404 
COMMENDED ESSAY, 1893 . 
If tlie objective beyond consists of ships, small vessels will be nearly 
as effective for the attack as large ones and will have much more 
chance of getting through the channel successfully. 
The attention of the attacking vessels must first be directed to the 
obstructions which are certain to be found in the channel, as it is these 
which will keep them under the fire of the fortress—the very thing 
they wish to avoid. 
If the channel is in considerable use in peace time, possibly a sudden 
attack at the commencement of a war may find it to a great extent 
clear (at any rate of contact and mechanical mines). Observation 
mines may be laid and kept there without impeding navigation, but 
they are liable to get out of order. Anxiety to have a surprise must 
not result in want of caution. A few boats must be sent in to see 
what the channel is like and how it is obstructed. 
The attacking forces are certain to be possessed of accurate charts 
of the locality and plans of the fortress, obtained in peace time, and 
should have a very good idea of what obstacles they may meet with. 
The reconnoitring force, consisting probably of fast cruisers, torpedo- 
catchers, and torpedo boats must run in. Should they report clear the 
ships must go straight through. 
If, however, there are obstructions a channel must be cleared through 
them. This will be best done by small craft, capable of easy navigation 
in intricate waters and manned by men well practised in working mines. 
These boats will have to go in by themselves, unsupported by the 
ships, which must be kept out of fire of the fortress till the channel is 
clear. Night will, of course, be the time for this operation, and if 
possible a foggy night, as fog obscures the electric light and upsets the 
shore gunnery. In clear weather Q.F. and machine guns on shore 
will make the task very difficult, if not impossible. 
The work of clearing a channel through a mine-field consists of 
four operations:—(1) Sweeping; (2) slow creeping; (3) rapid creep¬ 
ing ; (4) countermining. 
(1.) Sweeping. This is a tedious operation, only to be carried out 
beyond the range of fire of the fortress, when the presence of mechanical 
mines is suspected. 
If the water gets deep very quickly, it is probable that there will 
be no mines far from shore, and only electric ones closer in, so that 
sweeping may be dispensed with. 
If, on the contrary, the water deepens gradually, mechanical mines 
may be found some way out to sea, and it must be adopted. The fleet 
should anchor outside the mines and beyond the range of the fortress 
guns and get their torpedo nets out. Then the procedure will be as 
follows :—The pulling boats will be prepared for sweeping. After 
nightfall the channel to be cleared will be buoyed out. Then, choosing 
a time other than that of low water, the boats proceed to sweep the 
channel in lengths, in pairs going in opposite directions to avoid 
dummy cables. On grappling a mine the boats anchor, and the mine 
is caught and fired. 
Divisions of boats obliged to traverse unsearched ground should do 
so in line ahead, with tow-ropes not less than five fathoms long. When 
