The Irish standard., 1898-04-02
FIGHTS ON THE SEA
DECISIVE NAVAL BATTLES IN THE
HISTORY OF NATIONS.
INTERESTING READING At THIS TIME
THE SPANISH ARMADA ROUTED RY
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.
ADMIRAL NELSON'S FAMOUS VICTORIES
COMING DUEL BETWEEN SPAIN AND
THE UNITED STATES.

Now that war between Spain and the
United States seems to be almost an as
sured fact, says the Peoria Journal, it
might be just as well to briefly refer
to some of the memorable sea or ocean
engagements of the various nations in
tho different epochs OF history, assum.
ing, of course, that the approaching con-
flict will be almost, il not exclusively,
naval one. 1t is almost impossible in
the columns of newspaper to give
more than a very brief outline OF the
various historical naval conflicts. The
first of this character of engagements
Of which we have any authentic account
arc those described by licrodotus and
Thucydidcs. Salamis, one of the dccis-
Two battles of the ancient world, is fa-
nous for the victory OF the Atheniun
fleet over the fleet of XcrXes gained
as much by tactics as by superior cour-
age. Tho rcpulSe of the Pcrsans wus
followed by the establishment by the
Athcnians OF maritime empire, en-
bracing the islands of the Aegean sea and
Greek colonies, in the coast lands nf
the present Turkey in Europe" and
along the coast of Asia Minor. Prcdom-
nance in Greece itself was disputed by
the iaccdacmonians, with the result of
war lasting many years, which ended
in the destruction of the Athenian power.
The war, as planned by Periclcs. was II
naval war. Athens was strong In num-
Der of ships and ruled the Eastern seas.
The naval engagements were innumcr-
able and upon the whole favorable to
Athens, until the strategic scheme Of
Pcrirlcs was discarded and foreign en-
tcrpriscs involving the large use Of
troops-s,lch us the expedition to Sicily
were entered upon. The narrative OF
ThncydiGcs shows that the same general
principles Of naval strategy applied to
Il species Of long warships propelled by
cars, as af,erward applied to sailing
vessels and now apply to steamers, and
control Of tho sea was as much III In
struncnt of empire in ancient times rs
now. The rollics of the Athcnian de-
mncracy, with the gradual growth OF the
sea power of SPARTA, led to the de-
cisivo defeat of tho Athcnian fleet at
AcgoS POtamOs, not far from Constunti-
noplc, in Is. c. 105. In tho Punic wars
there were notable engagements be-
tween Romans and Carthagcnian fleets,
Which resulted in Romc's gaining con-
troll of the western portion of the Med
iterrancan. In the second I'unic war
Hannibal was forced by this
fact to march through Spain and cross
the Alps by an interior route instead of
striking acrcss the sea. Roman power
at sea also prevented his
boinH reinforced adequately from
Africa, and almost wholly cut
him off from his supplies 1t
prevented his brother Iastrlbal from
bringing him help, and kept his alliance
with Macedonia from proving useful
Tho valuo Of sea power in breaking the
cncmy's limo of communication is H.
Illustrated in tho ultimate failure OF Han
| nibal. The hAttlo of hctium, fought by
Anthony and Octavius Caesar on the
west coast Of Greece, was another ono
of tho decisive battles of the world In
| tho same ncighborhOod was fought in
| 1871 the decisive battle of I.epnntO, be-
| tween Il Turkish fleet and the combined
| fleets of tho Christian States of Europe,
| led by Don John of Austria. From this
| engagement dates the great decline of
! the Ottoman power The battle Of NAY
arion, in 1927. between Il Turkish fleet
| and a fleet of the Western powers, de-
| cidcd the fate of Greece. One of the
most famous naval events of modern
! times was the destruction in 1888 Of the
Spanish Armada. sent by King Philip to
cover an invasion of England from
Flanders by the Prince of Parma The
Spanish fleet numbered 129 large YES
sells, or $50 altogether. 1t carried 49,
295 soldiers and $3.50 sailors, beside
rowcrs. Tho Prince Of Parma had u
| fotila of boats to land his 35 900 SOL
diers at the mouth Of the Thames. To
oppose these forces the English had 30
largo vessels and about $50 small ones,
with some 1900 sailors. On July 30 the
| Armada was seen standing up the chan
mel in the form of a crescent seven miles
long. Next day and for a week after
there was desultory fighting, the Eng
lish avoiding general engagement but
! inflicting severe losses. On August G
tho Spanish anchored at Calais and it's
commander urged tho Prince of Parma
to begin crossing to England. But next
| day the Armada was scattered by means
of fire ships, and on the 9th Sir Francis
Drake attacked It while in disorder, kill
ing 1000 men and disabling many ships.
The remaining 120 ships attempted to
return TO Spain by the North sea, but
only ffty-four, with some 10000 men on
board, reached home. The departure of
the fotilla of torpedo boats
from the Cannries Is not un-
like the departure OF tho famous