THE RULE OF THE SEA.
Reading edition
(For the Use of Admirers of the Admiralty.)
Question. What is your duty as a sailor in Her Majesty's Fleet?
Answer. To carry out the orders of my superiors.
Q. If you were told that black was white what would you say?
A. That white was black.
Q. If you were informed that two and two made five would you believe it?
A. Certainly, and insist that those who thought four was the proper answer had been gravely misinformed.
Q. Would you believe a captain to be always in the right?
A. Yes, from a lieutenant's point of view. Although, of course, I should consider him the weakest of authorities in the presence of an admiral.
Q. Would you ever act upon your own responsibility?
A. Never; as such a course would be destructive to good discipline.
Q. Then, if you were told to perform an impossible manœuvre you would attempt to do it?
A. Certainly.
Q. Even if you saw that the result must be disaster?
A. Yes. I should choose the lesser of two evils.
Q. To what two evils do you refer?
A. Loss of life by my obedience, and loss of discipline by my disobedience.
Q. Which would be the smaller of the two disasters?
A. The loss of life.
Q. But did not Nelson solve a problem of a somewhat similar character by using his blind eye?
A. Yes; but then Nelson was unique.