The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-28 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

On the Principles of Natal Tactics ; with Exempli.fications
of the Practice: and also Tables for facilitating the
Erolutions; with an Appendix containtno the Demonstra-
tions. By Captain C. It. Mooasox, R.N. Birmingham.
Wrightson and Webb.
This is an interesting work, and well worthy the
attention of all naval officers wishing to perfect them-
selves in the knowledge of so important a branch of
their profession. Since the Peace there have been
few, if airy, opportunities for officers practically to
acquire this knowledge ; without which they cannot be
thoroughly masters of their profession, or sufficiently
qualified to assume the command of a fleet. In any
future War, theme can be but little question that the
success of a battle will in a great measure, if not
entirely, dept ad upon the mode by which the evolu-
tions of a fleet art conducted. When two hostile
squadrons meet, furs ished with the heavy and destruc-
tive armament now in use, victory will unquestion-
ably be on the side of the one which by jodicious and
skilful inar,muyr:ng is enabled to break through
the line of the otht r, and attack with a superior force
the ships which it has detached from the rest of the
squadron, before the remaining portion can cone to
their assistance. _ .

It is not now as it was daring the last
war. Then, from the imperfect armament and
the small calibre of the guns, the destruction was
not so great ; and the fight could be prolonged for
a sufficient length of time to afford a reasonable
prospect of succour from the ships cut off by any
skilful manceuvre from joining in the first part of
the engagement. But modern improvement has
now constructed men-of-war capable of carrying
guns of the heaviest calibre; and modern art has
invented missiles of such a formidable nature, that
upon their striking the side of a ship there is but
little chance of her escaping destruction. Hence, in
future warfare, the issue of the contests will be more
speed 1v determined, and will mainly depend on the
compaiati •c displayed in the manner in which

tho contending fleets are taken into action. Hence,
also, the practical value and importance of such a
treatise as the present-
Capt. Moorsom s Treatise on Natal Tactics will.
be found, with regard to such considerations and
circumstances, a work of peculiar interest. The
gallant author in his introduction states, that his
" object is to show that naval tactics are incomplete,
and to suggest some simple rules for all the move-
ments that can be required." That the system of
naval tactics requires revision, there can be no doubt;
and we think that Capt. Moorsom has very ably
pointed out the way in which the manceuvrcs of a
fleet may be extended, and the mode of executing
them simplified. We agree with him that no system
which is not the result of actual experience at sea,
can carry much weight with sea officers. The gallant
officer's opinions are founded on long practical expe-
rience at sea, and are therefore entitled to very great
deference. He mad• not have had the opportunity of
testing that experience by the command and the
manoeuvring of a numerous fleet ; but his principles
I arc thoroughly grounded in practical knowledge, and
guided by scientific reasoning and example.
The positions he proposes to establish arc as follow.
I. That according to the science of battles, a fleet brine formed in
divivinns, the ships of each division should be so plated as to be
thimble of being brought into action so nearly es possible nt the same
moment of time, and the several divinions in such succession as

cireunistanes require.
2. That the mint effective system of tactics being that which
enables a commander to exchanire the relative positions of his
columns with rapidity and precision, that so he may be superior to
his enemy ono given point at the right time; a fleet should always
be capable of changing from the order of sailing to the order of battle
by a few simple movements effected on the shortest lines.
3. That the simplest movements result treat dealing with the
several divisions as if they were single ships.
4. That a system should be arranged comprising alt the move-
men's from the order of sailing into the order of battle, and con-
vereely.
S. That the most expedient arrangement of the several divisions
or columns in order of wiling is, by distances proportioned to the
lenich of the columns, to be determined by given angular bearing.; of
the leading and sternmcst stops.
6. That the movements of the ce.umns no arranged should be con-
trolled by the leading ships in certain cases, sad by the *trimmest
ships in other cases.
. That steam-vessels, from the precision with which they can be
steered on any given course; the rapidity of their rate, and the
regularity with which both course and rate may be sustained, are
capable of effecting combination which cannot he accomplished with
certainty by railing vessels; and that a system of tactic conimenau-
rate with these powers is indispensable to their most effective use.
kt That the rules of movement suggested in this pamphlet and
the tables for facilitating them, should be subjected to actual trial
at say and upon the result of which a system might he established.
Captain Moorsom's attention is thus directed to a
two-fold object—the revision of the system of tactics
now in practice, and the establishment of a system of
tactics and a code of signals for steam-vessels. With
refercocc to steam-vessels he says:
. _ . .

lot us inquire how this question' (tactic") is affected by the in-
creasing use of rteant-vossel" for the purposes of war. The fluctuations
in the force and direction of the wind, which so constantly battle the
ablest seamen in the manceuvrinr; of ships under eine" are COMA-
ritively of small amount with vessels moved by "team. Under
favourable circumstances, • fleet cf steamers might he maneeuvred
with even mathematical precision. Instead of hang.ng as it were
the a pendulum from the wind's eye, as sailing vffikiels must do, and
thus bine limited to about live-eighths of the circumference of the
rink. steamers are able to move all niund it, and may be ranged at
pleasure, either with reference to the wind or to any ay-iurned pivot or
line. Steam-verwels have hitherto been employed only as auxiliary to
the main op:vadat* of a fleet. The opportunities hate been too few
to admit of their capabilities as principals being ascert tined. It will
be admitted, however, that steamers may encounter steamers on
equal terms, and that they are now numerous enough to compose
fleets In the event of a war. It seems therefore desirabiii to determine
beforehand the system of tactics under which a flee tof steamers
would be rends el most efficient. The distance of the veNstibi from
each other, the number of [alumna or divisions in which the fleet may
most conveniently be arraniosi, the relative position and dit.tance of
Vase flatirons, the several formations that are expedient, and the
rules for effecting them, and a corresponding code of signals, are
among the paints to be determined."
- - - - -

'this is the extent to which Capt. Nfoorsom goes on
the subject of steamers. He suggests the expediency
of establishing a system of tactics for them, but, beyond
such recommendation, does not treat of the matter.
This is to be regretted ; we believe there are few
officers more capable of laying down a system of
tactics for a fleet of steamers ; but his treatise is con-
fined to the movementi and evolutions of sailing
vessels alone. He says:
•• It is, perhaps, not genei-ally known that of the number of forma-
tiona into line Which mar be made by a Hirt in three columns, only
one-half are practised. A fleet sailing in three columns can be formed
in a line in six different ways on each column, thus comprising
eighteen formations. I have not been able to learn the reasons tar
this limitation of the number, nor for the particular selection of the
formations:abided in preference to those excluded. No doubt the
reasons were sati.factory at the time the system was established. It
is poe.ble, however, Quit what might be considered unnoceereiry or
inexpedient then may prove useful and practicable now."
There is no doubt that the formations hitherto
omitted could be resorted to with beneficial effect,
in certain circumstances. ('apt. Moorsom observes:

When Rodney, on the 17th of April, 1780, made the signal that
his intentioa was to attack the enemy's rear with his whole force,' he
proclaimed an object which, if carried into execution promptly and
with Moped° i•eamannhip, could cot have failed to secure a victory.
But when, the ~lira fleet having wore an the other tack, Rodney,
alter some intermediate dispositions, made signal for ' every ship to
Isar down and steer for her opposite in the enemy's line, agreeably
to the 21st article of the additional fighting instructions,' he gave up
the ..uggention of his own genian and sagacity, and resorted to the
prescribed m. thod of a stand-up tight, because his captains not
keeping their ships together (a fact which he notices), he either found
hirrinelftinable to carry his design into effect, or the responsibility
of departing from' the 21st Article of the additional fighting instruc-
tion/t' was more than he liked to incur. The consequence wan a
drawn leittle, when the French Admiral withdrew his fleet, and Rod-
ney, with disabled ships, could not follow him. But, again, let us
suppose the enemy's fleet ranging up on the Ice quarter of the lee
column; the order of battle would be a line astern of the lee column.
Suppme, al.o, the necessity in this Cave fur the van to become the
iv it re, and the centre the rear. finch a necessity to not unlikely, and
vet it does not appear so to have struck the compilers of the instruc-
tions to the fleet, for no provision is made for the formation in
question."
The most important questions for the consideration
of naval officers are those suggested in the following
quotation from Captain Moorsom's work :
" What are the orders of sailing, under which a fleet may accept or
deliver haul .? and what the tactics by which a superior force may be
thrown upon the enemy, and yet a reserve kept in hand! We have
yet to ascertain the orders of sailing which, under the different cir-
cumstancen of a fleet, are best adapted for the order of battle, and to
determine the manner in which these several miters may he formed
and changes made tom one to the other, so that the ships shall move
on the shortest lines and at the quickest rate."

In order to show how all the combinations of a fleet
may be made on the shortest lines, and at the quickest
rate, Captain 'Moorsom has hid down rules for the
several movements ; and in order to assist officers to
conduct with precision the movements of a fleet, he
has constructed tables by which, with the help of the
compass and the sextant, the various evolutions may
be directed with rapidity and decision. He states
that these tables are not intended as a substitute for
the eye and judgment of the seaman, but only as aids,
by the help of which the chances of miscarriage may
be reduced, and results attained with greater cer-
tainty. They are drawn up with remarkable care
and precision.
We have but to add that we think Captain 'Nloorsom
' has rendered a valuable service to the navy by the
publication of this treatise On the Principles of
Nara! Tactics. It is a work that no officer should
be without, who wishes to acquire the knowledge that '
alone may enable him, should the opportunity present
itself, to assume the command of a fleet with honour
to himself and benefit to his country.