NAVAL MANOEUVRES, 1894 . 
519 
chance of enfilading each line of Bine as they passed, and the fire of 
the latter was masked by their own ships. 
The advantage of Blue's original formation was now apparent, for 
had Blue advanced in " column line ahead," as Bed did, instead of 
“ column line abreast/' the two ends of the column would not have 
been within supporting distance of each other, and B. Bed would at 
once have cut off the rear of it. 
The fight continued until ]2.30 (noon), when, having kept A. Bed 
under fire for two hours, Blue fleet hauled down the engaging signal," 
and the Admirals of the Bed and Blue fleets agreed to haul off, proceed 
to different ports, and there await the decision of the umpires. The 
Bed fleet steamed off to Belfast, C. Blue to Kingstown, and D. Blue to 
Holyhead. To say that the battle was a grand sight is to express very 
tamely a spectacle which must have stirred the heart of the most 
phlegmatic Englishman. 
From a soldier's point of view, the most noticeable detail was the 
absolute control that each Admiral had over the units composing his 
command, signals were hoisted, answered immediately, and then acted 
on; whether this would be the same in real warfare is a very open 
question, as the signalmen are in a very exposed position, and halliards 
and semaphores would be very liable to be shot away. 
Arrived at Holyhead, D. Blue again coaled, and on Tuesday, 7th 
August, the umpire's decision arrived, stating that the claims of Blue 
fleet had been allowed, and that the manoeuvres had consequently come 
to an abrupt termination. Preparations were at once made for 
the target practice, one of the most important of these being the 
exercising of the gun-layers with a tube cannon." So much weight 
does the Admiralty lay on the employment of this instrument that a ship 
of the size of the Australia must fire 3000 rounds each quarter, and 
may fire an unlimited number. As it would seem to be an invaluable 
addition to our course for training, and perhaps a satisfactory method 
for examining, our gun-layers, the following is a description of the 
instrument for those who have not seen it. It is known as "the Morris 
Aiming Bifle," and consists of a rifle barrel which is held in an expand¬ 
ing frame, by means of which it can be firmly fixed in the centre of the 
bore of a gun of any calibre. On the breech end of the rifle barrel is 
a bayonet-joint arrangement, by which an electric or percussion breech- 
piece is attached to it. The gun is layed with the ordinary sights. 
Changes in war material for June contain an instrument for the same 
purpose, so perhaps we may soon hope to have it. 
The above notes have far exceeded what I had intended; I trust they 
will be of interest, but, whether they are or not, I would strongly ad¬ 
vise anyone who has the chance, to attend naval manoeuvres; he will 
find them not only interesting but instructive, and they will upset 
many ideas about sea life which are formed during voyages on H.M. 
troopships. 
Blue’s 
formation. 
Complete 
control of 
units during 
the fight. 
Tube cannon 
for training 
gun-layers. 
Morris a : m- 
ing rifle. 
