The Roman Fleet Meets Resistance
When the Consul Publius saw, to his surprise, that the
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enemy, so far from giving in or being
dismayed at his approach, were determined
upon fighting him at sea: while of his own ships
some were already within the harbour, others
just in the very entrance channel, and others still on their
way towards it; he at once issued orders to all the ships to
turn round and make the best of their way out again.
The result of this was that, as some of the ships were in the
harbour, and others at the entrance, they fouled each other
when they began reversing their course; and not only did a
great confusion arise among the men, but the ships got their
oars broken also in the collisions which occurred. However,
the captains exerted themselves to get the ships into line
close under the shore, as they successively cleared the harbour,
and with their prows directed towards the enemy. Publius
himself was originally bringing up the rear of the entire squadron;
but he now, while the movement was actually in execution,
turned towards the open sea and transferred himself to a position on the left wing of the fleet. At the same moment Adherbal
succeeded in outflanking the left of his opponents with five vessels
furnished with charging beaks. He turned his own ship with
its prow towards the enemy, and brought to. As each of the
others came up, and fell into line with him, he sent orders to
them by his staff officers to do the same as he had done. Thus
they all fell in and formed a complete line. The signal which
had been agreed upon before was given, and an advance was begun, which was made at first without disarranging the line. The
Romans were still close in-shore, waiting for the coming out of
their ships from the harbour; and this proximity to the land
proved of infinite disadvantage to them in the engagement.