The Wasp, 1918 · page 315 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 315: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains no cartoon or satire—it's a historical narrative from *The Wasp* magazine describing a real naval battle involving Admiral John Benbow. The text recounts the 1702 Battle of Santa Maria, where Benbow commanded the British ship *Breda* against French vessels. The passage emphasizes Benbow's aggressive leadership and superior seamanship ("faster, handier, and better sailed"), contrasting his bold tactics with his captains' cowardice—they held back while he engaged the enemy. The account praises Benbow's "valour" and "rage against his craven" captains, suggesting the piece uses this historical incident to illustrate naval heroism versus incompetence or dereliction of duty, likely resonating with contemporary American debates about military leadership and national honor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
306 : THE WASP janie gun-shot. Of his own vessels, the little Ruby was close astern ; the others were farin the rear =~ or far to the right and left. He cursed his captains for fools and laggards, signalled for ad- vance and general action, and crowded on sail. The Breda struck the centre of the French line at ten o’clock in the morning ; and so com- menced 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 — D 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. The luck of John Benbow was only equalled < Ss his valour—and by his rage against his craven comicbooks.com Se