Naval Warfare

R. Thursfield James

Description

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. I should hope that readers who have found this volume useful to them will not confine their studies to it. Abundant materials for a deeper and more comprehensive study of the subject will be found in the several works incidentally mentioned or quoted ~in my text, and in the writings Of those other contemporary authors with whom Sir Charles Ottley has done me the high honour to associate myself. In these several works further guidance to a still more sustained study Of the subject will be found, and in this regard I would specially mention the admirable Short H istory of the Royal N avy, by Mr David Hannay - two volumes which, in addition to their other and more conspicuous merits, contain a well-selected list of authorities to be consulted prefixed to each chapter. These references, which in truth cover the whole subject, will, I trust, better serve the purpose of the advanced or advancing student than any such Bibliography as I could compile on a scale commensurate with the form and purpose of the present Manual.

Sujets

• Military history
• Histoire

Informations

• Publié par: Forgotten Books
• Date de parution: 27 novembre 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780243715268
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

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itle chosen by its author for t is little volume would assure ly c ommend it to the N aval Service e v en if that aut or s name were as it is house old o d with ore than one generation na v to such Of the general publiccers But al O as not yet familiar with Mr writings a b rief ord Of introduction m ay perhaps be usefu For the matters erein dealt with are by means Of interest only to the n v al profession T ey have their bearing al o on e v ery calling and trade In these days when national p olicy is at the mercy Of the ba ll aay that much to s is too ox it ot b right unders tanding of the principles maritime warfare is a most as desirable amongst ci v ilians as among t professional sailors Regre table indeed would it be if the mere fact that this little book bear a more less echnical title should tempt the c areless to skip its pages or pitch it to that dreary limb o which atten e en the best text b ooks on subj ects hich we think do not c oncern us The fr it naval vict ory the c alamitie attend n naval defeat are matters

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N AVAL WARFARE

which ill c ome ho e Bacon cla ic phra e to the bu ine and the b oso of all of land men and eamen alike Mo t E gli hmen at least dim y aware Of this They reali e more or le perhaps that a deci ive Briti h defeat at sea under modern condition wo ld involve un peak able con e quences con e quences not merely fatal to the truc ure of the Empire but de tructive the root our national life and Of the well being Of almos all individuals in the e island Elementary prudence insists ade quate safe guar against evi s o upreme and amo gst tho e afeguar the education of the people to day occupie a foremo t place O ur Empire s de ti ie for good and evil are now in the hands Of the as es the people incerely as all lovers ordered freedom may rej oice in thi devolution Of political power to the people thoughtful men will be apt to reflcrowd seldomect that an uninstr c ed right in c ollec ive action If Mini terial pon ibility dwin ed that each Maj est s liege has enormou ly crea ed and it is more incumbent the a ion rank and to ay than ever in the p a t to equip them elve with the knowledge nece ary to enable them to rec ord their votes aright It from thi point of iew that thi Manual should be read epitomises the principle upon

INTR O DUCTI O

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which ucce s naval warfare depends It show how the moral f c or in all cases and at every epoch dominates and c ontrol the material how the as Mr c alls it the desire to get at the enemy in anyth ng thatfloats transcends every other weapon a nation ar oury if that spirit pr sent other culties can be surmounted and without it thickest armour the bigge t all shattering guns shrivel in b attle to the measure Of mere u eless scrap iron This the mes age the book the seaman and this of the es ence Of the whole matter the land man it als o a less on a very f erent kind His respo ib lity is for the material factor naval war Let him note the supreme v lue the moral factor let enc ourage it with all pos ible honour and homage but let him imit contribution to the nation sfighting capital to any mere service this kind The moral factor is primarily the sailor s business duty is to see to it that when war comes sailors are sent sea in any hi g thatfloats but perfectin the most modern types of warship that human ingenuity c an design How can this fundamental duty be brough home to the individual E glishman Certain y by asking master the niceties of modern