binistated positively that they had no idea that any such change had been made: they both looked to the "Rè d'Italia" for signals, and saw none. The "Affonda-tore's" masts were mere sticks, quite unsuitable for signalling; and in the crowd of flags, any signals she made were little likely to attract notice, and did not attract it. If signals were made, no one saw them, and the battle fought itself.
About a quarter of an hour after the "Rè d'Italia" had resumed her way, the front line of the Austrians — the ironclads — in a compact mass passed through the Italian line, or rather through the gap which the "Re d'ltalia" had opened. As they approached, Vacca opened fire at a distance stated by the Austrians as one thousand or twelve hundred yards, but which the Italians call two hundred: the, discrepancy may perhaps be reconciled by supposing that some straggling shots were fired at long range, but none by Vacca's orders until the ships were close to. It is at least agreed that the Austrians did not fire till they were within two hundred yards. Then they did; and in the cloud of smoke with which their own fire enveloped them, passed harmlessly through the gap. Captain Colomb suggests that the "Rè d'Italia" may have eased to let them so pass through; but there is no evidence of this, and the gap was already there, owing to the previous stoppage.
As the Austrians advanced, Vacca, with the three leading ships, bore to the left and enfiladed their line; then, also, the line of wooden frigates; and, circling round, came into the rear of all, with the intention of destroying some, at least, of the small craft in the third division. But Commodore Petz in the "Kaiser," and with the wooden ships, was meanwhile edging away towards the south, to attack the wooden division of the Italian fleet. On his part, Ribotty had turned to the left, and was steering with his three ships — the "Varese" had just rejoined — to interpose between Petz and Tegetthoff, so as to let Albini have the undisturbed enjoyment of his share of the fray; but Albini made no move to take advantage of this; and Petz, seeing the "Rè di Portogallo" and the other two ships heading towards him, turned to meet them. On the way he encountered the "Affondatore;" the two ships were running right against each other, bows on; a collision seemed unavoidable, but the "Affondatore" turned off and passed away. The "Kaiser" then engaged the "Rè di Portogallo," firing concentrated broadsides. Between two such ships, the "Kaiser," an old-fashioned line-of-battle ship, and the "R& di Portogallo," an ironclad of five thousand seven hundred tons carrying amongst her thirty-six guns, all rifled, two three-hundred-pounder Armstrongs, the word combat ought to be inapplicable. That the "Kaiser" ever came out of it, speaks, more positively than any detailed evidence, of the inefficiency of the Italians. What happened was this. The "Kaiser," finding that her guns produced no impression on the ironclad's sides, resolved to ram her, and did so. The shock carried away her own stem and bowsprit; her figurehead remained on the "Rè di Portogallo's" quarter-deck; her foremast also went, sweeping away the funnel in its fall; flames and smoke smothered the upper deck, and the ship, grinding alongside the ironclad, received her broadside at this very close range. That she was not destroyed seems almost to confirm the report, that the Italian gunners in their flurry fired blank cartridges.
Still firing, the "Kaiser" passed on, and on her way was again met by the "Affondatore." This ship was fitted specially as a ram. She had a spur thirty feet long — a touch would have been fatal. She was coming straight on. Her quarry was before her, nearly square; a slight turn towards the left would have made its destruction certain. Her commander gave the order for the men to throw themselves flat on their faces, — "Pancia a terra!" when to his surprise, to the surprise of everybody who could see, her helm was put hard over, and she turned away to the right, receiving at a very close range the "Kaiser's" concentrated broadside on her thinly;armored deck. The true reason of the "Affondatore's" conduct will forever remain doubtful. It is certain that the order to turn to the right was given, and given with repeated emphasis, by Persano himself; but whether his doing so was a simple, well-meaning error of judgment, whether he was afraid of the effect of the shock on the exaggerated spur, or whether his humanity revolted from the idea of putting nine hundred Austrians into the water, cannot possibly be decided.
But the "Kaiser," closely followed by the "Novara" and the others, passed through the rear of the Italian line, interchanging a heavy fire with the ships of that division — the "Rè di Portogallo," "Maria Pia," and "Varese." The loss fell almost entirely on the "Kaiser" and "Novara." The "Kaiser," in addition to the loss of her masts and funnel, had
