Великий военный синдикат

           ThecrabslowedupnotfarfromoneoftheforemostoftheBritishships,andcomingroundtothequarterofthegun-boat,theastonishedcaptainofthatvesselwasinformed,throughthespeaking-tube,thatifhewouldgivehisparoletokeepoutofthisfight,hewouldbeallowedtoproceedtohisanchorageinPortsmouthharbour.Theparolewasgiven,andthedynamitegun-boat,afterreportingtotheflag-ship,steamedawaytoPortsmouth.Thesituationnowbecameonewhichwasunparalleledinthehistoryofnavalwarfare.OnthesideoftheBritish,sevenwar-shipsweredisabledanddriftingslowlytothesouth-east.ForhalfanhournoadvancehadbeenmadebytheBritishfleet,forwheneveroneofthelargevesselshadsteamedahead,suchvesselhadbecomethevictimofacrab,andtheVice-Admiralcommandingthefleethadsignallednottoadvanceuntilfartherorders.Thecrabswerealsolying-to,eachtothewindwardof,andnotfarfrom,oneoftheBritishships.Theyhadceasedtomakeanyattacks,andwererestingquietlyunderprotectionoftheenemy.This,withthefactthattherepellerstilllayfourmilesaway,withoutanyapparentintentionoftakingpartinthebattle,gavethesituationitspeculiarcharacter.TheBritishVice-Admiraldidnotintendtoremaininthisquiescentcondition.Itwas,ofcourse,uselesstoorderforthhisironclads,simplytoseethemdisabledandsetadrift.Therewasanotherarmoftheservicewhichevidentlycouldbeusedwithbettereffectuponthispeculiarfoethancouldthegreatbattle-ships.