Page:The Development of Navies During the Last Half-Century.djvu/336

 the 'Cochrane's' battery, killing two men, is believed to have been fired from the 'Encalada.' Soon after the 'Huascar's' turret was again penetrated, and nearly all those inside were killed. Her flag was hauled down after a fight of an hour and a half, in which she had about seventy men killed and wounded out of 220.

Her own fire had been very inaccurate. Out of about forty shots fired from her guns only two or three struck the enemy. This shows the danger of limiting the armament to so few guns, especially when gunners are unskilful. In the attack of one ship by a pair the rapid motion which steam gives renders it difficult to keep clear of each other's ram and projectiles when at close quarters.

It is noteworthy that the machinery of the 'Huascar' was not materially damaged and that few shots struck in the vicinity of the water line. There was no danger of the ship sinking when she surrendered. This was brought about mainly by the disabling of her armament and loss of men. A fact to be remembered when we accumulate armour to protect the vitals and lay bare other portions of the ship.

Thus Chili added a useful little vessel to her naval force, but the late civil war has deprived her of the 'Blanco Encalada,' under circumstances lately familiar to us. Two more cruisers, built in France, the 'Errazuriz' and 'Pinto,' are on their way out. They are of about 2500 tons, high speed, and moderate armament.

Peru, since her crushing defeat by Chili, has been