The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-15
CENTENARY OF
 DECATUR'S DEFEAT

Today marks the centenary of one of the last of the naval battles be- tween Great Britain and the United States. Although the treaty of peace was signed and sealed at Ghent, on Dec. 24, 1914, the news that the war was over did not reach New York until Feb. H. 1915. In the mean time the battle of New Orleans was fought and won by Jackson's gallant fro htiersnens and British memo, WAT continued to patrol the Atlantic coast of America
 Commodore stephen Decatur, the. hero of the thrilling exploit on the Barbary coast, was placed in conn naahd of the frigate United States at the outbreak of the second war be- tween England and her former American colonies, and in 1812@ he engaged and captured the British frigate Macedonian
 In January of 1915 Decatur was in command of the frigate President, and was bottled up in New York harbor. New York was then block aGed by four British warships, but Decatur, disregarding the odds against him, ventured out on the 9th The President was injured in passing the bar, and was in no con- dition to give battIe,:S but Decatur went on until he came up with the British frigate Endymion. The bat tie was waged furiousIy, and the Endym1On was reduced Tos a wreck when her three sister vessels came up and engaged in the fray. For nearly three hours the President en- gagged in a running flight with the En ng1ish squadron, and his vessel was a wreck and a quarter of his crew had been disabled or killed before Decatur flew the flag of surrender.
 When Decatur climbed on board the British flagship, a prisoner of war he was immediately surround ed by British officers. who warmly congratulated him on his gallant | fight against superior numbers. The captured officer and his men were treated with every consideration. and l when the news of peace reached the l British squadron the prisoners were released, an the British tars lined the deck and cheered Decatur and his | men on their way.
 Two more naval battles between British and American ships were ! fought before the era of peace, now a century long, finally dawned. In February the American frigate Con- .stitution was off the island of Ma I sloops-of-war Cyane and Levant l Captain Stewart, of the Constitution, immediately gave battle, and, after a 1 gallant defence by the British ships captured both of them.
 1 In the latter part of February an
 
 coast of Brazil. Commodore Riddle was in command of the United States sIeop Hornet in those waters, and was securing the South Atlantic for Brit ish merchantmen. He came up with T te British brig Penguin and a ter rife battle ensued, in which the I American vessel came off victorious
 Thus ended the American and I British contest for supremacy or the seas. Both sides had gained many victories. but, what was more Il important, each had learned to re. spect he va1or of the other. In tho land engagements incompetence anc even cowardiee had marked the operations of certain officers of bott sides. but in the naval battles it was always war to the knife. and the knife to the hiIt. British boasts anc American vaunting gave way, in thS stress of conflict. to a mutual admira- ton for the valor. of the foe.