The sun., 1890-06-08
1 v.

We have followed with especial interest the
authors study OF the war which broke out in
117S between England and Franco. and in
which. through the so-called family compact
the power OF Spain was presently enlisted on
the French side. 1t is well known that this
contest grow out OF our own Revolutionary
war and that. through the Temporary prepon-
derance OF the French in American waters, it
had decisive bearing on the outcome OF that
struggle. feature Of this war less familiar to
Americans is the gallant effort made by SufTren
to resuscitate the French power in India. This
war between England and the house of Bour-
bon may be looked upon az purely maritime
and it is noteworthy for tho fact that unlike
the contests which preceded and which fol-
lowed. 1t osenstby resulted in the woful dis
comfture OF England. Capt Mahan has de-
voted five chapters to this interesting topic,
and he Las brought out more clearly than any
OF the general historians the effect OF sea
power on the iina issue. The situation which
confronted England at the outbreak OF this
war was materially different from that in
which che had found herself at previous crises
In the first place. the thirteen American colo
MES were hostile instead of being friendly
and therefore constituted a constant drain
upon Ene!ands resources. besides supplying
her enemies with havens OF refuge and repair
80 Nohin' CuTop0 france laQ no enemies
and was thus without preoccupation on tho
lanu sioe. Moreover, the French navy was in
STATE OF remarkable preparation as oom-
pared with earlier contests; the same thing
may 10 some extent. be said OF SPAIN At the
openlng OF the war France had eighty ships OF
inc llne IN good condition, and $1,000 seamen
on tne rolls OF the maritime CONSUMPTION.
SPAIN, Wnen she entered the contest. a year
later had In her ports about sixty line Of bat
Tie ships. Against this combination England
could oppose l5D ships OF the line; but these,
although slightly superior In number were In
lerlor IN size aud weight Of armament Not
only mad the French moro ships OF tho first
class than they had possessed for many years.
out they showed much greater capacity for
sea lighting. The first battle of the war, of
Cshant July l77sl In which thirty ships of
the me were engaged on each side. had no do
cisive results. No ship was taken or sunk and
both fleets returned to their respective ports.
Capt. Mahan seems to think that D Est aing who
WIN tweiVe lne-of-battle ships anchored off
SANDY HOOK on July ii. l778 might have taken
NOW iork had No ventured to attack Howe
VINO had put nine vessels OF inferior arma-
ment. In the fight which took place a month
later of Rhode Island no captures were made
on either side, but D'Estaing's squadron was
seriously damaged by a storm. Beyond com |
pohihg She Evacuation OF Philadelphia, the !
french feet did absolutely nothing for the |
American colonists during tho campaign OF |
lI7S, and In November deserted them for the
West Indies. whore 1t could not prevent the |
English from capturing the island OF Santa |
Lucia Capt. Mahan seems reluctant to tax
DEstainR with incaDacity, but 1t is pointed |
out that his course was unfavorably criticised
py sunren. then one OF D'Estaing's CaptaIns.
blk months OF almost entire quiet followed,
but in July ITO, q battle took place OF the
island OF Grenada between D'Estaing. com
mandinR twenty-five ships OF the line and Ad-
miral Byron, who had twenty-on0 ships OF the
same class at his disposal. This engagement
was virtually victory for the French though
'helr sole maritime trophy was single trans
port TWAS d 'Estaing's wish to gain possession
.! "renada-R wish which he fulllled-that led
hlm 10 shrink from pressing his advantage
OEer ',u byron In September OF tho same year
400 EstAing made a gallant but fruitless