Page:The Next Naval War - Eardley-Wilmot - 1894.djvu/15

 imposing upon her naval commanders a defensive attitude towards it as the best means of ensuring success for the expedition. Though here and there a temporary gain may follow, a naval war thus pursued must in the end be disastrous.

Jurien de la Gravière had proclaimed, "There is but one way to avoid the danger of being half conquered before the first battle; that way is, to be both active and provident, to keep line-of-battle ships ready to be manned at the first signal, and to threaten the enemy's coasts before he can blockade ours."

Lissa showed that any other objective than the enemy's fleet at the first onset is hazardous in the extreme. Careful students of cause and effect, the French had now determined to be first in the field, and strike heavy blows before our forces could be concentrated for the same purpose. To this end all their recent organisation had been directed. The newest ships not in commission so nearly approached this condition, that all they required to take the sea were a small portion of the crew, and certain stores that could be shipped in a few hours. The principal elements for immediate service were on the spot. The first and second in command had been in the ships from the beginning, and such was the discipline maintained, that both could not be absent night or day together. No delay could ensue in completing the ships with officers or men. In France every naval officer is