NAVAL TACTICS. Modern naval tactics, as embodying a series of rules for maneuvering to the best advantage, corresponding to what is known on land as "la ;pantie Tterre," may be said to data only from the time of Cromwell's admiral, Blake. Little change from then till the war of 1S12 took place in the general prim ivies of attack, with the single exception of the introduction of reliable mortars, but at that date the invention of the breech-sight altered the conditions of the problems as regards range. The introduction of steam causes the next change at the battle of Navarino, since when evolutions under steam form the subject of greatest consequence. Armor and pro jectile are constantly opposed, nor is it likely that either can long hold the balance, until the introduction of some extraneous factor, like torpedoes exploded by electricity, shall definitely change the efforts of seamen and constructors to a new direction. Our Into war proved that heayy ordnance might be silenced by the successive attack of near mored vessels; and admiral Tegethoff, at the battle of Lissa, stink, with wooden ships, the finest iron-clads of that day. In a squadron consisting of or more vessels,
moving in line, or a column in echelon—that is in column, say, from n. to s., but each vessel heading mw. movements are executed much on the principles of tiny tactics— by division, half-division, or single vessels. Thus, from line into column, upon right, left, or center; double column, wheels, changing of front, right about, by either flank, in echelon, and at various distances. Foxhall A. Parker (Squad. lashes strider Steam, New York, 1864), then a commander, proposed, as the necessary signals were not in the code, a series of signals for maneuver and change of direction, counting froMthe right by quarter points. Nos. 1 to 32 indicated points of the compass, and from 33 to 116 orders for movements.