European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 01, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                V clockwise from left Bonnie Berry scours the area with a Metal Detector Mike Hull inspects a piece of the ship s Bulkhead Steve Ball examines a shard of pottery brought to surface. For Sas rarely Duc Tzinski. For is Randy Dudul Nykl la Therese state of the Art Man Otway the 324-year-old sunken ship that a team of livers has been salvaging off the cretan coast was one of the finest French sailing vessels of its time. La Therese was part of a Fleet of 15 sailing ships and 15 rowing galleys carrying 6,000 men 300 horses and 1,100 cannons sent by France s Louis Xiv to Aid the venetians in the defense of Crete against moslem turks. For 22 years the War had been raging As the venetians under the Flag of the Catholic Church defended the last vestige Kcf christianity in the Mediterranean. As the turks attacked the fortress of Iraklion the Only Hope to regain control was an attack from the sea. Early in july 1669 the Fleet arrived and positioned itself just off the coast of Iraklion. On the morning of july 24, the ships began a massive naval bombardment of the turks Encampment and front Battle lines. Four hours into the Battle. A huge explosion ripped open the no. 6 sailing ship la these sinking it immediately and crippling several other French sailing ships that were nearby. The explosion apparently caused by an Accident in the ship s powder storage area brought an abrupt end to the Battle and the War. The crippled French Fleet retreated leaving Crete under the Rule of the ottoman Empire and changing the map of Europe for centuries to come. Randy Dudzinski for is Randy Dudinski tuesday february 1, 1994 the stars and stripes 19