95

92

[Figure] and that whether the enemy continue in
[Figure] line abreast till the moment of con-
[Figure] tact or feels obliged to form its or-
[Figure] der of attack at a greater distance.
[Figure] If the enemy continue in line abreast
[Figure] your ships have been drawn more and
[Figure] more away from the fire of one flank,
[Figure] and your own fire more and more con-
centrated on a portion of his line, with the advantage in prospect
of filing by his flank. If he has already formed an order of col-
umns for attack, you retain your full artillery fire till the last
moment, and as your fleet crosses his front, (if it do so) it keeps
up that fire in a diminishing ratio until the last ship is in col-
umn. Plainly, however, if the enemy had already developed his plan
so far as to form(D D') two columns attack before you begin your
manoeuvre, you would be at liberty to pass on either flank. Not
the least of the advantages held by a fleet whose experience ena-
bles it to manoeuvre rapidly and with precision at a critical mo-
ment, is that it can conceal its plans longer, and develop them only
so as to leave the least chance for the opponent to conteract
them. This advantage is greater at sea when the plain and open
character of the field of action, leaves scarcely any other con-
cealment for a leader's plans than the chambers of his brain.

Beginning then at 3200 yds, or a little over a mile and a half,
to make the formation in question, at 1600 yds half your fleet will