SCENE--_Whitehall. Time--The Present. Enter Universal
Inspector-General, accompanied by Mr. Admiralty Official._
_Universal Inspector-General._ So you are going to have Naval
Manoeuvres after all, Mr. Admiralty Official?
_Mr. Adm. Official._ Yes, General, we are.
_Un. Ins.-Gen._ And are you going to do anything new this time?
_Mr. Ad. Off._ Nothing more than the usual meaningless cruising.
_Un. Ins.-Gen._ I read something about the landing of the wounded?
_Mr. Ad. Off._ Ah--that _is_ new! We are going to "assume" a number
of wounded. To quote from the _Regulations_--"Before the ships leave
for the ports, officers in command of fleets and squadrons are to
communicate to each Commander-in-Chief, by telegraph, the aggregate
number of assumed wounded that may be expected to reach his port."
_Un. Ins.-Gen._ Tell me what do we want with these pointless
Manoeuvres? Wouldn't it have answered everyone's purpose if there
had been a lecture in lieu of them at the Royal United Service
Institution?
_Mr. Ad. Off._ I should not be surprised.
_Un. Ins.-Gen._ Then why run into this unnecessary expense?
_Mr. Ad. Off._ You really must ask my successor!
[_Exeunt severally._
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