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cided, the victors cannot leave them to their fate; the vanquished
can.

When they are down, what part are they to play? what particular
sphere is to be asigned to them? Are they first to open the at-
tack or second to hover on the skirts of the battle watching their
chance to pene rate with their small and hardy dimensions; or
third when certain results more or less decisive, have obtained,
more particularly the crippling of some ships, are they to give the
coup de grace? as the French valets used to kill the horseman
their master had dismounted.

The torpedo boat must come very near its target. If experience
should justify its use in the open sea, ships of all nations will
be alike supplied with them. Precisely where they will be placed
in the order of battle need not here be discussed; the first ques-
tion is where, how and with what changes of success they can attack
the enemy's line.

In the first place I suppose we may say they will not attack
the whole of it, but will concentrate, hoping to reach their aim un-
hindered by the enemy's boats. So far as opposition by their equl
equals, other torpedo boats, the changes are neither worse nor bet-
ter than in the case of any other equals contending. Compared
with the class of large Rams, they are smaller undoubtedly, as tar-
gets, and the speed may be considered as the same.

Nevertheless I think, despite their greater numbers, that the