360 
GOLD MEDAL PEIZE ESSAY, 1893 . 
assisted by several Staff Officers, both Naval and Military, detailed, not 
as belonging to different arms of the service, but each as in charge of a 
distinct section of the defences , as will be explained immediately. The 
Commander-in-Chief of sea defences should also, if a soldier, be placed 
in direct, constant, and confidential communication with the Naval 
authorities. The Staff Officers should also be officers of rank, and 
would each be responsible that, not one particular arm, but the whole 
of the various branches of the services in their section, representing 
guns, mines, lights, pickets, guards, &c., &c., at all times worked 
thoroughly well together, and according to the broad scheme drawn up 
by the Officer Commanding the sea defences. Some such supervision 
is absolutely necessary to ensure combined action. Each Staff Officer 
should hold frequent conferences of the JR,. A., R.E., and Infantry officers 
of his section with the special view of encouraging 'personal intercourse 
amongst them, than which nothing is more effective in reducing friction, 
and promoting a clear understanding of each others needs. 
(2.) Good communications between the different parts of the defence 
are of such vital importance that no trouble or expense should be spared 
to render them thoroughly satisfactory . Signalling by flags and lamps 
though useful in the field, where permanent appliances are impossible, 
is not sufficiently reliable, on account of its dependance on atmospheric 
conditions, and should only be used where obligatory, viz., in com¬ 
munications between the shore and guard-boats afloat, and on land 
in case of a breakdown of other systems. 
Telephonic communication is not really satisfactory, being very liable 
to break down at critical moments owing to noise and excitement 
preventing the proper reception of messages—these frequently getting 
garbled in transmission, and causing mistakes which in time of war 
might lead to the gravest consequences. 
Actual telegraphy, nsing the Morse alphabet, is far more reliable, and 
in the end takes no longer than telephony. To apply it everywhere 
would however require a larger number of trained men than are ever 
likely to be available. 
Doubtless the most suitable system for Coast Defences and Forts 
would be the Printing Telegraph , printing off its messages automatically 
on a tape or sheet of paper. These instruments are in great use for 
business and club purposes, and are nothing new. 1 Their adoption for 
Coast Defences would greatly increase the speed and certainty of com¬ 
munications. 
In answer to the usual objection, viz., the expense involved, it should 
be pointed out that good communications between the various parts of 
scattered defences are of vital importance on the broadest grounds, and 
their establishment in time of peace—for there will be no time for all 
this on the outbreak of war—should take precedence of all expenditure 
on local detail. 
(3.) Organisation .—The area to be defended, and the approaches 
thereto must be mapped out into clearly defined zones—naval or boat 
1 Probably the best of these instruments is that known as the “ Exchange Telegraph Company’s 
Column Printing Telegraph.” This is an excellent instrument, but the price is high. 
