Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-02
FREMANTLE TALKS
OF WARS LESSON
MAN BEHIND GUN Is MOST
IMPORTANT FACTOR
MARKSMANSHIP WINS BATTLE
Supreme Importance Of Accurate
Shooting Being Impressed on
Ranks In the British
Navy
MARKSMANSHIP WINS BATTLE
Special Cable to The Herald.

Special Gable to The Herald.
LONDON, July 1.-Rear Admiral
Fremantle in an interview recently
said:
1.-THE man behind the gun is the most
important factor In naval warfare to-
day."
In this emphatic fashion the ad-
miral summed up his views of the les
son of the battle of the Sea of Japan.
"Gunnery," said he, "is the Begin
ming and end OF every naval engage
ment. If your sailors can shoot ac-
curately your fleet has a chance 10
win; IL they cannot shoot accurately
your fleet Is lost. Accurate gunnery
is the first essential of naval effici-
ency, for a man-of-war today is
nothing more than a floating gun car
riage.
"Sir John Fisher and Admiral Percy
Scott" he added, "have this matter in
hand so far as our navy is concerned,
and the supreme importance of pre-
cision in shooting is being impressed
upon all ranks.
What really determined the result
was the vastly superior shooting of the
Japanese. From the outset it was a
battle of gunnery.
"The torpedo did some devastating
work, but this was after victory was
assured to the Japs.
1--WE do not need to look for the
reason for Togo's triumph. 1t was not
question of ships, guns or torpedoes,
but of the personal element, which
notwithstanding the progress Of science
is still paramount in a sea battle. The
guns must, of course, be there, but it
is the men behind them who win or
lose the battle"
Homlng Pigeons for Naval Service
Sir Thomas Dewar, who paid a visit
to the United States not long ago, be-
ing received in many cities and towns,
recently drew from the admiralty de-
partment in answer to inquiries the in
teresting information that approval
was given in May, 1904 for the organ
izing of the homing pigeon fanciers
of the united kingdom into a corps of
pigeon owners, who would be willing,
on the outbreak of war, to devote the
birds to the naval service. So far over
1000 secretaries and managers of flying
clubs have been communicated with,
with the result that some 900 members
have been enrolled in organization IL
was intended to have had practical
test of the system during the man
euvers this summer, but owing to the
decision arrived at not to carry out
the maneuvers, the trial has been
postponed.
Severe Army Critic
The latest severe critic of the army
is Lieut.. Col. H. De la p. Cough. In
the case Of Col. Cough. 1t is the cavalry
which is criticised. Col. Cough says
that the cavalry is the greatest STRAIT
egical arm and one OF the most es-
sential parts of an army, and as such
1t Is the special instrument In the
hands Of the chief OF the whole force.
Col. Cough said that one Of the most
serious dangers which would beset the
army In the next great campaign un-
dertaken would be the appalling weak
ness in the cavalry. Another import
ant matter which demanded the care
ful consideration of the chiefs Of
armies and their headquarters staffs
was the economical employment OF
cavalry which should be used only
when there was some useful object it
could fulnll.