SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1893 . 
369 
When the attack is made for any of the first four reasons it will be 
in the form of a bombardment, because the temporary or permanent 
destruction of the defensive power of the forts is essential. But in the 
other cases, if the object of the attack is not included in the gun-defended 
area of the fortress, bombardment will only be resorted to so far as it is 
necessary to prevent injury to the ships or boats forcing the defended 
passage. 
In a bombardment the immediate aim is at all hazards to inflict 
injury on the Defence; in forcing a passage, to avoid injury to the 
Attack. 
Bombardment. 
Speaking of ships generally Admiral P. H. Colomb, R.N., has said 1 2 
that " each presents three targets, [a) the f vital ; target, inj urv to which 
either sinks her, injures her engines, or damages her steering gear; (b) 
the f effective J target, where her fighting power is contained, and 
where her men are; (c) the f ineffective 3 target.” 
Among battle-ships may be classed those whose vital target and 
primary armament, as far as its service is involved, are protected by 
armour against the direct fire of the primary armament of their enemy; 
the secondary armament being also in a few cases somewhat protected 
against similar ordnance. 
Among protected cruisers may be classed ships whose vital target is 
defended by either horizontal or vertical armour against the direct fire 
of secondary armament, including a few whose effective target is also 
to a certain extent protected. 
All other ships have very slight, if any, protection, and for fighting 
purposes only differ from the old wooden ships in being less liable to be 
set on fire, but having less weight of metal in the broadside and form¬ 
ing better bursting screens for shells. 
Torpedo boats have only offensive power against floating defences 
and dock gates, and their only defence is their speed and handiness. 
Captain Jackson, R.N., writes : 3 " Ordinary sea-going ships of war 
are not, and never have been, intended by their designers to engage 
forts. They are built to fight other ships.” 
Rear-Admiral S. Long, R.1ST., said at the R.U.S. Institution 3 "If 
ships are pitted against guns on shore,'unarmoured ships do not appear 
so favourably situated as in the days of wooden ships.” 
And Vice-Admiral Sir E. Fremantle, in the subsequent discussion, 
agreed “ that the armament of our cruisers is such that the strength, of a 
cruiser is only sufficient to fight its own equal, that she is not of much 
value against a fort.” 
The Director of Naval Construction has expressed the opinion 4 that 
“ it is possible a ship may be put out of action without her armour 
1 Attack of Armour-clad Vessels by Artillery : Orde Browne. R.TJ.S. Institution Journal. Vol. 
XXVI. 
2 Ships versus Forts ; Jackson. R.E. Occasional Papers, 1889. 
3 Probable Influence of Quick-Firing Guns on Naval Tactics and Construction ; Long. R.U.S. 
Institution. Journal. . Vol. XXXVI. 
4 Probable Influence of Quick-Firing Guns on Naval Tactics and Construction; Long. R.U.S, 
Institution Journal. Vol. XXXVI, 
