The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-07-03

between the House OF hanONer' "Ho0o
commission he held, and the House OF /
Stewart. TO which his heart inclined.
To bring matters to head M. lie
v;ce Amiral LIE COmte de Vervillin,
sailed from Cherbourg with heet OF
such ships as fairly entitled him 10
challenge the English feet of Vice Ad-
mirol Cakes for the mastery Of the |
narrow seas.
The latter, more than willing to try
out the matter, at once put to sea In
a heavy gale of wind, his capital ships
weighing anchor in succession win
long intervals between them so as to
spread a broad clue to intercept the
French. Bluewater with his division
brought up the rear. The rear admiral
was obsessed with the idea that De
Vervillin's course had something to do
with the pretender's effort and his
conscientious scruples threw him into
piteOus state of indecisiOn. The
vice admiral was not troubled by any
such subtle casuistry. He only saw
| the enemy whom II was his duty to
beat when, where and how he could.
After a series Of the most brilliant
| tactical maneuvers and a successful
minor engagement with the whole
French feet by his division nlone-the
two divisions had got separated In the
mad gale and Bluewater had called his
own ships around him-the vice ad-
miral found himself with five ships In
the vicinity Of the French who were
inst double in number. Far away to
windward the morning disclosed the
five ships Of the rear admiraPs divi-
sion slowly standing down toward his
superior under easy si.!.
Bluewater was still in his state OF
painful indecision. AS soon as within
signal distance, by using private and
personal code, he sent the following
pleading dispatch to his considerate
J superior:
God sake-make no signal-engage
,, not"
! This signal plunged Cakes, fully
aware of the state of his beloved
! juniors mind, into the most terrible
E dilemma. without the assistance OF
Bluewater's division he could not hope
d to engage the enemy with the least
= chance of success. On the other hand
. SHOULD he now withdraw without fight
>. ing he would have failed in his duty
4 and would have been professionally
ruined-and rightly. His mind was at
once made up. Attack he would and
must.
, Would the friendship between the
l. two admirals stand the test he inn
t. posed upon it? Did the younger care
e more for Cakes and England than for
D the young prince and France? A short
l. time would determine. Magnanimous
"a ly refraining from making any embar
rassing signal to his friend, which
E. might force his hand untimely, Oakes
lie boldly led down upon the waiting
a, French line and with his five ship:
W brought them to close action. Tht
French were quick to take advantage
r, of the opportunity given them by thu
is hesitations of the English rear ad
er miraI. Holding Cakes with five of hi
IS ships to leeward De Vervillin threw
t. the other five under Des PREF, hi
at contre >amiral on the windward side o
ne the English doubling on them, placinI
IN them between two fires.
r. Although Cakes division tough
D. with the fury of despair the end was
hand when the oppOrtune arrival
n Bluewater, who could not stand see
lg ing his friend pounded TO pieces an
'e' who threw political considerations t
NJ the wind and bore down on tn
ne triumphant French under a press o
Ne. sail. completely changed the issue an
er wrested victory from defeat. All @
TO which is set forth in a succession @
pit sea pictures of surprising grandeur.
Bluewater, remorseful over his In
X gertrude, actually carried the Frenc
ne rear admiral's ship by boarding at tn
be head of his men. receiving a morris
ID wound in the attack by way of expii
ng ton.
in, Space allows me only to mentio
ne the mastery descriptions of shi
lc- maneuvering and thrilling sea fightin
as I can only refer to some of the wei
X drawn characters in the story; II
two splendid admirals. their captain
ne the officers and seamen, especially o
OF GalleygO the admiral's steward, d
re- lineated out of large experience wit
be a sure hand. And the great ships ther
m selves are imbued with personality
dear to q seaman's heart.
In The touching scene at the close
les the hook, in which Cakes. old, infir1
lc-' forgetful, praying before the tomb
me Bluewater in the great abbey Of Yves
OIL minister, recalls the last battle q
tut two had fought and with all Of his 70
40 mer fire and fervor describes aga
those moments of suspense precedil
Use the glorious victory, fitly rounds o
ell the tale. And then death unites hi
rus with the friend he had loved and lost
lad have read the hook score or mo
As Of times with ever increasing Joy.
ne- envy anyone who takes ship for {
&c first time TO sail and fight with the
en-, two great masters of the sea.
lau Copyright, 1919 by Post Publishing Co
a The Boston Post.)
hrs.
raj, Exercise In Open Air.
ef ..4t.A n M