Though the Naval Manceuvres do not end officially till Monday,
there is now no likelihood of fresh hostile operations being undertaken. The enemy's raid on the North having proved completely successful, both in a pecuniary and a naval sense—the coast towns between them being made to :contribute many millions, and shipping of immense value being burnt or scuttled—he has now apparently betaken himself to his harbours to count his gains Many criticisms have been made upon the action of the attacking force, and -it has been confidently asserted that no civilised enemy would ever interfere with open towns or destroy docks -and. shipping. Surely such talk is very unreal. Open towns will not, of course, be bombarded as long as they pay their ransoms quickly, for it would waste valuable powder and shot to attack them. Docks, however, and ship- ping which may be .used, the one to refit in, the other for placing guns in, will never be respected. Do people forget how Sherman gave up a part of the Southern• States to military -execution, in order that the rebels might feel what war really was ? And. do they think, if we ever lose command of the seas, and an enemy wants to bring us to reason, that that enemy will hesitate to annoy us and injure us in every possible way, in order that the realities of war may force us into peace at his price?
Previous page
