812 SIAM In deciding to run past these defences with his two wooden gunboats, Humann was taking a bold resolution. He went on board the Inconslant himself. On both ships machine guns with agoodsupply of ammunitionwereplacedin the tops,and meliniteshells were ready for the few heavy guns on the deck. A small trading steamer, the Jean Baptistc Say, went in immediatelyin front of the flagship and towed her till the bar waspassed. TheJean Baptiste Say By this rime the strangershad hoisted French colours, and they, too, opened fire. TheJean Baptiste Say was struck below the water line, and her captain ran the ship ashore. The Siamese, whose fire from both ships and forts was somewhat wild, now exploded a torpedo, which, however,blew up harmlessly some forty or fifty yards in front of the enemy. Mr. Aage Westenholz, the Danish gentleman who exploded this torpedo, was acivilian,whose know-VIEW OF BANGKOK.

had been trading for some months between Saigon and Bangkok,and her captain knew the river well. She had also on board anIrish pilot namedJackson,belonging toBangkok.

The ships steamed slowly in on the flood tide at sunset on July 13th. As to what followed, Mr. Cross Standing, who wasin Bangkok at the time, has given me the following notes on the wayin which the Paknam forts were passed:— " The time," he writes, " was between 5 and 6 p.m., and the night, which in Siam closes in rapidly, wascoming on, assisted by a rain-squall.

At first Fort Chula Chom Klao fired blank cartridges only,but as the gunboats continued to hold on their course, it opened with shell.

ledge of electric torpedo warfare was based solely on the fact of his being manager of the Bangkok Electric Tramways Company. He ran considerable personal risk, for the coign of vantage from whichhe fired the torpedo wasthe partially submerged deck of one of the vessels with which the Siamese had tried to obstruct the fairway. Mr.Westenholz subsequently informed me that he was not certain whether he exploded the torpedo in front or rear of the approachinggunboats! At allevents,nodamage was done. " TheInconstant had touched the mudon the bar, but, luckily for her, got off immediately. Having passed the shallows and the sunken