was shown the lecture-rooms and could not help wishing I could have one of them in my own ship for meetings instead of the baggage-room flat! In these rooms lectures are given in the forenoon; in the afternoon practical work is done before the men and explained to them; and in the evening more classes are held. The men are taught electricity and magnetism, management and working of the electric light, and about the various kinds of mines and torpedoes and explosives generally. After theory comes practice, lectures being superseded by and by by practical work in the mining-field and the electric-light shop. The next stage is instruction in the Whitehead torpedo, a weapon with whose outward appearance I am very familiar. I have even seen them with their heads off and observed torpedo-men playing with them ! But of their internal economy it is not permitted to a 'layman" to know or see anything; so I can only say that lectures are given to the men on these mysteries, and, when the course is completed, examinations are held and the successful candidates are rated and can thereupon sew the proud badge of an S.G.T. on the sleeve of their jumpers. Torpedoes are funny toys and require a lot of humouring. Every now and again one will turn skittish and, instead of going straight in the required direction, will double like a hare or plunge its silly head downwards and stick in the mud, a proceeding very trying to the feelings of the torpedo-lieutenant and his staff. Sometimes it will poke its nose up much too close to the boat sent to pick it up to be pleasant for the boat's crew. But sometimes, too, it will go straighter and do more execution than was expected of it by its friends. For instance, I find the following note in my diary: "Got out all-round defence (i.e. torpedo-nets all round the ship). A torpedo fired from the picket-boat got past the net and struck the ship. Good shot!" No doubt the lecturers and instructors in the Vernon and Defiance put their pupils up to the little ways and tricks of these lively weapons and have by this time succeeded in making them more amenable to discipline. Both the Vernon and Defiance are amply supplied with all the latest appliances, and a large number of torpedo-boats, mining-launches, &c. The Vulcan serves as Torpedo depôt, factory, and school for the Mediterranean Squadron. She is a splendid vessel, able to do her twenty knots, with workshops, stores, and all appliances for making, repairing and renewing all torpedo and electrical gear required in the service. |