GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1897 . 
325 
The lesson to be learnt seems to be that although destroyers may 
perhaps help to limit the ravages of the enemy's torpedo-boats, once 
our command of the sea is established, yet previous to that state of 
affairs, and especially in the very early stages of a war, not only can 
little if any diminution of such attacks be expected, but there is added 
to their possibilities the use of the destroyer herself, which will compete 
on equal terms with the destroyers of the defending fleet in all states 
of sea power, and whose use shortens considerably the time taken in 
passing from base to objective, thus making the stroke more sudden, 
and also, on account of their increased power of keeping the sea and 
greater coal endurance, largely extending the range of it. It is true 
that other nations have at present very few of these craft, but as they 
can be rapidly built this fact does not to a great extent lessen the 
probability of their employment, at all events in the later stages of a 
war, at which time their value will be most felt by a blockaded enemy. 
It appears then that, as matters stand at present, the menace to our 
defended ports of torpedo-boat attack is as great at the commencement 
of war as it ever was, perhaps lessening 'somewhat as command of the 
sea is secured, but never disappearing; and that in the event of our 
opponent constructing destroyers during war, these will again increase 
the chances of Raid after a certain lapse of time, by enabling the 
blockaded fleet to oppose to the blockaders boats of equal power to 
their own. 
THE CONDITIONS OF DEFENCE. 
The means of defence consist of men and material. 
Taking material first, it is composed of the following:— 
In charge of and controlled by the Artillery—the guns. 
In charge of the Engineers but directed by the Artillery—electric 
lights, when used as search lights (if any). 
In charge of and controlled by the Engineers—electric lights used 
as fixed beams, submarine mines, and Brennan torpedo. 
In charge of the Navy—Passive obstructions by sea of a temporary 
nature. 
Besides which there may be obstructions of a permanent nature, 
such as breakwaters. 
The subject of this essay, however, applies to the guns alone, except 
in so far as the influence of the other agents of defence is so intimately 
associated with theirs as to necessitate joint consideration. In this 
connection the following passage is noticeable :—- 
“ The breakwater is the only unanswerable argument to a torpedo- 
boat. Behind it ships are practically secure against boat attack. The 
only vulnerable point is the entrance or gateway, which is capable of 
such concentration of defence by gun-fire, booms, and boat-mines, as 
to make entrance by unsupported boats practically impossible." * 
The guns may be conveniently divided into three classes, each having 
a more or less special application and a somewhat distinct method of 
fire-control and direction. They are Quick-firing Guns, High Angle 
Fire Guns, and Direct Fire Guns. 
The Value of Torpedo Boats in War Time.” 
43 
