s. Little
had then been accomplished and the works were scarcely completed before
the introduction of long breech-loading guns rendered their armaments
obsolete.

The fortification of the coaling stations for the British empire is
still proceeding on a scale which, in some cases, cannot easily be
reconciled with the principles laid down by the president of the cabinet
committee of defence. At the Guildhall, London, on the 3rd of December
1896, the duke of Devonshire stated that "The maintenance of sea
supremacy has been assumed as the basis of the system of imperial
defence against attack from over the sea. This is the determining factor
in fixing the whole defensive policy of the empire." It was, however, he
added, necessary to provide against "the predatory raids of cruisers";
but "it is in the highest degree improbable that this raiding attack
would be made by more than a few ships, nor could it be of any permanent
effect unless troops were landed." This is an unexceptionable statement
of the requirements of passive defence in the case of the coaling
stations of the British empire. Their protection must depend primarily
on the navy. Their immobile armaments are needed to ward off a raiding
attack, and a few effective guns, well mounted, manned by well-trained
men, and kept in full readiness, will amply suffice.

Modern conditions.

Secondary bases.

If the command of the sea is lost, large expeditionary forces can be
brought to bear upon coaling stations, and their security will thus
depend upon their mobile garrisons, not upon their passive defences. In
any case, where coal is stored on shore, it cannot be destroyed by the
fire of a ship, and it can only be appropriated by landing men. A small
force, well armed and well handled, can effectually prevent a raid of
this nature without any assistance from heavy guns. In war, the
possession of secure coal stores in distant ports may be a great
advantage, but it will rarely suffice for the needs of a fleet engaged
in offensive operations, and requiring to be accompanied or met at
prearranged rendezvous by colliers from which coal can be transferred in
any sheltered waters. In the British naval manoeuvres of 1892, Admiral
Sir Michael Seymour succeeded in coaling his squadron at sea, and by the
aid of mechanical appliances this is frequently possible. In the
Spanish-American War of 1898 some coaling was thus accomplished; but
Guantanamo Bay served the purpose of