Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-29

D'SSNeStAOii t'Sottiticu WI flftioS3 W Diic III
transit.
The crab slowed up not far from one
OF the foremost of the British ships, and
coming round to the quarter Of the gun
boat, the astonished captain of that YES
sci was Informed, through the speaking
lube, That IL he would give his parole to
keep out OF this fight, he would be
allowed to proceed to his anchorage in
Portsmouth harbor. The parole was
given, ana Tie dynamite gunboat, after
reporting TO the flag ship, steamed away
| to Portsmouth.
The situation now became one which
was unparalleled iii the history Of naval
warfare. On the side Of the British seven
war ships were disabled and drifting
slowly - the southeast For half an
hour no advance had been made by The
british fleet, for whenever one of the
large vessels had steamed ahead, such
vessel had become the victim of q crab.
and the vice admiral COMMANDING tho
fleet had signalcd not to advance until
| further orders.
The crabs were also living to. each 70
tho windward Of and not far from one
OF the British ships. They had ceased to
| make any attacks, and were resting
quietly under protection Of the enemy.
rms, with the fact that the repellcr still
lay TOUR miles away without any apparent
intention OF taking part in the battle,
gave the situation its peculiar character
The British vice admiral did not in
tAr1I n
ton. 1t was, Of course, useless to order
forth his ironclads, simply 10 see them
disabled and set adrift. There was an
other arm Of the service which evidently
could hc used with better effect upon
this peculiar foe than could the great
battle ships.
But before doing anything else, he
must provide for the safety of those Of
his vessels which had been rendered
helpless by the crabs. and some Of which
were row drifting dangerously near to
each other. Dispatches had been sent 70
Portsmouth for tugs, for it would not do
to wait until these arrived, and suffi-
Gent number Of irouclaG5 were detailed
to to-" their in .uTed consOrts into port.
" hen this order had been given. the
vice admiral Immediately prepared 10
renew the fight, and this tilac lis efforts
We're 70 be directed entirely against the
ropciIcr. Il would be nsC lcss 10 devote
amy further attention to the crabs. c~pc-
cialiy IN their present positions but if
the chief vessel Of the syndcate's fleet,
with lis spring armor, and lis terrible
earthquake bombs. could be DESTROYED.
il was quite possible thar those sea para
sites, the crabs. could al,o b. di.posel of.
Every torpedo hoat WIS now ordered
t. the 'front.' ana ii a hong line. almost
abreast oi each other. these swift vessels
tile light infantry of The 4ea-advance,E
UPON the solitary and distant foe. If
one torpedo could but reach lier hull the
vice Admiral in spite IF seven disabled
iiui4clad- aIl q captured 1lulo9t. might
ye Gal- proudly i'd Ills loatiu4 64r.
even il his uWn Ship should III drifting,
br0adsidn ~ he sua.
The lia4 ot torpedo boats. slightly curry
IN inward, bad advanced about Il mile
when Repcil4r No. il au-oi.c from her
seeming sleep, and began 70 act The
NV ~ y ilAl tl ttiF DOW We're IYfttilt4tt
rawa.lI. rs thutsl bomb DISCHARGED from
t4am would fail inao the sea d mile and
4 Lull aheaa. Slowly turning her bow
from SIDE 10 side. 50 that The guns wouIi
cover range Of nearly half circle. the
Instantaneous motor bombs of the re-
pciier were DISCHARGED, one every half
minute.
One DC the most appalling character
istics II Tile motor bombs wa tbe sjIarca
Which uu. onpaniol their DISCHARGE and
action. Nonoi~e was heard. cxccnt Tia
flash of sound occasioned bv the removal
OF the particles of the object aimed at
and the subseouent roar of wind or fan
OF water.
As each motor bomb dropnal into tho
channel, 4 dense cloud aprearad bigh IN
the air. above d roaring. s2ethjna cal
dron, followed ont Of the waters and o,it
Of the very bottom OF the channel. into
this chasm the cloud quickly came down.
condensed into a vast body of water.
which fell, with the roar Of q cycl9no,
into the dreadful abyss from which ii
I.-1 l,,,,, t,,r, Ill.