The Wasp, 1913 · page 351 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 351: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains no cartoon or satire—it's a historical narrative excerpt describing a naval battle involving the British ships *Breda* and *Ruby* against French vessels. The text recounts an engagement where British captain Benbow (likely Admiral John Benbow, a famous 17th-century British naval commander) attacks the French line, while most of his fleet hangs back cautiously. The passage emphasizes the contrast between Benbow's aggressive tactics and his captains' reluctance to engage fully—describing them as "fools and laggards." This appears to be from a longer account critical of the English fleet's performance, calling the battle "the most infamous recorded in the annals of the British navy." This is straightforward historical reportage rather than satirical commentary, possibly included in *The Wasp* as serious historical interest content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
B44 THE WASP close astern; the others were far in the rear or far to the right and left. He cursed his captains for fools and laggards, signaled for advance and gen- eral action, and crowded on sail. The Breda struck the center of the French line at ten o'clock in the morning; and so commenced one of the most incredible sea-fights in history, and surely the most infamous recorded in the annals of the British navy. Benbow ran between two of the French ships, gave them each a broadside, took some of their metal in return, and passed on. The Ruby sheered off a little, crossed the stern of Du Casse’s ship, and raked her with ten guns. The English ship and brig had-the heels of the French ships. They were faster, handier, and better sailed. By noon no other English ship had come up. The battle was a slow-moving game of run, turn, bite, and run again. Singly and in pairs, the French ships chased or met the Breda or the Ruby, gave a broadside and received one, and chased again. The rest of the English fleet watched the fight from afar and followed it cautiously. Commichhooks.com