Famous Sea Fights, from Salamis to Tsu-Shima

INTRODUCTION

Three hundred years ago Francis Bacon wrote, amongst other wise words: "To be Master of the Sea is an Abridgement of Monarchy.... The Bataille of Actium decided the Empire of the World. The Bataille of Lepanto arrested the Greatnesse of the Turke. There be many Examples where Sea-Fights have been Finall to the Warre. But this much is certaine; that hee that commands the Sea is at great liberty, and may take as much and as little of the Warre as he will. Whereas those, that be strongest by land, are many times neverthelesse in great Straights. Surely, at this Day, with us of Europe, the Vantage of Strength at Sea (which is one of the Principall Dowries of this Kingdome of Greate Brittaine) is Great; Both because Most of the Kingdomes of Europe are not merely Inland, but girt with the Sea most part of their Compasse; and because the Wealth of both Indies seemes in great Part but an Accessary to the Command of the Seas."[1]

The three centuries that have gone by since this was written have afforded ample confirmation of the view here set forth, as to the importance of "Battailes by Sea" and the supreme value of the "Command of the Sea." Not only "we of Europe," but our kindred in America and our allies in Far Eastern Asia have now their proudly cherished memories of decisive naval victory.

I propose to tell in non-technical and popular language the story of some of the most remarkable episodes in the history of sea power. I shall begin with the first sea-fight of which we have a detailed history—the Battle of Salamis (B.C. 480), the victory by which Themistocles the Athenian proved the soundness of his maxim that "he who commands the sea commands all." I shall end with the last and greatest of naval engagements, the Battle of Tsu-shima, an event that reversed the long experience of victory won by West over East, which began with Salamis more than two thousand years ago. I shall have to tell of British triumphs on the sea from Sluys to Trafalgar; but I shall take instances from the history of other countries also, for it is well that we should remember that the skill, enterprise, and courage of admirals and seamen is no exclusive possession of our own people.

I shall incidentally describe the gradual evolution of the warship from the wooden, oar-driven galleys that fought in the Straits of Salamis to the steel-built, steam-propelled giants that met in battle in the Straits of Tsu-shima. I shall have something to say of old seafaring ways, and much to tell of the brave deeds done by men of many nations. These true stories of the sea will, I trust, have not only the interest that belongs to all records of courage, danger, and adventure, but also some practical lessons of their own, for they may help to keep alive that intelligent popular interest in sea power which is the best guarantee that the interests of our own navy—the best safeguard of the Empire—will not be neglected, no matter what Government is in power, or what political views may happen for the moment to be in the ascendant.

J.R.H.

CONTENTS

		page
	Introduction	v

	period of oar and close fighting
chapter
I.	Salamis, B.C. 480	1
II.	Actium, B.C. 31	25
III.	Svold Island, A.D. 1000	40
IV.	Sluys, 1340	55
V.	Lepanto, 1571	67

	period of sail and gun
VI.	The Armada, 1588	105
VII.	Off the Gunfleet, 1666	142
VIII.	The Saints' Passage, 1782	158
IX.	Trafalgar, 1805	173

	period of steam, armour, and rifled artillery
X.	Hampton Roads, 1862	206
XI.	Lissa, 1866	231
XII.	The Yalu, 1894	252
XIII.	Santiago, 1898	277
XIV.	Tsu-shima, 1905	297
	Index	345

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The Battle of Trafalgar From an engraving by W. Miller from the painting by C. Stanfield, R.A.	Frontispiece
	facing page
Roman Warships After the paintings found at Pompeii.	32
A Viking Fleet From a drawing by Paul Hardy. By permission of Cassell and Co.	48
A Mediterranean Galley of the Sixteenth Century From an engraving by J. P. le Bas, Mediterranean Craft of the Sixteenth Century.	67
A Mediterranean Carrack or Frigate of the Sixteenth Century From an engraving by Tomkins, Mediterranean Craft of the Sixteenth Century.	67
Galleys of the Knights of Malta in Action with Turkish Galleys From an engraving at the British Museum.	80
The "Great Armada" entering the Channel From the drawing of W. H. Overend. By permission of the Illustrated London News.	112
The "Sovereign of the Seas," launched 1637 A typical warship of the middle of the seventeenth century. After the painting by Vandervelde.	144
Guns and Carronades in use in the British Navy in the latter part of the Eighteenth Century From drawings at the British Museum.	158
A Three-decker of Nelson's Time From an engraving at the British Museum.	173
H.M.S. "Warrior"—the First British Ironclad From a photograph by Symonds and Co.	212
The Battle of Hampton Roads. The "Merrimac" and "Monitor" engaged at close quarters From Cassier's Magazine, by permission of the Editor.	224
The Russian Battleship "Orel" From a photograph taken after the battle of Tsu-shima, showing effects of Japanese shell fire.	330

LIST OF PLANS

	facing page
Lepanto. Course of Allied Fleet from Ithaca Channel to scene of battle	90
Lepanto (1). Allies forming line of battle. Turks advancing to attack	92
Lepanto (2). Beginning of the battle. (Noon, October 7th, 1571)	94
Lepanto (3). The mÊlÉe. (About 12.30 p.m.)	96
Lepanto (4). Ulugh Ali's counter-attack. (About 2.30 p.m.)	102
Lepanto (5). Flight of Ulugh Ali—Allied Fleet forming up with captured prizes at close of battle. (About 4 p.m.)	104
Voyage of the Armada, 1588	120
Trafalgar	192
Hampton Roads (1st day). "Merrimac" comes out, sinks "Cumberland" and burns "Congress"	216
Hampton Roads (2nd day). Duel between "Monitor" and "Merrimac"	216
The "Merrimac" and "Monitor" drawn to the same scale	222
Lissa. Battle formation of the Austrian Fleet	241
Battle of Lissa. The Austrian attack at the beginning of the battle	244
Battle of the Yalu (1). The Japanese attack	264
Battle of the Yalu (2). End of the fight	264
Battle of Santiago. Showing places where the Spanish ships were destroyed	290
Battle of Tsu-Shima. Sketch-map to show the extent of the waters in which the first part of the fight took place	321
Battle of Tsu-Shima. General map	322
Battle of Tsu-Shima. Diagrams of movements during the fighting of May 27th	326

FROM SALAMIS TO TSU-SHIMA

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