297 
i88o.] Torpedo War. 
probably develop an armament,* being fitted with the Hotch- 
kiss gun, which fires a shot weighing a pound, penetrating 
an inch and a half plate at 300 yards ; and as the torpedo- 
boats are seldom more than three-sixteenths of an inch 
thick, we shall hear no more of the shot-holes being water- 
proofed by rapid steaming through the water, and even the 
Fosberry patent india-rubber protective will be of little avail. 
“ Kieselghur ” is used with success for extempore plugging of 
S There is one observation which should be made before 
taking leave of this position of the subject, and that is the 
reply to the question put by Admiral Sir Frederick W. E. 
Nicolson, Bart., C.B., when presiding at the discussion of 
Lord Dunsany’s paper before mentioned. “ The Chairman : 
I should like to ask Lord Dunsany a question. As I gather 
from your Lordship’s argument, you would treat with stern 
justice the persons employed in a torpedo-boat. I want to 
ask you this : that torpedo-boat I presume you send away 
from a vessel. Supposing subsequently you captured that 
vessel, in what maqner would you treat the Captain or the 
Admiral flying his flag in the vessel from which the torpedo- 
boat had been sent ?” The answer was skilfully evaded ; 
but this is certain, that on board of all vessels carrying tor- 
pedoes and torpedo-boats the crews who man them should 
be perfectly aware of the risks to which they are exposed at 
the enemy’s hands if captured, in the same way that the 
crews of fire-ships of olden times perfectly appreciated that 
they were entitled to no quarter from the enemy. And, 
moreover, distinCt orders should be given by the Admiralty 
as to the usage to be praftised towards all torpedo oppo- 
nents. Have the Admiralty given any such orders ? or is 
the “ custom of war in like cases ” relied upon as covering all 
discretion on the subject. t . 
In the articles of war a paragraph must soon be inserted 
as to what torpedist operators are to expeCt at oui hands, 
and if it happens to be inserted “ shall suffer death ” all am- 
biguity will be avoided without circumlocution. Loid Dun- 
sany said, “One sees many occasions on which a sentimental 
answer can be given in a moment — * Hang him.’ ” Verburnsap . 
* In view of these hand-to-hand combats, small hand torpedoes, composed 
of india-rubber waterproof bags containing gun-cotton (oz.), are designed, with 
detonators and wires, to be thrown and detonated as hand-grenades. 
f It is perfectly possible for a torpedo-launch to leave Portsmouth after dark, 
and to destroy ironclads inside the breakwater at Cherbourg, and return to 
Portsmouth before daybreak, without discovery on a dark winter’s night, with 
a minimum risk of detection, and without exhibiting its nationality. 
