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The captain of the "Mary Rose" cover

The captain of the "Mary Rose"

Chapter 2: ILLUSTRATIONS.
By Sir W. Laird Clowes
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About This Book

A speculative naval tale follows the captain and crew of a technologically advanced steam warship through a sequence of clashes with a rival fleet in Mediterranean waters. Action scenes portray night engagements using searchlights, torpedo strikes, heavy gunfire, high-speed chases, and assaults on fortified positions, while the narrative intersperses technical explanations of new naval weapons and evolving tactics. Logistics such as coaling, repairs, prize-taking, and the treatment of the wounded are shown alongside strategic reflections on maritime power, emphasising both the tactical innovations and the human and operational costs of modern sea fighting.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

From Drawings by the CHEVALIER EDOUARDO DE MARTINO and FRED T. JANE.

PAGE
“They were all a mass of lights” (see page 35) Frontispiece
“Even some obsolete gunboats” 9
“Masthead electric lights of novel design are being fitted to some of the larger battleships” 13
“Was only a steam yacht” 19
“Certain craft were ordered to use their search-lights in combination” 29
“A number of French ships were coming out” 33
“Suddenly a ship near the centre of the French line began to use her search-lights” 37
“The effect of the light when it shines in the eyes of the spectator is confusing” 41
“It is impossible to guess how far off the projector is” 45
“A torpedo hit us on the port bow” 49
“By the enemy’s terrible fire” 53
“Remember what they will say at home” 57
“The Alexandra has also arrived” 61
“The Channel Fleet has been ordered home” 67
“Ships were taking in powder and shell” 71
“A couple of first-class torpedo boats were sent out” 75
“Every vessel opened in the direction of the foe” 79
“They rendered all the other craft of the enemy invisible” 83
“It was fearful work; the very silence of the grey boats made the scene the more impressive” 87
“The blowing up of the Minotaur” 91
“The attack on the Hercules” 95
“May I never live to have another so awful experience” 99
“A torpedo exploded under her own port quarter” 103
“The Bellona ashore” 107
“Whose steam launch narrowly escaped being run down” 111
“The Fleet at Spithead” 115
The letter of marque Valdivia (afterwards Mary Rose) 121
Deck plan of the Valdivia 129
“Off the Rock” 139
“They opened a furious fire” 143
“All night long the bombardment continued” 147
No. 70 153
“I have done it!” 159
The Mary Rose escorted out of the Tyne 171
“The foretop over which peeped the covered muzzle of a gun” 177
“Give her the bow 9·4-in. gun” 185
The Mary Rose and prizes entering Plymouth Sound 189
Coaling off the Wadi Gloug 197
“Steaming with his coal” 201
“Ordered the starboard 9·4-in. gun to be fired” 207
“It was impossible to distinguish the order in which the French Fleet was steaming” 217
Mary Rose torpedoing an ironclad 223
“Suspicious-looking objects were creeping up” 241
“It was short, quick, terrible work” 245
“Their white bow waves betrayed them” 249
“Suddenly a rocket shot up” 253
“The Troude was warily coming up” 259
“On board the Cécille a perfectly awful state of affairs was found” 263
The Cristoforo Colombo 275
“In the days of sailing ships” 279
An Atlantic greyhound 283
“Gib” 287
The Royal Sovereign 291
“I had the misfortune to lose the Dreadnought” 295
A “glorious first of June” 301