Year: 1878

hundreds of times, but itwill bear
repeating thousands of times. o


The Naval hattie OF the future.


Blackwood's Magazine


The question of how naval bat.
tie would now be fought is often
raised, but is exceedingly difficult
to answer. One thing is certain
the hostile squadrons VIII be kept
in rapid motion for the purpose Of
efecting as well as evading an at.
tack by ram, which will be the first
object sought after. Thus the dis
tance of the enemy will be varying
constantly, and correct estimation
of the range will be almost impos-
sible; therefore, the chance Of hit
ting at any particular part will be
very small. 1t will be seen that
upon the judgment and nerve Of
the officer in command, will now,
more than ever, depend the issue of
an engagement. The speed of the
ships, the necessity of closely watch
ing every movement Of the enemy
so as instantly to make the proper
counter-move, the absolute need
of prompt decision, will prevent a
moment for reflection or coDsulta-
tion, The helm and the engines
must be under the captains instant
control. He and those by him on
deck will alone be able to see the
enemy at the frequent times when
he is Obscured by smoke from the
battery below, and to distinguish
between friend and foe; and his
quick perception will be requisite
to determine the proper direction
and range for his guns, as well as
avoid firing into friends. The ex-
treme importance of the life Of the
officer in command Of a squadron,
so long as the battle lasts, must also
be apparent. In the old wars, the
skill, judgment and determination
Of our naval commanders were
chiefly exhibited by the manner in
which they sought out their adver-
saries and brought them to battle.
Hostile fleets were sometimes in
sight Of each otherfor days calms,
Hight winds, or fogspreventing their
approach - each commander en-
deavoring by skillful seamansbip to
gain the weather-gauge. But the
action fairly commenced, there was
little maneuvering-it was hard
fighting; the ships were laid
alongside an, enemy, and the
: valor Of our sailors settled
the matter. If the captain
we're disabled, the duty Of his sue
cessor was simple and self,eyidcnt ;
if he were incompetent, his def
ciencies could be made up by his
principal officers; ifhe lacked cour-
age, his men supplied the want.
Nelson's genius had made all the
necessary dispositions for battle,
both at the Nile and Trafalgar, long
before the action commenced /; the
captains had only to steer their
ships for their allotted adversary
and the rest was done by the crew.
Had Nelson been killed by the first
shot fred at Trafalgar, the issue Of
the battle would have been the
same. But how different now I!
From the beginning to The end Of
an action rapid and constant ma
neuvering will be required; the
ships must be kept firmly in hand
and skiIlfully guided; all the best
experience Of the admiral will be
in continual request, and SHOULD he
be killed or disabled at a critical
moment, the consequences would
probably be most serious. 1t is not
too much to say that the result of a
naval engagement in these days
will depend entirely upon the skill
of the superior officers, in default
Of which the courage and discipline
of the crews will avail little.