We are glad to find the Pall Mall Ca:ette taking
up the question of submarine boats and protesting against Mr. Gosehen's argument that we do not need them because they are "a weapon for those on the defensive." Submarine boats may very possibly be impracticable—a fad in fact, and that would be a good reason against employing them, but to ignore them because they are thus arbitrarily and most un- scientifically classed as defensive is surely absurd. They arc no more essentially defensive than torpedo-boats, and cer- tainly not so defensive as armour. Yet we ignore neither of these. Considering the gravity of thb issue at stake, it seems to us that we ought most certainly to experiment in their construction, and to provide ourselves with a weapon which, whether for offence or defence, may turn out of vast importance. War is full of surprises, and who knows but that the use of the submarine boat may be the surprise of the next naval war. Considering this possibility, we must not be without them.
Previous page
