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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
below B is between wind and water). I should think this can hardly 
be better illustrated than by Mr. Froude's account of the effect of our 
fire on the great ships of the Spanish Armada :— 
“ Being always to leeward and the wind blowing hard, the hulls of 
the galleons as they heeled over were exposed below the water-line. 
The massive timbers which were to have furnished so secure a shelter, 
added only to the effect of the shot. The middle decks were turned 
into slaughter-houses, and in one ship blood was seen streaming 
from the lee scuppers. Their guns were most of them dismounted, or 
knocked in pieces, and their chief work was to save themselves from 
sinking by nailing sheets of lead over the shot-holes.”—Froude, 
Yol. VI. p. 481. 
This plan of attack has done good service, but I believe its day has 
passed away, and that for more than one reason. 
In endeavouring to learn the “ soft places ” of armour-plated vessels 
generally from the study of Mr. Reed's works on naval architecture, it 
is discouraging to find that the “ vital parts,” so to speak, are specially 
protected, and it seems peculiarly unlikely, unless the circumstances 
were very favourable, that one would succeed in seriously injuring a 
heavily-plated vessel along her water-line, about her engines, or even 
in her rudder or screw. The question then suggests itself as to the 
possibility of attacking a ship from the leeward side, and so obtaining 
an opportunity of striking her deck, which appears to be really a weak 
place; but this is met by the fact that vessels no longer fight under 
canvas, so that there is no constant heel on them, but all that remains 
is the quick roll of a vessel in a rough sea. Any chance so afforded would 
be offered alike by both ships, and I was informed by one of the 
gunnery lieutenants of the “ Excellent ” (Lieut. Dowding) that very 
little opportunity is so given. In fact on this matter I can add but 
little to the answer which was given me by an American naval captain 
whom I questioned as to where he considered one should endeavour to 
strike an armour-clad—“ You must hit her where you can !” 
When I say little is to be added to this, I would remark that a vessel 
in most positions presents some part of her armour nearly at right 
angles to one's fire, even when other portions may be at a considerable 
inclination. Failing a more definite object, would it not be well to aim 
at this part, whether near bows, stern, or midships ? 
So it occurs to the mind that a vessel in action might with advantage 
engage so as to fire her guns at an oblique angle with her keel (as shown 
in fig. below in the position of the “ Naughty Child.”) Further, she might 
change her position so as to turn away a damaged part of her armour; 
only in a rough sea it may be harder to take good aim when thus engaging 
obliquely, because the line as well as the elevation would alter with the 
roll of the ship. In the fig. below it may be seen that while the 
“ Favourite ” receives all the fire of the “Naughty Child” direct on 
her sides, the latter is so placed than unless the “ Favourite ” strikes 
her near her bows the shot are received at an angle of 50°, so that 
penetration seems out of the question j and it may be observed how 
