The Holland now turned her attention to several Italian and Turkish vessels which were guarding the enemy's transports, far to the eastward.
"If we make a demonstration against the transports those cruisers in front will have to run back to protect them," said Captain Oscar. "It's a pity to sink the soldiers who haven't had a chance to fight, but it's got to be done."
The attention of the Holland was first turned to the Turkish man-'o-war, that being the nearest. It was crowded with Turkish soldiers and sailors, their bright-red uniforms standing out boldly in the sunlight.
A time torpedo was attached to the Turkish ship, and before it went off another torpedo was attached to the Italian corvette. Then the Holland went for the nearest transport, one carrying nearly two thousand foreign soldiers of various nationalities.
Bang! crash! boom! went the torpedoes, and as the Turkish and the Italian ships sailed skyward, the Holland hurled two highite and one dynamite bomb at the transport.
The execution was horribly perfect, for the upper deck of the transport, crowded with soldiers, was literally swept clean; men, deckhouse, masts, sails, smoke-stacks, everything being hurled into the sea. A blood-curdling yell went up, and instantly the steam whistles of numerous other transports sounded a note of warning.
It was the beginning of the end and that end was triumph for the Americans.
But the victory had been dearly bought, and would have been a defeat had it not been for the timely arrival of the wonderful Holland XI.
By night what was left of the Allies' fleet had withdrawn to the darkness of the Atlantic Ocean.
What a celebration there was when the news of the victory reached land!