“It is to be observed that although Mr. White does not venture to join the only other apologist for these deficiently armored ships in stating that India-rubber umbrella shot-stoppers are to be employed for their preservation in battle, he does go so far as to tell us that the spaces into which water would enter when the unarmored parts have been penetrated have been subdivided ‘to facilitate the work of stopping temporarily shot-holes in the sides,’ and I know independently that a good deal of reliance is placed at the Admiralty upon the presumed ability to stop such holes as they are made. But the whole thing is a delusion. The officer of the _Cochrane_, before quoted, said, ‘I wish to state that shot-plugs are out of the question after or at such a fight. They are entirely useless. Not a hole was either round, square, or oval, but different shapes—ragged, jagged, and torn, the inside parts and half-inch plating being torn in ribbons; some of the holes inside are as large as four by three feet, and of all shapes. There are many shot-plugs on board here, all sizes, conical shapes and long, but they are of no use whatever.’ “Mr. White’s letter invites many other comments, but I have said enough to show that it in no way changes my view of the question of armor-plated line-of-battle ships. In so far as it advocates a further abandonment of armor and a further resort to doubtful devices in lieu thereof, it is already answered by anticipation by the Admiralty itself. Until I wrote my recent letters to you, our Admiralty thought as Mr. White still thinks, and tended as he still tends. In the case of all our recent cruisers but two they had abolished side-armor altogether. To my public appeal for armor-belted cruisers they have, however, responded, and are about to order six of such ships. So far, so good. We ought to be grateful for this concession to a most reasonable demand. I wish these cruisers were to be faster, much faster, but in Admiralty matters the country must be thankful for small mercies. “It only remains for me to note with satisfaction one or two of the points upon which Mr. White is in agreement with myself. He admits that it ‘would certainly be advantageous’ to carry out those experiments which I regard the Admiralty as afraid to make, _viz._, experiments to test the effect of gun-fire upon the subdivided but unarmored parts of ships. * * * * *