Page:The Celtic Review volume 3.djvu/269

254 to benches for rowers in the Celtic ships, he distinctly states that ‘all the hopes of the Gallic vessels depended on their sails and rigging.’ It was, in short, a contest between a numerous and well-equipped fleet of sailing-ships and a flotilla of large rowing boats. According to all the theories of naval warfare, the Roman galleys ought to have been annihilated. But in this battle, as in other historical instances, ready wit and resourcefulness gave the victory to what seemed the weaker party. The captains of the Roman galleys very quickly realized that their hope of success centred in the scheme of cutting the enemy’s rigging by means of their long halberds or pole-axes, and this plan, carried out with much dash and daring, proved most effectual. With their sails and yards rattling down upon their decks, the ships of the Bretons and Britons became helpless hulks, deprived of most of the qualities that had rendered them superior to the Roman galleys. The manœuvre closely resembled that formerly practised by the tribesmen of India, who cut the bridles of our cavalry with a single sweep of their sharp swords, thereby destroying the dragoons’ power of guiding their horses. In this great sea-fight off Morbihan, the result of the device just described was that it gave an absolute and decisive victory to the Romans, and cleared the way for a descent upon Britain.

This memorable encounter between the two civilizations furnishes material for much reflection. For one thing, it demonstrates that as a naval power the Celts were far in advance of the Romans. This is quite evident, in spite of the fact that the Romans emerged victorious from the conflict. If we were to judge the two opposing civilizations by the size and equipment of their ships, the balance would weigh heavily in favour of the Celts. The mere circumstance that they used iron chains instead of the primitive cable of rope points to a much higher condition of culture. But, before dwelling upon evidence such as this, let us consider the probable fate of the Celtic navy.

As a distinctly Celtic navy, it was crushed by the defeat at Morbihan. But its influence did not necessarily cease