s ship, and that they all but
captured with its crew. This last, however, by the perfection
of its rowers and its consequent speed, effected a desperate
escape. Meanwhile the remaining ships of the Romans were
sailing up and gradually drawing close together. Having got
into line, they charged the enemy, took ten ships with their
crews, and sunk eight. The rest of the Carthaginian ships
retired to the Liparean Islands.
The result of this battle was that both sides concluded that Winter of B.C. 257-256.
they were now fairly matched, and accordingly made more
systematic efforts to secure a naval force, and to
dispute the supremacy at sea. While these things
were going on, the land forces effected nothing worth recording;
but wasted all their time in such petty operations as chance
threw in their way. B.C. 256. Coss. L. Manlius, Vulso Longus, M. Atilius Regulus II (Suff.). Therefore, after making the preparations
I have mentioned for the approaching summer,
the Romans, with three hundred