NAVAL WARFARE OF THE FUTURE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2581, 16 April 1877, Page 3

NAVAL WARFARE OF THE FUTURE.

In';an.article on the changes in. the mode of naval warfare, as compared with fifty'years ago, J.he Naval and Military Gazette says:—lt is true that our superiority, both in regard to the number and quality of first«rate ships of war, is more marked at present than it ever was, and British seamen retain all those noble qualities which have ever distinguished them; -but the fact remains that the conditions of modern naval warfare are such as must to a great extent '■preclude> the exercise of those "qualities which were our chief source of strength in the past, and give greater scope for the operation of tactical and scientific, skill, rather than obstinate determined courage. Instead of placing his ship, alongside that of the enemy — with yardarms locked — and then pouring in his boarding party to carry everything before them, the captain's attention will now-be fixed upon th& movements of the' eneifis his object will now be to drive bolts of six or seven hundred poundsweight: into the least protected parts of the opposing-ship, so as' to disable her machinery, and then taking advantage of her helpless condition to run her down and f'Sink-her: <-i«-The possession "of steam powejTwill enable the fastest ship and thSbest manceuverer to choose her own range and mode of attack and defence, so that' it seems scarcely probable that actions will ever again he fought at close quarters until the rani is brought into requisition. The . torpedo, too, is an element which may-well disturb the calculations.of any but the most sanguine of commanders. This insidious weapon reduces to one level the hero and the coward. The courage and skill of a Nelson avail nothing agaipst the silent and invisible enemy which in a second can render impotent the most formidable ship that ever left a dockyard. Tn regard .to these cowardly appliances, we are driven by stress of circumstances to act as others do; and it is satisfactory to know that our fleet.is well supplied therewith. It would, however, have been better had their Lordships been so far-seeing as to provide the fleet with such a number of torpedo ships as'the German navy now possesses. Examining the qualities of the ships composing the British fleet in Besika Bay one by one, and comparing them and their crews with the naval forces at the disposal of other Powers, we feel every confidence,

so far as our nary is concerned, whatever may be the. issue of the present Eastern crisis. Never before was such a formidable force collected together, and despite the risks and chances of naval warfare to which we have alluded, and which would tell more the advantage of any other fleet than.that whose chief source of strength is found in the courage and devotion of its seamen, we have nevertheless not the slightest doubt, should England again " expect that every man will do his duty," the foeman ov foemeD, whoever he or they may be, will have good cause to spegret that she should have such a disagreeable task thrust upon her.