DEFENSE AGAINST BOMBARDMENT.
Bombardments aim chiefly at the destruction of the naval establishments of a fort, such as the arsenals, docks, magazines, and ships of the fleet lying in the harbor, but also secondarily at the destruction of cities and establishments other than those purely naval, in order to produce a de pressing effect on the people. Bombardments are only under special circumstances and not against every harbor; indeed, the latter must he a true roadstead. But even then the fortifica tions and armament must he either weak or obso lete. From this fact, and because of the limited supply of ammunition carried by ships, a bom bardment will but rarely he justified. If it is at tempted, however. the attacking fleet will set aside a small portion of its artillery to attack the coast artillery, reserving the greater part to attack the establishments lying within the harbor.
The defender will attempt to hold the open sea as long as possible with his fleet, but when driven in lie assemble his ships in rear of the outer obstructions, or at least attempt to hold that line with his torpedo-boats. The coast artillery will
endeavor to keep the enemy as tar as possible from the harbor. The object being to prevent. if possible, a bombardment of the harbor or city, all guns should take part, and when the enemy's fleet approaches the proper range, high-angle fire, with deck-piercing shell, will be used. The gun boats and coast defenders or monitors of the home fleet can materially assist the coast artillery by the fire of their guns, but they must be protected from the enemy's torpedo-boats by a number of destroyers. As in case of blockade, the gains must be kept constantly manned and ready for action, and at night the search-lights must be constantly at work. Should the enemy be forced to retire, the fleet must advance to the frttaek. See BOM BARDMENT.