USE OF TORPEDOES IN AN ENGAGEMENT. 



153 



observes a rather great interval astern of the fourth ship. ' Starboard ' is the order, and 

 we break through under her stern; our starboard torpedo is at the same time dipped, 

 and passes under the fifth ship. Owing to a combination of luck and good manage- 

 ment, the torpedo takes effect and the enemy is blown up. The other torpedo vessels 

 have thrown the enemy into considerable disorder, but none have succeeded in using 

 their torpedoes with effect. One of them has been struck by a heavy shell and totally 

 disabled, but the whole fleet has passed on without finding it possible to capture or sink 

 her without losing their position in station and being left behind; the thought foremost 



Spar Torpedo. 

 (Front and side views.) 



Lay Torpedo. 



DIFFERENT FORMS OF TORPEDOES. 



in every captain's mind also being that the enemy's fleet is almost in contact with them, 

 and that the moment to act has arrived. 



" This is an example of an attack with c Harvey ' torpedoes from ahead and across 

 the bow ... In my opinion, it would invariably be rendered fruitless if the bows 

 of the ships attacked were protected by an iron framework of the simplest description. 



" But let us return to our little craft, in which we have already run the gauntlet of 

 the hostile fleet. Having cleared the enemy with little or no damage, we look back and 

 see our fleet of ironclads breaking through their lines, which have been so shaken by our 

 assault. When through, our fleet re-forms and wheels for the next charge. We must be 

 at work again ; our torpedoes are replaced, and everything is in working order. This time 

 we follow our ironclads to the charge. W^e are, if anything, more hopeful of success. The 

 enemy will not see us till we are at them; our blood is warming to the work, and we 

 feel that we have gained experience and confidence by the first charge. Pressing on, we 

 observe the second charge of the fleet, amidst smoke, confusion, and thundering of cannon. 

 60 



