Part 18 (1/2)
”The great naval force of the Tsar, with which we were now face to face,” continued Lieutenant Ingleton in his narrative, ”consisted of the new battles.h.i.+p _Petropavlovsk_ of 10,960 tons, with a speed of 17 knots; the great turret-s.h.i.+p _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_ of 8076 tons; the two new barbette-s.h.i.+ps _Kama_ and _Vologda_ of the _Cizoi Veliky_ type; the _Tchesme_ of 10,181 tons, the _Gheorghy Pobyednosets_ of 10,280 tons, and the powerful _Tria Sviat.i.telia_ of 12,480 tons; the two enormous new cruisers _Tiumen_ and _Minsk_, both of 17,000 tons, and running at 20 knots; the _Vladimir Monomach_ of 5754 tons; the armoured gunboat _Otvazny_, and the new rams _Admiral Seniavine_ and _Admiral Uschakoff_, with thirty torpedo boats, including the _Kodor_, _Reni_, _Anakria_, and _Adler_, the latter being able to run at 274 knots.
”Against such a gigantic force as this our small force of vessels and torpedo boats presented but a sorry appearance. Nevertheless we had fired the first shot, and were now determined to die rather than haul down our colours. As our guns thundered, those of the _Jupiter_, _Repulse_, _Sans Pareil_, _Undaunted_, _Orlando_, _Diana_, _Scout_, and _Gannet_ joined in noisy chorus. The 12-inch guns in the turrets of the _Petropavlovsk_ and the four big guns in the barbettes of the _Tria Sviat.i.telia_ crashed out together, and almost immediately afterwards we found ourselves being swept from stem to stern by the enemy's sh.e.l.ls.
The Russian battles.h.i.+ps were all well armoured, and had a much heavier sh.e.l.l fire than the vessels of either France or Britain. We were both in columns of divisions in line ahead, but from the first moment of the engagement our position was critical.
”A terrific and deadly storm burst upon us from the enemy's tops, while his heavy guns kept up an incessant thunder. With such an enormous force against us, it was apparent to every man on board that disaster was imminent. It had, alas! never been graven sufficiently deep upon the public mind how absurdly weak we were in the Mediterranean. Here, as in all other squadrons, every grade of officer from commander downwards was deficient in numbers, and the s.h.i.+ps in commission had for years been so much below their complement that the work had only been carried on with great difficulty. Other s.h.i.+ps at home had been obliged to wait until a sufficient number of merchant seamen and half-trained engine-room staff could be sc.r.a.ped together to provide the semblance of a crew. In fact, successive British Governments of both parties had subordinated national necessities to a desire to evade a material increase in taxation, and now at last our Mediterranean Squadron were compelled to face the inevitable.
”The insidious cunning and patient methods to which the Russians resort in order to attain their aims and break their boundaries had once more been ill.u.s.trated. They had, by dint of extraordinary chicanery, secured absolute possession of the small Turkish peninsula known as Mount Athos.
Situated near the entrance of the Gulf of Salonica, it was a paramount strategical position, and its possessor was now enabled to keep watch upon Macedonia, and in the meantime be very near the Dardanelles, and also Asia Minor. The possession was accomplished in a curiously secret manner, showing to what extent Russian foresight and artifice is carried. For years past the _Societe Slav de Bienfaisance_ had been sending, through a bank in Salonica, large sums of money to further the aim. To the casual observer there was nothing extraordinary about this, for the Russians had established on the lofty heights several monasteries, converting the place into a clerical settlement. This fact was pointed out by the _Pall Mall Gazette_ as far back as 1893, but the British public at that time failed to detect any Russian intrigue.
”Gradually, however, Muscovite roubles purchased the surrounding property, and Greek convents were reduced to poverty while Russian inst.i.tutions flourished and increased. But, strangely enough, the inmates of these monasteries were suddenly discovered to be mock clerics, and then it was disclosed that under the cover of monastic garments and robes were to be found the Tsar's soldiers, performing a three years' special and specific military service!
”Yet, owing to the Sultan's weakness, to the almighty backsheesh, and to the shortsightedness of Turkish statesmen, the Russians were not dislodged, but the position was actually ceded to them, with the result that they had now firmly established themselves where they were enabled to counteract British action and influence. A naval station had been established for their Mediterranean Squadron at Poros, off the eastern coast of the Peloponnesus, some fifteen miles due south of the island of aegina. Here there were three miles of deep water safe from sea attack, with an a.r.s.enal and dockyard, on the very weakest point along the line of our highway between England and India! Such was the manner in which our power in the Mediterranean had been undermined!
”There was, however, no time for reflection amid the deafening roar.
This Black Sea Fleet that had burst its bonds and pa.s.sed through the Dardanelles intended to sweep us from the sea. Yet, notwithstanding the terrible fire pouring upon us from these great and powerful s.h.i.+ps, each fully equipped with the latest and most improved arms, fully manned by well-trained men, and fresh for the fray, we held our quarters, determined to show the forces of the Tsar defiance. Even though every man of us might be sent to an untimely grave, the Russian flag should never surmount the White Ensign of Britain. We were determined, so we set our teeth, and showed a firm and vigorous front to the foe.
”Our two 22-tonners rendered admirable service, and the cannonade kept up from our 3 and 6-pounder quick-firing guns was playing havoc with the Russian belted cruiser _Vladimir Monomach_ lying on our port quarter.
The vessel was slightly larger than ourselves, carrying much heavier armaments, including four 13-ton guns, and twelve 4-tonners. She was indeed a very formidable opponent, nevertheless we did our best, and, blazing away at close quarters, soon succeeded in silencing the starboard 13-tonner nearest us.
”Just at this moment I found we were being attacked on the port bow by the enormous new turret-s.h.i.+p _Petropavlovsk_ and the _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_. Two of the heavy 12-inch guns of the former thundered almost simultaneously, and both sh.e.l.ls striking us almost amids.h.i.+ps, caused us such a shock that for a second I stood breathless.
”In a few moments, however, it was reported that our 'vitals' had fortunately escaped, and we continued firing as if no catastrophe had occurred. As a matter of fact, the damage caused by those two sh.e.l.ls was appalling.
”The _Jupiter_, steaming about two miles away on our starboard quarter, was apparently holding her own against the barbette-s.h.i.+ps _Tchesme_ and _Gheorghy Pobyednosets_, the cruiser _Tiumen_, one of the largest in the world, and the new ram _Admiral Seniavine_. The four attacking vessels, as seen through the dense smoke, were pouring into the British s.h.i.+p a deadly fire; yet, judging from the fallen tops and disabled engines of the _Gheorghy Pobyednosets_ and the wrecked superstructure of the _Tchesme_, the _Jupiter's_ heavy armaments were executing good work, notwithstanding the strength of the _Tchesme's_ six 50-ton guns, admirably arranged in pairs in the centre of the vessel.
”The _Diana_ and _Sans Pareil_, lying near to one another, were desperately resisting the vigorous attack made by the _Admiral Uschakoff_, _Minsk_, _Otvazny_, _Kama_, and _Vologda_; and here again, amid smoke and flying debris, I could distinguish that the 67-tonners of the _Repulse_, in co-operation with the lighter weapons of the _Undaunted_, were giving the enemy a taste of what British courage could accomplish.
”The sea around us simply swarmed with Russian torpedo boats, and it required all our vigilance to evade their continued attacks. Before an hour had pa.s.sed we had succeeded in sinking two by shots from our 6-inch guns, and several more were sent to the bottom by well-aimed projectiles from the _Dido_ and _Jupiter_.
”As for ourselves, projectiles were sweeping across our deck like hail, and under the incessant and fearful fire we were suffering frightfully.
Over sixty of our men and a sub-lieutenant had been killed, while forty-nine were severely wounded. Once I had occasion to go below, and between decks the sight that met my gaze was awful.
”Around two of the quick-firing guns on our port quarter lay the guns'
crews, mutilated by sh.e.l.ls from the _Vladimir Monomach_. They had been killed almost instantly while standing bravely at their posts. The scene was appalling. The mangled ma.s.ses of humanity amid which the surgeons were at work were awful to look upon, and I rushed up again with the terrible scene photographed indelibly upon my memory.
”Meanwhile the s.h.i.+p was in the greatest peril. The continual bursting of sh.e.l.ls upon her shook and shattered her, and she trembled violently as, time after time, her own guns uttered their thundering reply to her enemies. Heeling now this way, now that, as the helm was put hard over to avoid a blow, the situation on board was intensely exciting.
”Those were terrible moments. The captain suddenly noticed the movements of the _Vladimir Monomach_, and divined her intentions. She had ceased firing, and by a neatly executed manoeuvre was preparing to ram us. In a moment our helm was put over again, and the _Edgar_ answered to it immediately.
”'Ready bow tube!' I heard the captain shout hoa.r.s.ely. He waited a few moments, allowing the Russian ironclad to partially perform her evolution, then just as she came almost into collision with us he shrieked 'Fire bow tube!' at the same time bringing us over further to port.
”The seconds seemed hours. Suddenly there was a loud explosion, a great column of water rose under the Russian's bow, and we knew the torpedo had struck. At that moment, too, even while the water was still in the air, one of our torpedo boats which had crept up under the _Vladimir Monomach's_ stern sent another torpedo at her, which also hit its mark and ripped her up. Turning our guns upon the armoured cruiser, we poured volley after volley into her, but she did not reply, for her men were panic-stricken, and she was sinking fast.
”The _Petropavlovsk_, leaving us, endeavoured to rescue her crew, but ere a dozen men were saved, she settled down bow foremost, and disappeared into the deep, carrying down with her nearly five hundred officers and men.
”The _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_ kept up her fire upon us, and a few moments later I witnessed another disaster, for a shot from one of her bow guns struck the torpedo boat that had just a.s.sisted us, and sank it. A few minutes later a loud explosion in the direction of the _Sans Pareil_ attracted my attention, and, turning, I saw amid the smoke-clouds debris precipitated high into the air. A shot from one of her 111-ton guns had penetrated to the magazine of the _Admiral Seniavine_, which had exploded, causing a frightful disaster on board that vessel, and just at the same moment a cheer from the crew of one of our 6-inch guns prompted me to look for the cause, which I found in the fact that they had shot the Russian colours completely away from the _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_.
”Again another frightful explosion sounded loud above the incessant din, and to my satisfaction I saw a great column of water rise around the _Admiral Uschakoff_, which, fighting at close quarters with the _Dido_, had apparently been torpedoed. Not satisfied with this, the captain of the _Dido_, keeping his machine guns going, turned his vessel and discharged a second Whitehead, which also struck with such terrible effect that the Russian s.h.i.+p began at once to sink, and in a few minutes the blue waves closed for ever over her tops, ere a score or so out of her crew of 300 could be rescued.