SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1895. 335 
(a.) At Home. Hvery effect will be made by each Naval Power 
when hostilities are imminent, to place every available ship that is fit 
for the line of battle at sea, in order to assure the supremacy of its own 
Navy and to obtain as early as possible the Command of the Sea. At 
the outbreak of hostilities therefore, it may be expected that no attacks 
by ships on Coast Fortresses are likely to be attempted. As has been 
pointed out, however, by Major Hlmslie, R.A.,! the individual value of 
a war vessel to the Power to which it belongs is now so very much 
greater than it use to be, owing to the time, and money required for its 
construction, and the impossibility of building new ships to replace 
those put out of action during the probable continuance of a modern 
war, that it is very decidedly to the interest and advantage of both sides 
(and of the probably weaker Naval Force in particular) to endeavour, 
while fitting out their own fleets, to harass the enemy engaged ina 
similar operation, and if possible destroy his battle-ships in their own 
ports. That this is quite feasible, and that the best way of effecting it 
now, is by a torpedo boat attack, a perusal of the Prize Hssay 1893 
makes sufficiently plain. Torpedo boat attack then, is a form of attack 
extremely likely to be experienced by all our home fortresses, within 
whose defences ships of war are to be found, but it does not appear 
that any other serious form of attack is to be apprehended at this stage 
of the war. 
Abroad. Those of our Fortresses abroad which were situated within 
striking distance of an enemy’s Naval base, and within whose defences 
ships of war are to be found would also be liable to attacks by torpedo 
boats, and must be prepared to meet them, but with our smaller 
fortresses, and defended coaling stations in distant waters, such attacks 
need not be feared. At the most bombardment either with the idea of 
capture, or of the nature I have termed desultory, is all that need be 
apprehended. 
(b.) At Home. When during the progress of a war the assured 
command of the Sea has been obtained by our own Navy, the threat to 
our Coast Fortresses at home will cease almost entirely if not alto- 
gether. But unless the enemy has been very badly beaten, or is 
unusually wanting in daring and enterprise, it seems probable that he 
will still from time to time attempt raids by torpedo boats on our ports, 
and against these we must still be prepared. Any other threat to the 
home fortresses is out of the question, and therefore the Garrisons that 
have been allotted to them can with safety be considerably reduced 
and will be available for employment elsewhere. In what manner they 
will then be employed is a question of war policy which is not for us to 
decide, and which has probably been already considered and settled by 
the proper authorities. But asin the words of the late General Hamley 
“it does not follow because an army is defending a territory, it must 
confine itself to the defensive; on the contrary it will best effect its 
purpose by actively threatening its adversary, and by taking the lead 
wherever the opportunity offers,’’? so it is not unreasonable to antici- 
1R,A.I, “ Proceedings,” Vol. XX., p. 346. Gold Medal Prize Essay. 
2 The operations of war, p. 48. ; 
46 
Outbreak of 
Hostilities at 
Home. 
When Com: 
mand of 
the sea is 
assured. 
