PREFACE its various aspects am struggle for independence has from the beginning exaited the attention and received the critical study of historical scholars, and is a never-failing source of discussion and speculation. From social, cornmereid, political, diplomatic, and military points of view this interesting Beld has been worked over most thoroughly. Yet the maritime activities of the war, excepting tho more brilliant episodes, have been subjected to no such exhaustive inquiry, although the importance of their bearing upon military movements....