of 1888, during which operations
were supposed to be carried on, by the squadron playing the
part of a hostile fleet, which I ventured to assert to be in
contravention of international law. Many letters were written
by naval men in a contrary sense, and the report of a committee
of admirals appointed to consider, among other questions, "the
feasibility and expediency of cruisers making raids on an
enemy's coasts and unprotected towns for the purpose of levying
contributions," was to the effect that "there can be no doubt
about the feasibility of such operations by a maritime enemy
possessed of sufficient power; and as to the expediency, there
can be as little doubt but that any Power at war with Great
Britain will adopt every possible means of weakening her enemy;
and we know of no means more efficacious for making an enemy
feel the pinch of war than by thus destroying his property and
touching his pocket." (_Parl. Paper_, 1889 [c. 5632], pp. 4,
8.) The supposed hostile squadron had, it seems, received
express instructions "to attack any port in Great Britain."
(See more fully in the writer's _Studies in International Law_,
1898, p. 96.) The fifth letter was suggested by a Russian
protest against alleged Japanese action in 1904.

The subsequent history of this controversy, some account of
which will be found at the end of this section, has, it is
submitted, established the correctness of the views maintained
in it.

NAVAL ATROCITIES

Sir,--I trust we may soon learn on authority whether or no the enemies
of this country are conducting naval hostilities in accordance with the
rules of civilised warfare. I read with indignation that the _Spider_
has destroyed Greenock; that she announced her intention of "blowing
down" Ardrossan; that she has been "shelling the fine marine residences
and watering-places in the Vale of Clyde." Can this be true, and was
there really any ground for expecting that "a bombardment of the outside
coast of the Isle of Wight" would take place last night?

Your obedient servant,
T. E. HOLLAND.
Athenaeum Club, August 7 (1888).

THE NAVAL MANOEUVRES

Sir,--In a letter which I addressed to you on the 7th inst. I ventured
to point out the discrepancy between the proceedings of certain vessels
belonging to Admiral Tryon's fleet and the rules of civilised warfare.
Your correspondent on board Her