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during Russia’s protracted struggles, his energy found
that scope which he before had sought on the ocean, and
at the same time he had the satisfaction of fighting the
foes of his native land. He was a bold and able
commander. During the whole war he cruised about in the
Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, and in the Baltic and
other northern waters. Some of the most important
transport expeditions were entrusted to him. The Czar
prized his services very highly, and when, after the
misfortune at Pruth in 1711, he laid a plan to rescue three
of the best ships of his Black Sea fleet by a bold run
through the Bosporus, Vitus Bering, Peder Bredal, and
Simon Skop were chosen for the task. Whether the plan
was carried out, it is difficult to determine. Berch says
that it was not, and adds, “I cite the incident simply to
show that even at that time Bering was looked upon as
an excellent commander.” In various West European
authorities, however, it is distinctly stated that Sievers
conducted the ships to England, and in a review of
Bering’s life published by the Admiralty in 1882, it is
stated that Bering was in 1711 appointed to conduct the
ship Munker from the Sea of Azov to the Baltic, and as
the Admiralty would hardly in a condensed report have
taken notice of plans which had never been carried out,
it seems most probable that Berch has been incorrectly
informed.
In 1707 Bering was promoted to the position of
lieutenant, in 1710 to that of lieutenant-captain, and in 1715
to that of captain of the fourth rank, when he assumed
command of the new ship Selafail in Archangel to sail it
to Copenhagen and Kronstadt. In 1716 he participated
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