Logically it follows, at the same moment in which the line ahead became definitively the order for battle, there was established the distinction between the ships 'of the line,' alone destined for a place therein, and the lighter ships meant for other uses." If to these we add the considerations which led to making the line-of-battle a close-hauled line, we have the problem fully worked out.

But the chain of reasoning was as clear two hundred and fifty years ago as it is now; why then was it so long in being worked out?
Partly, no doubt, because old traditions--in those days traditions of galley-fighting--had hold of and confused men's minds; chiefly because men are too indolent to seek out the foundation truths of the situation in their day, and develop the true theory of action from its base up.

As a rare instance of clear-sightedness, recognizing such a fundamental change in conditions and predicting results, words of Admiral Labrousse of the French navy, written in 1840, are most instructive.

"Thanks to steam," he wrote, "ships will be able to move in any direction with such speed that the effects of collision may, and indeed must, as they formerly did, take the place of projectile weapons and annul the calculations of the skilful manoeuvrer.

The ram will be favorable to speed, without destroying the nautical qualities of a ship.