El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-18

I u q friendship, not 70 say an aIIec-
tlon, as sincere as il was lasting.
Nothing had ever broken it; nothing,
/ II was believed, ever would break IL.
In bout one point did the true
friends differ. Cakes was 4 Wing,
BlueWater a Tory. II did not seem
possible. however. for political con-
siderations tS interrupt their warm
] relations The bold adventure Of
1 Charles Edward babe fair to do that
/ very thing, however For Bluewater,
frank, unworldly sailor that he was,
eleverly played upon by politicians,
began to waver between the House
! OF Hanover. whose commission he
held, and the House of Stewart, TO
which his heart inclined.
To bring matters to a head " le
vice admiral, lie comte de Vervillin,
sailed from Cherbourg with a fleet
| Of such ships as fairly entitled him
to challenge the English fleet Of vice
admiral Cakes for the mastery Of the
narrow seas.
The latter. more than willing to try
out the matter, at once pat TO sea IN
heavy gale OF wind, his capital ships
weighing anchor in succession with
long intervals between them so as
TO spread q broad clew to i-terceut
the French. Bluewater with his dfvi-
sion brought up the rear. The rear
admiral was obsessed with the idta ,
that de Nervillin's course had some
thing 20 do with the pretender's effort
anu MS CONSCIENTIOUS pies threw
MIN into ptteous state of indecision.
The vice admiral was not troubled
by any such subtle casuistry. He
only saw the enemy whom 1t was his
duty to beat when, where and how
he could.
After a series Of the most brilliant
tactical maneuvers and a successful Z
minor enga cement with the whole
French fleet by his division alone
the two divisions had got separated !
n fn l.
called his own ships around him
the vice admiral found himself with \
five ships in the vicinity Of the
French. who were just double in num- !
Der Far away to windward the |
morning disclosed the five ships Of /
the rear admiraFs division slowly /
standing down toward his superior 1
under easy sail
Bluewater was still IN his state Of I
painful indecision- As soon as within 4
signal distance, by using a private 4
and personal code, he sent the follow
ing pleading dispatch to his consid- [
crate superior;
God sake-make no slgnal-en-
gage not"
This signal plunged Cakes. fully
aware OF the state Of his beloved /
juniors mind, into the most terrible /
dilemma. Without the assistance Of L
Bluewater's division he could not hope |
10 engage the enemy with the least /
chance Of success. On the other hand /
should he now withdraw without /
fighting he would have failed in his
duty and would have been profession
ally ruined-and rightly. His mind
would and must
Would the friendship between the
two admirals stand the test he i'm
posed upon it2 Did the younger care
more Tor cakes and England than for
the young prince Of France2 a short |
time would determine. Magnanimous-
" refraining from making any en-
barrassing signal 70 his friend which
might force his hand untimely, Cakes
boldly led down upon the waiting
French line and with his five ships
brought them to close action. The
french were quick to take advantage
OF the opportunity given them BY the
hesitations Of the English rear admi-
raj Holding Cakes with five Of his
ships to leeward de Vervillin threw
the other five under des PREF. his
contre admiral. on the windward side
Of the English, doubling on them,
placing them between two fires
Although Cakes division was
fought with the fury Of despair the
end was at hand when the 1opportune
arrival Of Bluewater. who could not
stand seeing his friend pounded TO
pieces. and who threw political scon-
siderations 70 the wind and bore
down on the triumphant French under
a press Of sail. completely changed the
issue and wrested victory from defeat
All Of which is set forth in a success
sion Of sea pictures OF surprising
grandeur.
Bluewater. remorseful over his IN
certitude. actually carried the French
rear admirals ship by boarding It at
the head of his men. receiving a NOR
tai wound In the attack by way Of
expiation.
Space allows me only to mention
the mastery descrintions OF ship ma
neuvering and thrilling sea fighting
I can only refer to some OF the well
drawn characters in the story: the
two splendid admirals. their captains
the officers and sean1en. especially
old Galleyo, the admirars steward
delineated out Of a LARGE experience
with a sure hand. And the great ships
are imbued with person
atty so dear to a seaman's heart
The touching scene at the close OF
the book. in which Cakes. old. infirm.
forgetful praying before the tomb
NJ Rluewater in the great Abbey Of
Westminster. recalls the last battle
the two had fought and with all Of
Eis former fire and fervor describes
again those moments Of SUSPENSE nre-
rounds out the tale. And then death
unites him with the friend he had
loved and lost
have read the book score or
more Of times with ever increasing
10Y. envy anyone who takes shin
for the first time to sail and fight
with these two great masters OF the