Page 215 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

196 Preparedness for Naval War.

the offensive navy, of which nevertheless it
forms a part. To take the offensive against
a floating force it must itself be afloat —
naval. This offensive element of coast de-
fence is to be found in the torpedo-boat, in
its various developments. It must be kept
distinct in idea from the sea-going fleet,
although it is, of course, possible that the
two may act in concert. The war very well
may take such a turn that the sea-going
navy will find its best preparation for initiating
an offensive movement to be by concentrating
in a principal seaport. Failing such a con-
tingency, however, and in and for coast de-
fence in its narrower sense, there should be a
local flotilla of small torpedo-vessels, which
by their activity should make life a burden
to an outside enemy. A distinguished British
admiral, now dead, has said that he believed
half the captains of a blockading fleet would
break down — "go crazy" were the words
repeated tome — under the strain of modern
conditions. The expression, of course, was in-
tended simply to convey a sense of the im-
mensity of suspense to be endured. In such
a flotilla, owing to the smallness of its com-