New-York tribune., 1905-06-04

5,., bs+ueen Europe and Asia. and Europe won.
AS at Saamis the Asatics We're overconhdent
On learning that Don Juan OF Austria wanted
IN -6obt than the Turks scoffed et the idea that
h. could bring together large enough feet to
harm Them They at last discovered their error
but too late Don Juan had 2s galleys. six gal
leases and a number of smaller craft with more
than 10000 Spanish German and italian soldiers
on board The Turks had an armament only a
little larger. The hostile squadrons met some
miles outside the Gulf of Corinth Both navies
used cannon. some of which hurled stone projec-
tiles through the sides of the opposing ships and
others, as at the seige of Constantinople simply
exploded gunpowder at hand. throwing balls
of flaming tow upon the foe or, at still closer
range, suffocating them with fumes and smoke
Though the Mahometans were more experienced
In tie of guns and Greek fire, yet they found
that the Christians had at last mastered this art
better than they. Their ships soon rendered
unnanageable. The cannon shot played havoc with
the long banks of Flames from guns along
side also set many of the ships on fire. making a
hell of each vessel for the wretched galley slaves
who chained to their seats.
The Christian victory was overwhelming Only
forty of the Turkish ships escaped. the remainder
being burned captured and thirty-fve thousand
Mussulmans were killed or taken prisoners More
than fifteen thousand Christian slaves were set at
liberty.
WOODEN SHIPS IN SEA FIGHTS
The wooden, square-sailed frgate which came
into existence after the disappearance of the galley
fought the naval battles or the world for many
centuries. 1t with such ships that the Ameri-
cans met the British In the War of the Revolution
and the War of 1872. and the frigate still proved
dangerous In the Civil War.
Although the naval battles in American history
In which wooden ships took part insignif-
cant compared to those fought in Euroyean waters;
although the fleets engaged were far smaller and
the dead and wounded fewer. still they were terri
bly, typical of kind of warfare. and showed ex-
anples OF bravery and daring that have not been
surpassed.
climbed from his sinking ship to become master of
the vessel of his foe is notable instance of the
only wooden. instead of steel, walls shield them.
When Jones. aboard the Bonhomme Richard.
land, on September %. 177s. he thought the task
in hand comparatively easy one. The enemy
consisted of two frgates. the powerful Scraps
with twenty-five 6-pounders. His own ship car
ried thrty-six guns and the three other vessels
of his feet-the Alliance. the Pallas and the Ven
| geance-altogether about sixty more. Later Jones
found that his foe far stronger than himself.
take part' and the Alliance was under an Insub-
| ordinate French captain. who blundered SO that
| he helped the British.
| the two heavier ships, the Scraps and the Bon
homme Richard and as the British frtgate was the
reduced to floating week Captain Pearson. oi
the Serapis. seeing the havoc his guns had wrought
| asked if Jones had surrendered. and received the
| II have not vet begun to fight"
And he hadn't. The battle only became more
the in loading their cannon ran theI
| ramrods through the ports of the other Ship The
| Bonhomme Richard was slowly sinking, and al
| seemed lost when one of the marines in the main
top performed a feat which brought victory 90 the
| Americans out of what seemed certain defeat
| grenade into open hatch of the Scraps. Iht
| grenade exploded heap of gun cartridges witt