The art of handling ships being one in which perfection is only achieved by practice and experience, it is the duty of those whose ambition is to make the sea a profession, especially those who follow it in H.M. Service, to study the art from their earliest days, losing no opportunity of watching their seniors handle the ships committed. to their charge.

Many officers gain their knowledge in small ships, but it is possible that quite a young officer may find himself as officer of the watch called upon to manoeuvre a battleship or cruiser on the first occasion of his keeping watch, and without having had any previous experience. It is therefore all the more important for junior officers to observe and take most particular note on every occasion afforded them of seeing ships handled, from the most important manoeuvre of getting a ship under way in a close harbour, or open bay, whether in company with a fleet or otherwise, to the simple operation of altering course one point only, and to observe most carefully the success or failure of those carrying out the manoeuvre, remembering that perhaps more may be learnt from noting mistakes and blunders, and thereby engraving on the memory what not to do, than even by watching the best performed manoeuvre.

The Service has a splendid training school in destroyers, where skill, quick action, and nerve can be developed to the highest perfection. The high speed and close formation in which the flotillas of these vessels are handled bring out the best capabilities of a seaman, as the slightest mistake may in an instant cause a disastrous collision.

Some people are born seamen, and to them handling ships well is an easy matter; others gain perfection by close practical study ; there are still others who never succeed, it is not " in them," and they become a worry and an annoyance to their comrades. The great hope and ambition of every young officer should be that he will never join the latter class, and he should therefore give the subject his earliest and best attention.

In earlier days, a young officer's first study was the safe handling of sails, the then motive power of a ship; now, among many other matters, the study of the action of the propeller should take a foremost place, after which a knowledge of the distance in which a ship will turn and the distance run in stopping or gaining way are two essentials.

To be continued........

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