powerful body of artillery, the infantry attack almost always encounters an unshaken adversary.

The small effect of the Russian field artillery, in the battles of July and August, on the covered and entrenched Turkish positions, had so strongly shaken the confidence of the troops in their field artillery, that to prepare for the great attack on Plevna, in September, twenty 24-pounders were brought up from the siege park, but even these did not achieve even a tolerably satisfactory result.

The first opening of fire takes place, on an average, at 2,400 mètres, at which distance the 4-pounder is considered useless, and only 9-pounders and heavy guns are employed. After approaching within 1,600 mètres of the enemy's position, a few 4-pounder batteries take part in the cannonade. The result of this cannonade, carried on for several days with great energy, and to which the Turks in general only feebly reply, is almost null, if one does not count the damage to the Russian guncarriages a certainly very negative and questionable result.

The effect of the fire of 60 guns, directed concentrically against the redoubt of Gornjia Dubnjak, on the 24th October, can hardly be considered satisfactory; one would have expected that such an overwhelming fire-60 guns to 4-would in a very short time have broken all resistance. Instead of this, the garrison of the redoubt, after enduring for several hours this apparently terrible fire, was in a condition to repulse several attempts at storming, made by superior numbers.

The capitulation of the redoubt of Telisch, on the 28th October, is the only success which can be entirely set down to the credit of the artillery.

In the supposition that, in the future, extensive field fortifications will probably play the same part as in the present Russo-Turkish War, the following demands will probably be made on the artillery :

1. A part, and not too small a one, of the field artillery must consist of guns of considerably heavier calibre than has hitherto been assigned to field artillery, in order to sufficiently destroy the enemy's cover from long distances.

2. The light field artillery (and for this the smallest calibre hitherto employed, the 8-centimetre gun, is amply sufficient) must seek its sphere of usefulness, not in positions in the rear, but in direct co-operation with the attacking infantry. The light artillery must partly immediately accompany the attacking infantry in small fractions (even a couple of guns may, at the right spot, produce great effect), partly in larger bodies by skilful and bold manœuvring, direct a heavy fire, though it be only of short duration, on some especially important points of the enemy's position. Acting in this way, great losses in men and horses (under some circumstances, even the loss of guns) will be unavoidable, and the responsible leader, if he will gain decisive results, must not shrink from such contingencies.

A battery which has maintained a destructive fire at a decisive point for five minutes, one minute even, and then is lost, has done more for the general good than ten batteries which, from well chosen positions in the rear, have kept up a wellaimed but, after all, a nearly ineffective fire.

6. Fortifications and Field Works.

Ardahan, Nicopolis, and Kars, fortresses equipped with a numerous artillery of heavy calibre, succumb to attack by storm; the field fortifications of Plevna, only constructed after the enemy came in sight, and partly under his fire, and for the armament of which only a comparatively small number of guns of small calibre is available, holds out for nearly five months, and is eventually only reduced by hunger. This contrast presents itself involuntarily at the head of the series of reflections which the present war calls forth on the subject of the disposition of fortresses.

Certainly, Ardahan, Nicopolis, and Kars fell so quickly, not because, but although they were real fortresses; Plevna made such a resistance, not because, but although it was only defended by field works; and, finally, these cases only prove anew the old principle, that a fortress only derives its value and importance from the troops which defend it. Nevertheless, it is not to be denied that, in the present war, field fortifications, as compared with fortresses, have played a more important part than formerly, and that this will probably also take place in future wars. In theory, fortifications and field works have the same end-to form, with the employment of VOL. XXII.

3 E

all available means, as strong a position as possible; the distinction only lies in the means available in the various cases.

The limit of these means is only fixed, in the construction of fortresses, by economical reasons, in the construction of field works by the various circumstances of the case, among which the time available plays a principal part.

Naturally, all the points of a country, which under any possible circumstances may become the foci of the war, cannot be beforehand converted into fortresses. This is impossible, not only from regard to the consideration of expense, but also for many other reasons, military and civil; only such places as have, under all circumstances, a permanent strategical value can be so treated; those permanent fortresses form only a defensive outline, and it is left to field fortifications to fill this in according to the requirements of the war in progress.

The great improvements in arms, as also the great increase and improvement of means of transport as compared with former times, which permit of the rapid bringing up of comparatively heavy artillery and of the extensive supply of ammunition, cause greater demands to be made than formerly for the construction of fortifications. These demands can be easily satisfied in time of peace by the construction of fortresses, with the application of all available technical appliances, if only money is obtainable; but in the construction of field fortifications, time will always, and the available labour will generally, be limited, and it has therefore to be considered what preparatory measures will serve to facilitate the rapid establishment of suitable field fortifications in a given moment.

These measures may be divided into two groups, intellectual and material.

To the first category belong the preparation in peace time of defensive schemes rof all points which, in certain contingencies, may become of importance in war, and the training of the troops (not the technical arms) in the construction of large fortifications. The material measures consist of the supplying the army with a sufficient quantity of entrenching tools, and finally, of the preparation of all the timber constructions required for such works, such as blockhouses, powder magazines, gun platforms, blindages, bridges, ramps, and barracks, which should be stored in pieces in the great fortresses ready for issue.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Almanach für die k. k. Kriegs-Marine. 1878. Edited by the Conductors of the "Mittheilungen aus dem Gebiete des See-wesens." Pola. 12mo. Size 5" × 3}". Weight 5 oz.

WE observe from the title page that this is the third year of publication of this useful and handy little volume. As we made its acquaintance in its previous issue, we can say that it has been greatly improved, and that the improvements have not added very much to its bulk. Now that both the Austrian and German Empires have become such important maritime powers, any publications relating to naval affairs which appear in either country are entitled to careful notice at the hands of British Officers; and the size, portability, and amount of information which this almanack contains give it a very high place amongst the many works which we owe to the pens of both German and Austrian naval Officers. A great deal of it is naturally taken up with matters chiefly concerning the Austrian Service, but still it contains a mass of facts useful and interesting to the Officers of every Navy in the world. In the first place the "get up" of the book cannot be too highly commended. It is literally a pocket-book, and can be carried in the pocket without any inconvenience.

It is printed on very thin, and at the same time excellent, paper. The type is small and also exceedingly clear; the graduation of type for headings and titles is in itself first rate. There are some fifty blank pages at the end, a pencil loop on one cover, and a small pocket on the inside of both. We recommend the type and paper to the notice of Captain Bedford should his own admirable pocket book be reprinted. In some respects the little almanack before us resembles that useful work. Being a periodical publication, it of course deals much with passing affairs, but still there is much in it which will long continue to be of value. The first part contains several pages of rules and mathematical formula for navigation, nautical astronomy, gunnery, naval architecture, and marine engineering. In the second part are details of the guns in use in the different navies of the world. The third part contains lists of the fleets of all the maritime powers, with the size, armour, armament, speed, and designation of each particular ship of any importance. In the number before us this part is illustrated with plans and sections of the newer and most noteworthy vessels. There are also tables of the weights, measures, and moneys of different countries. Indeed, to the end of the third part, or about one-half of the book, it may be regarded as combining much of the information contained in Captain Bedford's "Sailor's Pocket-book," and Mr. King's "War Ships of Europe," reviewed in a previous number of the Journal. The remaining parts, IV and V, are occupied with the regulations of the Imperial Royal Navy, and complete lists of its active and retired Officers. C. B.

Die Marine. Von Kontre-Admiral BROMMY und Fregatten-Kapitän H. VON LITTROW. Third edition, arranged with respect to present progress and enlarged, by Ferdinand von Kronenfels. 8vo. Vienna: Hartleben, 1878. Price 14s. 6d. Weight 3 lbs. Size 10" x 7".

THIS is another of those books published abroad which are of such interest to naval Officers. The works of Marchal and King, both foreigners, on recent war ships, are exclusively devoted to the consideration of questions of construction and of matters connected with dockyards and machinery. The work before us, though a considerable portion of it is occupied with descriptions of the newest classes of ships of war, both armoured and unarmoured, is more extended in its scope. It attempts to present the reader, whether lay or professional, with a complete picture of the Naval Service. Appealing as it does, therefore, to a class of readers larger in number than the ranks of the Navy, either national or mercantile, could supply, it is written in a more popular and less technical style than most books of a similar character. A great deal of it is certainly quite worthy of being read merely for its own sake, and not because of any special instruction which it may be expected to convey. The first edition was published thirty years ago; and the present-the third-may be regarded as substantially a new work. There can be no doubt that the most important chapter in it, that which comprises accounts of the more noteworthy ships built within the last few years for the navies of the world, and which is equal in length to about a quarter of the whole book, is entirely new. The extensive tables at the end of foreign fleets and guns are new also and are very valuable. The first chapter is headed "The Sea," and contains a short essay upon marine physical geography. The colour, saltness, composition, gravity, and temperature of the sea are all considered in order; as well as the motion of waves, the nature of currents, tides, winds, &c. This is followed by a description of the instruments, such as the compass, log-line, chronometer, and sounding-lead, used by mariners. he second chapter gives us a short historical sketch of shipbuilding down to the introduction of steam, and explains many of the terms and processes of naval architecture. The system of construction employed in building both mercantile and foreign ships is put succinctly and clearly before the reader, who can hardly fail to derive much assistance from the really admirable illustrations with which the explanation is accompanied. The next chapter, called "The Ship's Fabric," describes in detail the several parts which make up the frame or hull of a vessel of any particular class. From this we pass to a series of chapters on the rigging and fitting out of ships, and

the systems of equipment employed for various purposes of service, and upon the organization and special duties of the different ranks of Officers and men composing the personnel of the Navy. After these comes the chapter which we have designated the most important in the book, viz., the one headed "The floating matériel of the "Fleet," which deals with the several classes of modern war ships, no matter for what country they have been constructed. The other chapters having to do with what more particularly concerns the countrymen of the authors and editors can have, naturally, but an indirect interest compared with that which this lengthened description of many of our own vessels will be found to possess for Officers of the English Navy. Not only will they here find a vast amount of information concerning shipe in which, perhaps, they may have actually served; but, owing to the number of foreign vessels described, they will have ample and ready means of comparison of the one with the other. Short of an actual conflict, we know of no other way in which the relative merits of two such vessels as, say the English "Alexandra" and the Austrian "Tegetthoff," can be estimated, if it be not by a careful study of the facts concerning them, which the book we are noticing brings so conveniently together. The whole chapter is enriched by a perfect wealth of illustration which even in professional works of the kind is unusual: there is not a Navy of any importance, not a class of ship of any fighting power, which is not represented by at least one excellently drawn plan or sketch. The other departments of warlike efficiency are not neglected, and several pages are taken up with detailed descriptions of the many systems of torpedoes, which we owe to the inventive genius of such men as Lay, Whitehead, and Ericsson. The remainder of the book is occupied with notices of the work in dockyards and arsenals, and the service afloat in harbour and at sea. An interesting chapter on a naval engagement contains an account of two typical battles-Trafalgar fought in the days of sailing wooden ships, and Lissa in these modern ones of ironclads and steam rams. The history of Tegetthoff's victory is well told, and will certainly amply repay perusal. The tables at the end are numerous and important. First we have the "Complement Lists" of ships in the German and in the Austrian Navies. We would direct the attention of English Officers to these suggestive statistics. They show how wide is the difference between the proportion of noncombatants to combatants in our own and in foreign services. There next come tables of the dimensions, power, &c., of the Krupp, Russian, French, Woolwich, Armstrong, and Whitworth systems of ordnance. After these are tolerably complete navy lists of all nations. We have already spoken of the richness of illustration, which is a feature of the work; and we may add that twelve free-hand pictures of ships-several English amongst them--are not its least attractive feature. A valuable glossary, containing about 2,000 sea expressions, is also amongst the supplementary matter at the end, and should be of great use to students of foreign nautical terms. The merits of the work are considerable, and we doubt if anything equal to it has yet been published. C. B.

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History of the Indian Navy (1613-1863). By CHARLES RATHBONE LOW, Lieutenant (late) Indian Navy, F.R.G.S. Author of "The Life of F.M. Sir George Pollock, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.S.I. ;" "Tales of Ocean;" "The Land of the Sun." &c. 2 vols., 8vo. London, 1877. Price 36s. Size 9" x 6". Weight 4 lb. 4 oz. IN two stout octavo volumes Lieutenant Low has attempted to relate the history of the distinguished, and now extinct, service in which he held a commission, and in which, as he tells us, "some of the best years" of his life were passed. His modest and interesting preface will be found to contain a summary of the motives by which he was impelled to undertake the work of recording the deeds of the Indian Navy, alike in war and in peace, throughout its long and honourable career of exactly two centuries and a half. He has endeavoured to erect a monument of its achievements throughout that lengthened period, similar in design to that which we owe to the world. In accucy of the historian James, of the glories of the Royal Navy It is literally a pocket-bot century which began with the epoch of Lord Howe's victory

on the 1st of June, 1794, and ended with Lord Exmouth's attack on the city of Algiers. The result is that he has produced the most important naval book which has appeared in this country for many years. He seems, to some extent, to have taken James as his model; and though-as we feel sure he himself would readily admit-he has fallen far short of his distinguished predecessor in the field of naval history, yet, wielding as he does an able and practised pen, and being personally conversant with many of the details of his subject, his labours may be said to have been eminently successful. In the preparation of his work he was confronted by an extraordinary difficulty. At the present day, anyone who should undertake to narrate the story of some great department of the public service, with a career extending down to our own times, would almost certainly find that his chief embarrassment lay in the enormous wealth of materials which he would have to sift and examine before drawing upon them for his facts. If any reader at any time tried to estimate the labour of drawing an accurate picture of, say, the Royal Navy since the Battle of Navarino down to the date of the expedition to Abyssinia, and have realized the shifting condition of the Service throughout that period, he may be able to form some idea of the vast mass of documents, manuscripts, and printed matter which he would have to wade through. Yet even this would probably shrink into insignificance in comparison with the mountainous pile of evidence which the historian of the 250 years of the Indian Naval Service, corresponding with, and reporting to at least a double set of masters, local and at home, would have to weigh and summarize. This obstacle was removed from our author's path. He suffered, incredible as it may seem, from what he pungently terms "an act of "Vandalism," "the destruction of the public records of the Indian Navy." Mr. Clements Markham, whom he quotes, has said in another place (" Memoir on the "Indian Surveys," London, 1871, p. 5): "It has been difficult to bring together a "record of the marine surveys in consequence of the destruction of documents." That he has triumphed over so unexpected and strange a difficulty is much to Lieutenant Low's credit.

It is strange that the history contained in these volumes should be so seldom thought of or so little known by the fellow-countrymen of the gallant spirits who laid the foundations, and erected the early structure of the great fabric of British power in India. More than a century before Clive's victory at Plassy the valiant seamen of the Company's vessels had been winning a name for their country and themselves by their enterprise and daring in the distant regions of the East. In 1607 a ship of the Company, the "Hector," first anchored in an Indian port, that of Surat; and the first Englishman to represent the great Association of Merchants at the Mogul's Court was the Hector's Captain, Hawkins. Hostile and piratical natives of these far-distant shores, as well as rival traders from other European countries, had to be withstood; and as a result of frequent contests with the former and with the Dutch and Portuguese, the Company determined to "equip their "vessels for fighting as well as for trading purposes.' These armed ships were the predecessors of the Indiamen, whose brilliant actions with enemies' ships continued down to a date within the present century, and of the "Bombay Marine," or fighting force, under the immediate orders of the Government of Bombay, which eventually came to be designated the Indian Navy. It is with the story of the latter that Lieutenant Low exclusively deals.

After some brilliant conflicts, against apparently overwhelming odds, with the heavy ships of the Portuguese, the Company's Officers obtained permission to establish regular trading factories at Surat and other places. These it was necessary to protect by some organized force against all aggressors. "Hence," says our historian, " was formed the nucleus of the service that developed, first into the "Bombay Marine, and ultimately into the Indian Navy. In this year,

"1613, when the Indian Marine was first formed, the Company had not a single "European soldier or sepoy in their pay." The permanent establishment of the local Marine, we are told farther on (p. 24), may be dated from the year 1615. Previous

1 Mr. W. S. Lindsay, "History of Merchant Shipping," vol. ii, Appendix 11, gives a list of these actions.