"There was, however, no time for reflection amid the deafening roar. This Black Sea Fleet that had burst its bonds and passed through the Dardanelles intended to sweep us from the sea. Yet, notwithstanding the terrible fire pouring upon us from these great and powerful ships, each fully equipped with the latest and most improved arms, fully manned by well-trained men, and fresh for the fray, we held our quarters, determined to show the forces of the Tsar defiance. Even though every man of us might be sent to an untimely grave, the Russian flag should never surmount the White Ensign of Britain. We were determined, so we set our teeth, and showed a firm and vigorous front to the foe. "Our two 22-tonners rendered admirable service, and the cannonade kept up from our 3 and 6-pounder quick-firing guns was playing havoc with the Russian belted cruiser _Vladimir Monomach_ lying on our port quarter. The vessel was slightly larger than ourselves, carrying much heavier armaments, including four 13-ton guns, and twelve 4-tonners. She was indeed a very formidable opponent, nevertheless we did our best, and, blazing away at close quarters, soon succeeded in silencing the starboard 13-tonner nearest us. "Just at this moment I found we were being attacked on the port bow by the enormous new turret-ship _Petropavlovsk_ and the _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_. Two of the heavy 12-inch guns of the former thundered almost simultaneously, and both shells striking us almost amidships, caused us such a shock that for a second I stood breathless. "In a few moments, however, it was reported that our 'vitals' had fortunately escaped, and we continued firing as if no catastrophe had occurred. As a matter of fact, the damage caused by those two shells was appalling. "The _Jupiter_, steaming about two miles away on our starboard quarter, was apparently holding her own against the barbette-ships _Tchesmé_ and _Gheorghy Pobyednosets_, the cruiser _Tiumen_, one of the largest in the world, and the new ram _Admiral Seniavine_. The four attacking vessels, as seen through the dense smoke, were pouring into the British ship a deadly fire; yet, judging from the fallen tops and disabled engines of the _Gheorghy Pobyednosets_ and the wrecked superstructure of the _Tchesmé_, the _Jupiter's_ heavy armaments were executing good work, notwithstanding the strength of the _Tchesmé's_ six 50-ton guns, admirably arranged in pairs in the centre of the vessel. "The _Diana_ and _Sans Pareil_, lying near to one another, were desperately resisting the vigorous attack made by the _Admiral Uschakoff_, _Minsk_, _Otvazny_, _Kama_, and _Vologda_; and here again, amid smoke and flying débris, I could distinguish that the 67-tonners of the _Repulse_, in co-operation with the lighter weapons of the _Undaunted_, were giving the enemy a taste of what British courage could accomplish.