80 
DEFENCE OF A COAST FORTRESS. 
foregoing; guns, torpedoes, and electric lights, and on a particular 
armament kept up mainly for their special defence. 
Their real value is that they are effective at times when the other 
means of defence are at their worst, viz., in fog. They are then as 
likely to strike friend as foe. 
A most elaborate system has been devised to meet the many objec¬ 
tions raised to the use of submarine mines in the close waters of Coast 
Fortresses. So elaborate that probably every other system of defence 
will either be paralysed, or will break down the system. While in 
fogs, just at the time when submarine mining defence should be most 
active, friendly ships will stand a very reasonable chance of destruc¬ 
tion, for they will not know where to bring up. 
In strong tidal waters submarine mines will be liable to destruction 
by an enemy without his exposing himself unduly. 
In waters where there is little tide and where the guns are well 
pushed out, submarine mining will be at its best as regards defence. 
Neither aeriel nor water torpedo countermining will be easy. 
No part of the defence needs to be kept so secret as submarine 
mines. These will be destructive only where their existence is not 
known, and they have more moral than active effect. All defence 
which is not possessed of the power of counter-attack is weak. 
(5).—Quick-Firing and Machine Guns and Case Guns. 
No part of the attack of a sea fortress is so difficult to meet as the 
repeated raids of torpedo boats at night. 
The object of a Coast Fortress is to protect shipping, dockyards, 
&c., but heavy guns, torpedoes, and mines, are all unsuitable for 
engaging these rapid and small craft. It is true that the submarine 
miners say they would meet them with boat torpedoes but, like the 
fire of heavy guns inland, it is not probable that they would be per¬ 
mitted, to slaughter their friends. 
At present the proper defence is said to be quick-firing and machine 
guns ; and rapid-firing case guns have also been recommended by 
myself, though I do not think they are accepted. Naval people say 
that case will hardly penetrate a torpedo boat ; our experimental ex¬ 
perience rather differs from this dictum. 
I cannot say I think the defence against torpedo boats (a form of 
attack I should most dread) is in a satisfactory stage. At any rate 
the position in which quick-firing and case guns are to be placed 
should receive the greatest consideration. It will never do to fire at 
random, in the dark, projectiles which ricochet an incredible distance 
where there is much chance of their going into towns or villages inland. 
Quicfe-fij-ing, Light quick-firing and machine guns and case guns should be mov- 
guns should able, though used from positions previously prepared. Railway trucks 
of movement are vei T Suitable. 
They should, if possible, and without much loss of speed, be in a 
manner automatically laid for elevation. 
Special electric lights are needed for their service, but these may be 
comparatively weak. Probably some modification of the old parachute 
fireball or of rockets will be an assistance to quick-firing and case guns. 
