, 1891-07-01

means discouraging to the great lronclads III
relation to their power OF defending them
selves against the attacks Of the nimbler
torpedo-yessels Even with the enormous
advantage Of a fixed object to aim at, the
greater number Of torpedOes missed them
aim.
Nor do we at all think that the result Of
the engagement will be to render recruiting
for our irOnclads more difficult for the future.
In spite of-the great carnage, perhaps partly
M consequence Of TIT IS clear that there is
a fascination in this kind of warfare which
attracts even CHILEAN crews, and we shodld
hope that English crews VIII not be behind
them in bravery. In all contests in which
the play Of what We are compelled to call
chance, from our inability to toroaae the real
combinations, is enormous, the attraction
of the high excitement Will probably be found
to ntutralise, and more than neutraIise the
dread Of e~nbarkjng in a vessel which may
at any time be exploded as d mine is exploded,
without any good prospect Of escape for
a ny one shut up within the steel walls Of the
ironclad.
In the next place, nothing can more clearly
illustrate the difficult and elaborate condi-
lions under which the new warfare is carried
on, and the necessity not only for a cool head,
but for q clear scientific Judgment, III the
commanders of these vessels, than the accounts
of the diminishing, in the first place between
the 'Blanco Eucaiada and the forts or
shore, and in the next place between the
same vessel and her njnble assailants, given
by the correspondent Of the New York World
in his description of the warfare at Valpa-
raise and CaIdera. The commander has to
Judge first OF the steering best suited to avoid
those niulble assailants, and that will GIVE
him the best chance Of blowing them out Of
the water he has to Judge of the best stratt-
gy as regards the use of his machine guns
on the upper deck, OF the best economy OF
his great turret-guns and his broadslde bal
tcrics, and Of the proper moment alt which
to discharge his tOrpedocs and finally, he
has to Judge when to have recourse to the
ram, which Mr.. Arnold Forster, in his I'M
aginary naval fight, makes the crisis Of the
engagement, but which, Of course, can be G.
no use TO a vessel at anchor. and with no
steam ON. And all these points must ba
determined amidst a roar Of artillery which
Nelson could hardly haYe conceived, with
decks more or less splntorad BY the terrible
broadsIdes Of the enemy. and with blood run
ming like water. 1t is impossible to eEag4er-
ate the need for a clear mastery Of all the
delicate working of such weapons Of precision
as those,-and not 4 few Of them viii be
more or less deraagad before they can lee
used,-which the commander o. such q vessel
as the Blauco Encalada must obtain, be-
fore he can fight his vessel in Tie manner
most favourable for victory. 3Lr. Arnold
Forster depicts with great force, though it
is impossible to depict with any force sutti-
Client to give the lay reader an adequate III,
sight INTO the situation,-the tremendous
responsibility which rests upon the man who
stands in the conning-tower and directs the
use Of all these formidable agencies and
the singular lucidIty Of Judgment and pre-
sence Of mine which he requires in order
to use them to good effect But this we
may safely say, that the actual engage
ments which have taken place in Chill are Of
a nature to encourage Us to think that British
courage will be quite equal to the manGvring
and management Of the new Instruments Of
naval war, and that British caution and science
will not be applied to the manouvring of these
fearful agencies of destruction without giving
a good account Of themost formidable enemies
whom England can in any circumstances have
to meet.