Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-25
MAN BEHIND THE GUN
BRITISH REAR ADMIRAL'S oPIN-
ION ON NAVAL WARFARE.
The Most Important Factor Today in
Engagements at Sea-Use Of
Homing Pigeons.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
| LONDON, June H. 1905
Rear Admiral Fremantle, in an interview
yesterday, said:
THE man behind the gun is the most i'm
portant factor in naval warfare today"
In this emphatic fashion the admiral
summed up his views of the lesson of the
battle of the Sea of Japan.
"Gunnery," said he. sis the beginning and
emf of every naval engagement. If your
sailors can shoot accurately your fleet has
chance to win; If they cannot shoot ac-
curately your fleet is lost. Accurate gun
merry is the first essential of naval efficiency,
for a man-of-war today Is nothing more
than floating gun carriage.
'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 precision in shooting
Is being impressed upon all ranks.
What really determined the result was
tho vastly superior shooting of the Japa-
nese. From the outset it was battle of
gunnery
1.-THE torpedo did some devastating work,
but this was after victory was assured to
the Japs.
I'VE do not need to look for the reason
for Togo's triumph. 1t was not question
of ships, guns or tOrpedOes, but of the per-
SOilal elefutut, 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
Homing Pigeons for Naval Service.
Sir Thomas Dewar, who paid visit to
the United States not long ago, being re-
ceived in many cities and towns, recently
!. drew from the admiralty department in
answer to inquiries the interesting in
formation that approval was given in May,
1904, for the organizing of the homng
pigeon fanciers of the united kingdom
into a corps of pigeon owners, who would
be willing, on the outbreak of war, to de-
vote the birds to the naval service. So far
over 1000 secretaries and managers of fly
ing clubs have been communicated with,
with the result that some 600 members
have been enrolled in the organization. 1t
was intended to have had a practical test
of the system during the maneuvers 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, it is the cavalry which Is
| criticised. Col. Cough says that the cavalry
| Is the greatest strategical arm, and one of
the most essential parts OF an army. and
L
| 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 undertaken would be
| the appalling weakness in the cavalry. He
| said that the army required from eight to
| ten more cavalry regiments. Another i'm
pCrtant matter which demanded the careful
| consideration of the chiefs of armies and
| their headquarters stats was the econom-
| ical employment of cavalry, which should
| be used only when there was some useful
/ object 1t could fulfill
Col Cough is in receipt of an interesting
| letter from Lord Roberts. In this letter
Lord Roberts says:
Long Range Weapons.
| "There was. 1 believe. an idea at one time
| that the Introduction of long range weapons
| would render cavalry less useful in war
| than formerly, whereas the fact IS that the
| duties which will devolve on cavalry in the
| future will be even more important than in
| the past. 1t will be more difficult to obtain
| Information of the enemy'S movements,
which, as you say, is the main role of cav
| airy; greater distances will have to be
| traverSed, requiring horses to be more care
| fully looked after; and all ranks must be
| more carefully trained. Armed with mod
| ern rifle cavalry has an independence hith-
| erto unknown AS you remark: 1t pos
| sesses the power of defense or of attack on
4 foot without In the least degree losing any
Of its offensive value when mounted
agree with what you urge about a greater
proportion of cavalry being required than
| in the past. its economical employment, and
| the necessity for an intimate knowledge on
| the part of commanders of the proper use
| to make Of their cavalry