TORPEDO WARFARE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR:1
Sin,—With reference to Admiral FitzGerald's instructive example of torpedo warfare, I think both A and E were wrong. If two destroyers were chasing three torpedo-boats during daylight, the slower destroyer ought in each case to steam up alongside the surrendered boat, make the crew jump on board (say eight survivors), and then fire a twelve-pounder at the derelict boat as she steams after the other torpedo-boat. The whole operation ought not to take four minutes at an outside estimate, in which case the second torpedo-boat will only have gained two thousand yards at fifteen knots, The slow destroyer can go on to the second boat, while the fast one again presses on. A by his needlessly severe method has probably inflamed the hatred of our enemies, and retalia- tion will follow, possibly on officers and men who strongly disapprove of his action. I may add that I think A's method is the only safe one at night, when torpedo-boats must not expect quarter, because the peculiar dangers associated with their invisibility at night and the confusion of night opera- tions render it almost impossible to grant quarter.—I am,
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