SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1895. 333 
of the ships making up the ammunition they had expended, but also to 
allow them to repair the damages they must receive, even in a success- 
ful attack, before they may be called upon to meet a hostile fleet. 
(2.) Forcing a passage. There seems no reason why this should 
not be attempted in any “State” of the sea, provided that the ships 
undertaking this attack are not being actually watched by an enemy’s 
fleet, which bring them to battle, and that when they enter the waters 
beyond they will be free from attack. 
(3a.) Bombardment for destructive purposes. To place a flotilla of 
specially designed vessels (probably in no sense sea going) ina position 
to shell a fortress, and to keep them there long enough to effect their 
object, would seem to imply a fairly assured command of the sea; 
bombardment by war vessels for this purpose under any other conditions 
than this could only be of a desultory nature. 
(3b.) Raids by torpedo boats. From the very nature of this attack 
it would not be unreasonable to assume that no “ State”? of the sea 
could prevent its being attempted. 
(4.) Desultory bombardment. When this is undertaken to support 
a military attack it is necessary that there should be at least a temporary 
command of the Sea assured for a sufficient time to afford reasonable 
prospect of success. If this is attempted for any other purposes, a 
temporary command of the Sea at least is necessary, unless the ships so 
engaged are prepared to sacrifice themselves, if required, to attain their 
object, or unless the places attacked are near enough to their bases to 
allow the ships a reasonable chance of retreating, and refitting there ; 
otherwise they render themselves liable to defeat, and capture at the 
hands of an inferior Naval Force. In these exceptional cases, the 
attempt may be made in any “‘ State”’ of the sea. 
Military Attacks. It may be taken for granted that no form of 
military attack whatever, will be undertaken unless there isa command 
of the sea sufficiently assured to afford reasonable prospect of success. 
The only possible exception to this is the case of a force which succeeds 
in effecting a landing on territory by evasion, but unless the territory 
invaded is likely to be friendly to the invaders they will find themselves 
cut off from their supplies, and reinforcements except they have the 
command of the sea. 
CHaprer II, Tue Particurar Forms or ATrAck THAT OUR Coast 
Fortresses at Home AnD ABROAD WILL MOST PROBABLY BE 
CALLED UPON TO MEET. 
It can hardly be expected that with Coast Fortresses situated all over 
the world, some close to a possible enemy’s Naval Stations, some in 
mid ocean, some guarding important Naval dockyards, others protecting 
coaling stations, é&c., that all will be liable to the same form of attack. 
Mauritius might be captured by a force that would not attempt to 
attack Bombay, and Portsmouth might be the object of a form of attack, 
that would be impossible, or thrown away against St. Helena. Hach 
Coast Fortress will be liable to some forms of attack rather than others. 
Forcing a 
Passage. 
Ravage and 
Destruction, 
Desultory 
Bombard- 
ment, 
Military 
Attacks. 
General Con- 
siderations. 
