The San Francisco call., 1898-04-12
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,; OUR NAVAL VICTORIES ,; ;; :

,: OUR NAVAL VICTORIES 5: ;: ;: & s 8 8 s 8 8 8 8 8 8 5. s: s: 8 8 8 s s 8 n T THE beginning of the war of the H revolution. says Cameron in the \ Chicago Times-Herald there was no American navy. However, the continental privateers managed to capture about 300 English vessels and 12,0O0 prison ers 800 of them soldiers in some Of the hest English regiments. In the two years naval war with France the fighting was all done by the navy, which captured oo of the enemy's vessels and about 5ooo men. The wars with the Barbary pirates were also brought to satisfactory end by the unaided efforts of the navy, the United States securing privileges not granted to European powers. It was Ill the war of 1872, however, that our navy won it's greatest victory by whipping the British after it had defeated the com hined sea forces of the world. Over 1500 British ships were taken and over 2O,o00 British seamen were made prisoners Finally in the Mexican war, though there was not much chance for naval co-opera- ton with the land forces, when the chance did come at Vera Cruz the navy took it.
 It is not necessary to detail all the vic tories of the American navy to prove its efficiency The more important are suffi- cient and such names as Paul Jones, Oliver Hazard Perry, Lawrence and the others who won the victories ought to be enough to inspire their successors to their best and bravest deeds.
 The first naval engagement Of tho revo- lution was off Machias. Me. when the British armed schooner Margaretta was was lowed a long list of minor engagements, in which Esek Hopkins, first commanoer, iu- chef of the navy, took number or ies was dulled little, however, by the defeat of the American fleet on Lake Champlain under Benedict Arnold
 And then came the first prominent o ap, is the cid Providence picked up nIteel British prizes late in '76. In April, x, he made that daring attack on Whlten2yen, acd in Septem Der, 79, defeated the Eng fish ship Serapis In the German Ocean with the Bonhomme Richard (named a1- ter Poor Richard" or Benjamin Frank lin), which sank the next day.
 The two important battles in the naval war with France were fought by the good old frigate Constellation, under Commo- dore Truxton. The first or these was or St. Kits, an island in the West htiIal lndlan group, where, after an hours hghtlng, Truxton compelled the French frlgate L'Insurgente to strike her colors. In February, 1199, that was. A year Iaier the same vessel and the same commander administered a drubbing to the trencn La Vengeance, but allowed her to escape ln squall.
 In the war with the Barbary States the capture of the American ship Philadelphia and its subsequent destruction by Deca-. tur and the bombardment of Trfpon by engagements. The first was a serious loss, but the bombardment was sufficient to secure American shipping against the raids of the Barbary pirates.
 The war of 1872 was productive of number of glorious American victories. The first of these, after numerous pre- liminary skirmishes; came , on August llg hs IS, Newport school ship), under Isaac Hull, captured the British frigate Guerriere. In the next month Lieutenant Elliott cap tured the brigs Detroit and Caledonia from under the guns of Fort Erie, the latter afterward serving in Perry's fleet It was only few days later that the ish Macedonia off Madeira, the British loss being 104 and the American eleven. A couple of months later the Constitu- Brazil, and in February of 1913 the Amer ican sloop Hornet stung and captured the British Peacock.
 But after that came a defeat. the de feat of Lawrence in the Chesapeake by the British frigate Shannon. It was the ..Don't-give-up-the-sh Lawrence, and WI wounded. For infiicting the defeat the freedom of London was voted to Captain Broke, the English commander, and a fine sword was no one to ever, for a couple of months after Cap- tain William Henry Allen in the sloop hrgqs fhs EppSsh Ghanne and month later the American Enterprise took the Boxer. .,
 hou <.fb bo- an d-t rA-O victory over the English fleet in Lake Erie. Six vessels were the prize in this engagement sad loss I to 2ra1ad England; at..a an And then the sloop Peacock, which the Americans had taken from the British. was used to capture another as her British aa Wales. The prize was sold for $55,000, and S11S, 900 in specie was found on board. This was the first good victory of 1874. It was American ship Wasp captured the Rein deer. Later she took the British Att lanta, but soon after disappeared. no one
 And next the second battle of Lake time, when Commodore : homas McDon- six guns, defeated the British fleet of six teen vessels and ninety-si guns under George Downie. Fifty-two killed and as many wounded was the American loss, the British twice as much.
 an American defeat. the President, Ir- der Decatur, being captured by a British fleet just out of New York harbor A month later the Constitution captured the British. frigate, Cyane and the brig under Captain Nicholas Riddle, captured the British Penguin off the coast of Bra gil. This was the last naval battle of American battle with any foreign foe.
 That 10 not by any means full record La8 thA Amegacsn naval ytctortsla but