The Wasp, 1913 · page 350 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 350: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **narrative text only**—no visible cartoon or illustration. It appears to be from a serialized story in *The Wasp* magazine about naval conflict between British Admiral Benbow and French forces under Admiral du Casse. The text recounts a historical naval encounter: Benbow maneuvering to engage the French fleet, signaling his captains to advance, and positioning to cut off the enemy's retreat to open sea. By the 21st, Benbow has caught the French flagship within gunshot range. This likely references the **real Battle of Barlavento (1702)**, where Admiral Benbow fought French and Spanish fleets off the Caribbean coast. The story's dramatic military narrative was apparently serialized entertainment in *The Wasp*. **Without visible illustrations**, I cannot identify satirical targets, caricatures, or political commentary this page may have contained originally.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
pS eS SEER eee ee THE WASP 343. ED miral’s temper, which exploded in a volley of abuse. The captains returned to their commands with red faces and tingling ears. The two fleets rolled idly in sight of each other all day. During the night a little wind awoke for an hour or two, and the admiral signaled with great lanterns for his ships to close up on him and ad- vance in column; but the wind fell before much was accomplished in the way of closing up on the flag- ship. Morning showed the French ships as far away as on the previous day, but not so widely scattered upon the blue. A light wind sprang up, and Ad- miral Benbow flew the signal to advance. The other ships drew in. The French fleet moved toward the east for several hours, then swung north- ward straight away from the coast. Benbow shifted his course to cut the enemy off from the open sea and signaled his captains to follow him. On the morning of the 21st Admiral- Benbow beheld the fleet of Admiral du Casse in line across his bows and the French flag-ship almost within gunshot. Of his own vessels, the little Ruby was Comicooks.com