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SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1893 . 
fort from anchored ships, they would have to be very close together. 
His idea had been in such a case to put them one cable apart. 
At Port Royal 1 2 the ships moved up in two columns; the main column 
at distances of a ship’s length, with the flanking column of gun-boats 
at the same distance on the starboard (off-shore side). 
At Charleston the monitors went into action in line ahead. 
During the French Naval Manoeuvres of 1892, 3 when Cherbourg was 
attacked,, the fleet steamed past the breakwater in line ahead, sending 
out its torpedo boats to deal with those of the defence. 
At Alexandria the off-shore squadron, before anchoring, moved on 
an elliptical course in line ahead, at intervals of about one cable, with a 
speed of about five knots. 
At Sfax 3 the French had boats at a “ few hundred yards,” gun- 
vessels at about 2300 yards, and iron-clads at from 4300 to 7000 yards. 
In several instances during the American Civil War the lighter 
vessels armed with long-range guns were employed outside those with 
heavier armament. 
Something like the following plan seems probable :— 
The ships intended to take an active part in the bombardment will 
be divided according to their vulnerability, and will steam up, at a 
moderate speed from one flank of the works, in columns of divisions in 
line ahead at intervals in each column of about 400 yards. The distances 
between the columns will depend to a great extent on the difference 
in vulnerability, but it will be sufficient to allow each column describing 
an elliptical course, until it is decided to close in and either anchor or 
steam on a buoyed course. 
The fleet may be divided, in the first instance, into squadrons to deal 
with different parts of the fortress; one division of a squadron may 
anchor while the other keeps in motion, and the peculiarities of some 
ships may cause the commander to use them more or less independently. 
Gun-vessels, and cruisers too weak to subject themselves to the fire 
of shore defences, will be employed on the flanks to observe the fire, or 
if opportunity offers to land small parties to surprise isolated batteries, 
which really appears the only possible method of silencing vertical fire 
batteries and guns mounted on the “ disappearing ” principle. 
Torpedo boats will seek shelter on the off-shore side of the inner 
divisions, and be ready to deal with any attempts of craft of their own 
class. 
If the Defence has controllable torpedoes, or batteries of Whiteheads 
like Germany and Italy, they will have to be avoided by motion or be 
dealt with by the torpedo boats if that is possible. Torpedo nets can¬ 
not be used under weigh, and in any case cannot be put out in action, 4 
as if struck by shot or shell they would give dangerous splinters and 
fragments. 
1 The Navy in the Civil War. 3 vols. Soley, Ammen, Mahan. 
2 French Naval Manoeuvres, 1893 ; Grarbet. R.U.S. Institution Journal. Vol. XXXVI. 
3 Fortification; Clarke. 1890. 
4 Submarine Mines; Clarke. 11 Proceedings,” R.A. Institution. Vol. XVII. 
