The naval manceuvres, which are at present being eagerly watched
by the public, promise some really valuable results. War was declared at noon on Tuesday, and since then there have been a considerable number of small operations. The general notion of hostilities is that the two squadrons which compose the fleet opposed to England are in safe harbours along the Irish coast—Bantry Bay and Lough Swilly- waiting an opportunity to get out and attack our ports and destroy our commerce. The two divisions of the fleet on which we depend for protection are endeavouring to blockade the enemy's ships in their roadsteads, and thus to solve the great naval problem,—" Can a superior fleet effectively seal up an enemy's squadron?" Their failure or suc- cess in doing so will point to extremely important conclusions. Another question which will also be tested practically, is the possibility of coaling ships at sea. The answer, it is hardly necessary to Ant out, will very seriously affect the Power which possesses the coaling-stations of the world. Altogether, we may feel sure that a good deal of light will be thrown upon the conditions of the naval warfare of the future.
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