THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

264 THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE
out had failed, that the allied fleet should make a further
demonstration by sailing into the harbour, and it
was hoped that this, combined with renewed representations
to the Ottoman commander, might persuade
the Turks that it was to their own interest to yield.
But in spite of the pacific tone of the decision, Codrington
was under no delusion as to the result of this
move. He had already, on the 17th, had the harbour
reconnoitred;
the eventuality of a fight,
and he now made every disposition for
assigning to each ship its
place in the line of battle, and concluding his general
orders with the famous words of Lord Nelson that '
no
captain can do wrong who lays his ship alongside that
of an enemy.'
The harbour of Navarino is formed by a large bay,
three miles in length by about two in breadth.
protected to the west by
It is
the celebrated island of
Sphakteria, and only open to the sea at its south-western
end, where it is entered by a channel some three
quarters
Sphakteria is
of a mile in width. The northern end of
separated from the mainland only by
a narrow and shallow channel.
The Turkish fleet was anchored in the line of the
bay, facing the entrance, forming rather more than a
half circle, and having its extremities protected by
the fortress of Navarino on the one side and the bat-