The Portland daily press., 1891-07-09
PLAYING AT BATTLE ON SHIPBOARD.
Massachusetts Naval Reserve Men
Side by SIds with the Tars.
Keeping an imaginary Foe from the
squadron OF Evolution.
Something New in the Training of
the Nations Volunteer Defenders.

Boston. Mass. July S.-For the past two
days the members of the naval militia have
been seeing something Of life on a man-of-
war. When the squadron Of evolution ar
rived here arrangements had been made to
give the amateur tars chance to drill on
board the big ships. Yesterday was spent in
gunnery practice. Today the militia of the
sea fought an imaginary battle with the YES
sells at close quarters.
On the Newark they had not been on board
10 minutes before the gongs, which are
worked through electricity from the cap
tain's cabin, sounded general quarters, and
the gongs had no sooner ceased their ding
ing, when the buglers Of the ship repeated
the orders with brazen sound. The regular
crew were to show the youngsters how to
clear the ship for general action, and how to
work the work guns when the fight is on.
Captain Casey took his place In the coming
tower, from where the firing Is directed. The
youngsters saw the regulars get the guns in
position, provided with ammunition and
trained. Then the guns crews, both rifle
men and b0arders, showed how to get ready
to fight at close quarters when two war ships
grapple in battle and prepare to test their
merits in hand-to-hand conflict between
the crews. Part of the crews were armed
with rifles and part with cutlasses and revol-
vers.
When an immense rattle sounded through
out the ship the b0arders gathered in the
starboard gangway The looked. with their
weapons, capable of making a good fight.
All was expectancy. Soon orders came from
Captain Casey, In the coming room, for
boarders on the starboard bow. To explain
Just what happened when this order came 1t
Is necessary to describe the position Of the
boarders as they stood in the starboard gang
way. The riflemen stood in line in front.
Facing the great guns behind them, kneeling
were tie boarders as If to be hidden so as
not to let the enemy know they were ready
to board. When the orders came for board
ers on the starboard bow the rifiemen slipped
to the rear, the kneeling men jumped to their
feet and dashed down the gaDgway, clearing
all before them.
The dash was full of life and spirit, and
the youngsters watched every move with
an opportunity to initiate what had been
shown them, and excellently did they do it.
To test their accuracy of aim, they were or.
dered to train the guns Of the main bat
terry on the ferry boats City of Lynn and Re
vere. All that Is necessary to say in this re-
gard is that it was lucky for the passengers
on both the ferries that those deadly looking
tunnels that peer forth from the ships side
were not loaded with shot or shell, for IL
they had been the militia would have fur
nished great sensational story for the fer
ries would ply their vocation no more.
After the firing the youngsters were ques-
toned by their own officers, under the sup
erintendency If the regulars, on what they
have been taught for the past two days.
They had caught on in a remarkable way.
and their knowledge Of naval warfare, as
shown by their answers, astonished the vet
Grams. Their morning work had sharpened
their appetites, and the noon bell for dinner
sounded none too soon for them.