Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/368

 338 THE CANNONADE OF cn A P. be anchored in line ; that the array of the Frencli XIII 1_ fleet should begin at Chersonese Bay, proceeding thence in a north -north -easterly direction to a point opposite the centre of the harbour; and that from thence, but in a line taking a north- easterly direction, the English fleet should be ranged. By examining this plan with the aid of a chart, and assuming that the French line Mould commence at that part of the bay which the Charlemagne actually took, it results that the French lleet was to be at distances of from 1600 to 2000 yards from the. Quarantine Sea-fort (the nearest of the forts which it proposed to assail), and that the English fleet would have to engage Fort Constantino at ranges equally long. Plan in- Sucli was the plan which the last deliberations sisteil uiian '- i)ythe of the French had brought them to adopt; and, French as '- i > ' lin caused Dundas to understand that the Fi'ench were determined to have this line or none. There was no time for an appeal to the good sense or good feeling of General Canrobert, and the dilemma in which Dundas now found himself niiciijm.i placed was complete. Either he must come to ill which Dund.is such a breach with his tormentors as might en- lilaceil. danger the delicate structure of the Alliance, and at all events prevent the united action of the two ileets, or else he must consent to draw up liis ships at preposterous ranges, and engage alongside of the French in what (if it should not involve a painful and useless sacrifice) must be almost a mock battle. It was an addition to his troubles
 * m ultima- scaTCC Credible though it nniv seem, Admiral Hame-