"COME AND FIGHT"

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 6

"COME AND FIGHT"

OLD DUEL RECALLED.

THE SHANNON AN& THE

CHESAPEAKE.,

A CEALCENGE AjNX> ITS SEQUEL

(By J.C.)

The dramatic situation at Montevideo recalls in some, of its features a famous naval occasion of the long ago, the challenge and the battle of the British frigate Shannon and the United States Chesapeake outside Boston Harbour. The two sides were more evenly matched in that ship duel of ISI3 than iu South American Avaters to-day; it was frigate to frigate for the honour of the flags.

The British had met with some reverses after the United States declaration of war in 1812. Five warships were captured; and Captain Broke — name of fame—commanding the 38-gun frigate Shannon, determined to do his bit to wipe out the disgrace. He was patrolling the Xew England coast, looking for a fight, and meanwhile training his crew hard at gunnery. His crew numbered 284. In May of 1813 he was sailing up and down outside the port of Boston and he saw his opportunity of settling the question of sea-power in what the publicist of to-day would call a "gesture." In Boston Harbour the American frigate Chesapeake had been lying in shelter for some months. She was somewhat larger than the British ship and carried more men.

A Sporting Challenge. Iα the spirit of old chivalry—let me interpolate, of the Maori warrior more recently than 1813—Broke sent a sporting challenge to Captain Lawrence of the Chesapeake. Hβ wrote a letter and sent it in, on the morning of June 1:—

"As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I request that you will do me the favour to meet the Shannon with her, ehip to ship, to try the fortunes of our respective flags. Choose your terms and place and let us meet," The captain of the American immediately accepted the challenge. Out he sailed in his beautiful frigate. Small craft came out, too, crowded with eager spectators, and the hills at the entrance to the port were covered with spectators. They looked to eee the Chesapeake make short work of the rash challenger. All Boston was confident of victory. The old ballad says:— Now the Chesapeake so bold sailed fr'-r - Boston, we've been told. For to take the British frigate neat and handy 0 ! The people in the port all came out to see the sport, And the bands were playing "Yankee Doodle, Dandy O!"

Odds Bobs, Hammer and Tongs. On board the Shannon, Captain Broke made a short inspiring speech to his men. The battle began. Odds bobs, hammer-ancl-tongs! It lasted less than a quarter of an hour. It was the hottest close-quarters duel the Royal Xavy had ever seen. The Shannon's rrunnery, the result of

Broke's intensive training, --was tremendously effective; but the British, too, lost heavily. Captain Laurence was mortally wounded just before the Shannon's crew carried the Chesapeake ] by boarding her. Captain Broke led the I boarding party; in a few moments he ( was badly wounded himself. ; The total casualties numbered 202. J Up went the British flag over the ChesaI peake; and the wounded captain of the I victor ship had the satisfaction of feeling that (his successful challenge would restore his country's confidence iu the Navy. "Took Chesapeake' , was his laconic journal entry for the day. Modern sea warfare differs vastlv from the simplicity of the grand old sailing iiigate days, but the ancient spirit is : there. j There is a New Zealand family link ; of interest with the Shannon- Chesai peake fight. One of the officers in the British frigate was young Lieutenant ; Henry Williams, who a few years after- ; wards resigned from the Xavy and be- , came a missionary to th e Maoris, and ' died forty years later in North Auck- | land, the famous Archdeacon of Wai- ! mate.