille_, though
holding her own, was not coming up. After a few minutes of careful
observation, Binnacle came to the conclusion that the boats were doing
about 20·3, or two knots more than the privateer. There was apparently
a distance of about four cables between the centre boat and each of
the two flank ones. The centre one kept a course immediately ahead of
that of the _Cécille_. The outer ones were disposed on each of her bows
about four points before her beam, and it was tolerably obvious that
the tactics of the foe contemplated holding the centre boat in reserve
under the dark bows of the _Cécille_, and utilising her to attack
during the confusion which, it was anticipated, would be caused by the
simultaneous onslaught of the two other boats, one on each quarter of
the _Mary Rose_.
These tactics, though ingenious, were demonstrably faulty, for it is a
cardinal rule that no torpedo attack upon an armed vessel under steam
should--especially when the attacking force is weak--be attempted from
astern; and the reason for this is simple and obvious.
For the sake of argument, let the armed vessel be steaming at a rate of
10 knots, or 17 ft. a second; and let the attacking boats be steaming
at a rate of 18 knots, or 30 ft. a second; and let the “dangerous
zone” of fire from the armed vessel be taken to be 2000 yards, and the
effective range of the boats’ torpedoes discharged at night at a moving
mark at 150 yards. The great object of the attacking boats is, of
course, to traverse the “helpless zone”--the zone, that is, in which,
although they may be fired at, they cannot effectively discharge their
torpedoes--in as brief a period as possible. This zone is 1850 yards
broad. If the boats enter it from directly ahead of the armed ship,
they traverse it in 1′ 58″; but if they enter it from directly astern,
it takes them 7′ 7″ to cross it. Therefore, other things being equal,
a boat attacking from ahead has much more than three times as good a
chance of escaping unhurt as a boat attacking from astern has. But in
addition to this, in the particular case in question, if the boats
had passed unseen ahead of the _Mary Rose_, and had attacked her from
ahead, they would probably--even if they had not seriously damaged
her--have forced her to turn, and would so have allowed their consorts
the cruisers to come up with her. To pass from a position two miles
astern of her to one, say, two miles ahead of her, without undergoing
risk of being sighted by her, would, it is true, have taken the torpedo
boats in this instance a period of three or four hours at least; but,
then, the result might easily have been success, instead of failure and
disaster.
The non-employment of the search-lights by the _Mary Rose_ left the
French ignorant as to whether or not the progress of the attack
was observed. Bowling, on the other hand, was able to keep his men
perfectly cool and unflurried. He ordered that fire from everything,
the 9·2-in. guns only excepted, that would bear, should be opened upon
the enemy when he was at a distance of 400 yards, and not before.
The port quarter guns were devoted to the boat on the port quarter;
the starboard quarter guns to that on the starboard quarter. The
Maxim gun was bidden to divide its attentions, and the riflemen were
also divided; and, just upon the stroke of midnight, without having
previously given forth the least warning of what was intended, the
privateer opened. It was short, quick, terrible work. Harried by very
little smoke, the men fired as fast as was consistent with the most
careful aiming, and the boats, though most gallantly handled, really
had no chance. A landsman might have experienced difficulty in seeing
the low, dark, ill-defined masses upon the water; but to the trained
eyes of men who had followed the sea, the scene was almost as clear as
was to be desired; and, even when the boats themselves occasionally
showed doubtfully, their white bow-waves sufficiently betrayed them
and guided the gunners. All was over in five minutes. Torpedoes may
have been discharged; but if so, they did not reach the privateer, or
run anywhere near her; and as for the boats, they sank under the awful
storm of projectiles that rained upon them. The third one, coming up
astern under a great head of steam in the thick of the fight, blew
up. Whether her boilers had exploded, or she had been struck by a
projectile, can never be known. No one in the _Mary Rose_ received so
much as a scratch.
[Illustration: “IT WAS SHORT, QUICK, TERRIBLE WORK.”]
[Illustration: “THEIR WHITE BOW-WAVES BETRAYED THEM.”]
At half-past twelve, determined, if the enemy should still give him a
chance of doing so, to carry out his original plan, Bowling ordered
Mr. Tompion to see that the poop and forecastle heavy guns, and all
the guns that would train over on to the port side, were loaded and
once more ready for action. Then he caused himself to be moved to a
partially sheltered position near the wreck of the conning tower,
whence he could shout down his commands through one of the deck
scuttles already mentioned. “When we stop the engines, Mr. Tompion,” he
said, “or rather, when we go dead slow--for perhaps it is not wise to
have no way on the ship--I shall bring her very gently round to port,
so that if the enemy keeps on his course we shall lie right across his
bows. If he doesn’t keep on his course, I shall still endeavour to put
myself in that position, and to maintain it as long as I safely can. It
will at least entice him to attempt to use his ram, though, of course,
I don’t intend to let him go as far as that. Now, I want you to have
every gun, great and small, concentrated on his bows as he comes up.
Have them sighted for five hundred yards, and fire at that distance
only. You give the word. I know you won’t estimate the distance very
wrongly. I will confine myself to handling the ship, but I must have
the first lieutenant close at hand, so that he may take command in
an instant, should anything happen to me. Please, therefore, ask Mr.
Maintruck to come here, and ask Mr. Tripper to stand by with the
underwater torpedoes in case we want them.”
Mr. Maintruck, who had been making the round of the ship, reported
everything ready. The men, including many of the wounded, were at
their quarters; Day and Salthorse had taken command of their own guns,
almost as if they had never been hurt; and there was everywhere an
orderly quietness that seemed marvellous in a vessel that had been
fitted out and commissioned in so great a hurry. But by this time
confidence reigned throughout, and there is nothing so conducive to
discipline as well-placed confidence in a ship and in her officers.
Both had been tried; neither had been found wanting.
The _Cécille_, two miles astern, was just visible--a blacker spot than
the rest of the darkness. She showed no lights ahead, though doubtless,
for the benefit of her consorts, she showed some astern. They were, of
course, out of sight.
“Reduce speed to sixty revolutions,” cried Bowling, and added at
intervals of a few seconds: “Reduce to forty!” “Reduce to twenty!”
In a minute or so the growing blackness and distinctness of the
_Cécille_ indicated that she was rapidly coming up. To assist her,
Bowling reversed his engines gently for a short time, and then went
ahead again at twenty revolutions and put his helm over. The Frenchman
was approaching at the rate of a mile in four minutes. There was not,
therefore, much delay. Yet to the men at the guns, and especially to
the captains, who had their eyes along the luminous sights, the period
seemed an eternity. Suddenly a rocket shot up from the _Cécille_,
followed by another and another.
[Illustration: “SUDDENLY A ROCKET SHOT UP.”]
“That must be her signal that we have broken down, sir,” said
Maintruck. “She will slow up now, I suspect.”
“Let her think what she likes,” said Bowling, “so long as she doesn’t
think that we have surrendered,” and he looked aloft, where three
enormous blue ensigns were fluttering, one from each truck, and one
from the forestay, these being in addition to the ensign on the
ensign-staff. “I don’t want her to be able to say that she thought that
we had given up the game. Gad! she is coming straight down on us.”
“But now she is swerving, sir. She is going to range up on our port
hand.”
“Hang it!” cried Bowling, staggering to his feet; “I can’t sit here and
fight the ship from an arm-chair. Yes, by Jove! she is going round to
port, but she is slowing! Pass the word, there, to go ahead at forty
revolutions. I can still bring the ship nearly across her bows.”
But the _Cécille_ turned only slightly. Her captain seemed, on second
thoughts, to conclude that he could not take up a more advantageous
position than circumstances had prepared for him; and, firing a single
shot, which whistled harmlessly between the _Mary Rose’s_ funnels, he
held on as before, keeping his head straight for the privateer, but
slowing considerably. When he was but eight hundred yards distant he
fired again. This time the projectile struck the deck forward, scooped
out a great hole, drove up a torrent of splinters, and ricochetted away
to the eastward. The enemy was clearly beginning to think that he did
not quite know what to make of the situation. Once more he swerved
to port, but as he did so, Bowling put the _Mary Rose’s_ helm over to
starboard, and so kept his ship still more or less across the cruiser’s
bows. A minute later, Tompion, in a voice like the bellow of a bull,
gave the word to fire; and three 9·4-in. and four 4·7-in., besides
smaller guns, were discharged almost simultaneously, making the ship
tremble from stem to stern.
What breeze there was was from the west. The rush of smoke, therefore
(for ordinary powder was being used again), floated gently across the
privateer’s deck, and, for an instant, blinded everyone. But already
Bowling had ordered full speed ahead, and had put his helm still
further over to starboard, so that the _Mary Rose_ began to round the
cruiser’s bows, and to pass alongside of her, though in the contrary
direction.
“It is ticklish work, Maintruck,” said the captain, “and I know it; but
I must do it, because we can only fight the port guns.”
“We shall clear her easily,” cried the first lieutenant as the smoke
drifted off. “By heavens! What’s the matter, sir? They’re hanging out
lights.”
The two vessels were still about five hundred yards distant one from
the other, and no one in the _Mary Rose_ could make out very clearly
what was going forward in the _Cécille_, but there was great shouting
on board, and lanterns were being waved, and the ship was not firing.
“Mr. Tompion wishes me to say, sir, that he believes the enemy has
struck,” said Echo, suddenly appearing and saluting Bowling.
The captain, with a great effort, dragged himself on to the bridge, and
gazed for a moment, but not at the _Cécille_.
“Struck or not struck,” he said to Maintruck, as he staggered down
again, “I don’t care. The others are coming up. We have not finished
this business yet.” And regaining his chair, into which he sank from
sheer weakness, he cried through the scuttle, “That will do! Helm
amidships! Full speed!”
The _Mary Rose_, now heading nearly west, passed the _Cécille_, on
board of which the shouting and waving of lights continued, and quickly
sighted the _Alger_ approaching on the port bow, but at a considerable
distance. This distance, however, rapidly decreased. “Concentrate your
fire again, Mr. Tompion,” shouted Bowling, “and let this one have it,
like the other, at five hundred yards.” And he held on, still keeping
the enemy about four points on his port bow. The Frenchman evidently
intended to do his best to ram, for he came up gallantly, not even
firing until he was well within a thousand yards. In this position
only two of the _Mary Rose’s_ 9·4-in. and two of her 4·7-in. guns
would bear, but at the right distance they were fired, and at the next
instant Bowling ported his helm, and so brought his after port guns
to bear. They, too, were fired, but they did not stop the _Alger_,
which pluckily began to follow the privateer’s motions and to circle
in pursuit of her, firing furiously at the same time. The work was
getting warm. Men flung up their arms and fell forward on their faces.
Splinters flew. Two shells, in rapid succession, burst below. Maintruck
staggered sideways, and collapsed under the break of the poop.
“Stand by to fire the stern torpedo,” shouted Bowling hoarsely. “Full
speed astern starboard engine! Full speed ahead port engine!”
This order and “Port helm!” brought the ship round so rapidly that the
_Alger_, turning less quickly, passed under the privateer’s stern.
The distance was barely two cables, when Bowling, seeing the enemy’s
broadside fully exposed, gave the word. Fifteen seconds later the
Whitehead struck its mark, and as Bowling heard the explosion he sank
senseless on deck.
CHAPTER IX.
A “GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE.”
Mr. Binnacle took command of the privateer. The _Alger_, which was
evidently sinking fast, was now aflame with lights, and all firing from
her had ceased. The men clustered on her decks were shouting wildly for
help. Some even leapt into the water, and strove to reach the _Mary
Rose_ by swimming. Regardless, for the moment, of everything except
the saving of life, Binnacle ordered the boats to be got out, but soon
learnt that he had not a single boat of any kind which would float.
In the meantime the _Troude_ was warily coming up, with the obvious
intention of continuing the action. Binnacle’s decision was soon taken.
He steamed round the _Alger_ so as to place her between him and his new
enemy, and when he was as close to her as he dared venture, hailed her.
[Illustration: “THE ‘TROUDE’ WAS WARILY COMING UP.”]
“I have no boats,” he cried. “Signal to your consort to help you. I
won’t interfere unless she attacks me. God preserve you!” And then,
pretty confident that his permission would be gladly taken advantage
of, he steamed back to where the _Cécille_ lay motionless on the water
a mile or more to the eastward.
The _Cécille_, it was now plain, had struck, and as the _Mary Rose_
approached her, she hailed to say so. Binnacle replied, ordering her to
send a boat, and in five minutes a boat left her side.
The officer who came in her was a grey-headed captain in full dress. He
climbed on deck with some little difficulty, for his left arm was bound
up in a sling; but although, as his slit sleeve showed, he had put on
his full uniform after he had received his wound, and although he was
in considerable pain, there were about him no other traces of having
been in action. His face was clean, his linen was spotless, and his
hair and whiskers were carefully brushed. The side was piped for him,
and, hat in hand, he stood with bowed head asking in broken English for
the captain.
Binnacle moved forward, a great contrast in every way to his visitor.
The latter was clean, and almost spruce. The former had his clothes
burned full of holes, and wet blood upon his cuffs, while his face was
black, his hands were dirty, his head was bare, and his hair was badly
singed. “Have I the honour of speaking to the captain of this ship?”
asked the Frenchman in a voice which, though distinct, trembled with
emotion.
“The captain is wounded, sir,” rejoined Binnacle; “but I am in command.”
“Perhaps, nevertheless, you will conduct me to the captain.”
Bowling lay near the break of the poop, where Dr. Rhubarb was attending
to him. He had not received any further injury of importance. He had
merely fainted from the effects of excitement acting upon his already
sorely injured frame, and he was now regaining his senses. Binnacle
pointed him out to the Frenchman, who approached him. Bowling looked
up, and, realising the situation, struggled to his feet and took off
his cap. But that Mr. Nipcheese supported him he would, however, have
again fallen.
“Sir,” said the French captain, who had put his hat on the bitts, and
who now tendered his sword, “my engines are disabled, half my crew are
killed, and I have no choice but to surrender. It is a sad consolation
for me to know that I surrender to an officer of your distinguished
gallantry. Permit me to say that you have fought me splendidly, and
have handled your ship to perfection. I do myself the honour of
constituting myself your prisoner, and of begging you to assist my poor
fellows.”
He had prepared this little speech, no doubt, and had steeled himself
to utter it. When he had finished it he burst into tears and sobbed
like a child. Bowling, still dazed, grasped the proffered sword, and
attempted to reply, but was too weak to speak aloud. He could only
beckon Binnacle to him and whisper: “Poor chap! Tell him to keep it,
Binnacle. And do you carry on.” Then once more he fainted.
It was arranged that the prize should be towed to Malta, unless,
indeed, her engines could in the meantime be rendered serviceable, and
unless the other vessels of the enemy endeavoured to interfere. But it
soon appeared that the enemy had no further stomach for fighting.
The _Troude_, lying close to the _Alger_, was busily engaged in saving
the ship’s company of that ill-starred craft, which, before daylight,
but not until all her people had been removed, gave a great roll to
port, and pitching down by the bows, sank; whereupon the _Troude_
steamed slowly away to the westward. In the interval Lieutenant Tripper
had gone to take charge of the _Cécille_.
[Illustration: “ON BOARD THE ‘CÉCILLE’ A PERFECTLY AWFUL STATE OF
AFFAIRS WAS FOUND.”]
He found on board of her a perfectly awful state of affairs. Tompion
had worked his guns only too well. The _Mary Rose_, with her
concentrated broadside, had raked the great French cruiser fore and
aft along nearly the whole length of her spacious decks; and by that
one terrible discharge had not only killed or wounded 239 out of the
486 officers and men in the _Cécille_, but had dismounted two out of
six 6·4-in. and four out of ten 5·4-in. guns; had carried away the
foremast close to the deck, had demolished the forward funnel, and had
literally filled up the open engine-room hatch with heavy _débris_
from the foremast, the funnel, the fore-bridge, the boats, and the
deck structures. The _débris_ had choked and jammed the engines, and
had so caused a general dislocation of the machinery. Two out of
the three 9·4-in. shells had, it appeared, burst high up under the
upper deck, and, besides tearing it open and covering the upper deck
from end to end with splinters, had spread equal devastation on the
lower deck, which was in places actually covered with the mangled and
unrecognisable remains of brave men, and across which a wash of blood
swept from side to side as the ship rolled. Tripper was not squeamish.
He had already seen some frightful sights in his own ship. But when
he first went down to the _Cécille’s_ lower deck and experienced the
horrible warm odour of the slaughter-house there; when, lantern in
hand, he saw the splashed brains, the fragments of flesh, and the
trickling streams of crimson; and when he heard the sounds that filled
that den of terrors, he could barely force himself to remain. Here a
6·4-in. gun, weighing about four tons, had been torn from its mounting
and flung upon three men, whom it had crushed out of all shape of human
kind; there again a body cut in half lay across the gangway and oozed
blood and horror. The new war methods may not be more cruel, nor even
more fatal than the old, but they are a hundred times more fearful.
When matters had been put a little ship-shape on board the prize, and
when some of the prisoners had been removed from her, and a small prize
crew, which could hardly be spared, sent on board from the _Mary Rose_,
a hawser was passed to the _Cécille_, and she was taken in tow.
Malta was about 750 miles steam from the scene of action, and had the
privateer been alone, she would probably have reached Valetta Harbour
by six o’clock on the evening of Saturday, the 16th. With the French
cruiser astern of her she did not, however, reach it until twenty-four
hours later, and even then she made very good time, seeing that she
covered the distance at an average speed of over 11·3 knots. This she
could not have done had not a favourable wind sprung up, and had not
the prize been able to slightly help her by hoisting a certain amount
of sail.
During the passage Bowling picked up wonderfully, as did also
Maintruck, Day, and Salthorse, and when, late on Sunday afternoon, the
_Mary Rose_ and the _Cécille_ dropped anchor, by direction from the
Admiral, off Point Bichi, all four of the wounded officers were not
only on deck, but on their legs. For a fortnight Malta had been almost
cut off from the rest of the world. A few Italian small craft had run
across from Syracuse and Alicata, but they had busied themselves with
the bringing of supplies rather than of news. All the cables were cut;
a torpedo boat, which had been sent for orders to Messina, had not
returned, and was supposed to have been captured; and a considerable
French force, including the ironclads _Richelieu_, _Friedland_,
_Bayard_, and _Duguesclin_, and the cruisers _Milan_, _Jean Bart_, and
_Faucon_, having been observed off the island, it was not difficult
to account for the non-arrival of the duplicate dispatches which, as
Bowling knew, had been sent overland from London at about the time of
his own departure from the Tyne.
The arrival of the two ships caused a scene of the wildest enthusiasm.
Within a few minutes the harbour, as if by magic, became crowded with
boats, the occupants of which seemed to be never tired of staring at
the blue ensign which floated above the tricolour at the _Cécille’s_
peak, or of examining the various marks of rough usage with which
both vessels were liberally covered, and ever and anon some excitable
person on the water started rounds of cheering for the mysterious
British cruiser, and for her gallant but unknown captain, officers, and
complement.
The warships in harbour or in dock were the _Colossus_, _Sanspareil_,
_Polyphemus_, and _Surprise_, besides the half-dismantled _Orion_ and
the _Victoria_, which was, for the time, absolutely unserviceable.
Their boats came off to the strangers, and many of those who came in
them were rather astonished to find on the _Mary Rose’s_ quarter-deck
old shipmates, or at least old friends. The Admirals, also, too
anxious to be able to stand strictly on their dignity, came off, the
Mediterranean Commander-in-Chief in the _Sanspareil’s_ galley, and
the Admiral-Superintendent in his steam launch. To the latter officer
Bowling had the satisfaction of personally handing Sir Humphrey
Thornbeigh’s dispatch. Warm indeed were the congratulations which he
received from all ranks when, in as few words as possible, and very
modestly, he told his story.
“By Gad, Bowling,” said the Admiral-Superintendent, a little man, who
habitually jumped about as if he were treading upon hot bricks, “to
be able to say that I had done what you have done, I would willingly
surrender all this gold lace. Damme, sir; if they don’t make a K.C.B.
of you, I shall leave the service in disgust--when the war is over, of
course.”
“I’m more desirous to get a little of the gold lace, sir,” laughed
Bowling. “If they will give me my three stripes I shall be content,
although that would involve my leaving the ship.”
The two Admirals, as soon as they had satisfied a little of their
natural curiosity concerning what Bowling could tell them, took
possession, without any ceremony, of his cabin, and in privacy
opened Sir Humphrey’s dispatch. It was externally addressed to the
Admiral-Superintendent, because Sir Humphrey, when he wrote it,
was of course ignorant as to the whereabouts of the Mediterranean
Commander-in-Chief, but it was internally addressed to the senior
officer at Malta. It directed him to spare no efforts in getting ready
for service as many vessels as possible, and then, taking command,
to proceed to sea with them; running as little risk as might be, yet
if necessary at all hazards. The object to be strictly kept in view
was to make a rendezvous at one o’clock a.m. on Monday, June 1st,
five miles south of Europa Point; and to effect this everything was
to be sacrificed. “At the place and hour mentioned,” continued the
dispatch, “I purpose to concentrate all available forces from Malta,
from Gibraltar, and from home, in order, if the French Fleet be still
off the Rock, to annihilate it; and if that Fleet be gone elsewhere, to
resume our command of the Mediterranean, and then to follow the enemy,
should they have left it for the Atlantic or the Channel.”
The dispatch--which was a long one--need not be further quoted. It
contained plain directions as to the manner in which each squadron
was to approach the rendezvous; a special code of signals; and minute
instructions as to the course to be pursued in almost every conceivable
combination of circumstances; and it concluded with the expression of
a hope that the senior officer would treat Captain Bowling of the
_Mary Rose_, letter of marque, with favourable consideration, and would
utilise the services which Captain Bowling, Sir Humphrey felt sure,
would be very eager to render to Her Majesty’s officers.
From that moment, Bowling, although he had no rank, held a unique and
exceptional position. He was taken into the councils of the Admirals to
an extent to which even the oldest post-captains were not; his advice
was not merely asked, but frequently followed, and he was offered every
facility which the dockyard officials, without prejudice to the naval
service, could supply towards refitting his ship and bringing her
sorely reduced complement once more up to the mark. Of men there was no
lack, for many large merchant ships, including several vessels of the
P. and O. Company’s fleet, were laid up in harbour. Indeed it was found
possible to refit and re-man the _Cécille_ as well as the _Mary Rose_.
The former was re-named _Rose_, and the Commander-in-Chief suggested
that, unless Bowling very much desired to keep her under his orders,
she should be purchased into the Navy and officered by naval officers.
Bowling preferred the latter course; whereupon the Admiral assumed
the responsibility of the bargain, and the prize having been duly
condemned, he gave Bowling bills for the very large amount at which she
was officially valued.
In pursuit of the orders from home, Malta Dockyard, which had been
busy enough before the _Mary Rose’s_ arrival, became busier than ever.
The _Sanspareil_ was in No. 4 Dock, the _Colossus_ in Somerset Dock,
and the _Polyphemus_ in No. 2--Inner Dock--so that the other vessels
of large size had to make shift to repair alongside; but labour being
plentiful, and the Admiral-Superintendent having with foresight erected
some temporary but very powerful shears, it was found possible to
lighten both the _Mary Rose_ and the _Rose_ sufficiently to enable
their underwater injuries, which were not extensive, to be got at and
set to rights. The Commander-in-Chief decided to sail on the evening of
Wednesday, the 27th; but he did not allow his determination to become
known to anyone except his brother Admiral and Bowling. Everyone,
however, knew quite well that exciting events were in the air. Such
matters seem to have mysterious tongues of their own, and to be unable
to keep silence concerning themselves, even although they do not always
blab of particular details.
In the battle off Toulon both the 111-ton guns of the _Sanspareil_ had
been put, or rather had put themselves, out of action, but as at Malta
there were neither reserve guns nor appliances for, in so short a time,
lifting out the old ones, they were obliged to be left in the ship. The
accident was a very serious one, for it condemned the most important
portion of the great vessel’s armament to inactivity, and deprived the
craft of the whole of her bow fire. This being so, the Admiral, though
very unwilling to desert her, felt it incumbent upon him to haul down
his flag in her, and to transfer it to the _Colossus_. He even went
so far as to question whether he should allow the _Sanspareil_ to go
to sea at all, and only at the urgent solicitation of her captain
did he at length consent to permit her to accompany the squadron when
it should leave harbour. In the meantime, and in order to neutralise
to some slight extent the ship’s absence of heavy guns forward, he
succeeded in getting a couple of 4·7-in. quick-firing guns mounted
behind shields on the spar deck abreast of the funnels, so that they
were partially protected by the otherwise useless turret, and could
fire over it.
The ten days that were spent by the _Mary Rose_ at Malta went very
quickly. Work went on by night with as little interruption as by day,
and upon the morning of the 27th all the vessels with which the Admiral
intended to sail had hauled out from their docks and jetties, and lay
at anchor in harbour, fully coaled, and in all respects ready for sea.
During these ten days very little news of a trustworthy nature dribbled
in from the outer world. It became known, however, that a further
attempt by the French against the ships collected at Spithead had been
repulsed without serious loss on the British side; but that, on the
other hand, several open towns on the south coast had been bombarded
by French cruisers, after having declined to pay ransom; that the
Channel trade, so far as Great Britain was concerned, was almost at a
standstill; and that in some parts of the country bloody bread riots
had occurred, while in London itself there had been much disorder,
owing to the supposed undue dilatoriness of the Board of War, and to
the great rise in prices. Sir Humphrey Thornbeigh had been burnt in
effigy in Trafalgar Square, and had immediately afterwards ridden out
of the Admiralty court-yard, addressed the crowd from on horseback, and
been cheered by the rabble as he returned. It became known also that,
as late as the 22nd, the nightly bombardment of Gibraltar was being
continued, and that the French were pretty confident of reducing the
place by the end of the month, as they had improvised some floating
batteries, armed with mortars of the largest calibre, throwing mélinite
shells, which were excessively destructive.
Bowling was almost well, and, but for the loss of his eye, was very
little the worse for having been in action. Hard work, indeed, seemed
to be the best restorative for both him and his officers.
The 27th of May was a magnificent day. The sky was clear and of the
deepest blue, and the gentle breeze was barely sufficient to blow out
the bunting of the ships in harbour and the Union Jacks of the forts on
shore. At ten o’clock the Admiral suddenly signalled for steam to be
got up ready for 12 knots at five o’clock; at half-past four, having
already un-moored, he signalled “Prepare to weigh,” and at five he
weighed and led his ships out. Earlier in the day he had sent torpedo
boats to scout all round the island, and, as they returned reporting
no signs of the enemy, he did not hesitate to put to sea before dark.
It subsequently appeared that the French vessels, which for a time had
formed a squadron of observation off Malta, had, two days earlier,
been ordered to reinforce the Fleet off the Rock, preparatory to the
general and, as was hoped, the final bombardment, the French Admiralty
having made up its mind that the ships in Malta were too badly damaged
to venture much for some time to come, and too weak to dare to come
out, even if they were patched up. Only a single cruiser had been left
to watch, and she had, it turned out, gone off in chase of a vessel
which she took to be British, but which was really the Italian corvette
_Cristoforo Colombo_, bound for Palermo. The excellent Italian captain
did not deem it to be his duty to enlighten his French “opposite
number,” and steamed gaily away at 14 knots without answering the
signals which the cruiser made to him. He was at length overhauled, and
he then made, of course, most courteous explanations; but by that time
the British squadron was at sea, and well on its way to the westward.
When the cruiser returned to her station it was too dark for her to
discover that the bird had flown. Next morning she did discover it,
and then she pelted off to Toulon with the news, and received from
the Commander-in-Chief there a sound rating for having been lured
away by an Italian, who, as the Admiral chose to put it, was “only an
Englishman in disguise.” There may have been an atom of truth in this
assertion, for throughout the war the Italians certainly, although they
always spoke French with the greatest politeness, spoke it, as used to
be said at the time, with a decidedly English accent. In other words,
they scarcely disguised their sympathies, and would, upon the smallest
encouragement, have openly declared them. Happily for all parties, they
managed to preserve for themselves that greatest of blessings--peace.
[Illustration: THE “CRISTOFORO COLOMBO.”]
[Illustration: “IN THE DAYS OF SAILING SHIPS.”]
In the days of sailing ships pre-concerted action between fleets or
even between single vessels was difficult and precarious. It was not,
for example, of much use for the Admiralty to base important plans upon
the junction at a particular time and in a particular place of two
forces. It might be absolutely impossible for one or both of the forces
to reach the spot within a month of the specified hour,--impossible,
not because of the occurrence of unforeseen accidents, but simply
because of the normal and natural conditions under which the work had
to be done. If the wind did not blow, the ship did not go. But in
modern days ships are independent of winds, tides, and currents. Mail
steamers run, and have run for years, between points thousands of miles
apart with almost the punctuality of railway trains; and if it were
desirable that at eight o’clock in the morning of every Monday in the
year a vessel should leave New York, and that, at eight o’clock in
the morning of the following Wednesday week she should drop anchor in
the Cove of Cork, there is no doubt whatever that in fifty cases out
of every fifty-two, the programme could be literally carried out. If,
in short, a slight margin over and above the time actually necessary
for the voyage in moderate weather be allowed, ships can, barring
unforeseen and unpreventible accidents, now move about with something
akin to absolute punctuality. This fact lies at the root of all modern
naval strategy, and at the root, also, of much of modern naval tactics;
but it had never before been so frankly recognised and so boldly
utilised as it was for the combined operations which were planned
at Whitehall to be carried out on the 1st of June in the Strait of
Gibraltar.
The gallant Admiral whose flag flew in the _Colossus_ took care to keep
a certain amount of time in hand from the beginning. At twelve knots,
Gibraltar is, as nearly as possible, ninety-six hours’ steam from
Malta. The rendezvous was for one o’clock a.m. on June 1st; therefore
in order to keep it, a squadron steaming the whole distance at twelve
knots, with a little speed in hand, was not obliged to leave Malta
until one a.m. on the morning of May 28th. But the Admiral prudently
allowed himself an additional eight hours; and thus, towards the end of
his cruise, when he might reasonably expect to fall in with the enemy,
he was able to go warily.
The last day was indeed an anxious time. To approach the African
shore was to risk encountering French vessels on their way to or from
Gibraltar and Algiers. To approach the Spanish shore, on the other
hand, was to risk encountering French vessels on their way to or from
Gibraltar and Toulon. Upon both routes men-of-war must necessarily
be continually moving, Toulon being the repairing, and Algiers or
Bizerta in all probability the coaling depôt for the hostile Fleet;
and although the Admiral had come out to fight, he had come to fight
in a particular place at a particular time, and not otherwise. In
this difficulty the _Rose_ was useful. Her French build and rig, and
her general resemblance to other cruisers which still flew the
tricolour, rendered her, the Admiral felt, invaluable as a scout; and,
as a matter of fact, in the early morning of the 31st she was able,
without exciting suspicion, to warn the squadron of the vicinity of a
French ironclad which, although she might have been captured, might
also have fatally delayed the combined movements upon which the success
of the entire scheme depended. The Admiral kept for the most part a
course as equidistant as possible between Spain and Africa all that
day, the order being _Colossus_, _Sanspareil_, _Polyphemus_, and _Mary
Rose_, in column of line ahead, with the _Rose_ on the port and the
_Surprise_ on the starboard bow of the column at a distance of five
miles. Bowling was treated almost exactly as one of the captains of the
squadron, and obeyed signals, etc., just as they did; nor, owing to the
good services which he had already done, was there the least trace of
jealousy concerning him. Indeed, the squadron was proud of him.
The grand bombardment of Gibraltar began on the night between May 30th
and May 31st. The French had previously collected for the purpose a
fleet of twenty-five ironclads, inclusive of armoured coast-defence
ships, ten floating batteries specially prepared, and numerous small
unarmoured vessels, each mounting a single heavy gun. Attached to this
force were two large squadrons of cruisers, one of which was disposed
fan-wise at the Atlantic end, and the other at the Mediterranean end
of the Straits, so as to give timely alarm in case of any threatened
interference with what was going on at the Rock. In fact, almost
the whole available resource of the French Navy was concentrated
for the occasion, it having been determined in Paris that--at all
costs--Gibraltar must be made to fall. Many of the most enlightened
French critics doubted the wisdom of this policy; and, among others, M.
E. Weyl, the distinguished naval editor of _Le Yacht_. In the course of
an article, which he published within a few hours after the scheme had
been decided upon, he wrote:--
“We shall never deal an effective blow at the naval power of Britain by
hurling ourselves against her fortresses. We have rightly made up our
minds, for the present, to leave Malta alone. Why not deal in a similar
manner with Gibraltar? And why not consistently pursue those principles
which, in the ardour of the moment and before the theorists had time
to make themselves heard, we put in force off Toulon on the glorious
day of the 28th of April? Gibraltar, like Malta, stands or falls with
the British Navy. On the other hand, we may possess ourselves both of
Gibraltar and of Malta without materially or permanently diminishing
the power of our opponents on the sea. It is our duty, rather, to keep
a single eye on the Navy of the enemy. If we destroy that, we gain
everything; if we do not destroy it, all our other gains will be vain
and illusory. Let us, then, implore the Ministry to alter its plans
while there is yet time. Let us seek for a decisive action on the
ocean. Already, in the past, Gibraltar has been the scene of one of the
most costly of naval follies. Surely we are not about to deliberately
repeat the stupidity of 1782? To attack Gibraltar with this huge
force is to court disaster.”
[Illustration: AN ATLANTIC GREYHOUND.]
But the French Ministry did not listen to the advice of M. Weyl, and of
those who, with him, were students of the great principles enunciated
by Captain Mahan. The official mind could not resist the specious
reasoning: “If you place the tricolour on Gibraltar you become the
doorkeeper of the Mediterranean;” and so, as has been said, the grand
bombardment, began. It was resumed on the night of May 31st-June 1st,
and fearful indeed upon forts, towns, and rock itself was the effect of
that unexampled fire. But for two nights only did it continue.
At dusk, on the evening of the 31st, the little squadron from Malta
slowed down to nine knots, being then about fifty miles from the Gut
of Gibraltar. Steam was, however, kept for full speed, and the Admiral
signalled that, as soon as any French cruiser should be observed
ahead, full speed should be put on, and that the squadron should
thenceforward restrain its pace only by the best speed of the flagship.
The _Surprise_ and _Rose_ were directed to fall back before the enemy,
and to take station astern of the other vessels, and avoid engaging.
The incidents leading up to the battle off Toulon and to the passage
of the Straits by the _Mary Rose_ had been exciting; but they were far
less so than the incidents which were now leading up to an action,
the nature and results of which not one man of the thousands who were
about to take part in it could form even the faintest idea of. Three
separate forces were moving independently upon the scene and towards
the great French Fleet. None knew for certain how any one of the
others was composed; none had any means of making sure that any one
of the others would arrive at the right moment; and none knew either
the strength or the disposition of the foe. Only afterwards did the
world at large learn that the Fleet from Spithead consisted, so far as
armoured ships were concerned, of two divisions--the first composed of
the _Royal Sovereign_ (flag), _Anson_, _Camperdown_, _Howe_, _Rodney_,
_Aurora_, _Immortalité_, _Narcissus_, and _Galatea_, and the second
of the _Hercules_ (flag), _Triumph_, _Neptune_, _Audacious_, _Iron
Duke_, _Superb_, _Northampton_, _Nelson_, and _Shannon_; that the
_Trafalgar_, _Dreadnought_, and _Australia_ issued from Gibraltar, and
that from Malta came the _Colossus_ (flag), _Sanspareil_, _Polyphemus_,
and _Mary Rose_. The first Spithead and the Gibraltar and Malta
divisions--fifteen ironclads in all--had orders to effect the junction
at the rendezvous at one o’clock a.m. The second Spithead division, to
which were attached an exceptional number of fast protected cruisers,
had orders to make the same rendezvous forty minutes later, and had, in
fact, left British waters two days earlier than the second division.
[Illustration: “GIB.”]
The arrangement seems to have been upon the whole a very prudent one.
The second Spithead division was the weakest and slowest. Its numerous
fast scouts would bring it, while on the passage, early information of
the approach of an enemy, and would enable it, if necessary, to fall
back upon the first and most fast and powerful division. On the other
hand, the first division, in conjunction with the modern ships from
Malta and Gibraltar, would, if the French were still engaged at the
Rock, bear the first brunt of the fight, and allow the second division
in its wake to come fresh upon a partially disorganised and probably
badly damaged foe. The weakness of the scheme, if weakness there were,
lay in the fact that at the outset fifteen British ironclads might be
opposed to twenty-five French. But it must be recollected that while
nearly all these British ships were vessels of very large size and
modern design, at least half the French ships were smaller and older,
and several of them, as, for example, the _Colbert_, _Richelieu_,
_Bayard_, and _La Galissonnière_, were partially built of wood. Even
the ships of the second Spithead division were most of them, vessel
for vessel, nearly equal to the average of the French battleships off
Gibraltar.
It is hopeless to attempt to describe in detail the episodes of a great
Fleet action. The best general description of the battle of Gibraltar
is contained in the official dispatch which was afterwards addressed by
the Commander-in-Chief to the Chief Director of Fleets, and which is
here copied:--
“_Royal Sovereign_, Gibraltar Bay,
“_June 1st_.
“SIR,--I have the honour to inform you that it has pleased God to
bless Her Majesty’s arms with signal success, and that the combined
movements which were directed to be carried out by the Fleet under my
command, and by the squadrons at Malta and Gibraltar respectively,
have been performed, and have to-day resulted in the gaining of a
victory which, while it will, I trust, add a ray of glory to Her
Majesty’s crown, will also, I pray, tend in no small degree to
benefit the Empire and to bring to a speedy conclusion the present
unhappy war.
[Illustration: THE “ROYAL SOVEREIGN.”]
“The second division of the Spithead Fleet, composed of H.M. ships
mentioned in the margin, sailed from Spithead on the 24th of May.
The first division, with my flag in the _Royal Sovereign_, followed,
in pursuance of your instructions, on the 26th. Neither division
encountered on the passage any force of the enemy, and on the 31st,
at noon, I communicated with and passed the second division, and
proceeded at 13 knots for the mouth of the Strait. Shortly before 11
p.m., at which hour we could distinctly hear that the bombardment
of Gibraltar was being vigorously continued, my cruisers, the night
being clear and brilliant, sighted the cruisers of the French Fleet
about six miles ahead, and soon afterwards exchanged shots with
some of the most advanced of them. The French cruisers presently
withdrew, and I increased speed to 14 knots, formed my command into
quarter line, and disposed my cruisers on the quarters and at the
rear of the division, with orders to them to expose themselves as
little as possible, to keep out of the way of the second division
as it came up forty minutes later, and, generally, to be prepared
to render assistance to the battleships. The French Fleet, upon
receiving intelligence of our approach, must have relinquished the
bombardment, and in a formation of which I could not learn the
nature, steamed leisurely to the eastward. At this time we had not
ourselves sighted it, but a little before one o’clock, when we were
already nearly abreast of Europa Point, and when the _Trafalgar_,
_Dreadnought_, and _Australia_ were visible coming out of the Bay,
we discovered the enemy about seven miles ahead, fiercely engaged
with the squadron from Malta. This consisted only of the _Colossus_,
_Sanspareil_, _Polyphemus_, and _Surprise_ of Her Majesty’s Navy,
but attached to it, and obeying the orders of the Vice-Admiral,
were the _Mary Rose_, armoured privateer, commanded by Mr. Thomas
Bowling, late a lieutenant of the Royal Navy, and the _Rose_, late
_Cécille_, a prize which was captured from the French Navy by the
_Mary Rose_ in a very gallant manner on the 14th ult., and which
had been purchased into the service and manned at Malta by the
Vice-Admiral upon his own responsibility, a course which I venture
to hope will meet with approval. The Malta squadron was handled with
conspicuous ability, but, ere I could come up with the enemy, was, I
regret to say, very severely mauled, the _Sanspareil_ being rammed
by two ships, and sinking with her colours flying and guns firing,
and the other vessels being much damaged and losing heavily. The
squadron, however, broke through the French Fleet, which followed
it, maintaining a running action until I was able to interfere.
The enemy was by that time in somewhat confused formation; and my
division in its original order, but reinforced, passed through it
with less loss than might have been expected, and then altered course
sixteen points together and returned, executing the whole movement
at full speed, and with a precision which I have never seen equalled.
Unhappily in this second passage, the _Howe_ became unmanageable,
and was torpedoed, rammed, and sunk. I am proud to be able to report
that, except the vessels which received damage to their machinery or
steering gear, and which were thus obliged to quit the line, all my
ships preserved their stations, and that, so far as the British Fleet
was concerned, there was nothing in the shape of a chance _melée_.
Having twice passed through the French, and perceiving that they
were falling into disorder, I led the way through once more, so as
to place them between my own ships and the second division. In this
passage I had the misfortune to lose the _Dreadnought_, which, after
joining from Gibraltar, had taken station in the line, and which was
blown up by the concentration of the depressed heavy gun fire of
three French ships upon her low deck. After the third passage the
enemy ceased to manœuvre as a fleet, but his single ships fought
with great determination. As soon as I observed the approach of the
second division I made the signal, ‘Ships will engage the enemy
independently,’ and also that for close action. The latter, however,
I presently annulled, it rapidly becoming clear that for a vessel to
obey it was to unnecessarily expose herself to the French torpedoes.
I made instead a signal ordering the ships of the first division to
keep to westward of the enemy, and to engage as much as possible
beyond torpedo range. It was now 1.45 a.m., and the second division
had opened fire. I had ceased to have any doubts as to the general
results of the action, but I was scarcely prepared for the effect
which the arrival of the fresh ships had upon our opponents. The
French had lost terribly, and were thoroughly disorganised; and when
they found themselves placed between two fires, and with retreat
cut off in both directions by forces of the exact strength of which
they were no doubt ignorant, they evidently lost heart. So bright
was the moonlight that we could distinctly see some of them strike
their flags. Upon this, using the electric semaphore, I directed
the Vice-Admiral in command of the second division to send his
torpedo gun-vessels into the French Fleet. With admirable alacrity
these little craft obeyed the order. The French, whose cruisers and
torpedo boats were nearly all to the eastward of us, and were easily
kept at a distance by the fire of our quick-firing guns, made some
considerable resistance, and, I am sorry to say, sank two of our
gun-vessels. But when three of their number had been torpedoed, the
rest, to my great relief, surrendered, and were before three o’clock
taken possession of by the ironclads of the second division. The
cruisers of the combined Fleet were meanwhile dispatched in general
chase of the cruisers of the enemy, and as I write are beginning to
return. So far as I can at present ascertain, they have destroyed
four and captured two of the cruisers which were attached to the
French Fleet, but several reports have yet to come in. Concerning the
losses on both sides in armoured ships I can inform you more exactly.
We went into action with, in all, twenty-four vessels, including the
_Mary Rose_, of this class. Of these, four are sunk or blown up, two
have had to be run ashore to save them from sinking, and seven are so
badly damaged as to be totally unfit for future service for some time
to come. The enemy went into action with twenty-five armoured ships,
and of this number she has not preserved one. Fourteen have been sunk
or blown up; three are ashore; and eight, all more or less damaged,
are now at anchor here under my orders. As to the losses in officers
and men, they are, I am pained to inform you, exceedingly serious. My
own flagship has over 400 killed and wounded; and many other ships,
especially those of the first division and of the Malta squadron,
have suffered heavily in proportion. The names of the ships lost and
captured are set forth in the margin, and in an enclosure are such
detailed statements as have yet reached me of the loss in officers
and men.
[Illustration: “I HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO LOSE THE ‘DREADNOUGHT.’”]
“All ranks behaved in a manner which merits my warmest approbation,
and which is worthy of the finest traditions of our country and of
the service. In a future dispatch I hope to render to individuals
that particular meed of praise which as yet I lack the necessary
materials for fairly apportioning. Of Mr. Bowling of the _Mary
Rose_, whose situation both before and during the action has been
an exceptional one, I cannot delay speaking. To do so would, I am
convinced, be to hurt the feelings of every officer and man under
my command. On the 14th ult. he, being at the time entrusted with
duplicate dispatches to the Admiral-Superintendent at Malta, ran
through the French Fleet into the Mediterranean, sinking the
cruiser _Davout_, and badly damaging the ironclad _Terrible_ and
the cruiser _Tage_. In this gallant exploit he was badly wounded.
On the following day, pursued by the cruisers _Cécille_, _Alger_,
and _Troude_, he took the first, which is now H.M.S. _Rose_, sank
the second, and only permitted the third to escape because she had
taken on board the survivors of the second. He was again injured. In
the action of this morning he behaved with a courage and coolness
to which I cannot do justice, passing four times through the French
Fleet, handling his ship in the most magnificent manner, and, I
regret to have to add, being once more severely wounded. It will be
within your recollection that a month ago the name of Mr. Bowling was
removed from the list of Her Majesty’s Navy. I venture respectfully
to represent that the Royal Navy would be greatly honoured by having
it restored, though in what rank I do not venture to suggest. I
merely, with all the urgency which I can attach to my words, beg that
the magnificent services of Mr. Bowling and of his officers--nearly
all of whom are retired from the Royal Navy--may be recognised in a
manner that will partially repay the country’s great indebtedness
to him and to them. In thus specially mentioning Mr. Bowling, who,
on account of his wounds, goes home in the _Surprise_--his own ship
being on shore badly damaged--I am acting not only in accordance
with my own promptings, but also in accordance with the wishes of, I
believe, every officer and man in the Fleet which to-day has had the
happiness to gain for Her Majesty a complete and conclusive victory.”
CHAPTER X.
“HOME AND BEAUTY.”
H.M.S. _Surprise_ left Gibraltar at noon on the day of the victory
of the “Glorious First of June,” and, steaming at 14 knots in very
favourable weather, dropped anchor in Plymouth Sound at about breakfast
time on the 5th.
[Illustration: A “GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE.”]
On the passage, Bowling, who in the height of the action had received
a ball from a Hotchkiss revolving gun that had shattered the bone
of his left arm just above the elbow, was obliged to have the arm
amputated; but the operation was perfectly successful, and his other
wounds, which, though numerous, were slight, rapidly mended. The ship
was little better than a floating ambulance full of wounded officers,
and, upon her arrival, she immediately discharged all of them to the
Royal Hospital. Bowling, however, not being a naval officer, was
provisionally retained on board as a guest of the captain, whose cabin
he shared. The captain himself went at once by special train to London
with his dispatches, leaving his wounded guest in charge of the first
lieutenant and the surgeon.
Bowling was doubly a hero at Plymouth. He had already brought thither
two very valuable prizes, the _Duguay Trouin_ and the _Normandie_,
and the fame of his exploits in the Mediterranean was rapidly
disseminated throughout the Three Towns as soon as communications
were opened between the ship and the shore. Though unable to sit up,
he sent to Plymouth for a short-hand writer, to whom he dictated, for
transmission to _The Times_, a full but modest account of his cruise.
He was interrupted more than once, while engaged upon this duty, by
visitors who came off to see him and to offer their congratulations;
but he succeeded in finishing it before evening, and in getting it
telegraphed to London in plenty of time for Saturday morning’s paper.
On that day Sir Taffrail and Miss Stormer arrived, the latter, upon
receipt of the news of Bowling’s return wounded, having obliged her
father--who indeed did not need much persuasion--to take her where,
even if she could not attend upon her lover, she could at least be
near him. The Admiral alone came on board in the afternoon, and was
suffered to see the invalid. But the old sailor was so violent in his
congratulations, and betrayed such anxiety to talk, that he had to
be forcibly removed in the interests of the patient. Using extremely
uncomplimentary language to the surgeon who personally executed the
unpleasant office, he was handed down to his boat, but in the evening
he returned.
The surgeon, having heard his voice, met him on the quarter-deck. “You
really must not go below, Sir Taffrail,” said that officer; “I have
Captain Brace’s strict directions to prevent Mr. Bowling from being
unduly excited by visitors, and he is now exceedingly fatigued.”
“And who the devil is Captain Brace, sir?” demanded the Admiral, with
an angry stamp on the deck.
“Captain Brace is the captain of this ship, Sir Taffrail, and permit me
to beg of you not to stamp in that manner.”
“Pish! nonsense!” returned the fiery Admiral. “I know better, sir.
I know who is captain of this ship, sir, and I do not require to be
instructed by you, sir.”
At this crisis the first lieutenant came up. “What Dr. Blister says
is perfectly true, Sir Taffrail; and I am really afraid that our
conversation here will be very agitating to Mr. Bowling.”
“I am going to see him, damme,” asserted the Admiral, with another
stamp, “and if anyone tries to prevent me, gentlemen, by Gad,
I’ll--I’ll--yes, gentlemen, damme, I will.” And he walked aft to the
cabin.
Bowling looked up wearily.
“I’ve come off,” said the Admiral, “to tell you about your friend
Brace. They have promoted him. Wait, I’ll read you the telegram, my
boy.”
He leisurely put on his spectacles, pulled two or three pink papers
from his pocket, and from one of them read: “‘Admiralty, June
6.--The following promotion has been made. Commander Ernest William
Brace, who yesterday arrived at Plymouth with dispatches from the
Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet now at Gibraltar, to be Captain in her
Majesty’s Fleet.’”
“I’m very glad to hear it,” said Bowling; “but of course it is only
what one expected.”
“What one expected! No, it isn’t what one expected. I didn’t expect,
and I don’t care. Is there anything else that you expect, eh?”
“They’ll promote all the commanders and first lieutenants, I hope.”
“Bowling, my boy, you’re a fool. Listen to this.” And selecting another
pink paper, he read: “‘Admiralty, June 6.--Her Majesty has been pleased
to restore Mr. Thomas Bowling, late a Lieutenant in Her Majesty’s
Fleet, to his former rank and seniority as a Lieutenant.’”
Bowling’s white face flushed with pleasure. “Thank you, Sir Taffrail,”
he said; “that is good news, indeed.”
“Well, I don’t think so,” said the Admiral. “No, damme, I don’t think
so at all. But look here: there’s Mary Rose alongside, and if you’d
like to see her, by Gad, no one shall prevent my bringing her in. You
have only to say the word, boy.”
“How good of her to come. Why did you not bring her in? Please ring the
bell, Sir Taffrail.”
“No, I’ll fetch her; there are sharks about. The beggars dared to try
and stop me--to stop me!” and going out on deck, he presently returned
leading his daughter, who was very pale and agitated, by the hand.
“Oh, Tom,” she said, coming softly to him and seizing the hand which he
held out to her and kissing it, “do forgive me, I couldn’t keep away.
I am so proud, Tom, and so happy. And oh, Tom, I do hope and pray that
you are going on well, and won’t be made worse by the good news.”
“I haven’t told him any good news,” blurted out the Admiral; “I’ve only
told him that he is a lieutenant again, and about Brace.”
“May I tell him, then, papa?” asked Mary.
“As if you could help telling him!” retorted the Admiral. “Yes, read
the telegram.”
Mary sat down, took the paper which her father gave her, and in a
voice that was unsteady with happiness and emotion, read: “‘Admiralty,
June 6th.--The following promotions have been made: Lieutenant Thomas
Bowling to be Commander in Her Majesty’s Fleet. To date May 14th.’”
“Thank God!” ejaculated Bowling, whose colour came and went with every
breath. “That’s what I hoped.”
“Hush!” continued Mary; “I haven’t done. Listen. ‘Commander Thomas
Bowling to be Captain in Her Majesty’s Fleet. To date June 1st.’”
“That’s more than I dared to hope,” said the invalid, almost inaudibly.
“I’m afraid, dear, I really can’t ... I can’t ... bear....”
He had fainted. Doctor Blister, who had been jealously watching at the
door, entered quite angrily, and bustled out both visitors without
much ceremony. Outside on the quarter-deck Mary sobbed and the Admiral
swore: but Blister would not relent, and the visitors were handed down
to their boat and obliged to pull off. Ere they did so, however, Mary
squeezed a crumpled piece of paper into Blister’s hand, and said, “I
haven’t told him all. Please tell him for me. He’s to be a baronet,
too. And when may I come again? You’ll find it all in the telegram. And
do, please, take care of him.”
Bowling’s condition was not immediately improved by the excitement
of that evening, and next day he was very feverish; but Blister had
learnt by experience, and he permitted no further visits to be paid to
his patient--until the latter was fully able to receive them. Mary,
therefore, had to content herself with sending off twice daily to know
how Bowling was getting on, and with supplying her gallant lover with
more delicacies in the shape of jellies and fruits than could have been
consumed by five post-captains in the enjoyment of the soundest health
and the largest appetite. In a week Bowling was allowed to be moved
to the shore, where Sir Taffrail had taken suitable rooms and engaged
an excellent nurse. Three weeks later he was able to walk about, and
before the end of July, _The Times_ of one fine morning contained the
announcement:
“Yesterday, at Plymouth, Captain Sir Thomas Bowling, Bart., R.N.,
the gallant capturer of the _Duguay Trouin_ and _Cécille_, etc., was
married to Mary Rose, only daughter of Admiral Sir Taffrail Stormer,
G.C.B. The wedding, which was celebrated in the Dockyard church, was
a naval one, and was attended by nearly every officer from the ships
in port, and by many officers of the garrison. The bride was given
away by her father; and Captain Maintruck, R.N., C.B., who, it will
be remembered, was first lieutenant of the _Mary Rose_, and who, for
his services in her under Sir Thomas Bowling, was promoted to be
Commander, acted as the bridegroom’s best man. The presents, which were
exceedingly numerous and valuable, included a silver gilt centre-piece
from Her Majesty, a silver gilt bowl from the Commander-in-Chief at
Devonport, a silver dessert service from the officers who were engaged
in the Battle of Gibraltar, and a sword from the officers lately
serving in the privateer _Mary Rose_. Late in the afternoon Sir Thomas
and Lady Bowling left Plymouth on board Sir Taffrail Stormer’s steam
yacht _Beelzebub_ for the Mediterranean, where, we understand, they
will be, for a time, guests of the Admiral-Superintendent at Malta,
Sir Thomas having been recommended to seek, for a short period, a warm
climate. We are glad, however, to be able to say that the gallant
baronet appeared to be in the best of health, and seemed to be in
little need of such a change.”
The same day’s paper contained an account of the final signature of
a treaty of peace between Great Britain and the French Republic. May
that peace, so glorious to this country and yet so honourable to its
defeated foe, never again be broken! And if, unhappily, it be broken
again, may Britain be readier than she was at the beginning of the
bloody two months’ war to hold her own in every sea.
THE END.
MORRISON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
TOWER PUBLISHING CO.’S PUBLICATIONS.
=GENERAL LITERATURE.=
Ready shortly.
Demy 8vo, bound in illuminated cloth, price 6s.
_With 28 Illustrations by Harold H. Piffard._
ZORAIDA,
A ROMANCE OF THE HAREM AND THE DESERT,
BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX, F.R.G.S.,
AUTHOR OF “THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND,” “GUILTY BONDS,” “THE TEMPTRESS,”
ETC.
Ready shortly.
Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth, price 6s.
_With numerous Illustrations by E. S. Hope._
THE OUTLAWS OF THE AIR.
BY GEORGE GRIFFITH,
AUTHOR OF “THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION,” “OLGA ROMANOFF,” ETC.
Ready shortly. Price 6s.
THE TOWER ROMANCE SERIES.
Vol. 1. A TORQUAY MARRIAGE.
BY G. AND E. RAYLEIGH-VICARS.
Ready shortly. Price 6s.
IN QUEST OF A NAME.
BY MRS. HENRY WYLDE,
AUTHOR OF “SEVERED TIES,” “HER OATH,” “FATHER AND SON,” “WRONGED,” ETC.
_With Illustrations by H. H. Piffard._
Ninth Edition. Price 6s.
Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth gilt.
_Uniform with “The Captain of the Mary Rose,” with numerous
Illustrations by Fred T. Jane and Edwin S. Hope._
THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION.
TALE OF THE COMING TERROR.
BY GEORGE GRIFFITH.
In this Romance of Love, War, and Revolution, the action takes place
ten years hence, and turns upon the solution of the problem of aerial
navigation, which enables a vast Secret Society to decide the issue of
the coming world-war, for which the great nations of the earth are now
preparing. Battles such as have hitherto only been vaguely dreamed of
are fought on land and sea and in the air. Aerial navies engage armies
and fleets and fortresses, and fight with each other in an unsparing
warfare, which has for its prize the empire of the world. Unlike
all other essays in prophetic fiction, it deals with the events of
to-morrow, and with characters familiar in the eyes of living men. It
marks an entirely new departure in fiction, and opens up possibilities
which may become stupendous and appalling realities before the present
generation of men has passed away.
_A FEW PRESS OPINIONS._
“Since the days of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, we know of
no writer who ‘takes the cake’ like Mr. George Griffith.”--_Daily
Chronicle._
“A really exciting and sensational romance.”--_Literary World._
“As a work of imagination it takes high rank.”--_Belfast News Letter._
“Full of absorbing interest.”--_Barrow Herald._
“This powerful story.”--_Liverpool Mercury._
“An entirely new departure in fiction.”--_Reynolds’ Newspaper._
“Of exceptional brilliancy and power.”--_Western Figaro._
“This remarkable story.”--_Weekly Times and Echo._
“There is a fascination about his book that few will be able to
resist.”--_Birmingham Gazette._
“This exciting romance.”--_Licensing World._
“A work of strong imaginative power.”--_Dundee Courier._
“We must congratulate the author upon the vividness and reality with
which he draws his unprecedented pictures.”--_Bristol Mercury._
“Is quite enthralling.”--_Glasgow Herald._
“A striking and fascinating novel.”--_Hampshire Telegraph._
Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth, price 6s.
_With Frontispiece by Edwin S. Hope._
OLGA ROMANOFF;
OR,
The Syren of the Skies.
BY GEORGE GRIFFITH,
AUTHOR OF “THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION,” “THE OUTLAWS OF THE AIR.”
Dedicated to Mr. HIRAM S. MAXIM.
A sequel to the author’s striking and successful romance, _The Angel of
the Revolution_, describing the efforts of a beautiful daughter of the
House of Romanoff to restore the throne of her ancestors destroyed in
the World-War of 1904, and presenting to the reader the spectacle of a
world transformed into a wonderland of art and science, yet trembling
on the brink of a catastrophe, in comparison with which even the
tremendous climax of _The Angel_ sinks almost into insignificance.
SOME PRESS OPINIONS.
“Mr. George Griffith has made himself a high reputation as an
imaginative novelist by his brilliant romances, _The Angel of the
Revolution_ and _The Syren of the Skies_.”--_Sketch._
“This is quite as imaginative, as clever, and as enthralling a book
as its predecessor.”--_Glasgow Herald._
“The book is a wild one, but its wildness and imaginative boldness
make it uncommonly interesting.”--_Scotsman._
“The flights of fancy and imagination displayed by the author show a
most marvellous power and conception.”--_Aberdeen Free Press._
“An entrancing book.”--_Birmingham Post._
“Full of originality in its rendition.... A marvel of imaginative
strength and picturesque pen painting.”--_European Mail._
“On the whole Mr. Griffith has published a work which to our mind
is the most suggestive of its kind that has been published for many
years.”--_Admiralty and Horse Guards Gazette._
“The work hardly lends itself to critical remark other than the
expression of one’s appreciation of an imaginative and glowing style
likely to add to the pleasure of those who enjoy purely speculative
fiction. These pictures have a weird splendour in keeping with the
theme, but it is natural to desire a better future for the human race
than the one here prophesied.”--_Morning Post._
Ninth Edition. Price 6s.
Demy 8vo, bound in illuminated cloth.
_With numerous Illustrations by T. S. C. Crowther and Captain T. Field._
THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND IN 1897.
BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX,
AUTHOR OF “GUILTY BONDS,” “STRANGE TALES OF A NIHILIST,” ETC.
This extraordinary and entrancing work is based upon the
prognostications of the best living authorities on modern warfare, who
have personally assisted the author. It is the first time an attempt
has been made to describe in detail the invasion of Great Britain, and
the narrative deals not with the vague, shadowy, and distant future,
but with the almost immediate present, and in the most graphic manner
describes our chaotic condition during the war. Fierce battles--in
which all the destructive engines which modern science has devised are
brought into play--are fought on land and on sea, and the author has
described them with vivid and appalling realism. Military and naval
experts on all hands have pronounced the work absolutely unique, and a
most valuable contribution to our literature.
_SOME OPINIONS OF GREAT AUTHORITIES._
The DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE has written to Mr. William Le Queux, F.R.G.S.,
after reading his “Great War in England in 1897,” a long letter, in
which he congratulates the author on the vividness of his interesting
forecast, and says:--“Such books cannot fail to have a good effect
in inducing people to think more seriously of the necessity which
lies upon the whole country to always be prepared, and to be more
open-handed in giving money for the means of defence.”--_Standard._
LORD ROBERTS, in a long letter to the author, says:--“I have read with
considerable interest your vivid account of the dangers to which the
loss of our naval supremacy may be expected to expose us. You very
properly lay stress on the part which might be taken by the volunteers
in the defence of the United Kingdom, and I most thoroughly agree with
you as to the value the force might be under such serious circumstances
as you depict. Under the conditions specified by you, I should be
inclined to regard your forecast of the result of the supposed
invasion as being _unduly favourable_. I can only add that I trust
such conditions may never arise, and that your estimate of the means
immediately available for foreign attacks may be more correct than my
own.”
LORD WOLSELEY says:--“A pleasure to peruse it.”
LORD GEORGE HAMILTON says it is “striking and original.”
SIR CHARLES DILKE says:--“I think it is most valuable as tending to
make people realise how little we are prepared for war.”
Mr. Le Queux has also received letters expressing approbation from the
German Emperor, King of Italy, Duke of Connaught, Marquis of Salisbury,
Lord Alcester, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. J. Chamberlain, and many other
distinguished men.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
Stray comma removed on page 164.
Missing opening quote added on page 176.
Typos and missing characters corrected in ads.
Underlined header on ads is represented with =equal signs=. The
duplicated “General Literature” headers have also been removed in this
plaintext edition.
Normalized punctuation and quotation marks in illustration captions.
Spelling errors and hyphenation inconsistencies in the main body remain
unchanged.
Some illustrations have been moved from their original positions. The
original page numbers in the list of illustrations remain unchanged.
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAPTAIN OF THE "MARY ROSE" ***
Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will
be renamed.
Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,
so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United
States without permission and without paying copyright
royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™
concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may
do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
license, especially commercial redistribution.
START: FULL LICENSE
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free
distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project
Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at
www.gutenberg.org/license.
Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™
electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™
electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your
possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person
or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be
used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works
even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this
agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™
electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the
Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual
works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting
free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™
works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily
comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when
you share it without charge with others.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no
representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
country other than the United States.
1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear
prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work
on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the
phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed,
performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online
at www.gutenberg.org. If you
are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws
of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is
derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project
Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™
trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted
with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works
posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
beginning of this work.
1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™
License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.
1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
Gutenberg™ License.
1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format
other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official
version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website
(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain
Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the
full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works
unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works
provided that:
• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method
you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has
agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation.”
• You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™
License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™
works.
• You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
receipt of the work.
• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.
1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than
are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
forth in Section 3 below.
1.F.
1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™
electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
cannot be read by your equipment.
1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right
of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGE.
1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
without further opportunities to fix the problem.
1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO
OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
remaining provisions.
1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in
accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™
electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or
additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any
Defect you cause.
Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™
Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of
electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
from people in all walks of life.
Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s
goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will
remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future
generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.
Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification
number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.
The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,
Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website
and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation
Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread
public support and donations to carry out its mission of
increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
status with the IRS.
The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state
visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.
While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
approach us with offers to donate.
International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.
Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works
Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be
freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of
volunteer support.
Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed
editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
edition.
Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
facility: www.gutenberg.org.
This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™,
including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
