CURRENT LITERATURE.
Essays on Naval Defence. By Vice-Admiral P. H. Colomb. (W. H. Allen and Co.)—Books dealing with the question of Naval Defence are rare, and we must welcome Vice-Admiral Colomb's essays heartily, all the more that they are so vigorous and lucid,
albeit possessed of a most thorough acquaintance with theory and all the subtleties of argument. Few of us have ever taken the trouble to consider how the disposition of our naval forces should be arranged so as to meet a powerful combination. The writer frequently mentions Lord St. Vincent's plan of defence in the Napoleonic Wars, in discussing the question of effective blockade ; and this is a most absorbing question. Steam nowadays renders effec- tive blockading a very different affair from what it was in the days of Nelson, Howe, and St. Vincent. The same peinciples apply, it is true, but a blockade must be complete now or it is worth nothing, for a start once obtained, we know an entire fleet can remain for weeks at sea, invisible as far as the enemy's ships are concerned. The game of naval war, as is the case with most other games, will in future days be a very much faster one. To put it shortly, the largest reserve will win, for the best fighting ships will be water- logged, metaphorically speaking, after the first fortnight. There is another question which is very interesting, and that is the actual capacity irondads will have for knocking each other to pieces, and for resisting heavy guns. But few shots at the range commonly taken, a thousand yards, will strike square, and so penetrate, it is supposed. Duels, some will think, are likely to be protracted ; but the value of skill, though it will not be apparently so effective as it was in the days of sails and seamanship, will none the less tell. The big ironclads, if their speed is properly used, should be able to punish lighter rivals heavily ; indeed finally, just as in a prize-fight. Any plan of defence that neglects to pro- vide a strong reserve of the very heaviest armed ironelads is not worth a straw. Obsolete "old kettles," relegated to coast defence, will have some value then. So much, indeed, have the circum- stances altered since 1803, Such a reserve could and would deal a final and crushing blow.
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