Famous Sea Fights, from Salamis to Tsu-Shima

Italics have been marked with underscores, like 'this'. oe ligature has been changed to 'oe'. In "triêres" and "Triêres", the 'ê' stands for an 'e' with a macron.

Changes: p.23: "Platea" changed to "Platæa" p.23: "Leothychides" changed to "Leotychides" p.27: Footnote 2: "see Chapter XIII" changed to "see Chapter XI" p.67: "1494" changed to "1396", for the battle of Nicopolis took place on 25 September, 1396, not in 1494 p.71: "Nicosis" changed to "Nicosia" p.126: "Reganzona" changed to "Regazona" p.145: Caption: "Vanderelde" changed to "Vandervelde" p.152: "ninety two" changed to "ninety-two" p.162: comma after "off San Domingo" changed to period p.227 Footnote 18: comma removed after "Worden" pp.300, 301: "Sevastopol" changed to "Sebastopol" p.308: "Admiral Seniavine" changed to "Admiral Senyavin" p.341: "Swir" changed to "Svir" (two times) p.345: Index: "Bragadino, Ambrosio" changed to "Bragadino, Ambrogio" p.348: Index: "Monceda" changed to "Moncada" (admiral of the galeasses in the armada) p.349: Index: "Valdes, Diego Flores de, admira" changed to "Valdes, Diego Flores de, admiral"

[Illustration: THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR From an engraving by W. Miller from the painting by C. Stanfield, R.A.]

FAMOUS SEA FIGHTS

FROM SALAMIS TO TSU-SHIMA

BY

JOHN RICHARD HALE

WITH THIRTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS AND SEVENTEEN PLANS

BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY 1911

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]

[1] Bacon's Essay on "The Greatness of Kingdoms," first published in 1597. The extract is from the edition of 1625.

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.