Q 
088 SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1895. 
people of the country it invades, as in the instance of William III. 
landing at Torbay, or Hoche’s expedition to Bantry Bay. Where this 
assistance is not forthcoming, we have only to recall the inaction of the 
French after the battle of Beachy Head, and the failure of the enormous 
expeditions that from 1797 to 1805 Napoleon collected for the invasion 
of our shores, even to put out from their own ports, to show that while 
there is a fleet in being on the other side, the hazard is so great as to 
be prohibitive. 
Abroad. As regards the position of our Coast Fortresses abroad, 
when owing to the command of the Sea being lost, they can no longer 
look for, or expect relief when attacked. All that can be said is, that 
their fall into the enemy’s hands is certain, provided that he attacks 
them with sufficient force, and in the proper manner, that is by military 
expeditions. All that the Garrisons can do (and probably will do) is to 
delay the day of capture in the hopes of something turning up, but to 
do this they must be prepared to meet the main attack on land which 
should be really the only formidable one. 
Cuaprer II]. Tue Kiyo or Derence Necessary, AND THE GENERAL 
Duties or tut Derenpers 1n Mrrrine tHese ATTACKS. 
The preceding chapter has served to show the forms of attack to 
which our Coast Fortresses will be most liable under different conditions. 
In Chapter I. we sketched the general lines on which each attack is 
likely to be carried out. It is not difficult then by combining the two 
to arrive at the kind of defence that will be most suitable for each case, 
and the work that will therefore be required from the Artillery Garrison 
to meet them. Keeping to the same division of the subject as was made 
in the previous Chapter it will be seen that— 
Nature of (a.) At Home. For the purpose of repelling torpedo boat attacks 
and as far as the Artillery defence only is concerned, quick-firine guns 
are likely to be the most useful!, other guns might be employed attimes 
with advantage, but whatever nature of ordnance may be used it seems 
certain that it must be capable of being fired rapidly, and that smoke- 
less powder, laying over the sights, and a system of rapid ranging must 
be employed; extraneous aids in the way of range-finders, &c., will 
generally be impossible. If desultory bombardment is attempted it 
would be carried out at long range by ships under weigh and could be 
effectively replied to by most of the heavy guns mounted in our Coast 
Fortresses. 
Duties of The general duties of the defenders will be the manning of the quick- 
Defence. x a t 
firing and other guns employed against torpedo boats (a system of 
fighting which has yet to be adopted) and possibly the manning of the 
heavy guns in the manner explained in the Drill-book. 
Abroad. Fortresses that are liable to torpedo boat attacks require 
the same means of defence, and the same duties from the defenders as 
those at home. But in addition they, with the other smaller fortresses, 
1 See R.A.I, “ Proceedings,’ Vol. XX, Gold Medal Prize Essay. 
