New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-08
NEvyOPK TRIRJ1NE ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT.

moderns, and IN one case at least we find M,,
the fighters Of Richards time were armed IN
weapon similar to one employed in mode
civilized warfare Our petroleum bombs a.,
prefigured in the Greek fire manufactured !,
sulphur saltpetre, naphtha, pitch and otb.,
ingredients. which ignited upon exposure to ~.
air and set the enemy's ships in flames I'm.
quenchable save by vinegar or sand. Watt,
only increased the power Of this awful fire. and
the fumes alone were fatal. But in the mai,
Richards sailors fought with bows and ar.
rows pixies and lances. axes, swords. and engine,
for throwing stones. The conflicts were hand
to hand and Iomeric. We must find room herr
for fragment Of Godfrey de Vinesauf, quoted
by Mr. Cloves. 1t describes an action in u.
Mediterranean at the close of the twelfth Cent
ury. which, IL rot fought by English ships va,
fought at any rate according to English
methods The action occurred off Acre. DescriA
ing the evolutions OF the contending Aeeia
Godfrey reaches the crisis and says:
In the upper tiers, the shields interlaced Were
placed circuarly; and the rowers sat close 10.
gether that those above might have freer scope
The still and tranquil sea. as II fated to receive
the battle became calm. so that neither the blow
of the warrior nor the stroke OF the rover might
be impeded by the waves. Advancing nearer
10 each other the trumpets sounded on both
sides and mingled their dread clangor. First
they contended with missiles. but our men,
invoking the divine aid. more earnestly piled
their oars. and pierced the enemys ships with
the beaks Of their own. Soon the battle became
general: the oars were entangled' they Tough.
hand To hand; they grappled the ships with al.
tcrnate casts and set the decks on fire with the
burning oil commonly called Greek fire.
There was one galley which. owing ~ the rash.
ness OF our men. presented Ii! side close TO the
IL th. Eraa
on board. admitted the Turks. who rushed ia
AZ all PARTS The rowcrs, seized with terror
leaped into the sea; but few soldiers. who
from their heavier arms and Ignorance Of SWIM
ming remained through desperation 'rok cour.
age 10 fight An unequal battle RACED: but Fly
the Lords hep the few overcame The many.
and retook the lf-burnt ship from the beaten
foe.
Thus fought the sea warriors u the twelfth
century. and although Mr. Cloves has many
thrilling episodes TO narratc, there IS nothing IN
English naval history to surpass tie savage
strength and courage Of Richards crows. grad.
ually emerging from the uncouth warfare OF
their ancestors 10 something like n systematc
understanding Of the art Of war on the high
seas II IS a curious fact. however. that the
awakening Of he nation 10 sense OF its op-
portunties on the sea was not accompanied T
go swift production OF wa-ships as one would
have expected to be the case. In III" fourteenth
century the Royal Navy was always short Of
vessels and the seaports from which contrbr-
lions were in order would again ana 1glin plead
poverty IN cx' mutation Of their iAl.hre 10 re-
spond To- the demands Of the crown Finally
ncighborng towns were compelled y assist the
poor seaport in supplying ships W. read 9
four municipalities aiding Dartmouth of four
helping Sutton ever a stile and Of many other
similar Instances. The trouble seetns u have
been that while the people were Wiling 70
strengthen the Kings hand they We're also De-
sirous Of fitting out ships on their Own account