GARRISON ARTILLERY WARFARE: 183 
despatching messages, similar to that largely used by the Telegtaph. 
Department in London has been tried, but it seems to me that it is 
worth trial; the air can be kept under high pressure in cylinders, so 
that the centre would not be encumbered by machinery for supplying 
the compressed air, aud the advantage of delivering a written order 
over that of a verbal one spoken through a telephone, while guns are 
being fired and shells bursting in the vicinity, is incalculable. 
T'o my mind, an up-to-date fortress with works, etc. laid out on the 
principles, which I have endeavoured to describe, has nothing to dread 
from an artillery point of view from the fire of a fleet; the only thought 
that need trouble the defenders would be, that the ships would not 
approach close enough to allow their guns to penetrate the “ vitals ” ; 
but this is an almost groundless fear, for they must come in close if 
they mean business. [i 
A fortress can be brought nearer to the requirements of modern 
times. by making works to fit the guns, than by making guns to fit old 
and obsolete batteries. Now what will be the “battle formation”? of 
ships attacking a fortress? Will they move, or anchor? We may 
safely assume that until they have overpowered the fire of the defence, 
they will take advantage of their mobility, and will move at such a 
speed as will permit of their making good practice and prevent them 
from becoming too easy targets for the opposing guns. They must 
then, if they move, have room in which to move about; consequently 
the number of ships actually engaged at any given range will depend 
on the sea room at that range. They will endeavour to get the 
greatest possible effect out of their armament and be careful to keep 
up a continuous fire without masking each other’s guns. Therefore, 
the formation, when the real fighting begins, must be in a single line. 
Hach ship will then conform to the movements of the one ahead. The 
whole fleet will sweep across the front of the portion of the fortress 
attacked, and when the leader can no longer effectively fire, each ship 
will turn round and the procession will recommence, with the former 
sternmost ship now acting as leader. A slight variation from this 
would be effected if each ship followed the exact course of the pre- 
ceding one, and the leader retained her position as such, describing a 
circle ellipse, or figure of eight. It would not be so satisfactory a 
manoeuvre as the first, because the rearmost ships will mask the fire 
of the leaders, or vice versa, at some point of their course ; while by 
‘the other plan, the ships could keep up their fire, even when turning 
round. 
We may also assume that they will preserve the same formation all 
through the action, as a good deal of signalling and manceuvring is 
necessary to change it, which is not likely to be attempted under a 
heavy fire. 
The range at which these manoeuvres will take place, will depend on 
the plans of the Admiral of the Fleet and on-his instructions. He 
might like to run in close and have 15 minutes of it, or he might 
commence at long range and work in close, firing all the time. ‘I'he 
‘attack further might be in one long line or broken up into sections; 
but once under fire of the fortress, and replying thereto, the’ ships 
