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FAILUEE: RESULTING DEPRESSION 283 But the expedition had nevertheless failed. Eighty or ninety of the best men, including many Venetians, had been lost. Only one Turkish vessel had been destroyed. The misfortune caused bitter grief to the Greeks and Latins. The success of the Christian ships when attacked by the Turks a few days earlier had led to the belief that on the water at least they were invincible. The consternation and even panic caused in the fleet by the failure was such that if the Turks on that day had joined battle and taken the offensive ' we should all,' says Barbaro, ' without a doubt have been captured, and even those who were on shore.' The depression in the city was increased and turned to rage by the conduct of Mahomet. Some of the sailors had swum to the northern shore and were captured by the Turks. Forty of them were ostentatiously killed so that those Murder of " captives. who a short while before had been their companions witnessed their execution. Though one may blame the inhumanity of reprisals, one cannot, in the event which Reprisals, followed, be surprised at them. A large number of Turkish prisoners in the city were brought bound from prison and were hanged on the highest part of the city walls opposite Cassim Pasha, where the Christian prisoners had suffered. 1 During these days the city walls on the landward side Operations had been the scene of constant attacks. The failure of the vaiiey CUS first attempt, on the 18th, to pass the walls was followed by steady firing day and night to destroy them. Probably on April 23 the great cannon was removed to a position opposite the Eomanus Military gate, the place where Justiniani was stationed, 'because there the walls were the least solid and very low.' 2 From this time it commenced and never ceased to batter them. The disadvantages resulting from the transport of the Turkish ships into the harbour were at once felt. While continual pounding from the great cannon and other 1 Phrantzes (p. 248) says 260 Turkish prisoners were executed. 2 The Moscovite, ch. vii.