13

11

dent. Not only is her target one that moves rapidly but there is alos only one spot in the field of battle where the ramming ship can be to act efficiently, and that is precisely the point where her adversary is; and there only open bearings of the keel which are efficacious and that is directly towards the enemy, within a limited angle of impact.

This facility for firing is undoubtedly an element of accuracy though it affects of course the frequency of firing as well. In fact the division which I have indicated under heads, though convenient if not necessary to a logical discussion, does not obtain rigidly in practise, the different elements crossing and affecting one another.

My own conclusions are that the gun is superior in accuracy of result, due to the greater number of positions of the ship from which it can be efficiently used; and to the greater velocity of the projectile by which its momentum is greatly increased, so rendering it less liable to deflection, and the time during which it is exposed to deflecting influences is minimized.

The torpedo boat or cruiser bringing up its torpedo alongside therefore may in my opinion be put in the same category as the ram in the point of certainty. Now the ram has but one blow; if it extricates itself uninjured it will begin again and have another; but as regards any moment of the action it may be regarded as hav-