5

3

The torpedo admits of more thorough practical test, without risk
of doing damage. Its range, time of flight, accuracy under varying
conditions can all be settled, everything but the personal equation.
When discharged from a large ship, or a ship in contest with an
equal, there should be no greater demand for nerve than when firing
a gun from the same; in an attack by small torpedo boats, or by ves-
sels very vulnerable as compared with the ship assailed, the strain
on the nerves will be greater. In all sham battles of torpedo
boats against ironclads, I should, in estimating the results, be in-
clined to allow largely for the fact that the men in the boats knew
they would not be sunk; not that there are not plenty of men bold
enough to carry through such enterprises, the history of torpedo
warfare, young as it is, shows this fully; but I think it may be safe
ly said, and the whole history of warfare proves it, that all desper-
ate enterprises which require not only courage, but skill used with
coolness are peculiarly open to failure; the men who, holding their
lives in their hands, with the chances against them, can seize the
right moment, neither too soon nor too late, are exceptional. In a
navy relying to any extent on torpedo boats, large practise should
be lead ^had?^ to find out the good shots; then it would be necessary to
count upon a large percentage of failure among these good shots,
from various causes, in time of battle.

I think from such considerations as I have mentioned, and there