132 TORPEDO-BOAT RAIDS ON HARBOURS. 
being no obstacle to stop or delay them, there would be every 
probability of one or more of the boats passing through safely, as they 
would attack in numbers; they would then have to be dealt with by 
the navy, or left to do what harm they could. 
Our best, and perhaps only chance therefore is to sink or disable 
them while in the illuminated area, that is in one minute’s firing if as 
much, supposing only two lights to be employed. 
Guns. 
For this purpose undoubtedly quick-firing guns would be the best 
and we must hope that before long an adequate number will be 
supplied where necessary. 
I believe that it has been substantially demonstrated that the 6-pr. 
Q.F. at ranges of about 1500 yards, would be capable of penetrating 
any part of a torpedo boat with destructive effect. The new 12-pr. 
Q.F. would be a still more formidable weapon in this respect. 
It is thus seen that even one lucky shot from these guns would 
either sink or disable any torpedo-boat at present in use. Their rate 
of fire would enable a good many rounds to be got off during the short 
time the boat would be illuminated. 
Heavy guns might fire case shot or shrapnel with fuzes set to 
burst the shell at varying distances from the muzzle, and get a chance 
hit ; with smokeless powder they would not inconvenience the quick- 
firers much, but certainly for night work reliance should not be placed 
in them to any great extent. 
The warning given would probably be very short, and anyone who 
has seen night manning, or a night alarm, knows the confusion that is 
bound to occur however well prepared beforehand ; something always 
goes wrong; how much more so would this be the case in war time, 
especially when it is remembered that most of the guns would be 
manned by militia and volunteers, who, however efficient, would only 
have lately taken up their station in the batteries, and could not know 
all the ins and outs of communications, ammunition supply, lighting 
arrangements, etc., for we must remember that these attacks would 
very likely take place shortly after, if not previous to, the declaration 
of war and almost before the troops had been mobilized. 
With quick-firing guns on the other hand only a very small number 
of men are required, and these could be highly trained and permanently 
told off to their posts. ‘hey could sleep in tents or shelters near 
the guns, a responsible officer being with them who should use his 
discretion and not wait for orders from higher authority. On 
seeing the rocket or being otherwise alarmed, they could at once 
stand to their guns without confusion and have time to collect their 
thoughts, judge the range, and open a deliberate and probably effective 
fire as soon as the objective appeared. 
As regards the method of ranging it is difficult to say what would be 
the best. If there were no obstruction a ranging gun would have to 
be employed, the others opening fire as soon as possible; but in pro- 
tecting a boom, a few buoys should be laid in the illuminated area and 
the tangent scale elevation to hit them should be known, having been 
tested by day. These buoys would be the marks by which the officer 
