美国学生历史 第85期:最后一个联邦党政府(3)

 　　222. War with France, 1797~98. 222．与法国的战争（1797~1798年）

　　The organization of a provisional army was now at once begun. 美国立刻着手组成一支临时部队，

　　Washington accepted the chief command on condition that Hamilton should have the second place. 华盛顿接受总司令任职，他接任的条件是汉米尔顿为副总司令。

　　There were already a few vessels¹ in the navy. 法国海军已经有一些军舰，

　　A Navy Department was now organized. 现在美国组建海军部，

　　The building of more warships² was begun, and merchant vessels were bought and converted into cruisers. 开始铸造更多的军舰。他们买来商船并将它们改造成巡洋舰。

　　French privateers sailed along the American coasts and captured American vessels off the entrances of the principal harbors. 法国武装快艇在美国的海岸附近游弋，并在远离重要港口入口处夺取美国的船只，

　　But this did not last long. For the American warships drove the privateers to the West Indies and pursued them as they fled southward. 但是，这种局面很快得以扭转，因为美国的军舰将这些武装快艇驱逐到西印度群岛，并在这些快艇向南逃窜时予以追击。

　　Soon the American cruisers began to capture French men-of-war. Captain Truxton, in the Constellation³, captured the French frigate⁴ L'Insurgent. 不久，美国巡洋舰开始夺取法国军舰"星座"号，楚克斯顿船长捕获了法国"林瑟帧"号护卫舰，

　　Many other French vessels were captured, and preparations were made to carry on the naval⁵ war even more vigorously when a treaty with France was signed. 美国人还夺取了一些法国舰船。当与法国签订条约时，美国人已经做好继续进行更激烈海战的准备。

1 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。

3 constellation   

n.星座n.灿烂的一群

参考例句：

• A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
• The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。

4 frigate   

n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰

参考例句：

• An enemy frigate bore down on the sloop.一艘敌驱逐舰向这只护航舰逼过来。
• I declare we could fight frigate.我敢说我们简直可以和一艘战舰交战。

5 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。