The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-30
NELSON HAD A LONG CHASE.
History Is Repeated by the Elusive Tao
tics of Cervera.

History Is Repeated by the Elusive Tao
tics of Cervera.
Admiral Cervera is not the only Span
lard who led sailors of our race wild
goose chase. That feat was performed
nearly a hundred years ago by Admiral
Gravina, and the pursuer on that occas-
ion was Nelson With the flying Span
iards was French fleet; the allies lodged
Nelson from sea to sea, from port to port,
from Europe to America, from the Medi-
terranean to the Caribbean, for the space
of thirty months, before he could catch
them and administer a finishing blow.
One of the most exciting chapters in the
life of England's naval hero is that which
recounts his tireless pursuit of the foe.
How. eager-eyed, with dry lips and
fevered cheek, he followed wherever the
flying squadrons led, now and then. losing
sight of them land raging Gin his fury
when he discovered that they had eluded
him, recovering grim composure when
he caught their trail and muttering to
himself, in the words of sWilliam on the
Boyne, "Now, gentlemen, if you escape
me this time it will be my fault" In his
anxiety to fulfill the mission with which
heshad been entrusted, Nelsoni wore him
self to a shadow. His letters to the min
1stry, beseeching them to believe that he
was doing his best and that deferred hope
and disappointment were killing him, are
very touching.
War was declared by England against
France on May IS, 1908. Two days after
ward Nelson sailed from Spithead for the
Mediterranean, having been .appointed to
the command of the British squadron in
that sea for the purpose of destroying the
French fset. For two years, lacking ten
days, he never put his foot out of the Vic
tory. These years he consumed in
chasing the French fleet from one end of
the Mediterranean to the other, from
Europe to the West Indies and then back
rarely knowing where it was To the
lord mayor of London, who transmitted
him complimentary resolutions, which
described him as "blockading Toulon,"
he replied:
81 beg to inform your lordship that the
port of Toulon has never been blockaded
by me; quite the reverse Every oppo r.
tunity has been offered the enemy to put
to sea-. )" In November, 1903, be sailed so
close in to shore that he saw the French
fleet lin high feather and as fine as paint
could make them, eight sail of the line,
eight frigates and several corvettes; but
when they may sail or where they will go
am very sorry to say is secret I am not
acquainted with. !" In May 1904, por-
tion of the French feet came out, but
on Nelson's approach. The French adj
miral reported to his government that he
had chased the whole British fleet,
which had fled before him." The letter
fell into Nelson's hands, who declared that
he would keep it, aud ''if take him, by
- he shall eat it.
All that year he cruised back and forth
in front of Toulon till he was worn out
with fatigue and anxieties, reused every
few days by the reports that the French
were coming out, and then plunged into
disappointment by the discovery that they
were still at their anchorage. eff they
give me the Slip" he wrote, "and get
out, will follow them even If it be to
the East Indies. I" In November of the
same year Spain declared war upon Eng.
land, and as soon as a junction could be
O@AOOeOet
ed together.
On January 10, 1905, news reached Nell
son that the French fleet had in reality
escaped from Ioulon. Whittier had they
gone? Nelson believed they had sailed to
Egypt, and took his whole fleet to the
mouth of the Nile, but on arriving he
found that they had not been heard of at
Alexandria. Then he thought they might
be at Malta, and sailed to that point
But while Rhe was puzzling where they
could be found he received positive in
telligence that they had been crippled by
storm and had put back to TouIon.
Nelson's evaporation shook his health,
and there was some chance of his being
invaded, when he received the welcome
intelligence that Admiral Villenevue had
again sailed out of Toulon on March 81
with eleven ships of the line, seven
frigates and two briggs. What direction
had he taken this time? He might have
gone to Egypt. or to Naples, or to Sicily,
or to Malta. Nelson secured the eastern
M editerranean with small, swift vessels,
which sent him negative reports. At last
he received information that the French
fleet had actually passed through the
Straits OF fGibraltar, steering west. on
April 8. Now said Nelson, suppose
may look for them off the coast of Ireland
or Jamaica. They had, in fact, formed
conjunction with the Spanish feet from
CaulI, ana were In the open Atlantic.
The winds were unfavorable, and Nelson
did not cast anchor at Gibraltar till the
nrst week in May. B y that time he had
made up his mind that the allied fleets
had sailed for the West Indies, and he re-
solved to follow them there.
He had but ten ships of the line, where
as the enemy had twenty -four. but he did
not hesitate. He felt certain of catching
the enemy. though the latter had thirty.
five days start of him.
On June he reached Barbados, and
heard that the enemy was at Trinidad.
10 that point he sailed, and heard that
the French land eSpanish had not been
there. They were, however, to a certainty
at Martinique. But the terror of Nelson s
name was such that they dared not stay
there. Before he could come up with
them they had weighed anchor, and as
Nelson shrewdly guessed were heading
east for Europe once more. 1t did seem
thata his objective was an ignis fatuus
Some of his best officers believed that the
Spanish ships were making for Havana,
while others believed that Villeneuve
Jneditated an attack on Jamaica. Nelson
did not waver in his opinion. He sailed
for Cape St. Vincent, and thence to Glib