Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
This game which is based upon the principles of "Chess" and therefore requires
a considerable amount of skill, has, however, been so far modified as to bring it
within the range of any ordinary player whilst at the same time retaining all the
brilliancy inseparable from a really interesting game.
It is (unless otherwise arranged as described further on) played by two persons,
and is intended to illustrate the varied manoeuvres of two opposing fleets in a
supposed "Naval Engagement," the object being attained and the game terminating
when the whole of the adversary's fleet has been put "hors de combat," or when
the admiral in command has either been captured by his opponent's vice admiral
flag ship (which is the only vessel considered capable of doing so) or surrounded
by two or more of the said opponent's vessels and thus effectually prevented from
moving out of the range of fire brought to bear upon him.
Each player has fifteen pieces; viz.-
The Admiral in command; the Flag Ship with Vice Admiral on board; two
Cruisers; two Torpedo Boats; three Armour-clad Rams; four Gunboats and two
Forts, each and all placed as shown on the board.
Vessels. Their name and power.
Admiral. In command; may move in any direction to the nearest spot, black
or red.
N.B. This vessel may in so moving capture any of the opponent's vessels
provided that in so doing it does not expose itself to a discovered line of fire.
Vice Admiral. This which is the only piece on the board capable of capturing
the opponent's admiral is by far the most important of all the pieces, being allowed
a free run in any direction, on black or red spots, and for any distance if unob-
structed by other vessels.
Cruisers and Torpedoes. May move on the black spots (torpedoes on red) in a
diagonal direction only; their range of fire and consequent power of capture
extends however to the ends of the two lines they at all times command unless
otherwise interrupted by other vessels.
Rams and Gunboats. These vessels also move in a diagonal direction, from spo t
to spot on their respective colours, the one important difference as compared with
the other vessels being that they are not allowed to retreat.

page_text: They command the nearest spot to their forward right and left respectively and
should one of the players succeed in pressing one of them through the enemy's
lines until the said piece reaches the circular spot marked "Base" he is entitled to
claim a vice admiral ship from his opponent.
Forts. The forts are used for defensive purposes only and command a line of fire
at right angle and parallel to the base of operation, thus effectually protecting the
entrance to the harbour from attack by any opposition vessel which may be captured
if found within these limits which in a fore and aft direction do not however extend
to the forts placed opposite.
The capture of any vessel within their range of fire is effected by the simple
removal of the piece from the board and without disturbing the fort which remains
stationary at all times except when threatened by an opposition vessel in which
case the player may claim to withdraw his fort, thereby losing a move, depriving
himself of the benefit of the fort for the time being, and acknowledging, in
principle, that his opponent, who is now at liberty to enter the harbour, has
silenced" the said fort.
N.B. Captures not being compulsory, each player may use his own discretion,
-but, all captures in this game as in "Chess " are effected by removing the captive
vessel from the board and placing his captor on the spot where the former stood ;-
the only exception being in the case of a fort which, as previously stated, may
effect a capture without the necessity of being removed.
White plays from the bottom of the board and it will be observed that the
vessels are symmetrically arranged, in places assigned to them, on each side of
the middle line or base, the admiral having on his side;-one fort; one torpedo ;
one cruiser; one ram and two gunboats. The vice admiral has precisely the
same number of vessels, and one ram is placed in the middle of the board to
operate from the base.
In the following moves which are given as a simple illustration of a preparatory
game without any attempt at scientific play, each circular spot is know by its own
number which has been indicated for the sake of simplicity in the games illustrated
below and in order also to facilitate the working of "problems' which more
advanced players may wish to solve; at the same time it will be readily seen
that after the players have made themselves familiar with the names and moves
of the several pieces this, for all ordinary purposes, may be advantageously
dispensed with.
The following abbreviations will denote the several pieces :-
A. Admiral.
F. Fort.
T. Torpedo.
C. Cruiser.
R. Ram.
G. Gunboat.
V.A. Vice Admiral.
The French exclamation "Gare" is intended by one player as a warning to the
other to remove his admiral out of danger. This warning is optional, but when
so warned, the player must move his admiral although the same be threatened
only by another than the vice admiral which as previously stated, is the sole
vessel capable of capturing him.

page_text: left on the board.
66
This game, similarly to the game of "Chess" may also be played by "consultation"
and by
correspondence" by means of the figures which are intended to denote
the respective positions of the vessels; and, in fact, very little acquaintance with
the game and its objects will be needed to suggest, to the average player, a variety
of ways in which this most attractive game may be rendered both pleasant and
interesting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
The originality of the design, and the mode of operation in the principle of the
said game of skill which consists, as herein before mentioned, of miniature forts
and war-vessels, moved in directions as stated, upon lines and circular spots drawn,
painted or printed on a surface of paper, paste-board, wood or other suitable
material; the said miniature war-vessels being moved and the said forts being
placed in accordance with a series of rules, all prepared, arranged and used sub-
stantially as herein described.
Dated this Seventh day of February 1891
HENRI WILKINSON,
88, Victoria Park Road, London, N.E.