The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-09 00:00:00

THE SEA. FIGHT OFF HAVANA.

The encounter between a French despatch boat and re
Prussian gunboat, off Havana, has attracted a good
deal of attention. It seems that the French vessel, the
Bouvet, was of 120-horse power, and carried five guns,
four of small calibre on the sides, and one 24-pounder
swivel gun at the bow, while the Prussian boat the Meteor
was of 80-horse power, and carried three swivel guns, and'
860 men. One of the Prussian guns was a Krupp. They'
both came into the harbour of Havana on the 7th of
November, and it was understood that a challenge passed
between them, but the Bouvet had to wait in
the offing for her adversary, who was detained
for twenty-four hours after her departure according
to international law. There was great excitement in the
town respecting the fight, and heavy bets were made,
generally in favour of the Prussian, and two Spanish vial'
vessels, carrying large numbers of officials, went out to
see the fight. When the firing began the vessels were
about seven miles from shore, and a mile and a half apart.
The first shot was fired by the Bouvet, but it fell shorty
and the Meteor kept steadily moving forward while
her enemy fired several more shots without result. The
vessels came within half a mile of each other, and the
Meteor then fired with no better success. After a time
however, the fight grew more exciting, for having passe°
each other without result, the Bouvet move
down as if with the intention of boarding, and
the firing went on rapidly. A collision took place,
the Meteor's main and mizen masts went, and the
Bouvet's topmast. The machinery of the French vessel
was also disabled, for she immediately set sail for the
harbour. The Meteor was, meanwhile, busy
clearing her decks and screw from the debrief
but fired after the retreating foe, though h°
shots again fell short. Either the accuracy of the
gunners was very deficient on both sides, or the two cony
batants must have taken good care to keep out of range
of fire, for the only serious damage appears to have beeO
done by the collision. When the Bouvet had neared the
harbour, the Spanish man-of-war fired a gun to indicate that
the fight must cease, and the Commander of the French..
vessel was notified that being in neutral waters, he must'
not repair damages and continue the- contest, but if he
entered port every facility would be given him. The
Spanish vessel also sent medical aid to both combatants.
The chief damage done to the Bouvet was the
piercing of her connecting pipes by a shot.
Two of her men were scalded and one wounded.
The Meteor had three men killed, and one wounded.
but her damage was small. The dead were buried 10
Havana with great pomp, all the German residente,
attending, and both vessels began repairs with the avowed
intention of renewing the fight. The French are said to
be irritated by the boasting of the German citizens, thong!
neither side appears to have displayed extraordinary
prowess or skill.

The Middlesex Sessions bar have been consideriq
a resolution to accept no fee under the proposed n.„4”:
scale as laid down by the Treasury, but to conduct toy,
prosecutions as usual, so that there shall be no detrime"
to the public service. This, however, has not yet bell
adopted.
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