Page:The Development of Navies During the Last Half-Century.djvu/254

 before one took effect; but the fact remains that a vessel of 3500 tons was sunk in less than half-an-hour by two craft of 750 tons each, and that both were intact after the operation. We have no parallel to this in past naval warfare. It was not possible when the gun alone decided all combats, but now, while we have gone on adding to the dimensions, cost, and power of resisting artillery in our ships of war above the water line, the addition of a few pounds of explosive renders them liable below to the same fate as overtook the 'Blanco Encalada' in Caldera Bay.