A PICNIC MAN-OF-WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 89, 14 April 1881, Page 4

A PICNIC MAN-OF-WAR.

It is impossible to read the narrative of the deplorable torpedo accident, sayß the " Australasian,' ' without feeling a strong sense of suspicion aud misgiving regarding the discipline maintained on board our warship. The reality of war is a eerious matter, and so, also, is the preparation for it, and all exercise and experiment bearing upon it. Moreover, there exercises and experiments Lave to do with very dangerous materials, and it is only oy the observance of the strictest caution that they can bo bandied with safety. Tbis caution can only be secured by maintain ing, a high state of discipline, which again ueceeearily depends on the watchfulness and habitual vigilance of the chief authority. We do not suppose that any additional guarantee tor safety would have existed had Captain Maodeville been on board hia ship while the torpedo was being prepared which CBUt'ed the fatal disaster. Yet it is Btrange to fled that Captain M-mdeville and hia lieutenant were on shore superintending tbe performance of "Pinafore" music, while the men of the ahip were under thtir own direction preparing and laying this torpedo. While the strains of the band under the gallant commander's supervision were emphasizing the moral— " Stick close to your desks, and never go to sea, And you all may lie rulers of the Queen's Wavee," ifc seems that "someone" suggested that tbe people on board and on shore should be afforded the sight of an explosion which would throw up a lot of water, and it waß as a consequence of this pieoe of military strategy that the accident occurred whioh cost the lives of five men. Really it would seem tbat our war-ship hai been io long used for mere picnic purposes that the service has grown utterly demoralised, and the serious conditions of war have been lost sight of in those of amusing and entertaining sighl-ieers. Aa the object cl tbe vessel and of the armed force is military efficiency for defenoe, it Will some day become necessary to ask whether under the present happy-go-lucky regime we secure tbis cad ; and if not, whether we are not expending a large Bum of money annually to no useful purpose. ■ — min_ ll ii_.i««i»i— Mil i in; n_