The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-01


 warspite coming up astern to take up the work after the others should have passed. The French commander lowered his ensign.
 A prize crew was put aboard, with or- ders to run to windward of the fleet, in- structions that could readily be obeyed, as the ship could get all the advantage of her lower sails without the drift insepar- able from the naked spars overhead that the sound vessels had to bear.
 Soon after the action the gale began to moderate Both fleets ran steadily on their course, with the French, however, quite nine miles to leeward, owing to the necessity of keeping company with their crippled fellows. As soon as the sea went down these began making repairs and by sunset La Foudroyant was all taunte , again, while jury spars had so far re- paired Le Scipio that he was able to keep her place measureably well. The Frenchmen then tackled and stood to the northeast, course followed at once by the English, who, though de- termined to keep their valuable position to windward and not attempting to close again, had no intention of letting the en- emy sail out of their sight. They ran down to within a league of the French and there held.
 The night passed thus and when day came the ships still held the same posi- ton; but far to windward sand coming down with extraordinary slowness thoso of the English ships saw Rear Admirel f,I.. along under topsails in close order. There was loud wonder at the slowness of the rear admirals approach, but as Sir Ger vaise did not make any remarks or or der signals set, 1t was assumed that there was a reason for Bluewater's delay
 Meantime the French showed that they were prepared to give battle, and the English ships cleared. oakes waited only for his friends ships to join before he ran down to the French line; yet an hour passed with the men at their stations, and still Bluewater's squadron was far away.
 At last. however, tho Caesar set pri- vate signals which only Bluewater and Oakes could read. Sir Gervaise took down the numbers and referred to his private book. He made out the message: Gods sake-make no signal-engage not"
 Tearing the paper on which he had figured the message into minute frag- ments. Sir Gervaise walked up and down in his cabin, his heart heavy and his head in a whirl. He cast another look to wind ward and saw to his dismay that Blue waters ships had hauled their wind and were actually standing awayl
 Instantly his mind was made up. He set signals, and, followed by his own di- vision, ran down to the French line. As he sailed he saw five ships of the enemy detach themselves and work to Wind- ward and northward
 The Plantagenet soon gained a position abreast of Le Foudroyant, and each ship opened up, flame, roar and smoke burst ing from both. as with one breath. The second English ship, sheering outside of the Plantagenet and then closing in, took her position alongside of the second Frenchman in line, and so on until all the cruisers on each side were engaged.
 The furious cannonading in so small space soon killed the wind, and the ships drifted in a dense curtain of smoke, in which men coughed and gasped for breath, but without ceasing for mo- ment to fight. Soon the foes were invis- ible to each other and only the flashing of their guns and the smiting of the iron tempest showed that the ships were still at work.
 At last it seemed to Oakes that the fire of the unseen French admiral had begun to slacken little While he was com menting on 1t, Wychecombe came down from the main top and reported that the French division that had sheered off in the beginning of the action was coming down on them fast, and would be on their other beam in five minutes. Of Bluewa- ter there was nothing to be seen. Quick as lightning Sir Gervaise ordered the larboard batteries to be manned. Scarcely had it been done before miz- zen topsail showed through an opening in the cloud, of smoke. The next instant Gervaise himself shouted Fire" and the Plantagenet trembled from the simulta- neous discharge of Al guns. That timely broadside saved the English admiral from immediate defeat. So startled was the crew or Le flutoii, tIo icW CHoHiy, lhas half the broadside she fired in answer went ahead of Plantagenet and into the side of Le Temperaire the second French ship.
 Sir Gervaise at once decided to board Le Foudroyant and thus desperately at- tempt to retrieve the day. He heard broadside after broadsde down the line, showing that the second French division had doubled on his ships and now held them between two fires. But hardly had the sail trimmers given the first pull at the braces before fore, main and mizzen topmasts went down with a crash. By this cruel mishap the plight of the Plantagenet had suddenly become desper ate The command of the ship was lost in great measure, and the work of clearing away the wreck hampered the
 fighting.
 In the midst O the savage labor aboard the flagship, while she was being pound- ed from both beams, the admiral sudden ly saw a fresh ship coming down on him, close upon his quarter-so close that it seemed certain she would board. Her yard arms cleared those of the admiral by only, a few feet as her black bows brushed through the canopy of smoke. .'This will be fearful workr' exclaimed Sir Gervaise. "A fresh broadside from a ship so near will sweep all OUT men from the spars. Call in-Hold! It's an English CoJ 1,a ,rT,t. I,