SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1893 . 
381 
masonry lias to b© attacked a delay-action fuze, permitting of some 
penetration will enable a better result to be obtained from accurate 
bits. 
Admiral Porter’s orders at Fort Fisber were i 1 2 “Fire to dismount tbe 
guns and knock away tbe traverses.” “ All firing against earthworks, 
when tbe shell bursts in tbe air is thrown away. Tbe object is to lodge 
tbe shell in tbe parapets and tear away the traverses in which tbe bomb- 
proofs are located. A shell now and then exploding over a gun en 
barbette may have good effect, but there is nothing like lodging a shell 
before it explodes.” 
Observation of fire may be assisted by sending out vessels for the 
purpose to a flank of the attack, as was done with three gunboats at 
Fort McAlister 3 or by the use of balloons, which the French have 
proved 3 practical. 
3. The Formation of the Attaching Force. 
Where it is possible it would seem that there is an advantage in 
ships, having end-on fire, approaching fortifications in line abreast, 
because it may to a certain extent prevent them being dealt with suc¬ 
cessively. The river gunboats on the Mississippi, acting together, sur¬ 
vived many encounters with forts, but when the Cincinnati ventured to 
make a reconnaissance by herself at Vicksburg on 27th May, 1863, she 
was very quickly sunk. 
Very often, however, if not in the majority of cases, hydro-graphic 
conditions will make such an advance very difficult or impossible. 
Rear-Admiral Long (speaking, it is true, chiefly of purely naval 
combats), says : 4 “ The formation in line ahead is that ordinarily used 
for navigation, especially in circumstances of difficulty, and when it is 
considered that the maintenance of any other formation involves the 
use of the compass, which is likely to be shot away in action; it seems 
probable that its advantages as regards facilities of maintenance will 
outweigh any disadvantages it may have from other points of view.” 
And : “ The distance apart at which ships of a squadron are to keep 
station affects the question of artillery support. Two cables (400 yards) 
appears to be accepted generally as the most suitable, and, considering 
the result of damage to communications or steering gear in action, no 
less distance is likely to be accepted on the open sea.” 
The concussion of the guns has been said to render the compass use¬ 
less. 
The intervals between ships may of course be affected by local con¬ 
ditions. Thus Sir G. Hornby has stated 5 that in the Dardanelles the 
water being very deep it is necessary to go close to the shore to anchor, 
and that consequently to bring a superior force of guns to bear on a 
1 Ships versus Forts ; Jackson. R.E. Occasional Papers, 1889. 
2 The Navy in the Civil War. 3 vols. Soley, Arnmen, Mahan. 
3 Balloons for Naval Purposes; Daniell. R.U.S. Institution Journal. Vol. XXXV. 
4 Probable Influence of Quick-firing guns on Naval Tactics and Construction; Long. R.U.S, 
Institution Journal. Vol. XXXVI. 
5 On Naval Tactics; Dowell. R.U.S. Institution Journal. Vol. XXV. 
