The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-25
DRILLS ON A MAN-O'-W WAR
HARD WORK AND STRICT DIsCI-
PLINE MAKE GOOD sAILOAS.

Special Exercises - How the Men
Fight Fire, Abandon Ship, and Clear
the Deck tor Action.
From the Nelv York Times.
Many persons unfamiliar with life aboard
naval vessels have endeavored TO imagine
what modern naval combat would be
like. But, however much outsiders may be
at loss the drills and exercises in vogue on
board our men-of-war leave little to the
Imagination Of the boys in blue Barring
blood and wounds there is not much in the
way of realism that the mimic battles do
not supply. Those who wear the navy blue
are won't TO complain Of the tedious repeti-
ton Of exercises which they have gone
through with time and again. but the strict
observance Of the drills prescribed by the
regulations governing the service has given
to the small navy of the United States a
body of highly disciplined seamen.
On the date set for placing the vessel in
commission the men are marched on board
| in body. Each has previously been pro-
| vided with q "station billet" This is a piece
of paper which tells him his station at every
exercise and drill.
1t gives the number of his mess, the boat
to which he belongs, and the gun at which
( ne serves. AZ getting uuuet way Tue paper
tells him what certain duty be has to per-
form, and if he is curious TO know what is
expected of him in case of fire, glance at
his station billet" will tell him.
In the office Of the first lieutenant is a
book from which the stations were given.
As early as practicable after the vessel has
| been commissioned to sink, burn aud de-
stroy" the crew Is exercised at the various
evolutions, and if any man has been sta
toned IN the wrong place the error is dis
covered and rectihed.
Sire quarters is usually one of the first
drills at which the crew Is exercised. The
ringing of the big bell, which hangs for
ward, is the signal of fire, and at the first
sound the men are taught to move quickly
70 their allotted stations. Those detailed
for the pumps spring to their places, and
while they are shipping the handles others
unTeel the hose and carry the nozzles 60 the
part of the ship where the fire is supposed
to be. A dozen or so seize hammooks and
follow the executive officer They are
known as ''smotherers," and, il he SO orders,
they unlash the hammocks and take out
blankets. These, when wet and thrown on
a fire, serve excellently well to smother the
blaze.
Down below the gunner and his assistants
stand at the magazine and shell room flood
cocks, ready to flood the explosives should
the 1re approach TOO near. Matches are
battened down to exclude any draught, and
IL the ship is at sea the officer in charge of
the deck immedias ely alters her course to
bring the wind on quarter least favorable
to a spread Of the fire. The topmen scurry
aloft and, taking the leather fire buckets
which are suspended under the tops, pre-
pare to extinguish any sparks which may
endanger the top hamper or sails. 80.
A half dozen men from the crew of each
boat are meanwhile busy getting up pro-
visions and water for their respective boats
They place their burdens on the deck along
side the cutters, but do not attempt to get
into them. At each boat davit stands a
marine with fixed bayonet who sternly
warns away any one who attempts
to climb into the boat Various
stratagsms are resorted to by
the captain and first lieutenant
to ascertain If the marines know their duty
at this drill One of them is to order a
sailor into a boat to see il the gear for low
ering it is in shape or for any other pur
pose that tends to put the sentry off his
guard. If he latter ia we'll trained the sea-
man will find a leveled rifle confronting
him when he attempts TO get into the boat
even though the marine has heard the cap
tain's order. If the unwary sentry allows
the man to pass, the negligence is reported
to toe marine officer and several days extra
duty serve to impress upon the sea soldier
the necessity of strict compliance with the
order that prohibits any one from going
into a boat until the call to abandon ship is
sounded.
This exercise naturally follows that of fire
quarters. At every drill the fire is supposed
to gain such Roadway as to make it neces-
sary to abandon the ship. After the execu-
tive officer has made a complete round of
the ship and seen that every one Is at his
proper station, he comes on deck and makes
a report to the captain. Then is heard a
lively air played by the bugler, and accom-
panied by the noise of scampering feet can
be distinguished the notes of ''The Girl [
Left Behind Me" which is the signal to
abandon ship. The boats are rapidly low
cred, and as soon as they touch the water
boxes Of canned meats and casks of water
are passed from hand to hand and placed
between the thwarts After the men are
in their places the boat officer springs into
the stern sheets and the order to ''shove
off" is given. Almost in less time than it
takes to tell it the ship is abandoned.
Both OF these exercises have no other OBJ
ject than the preservation of the ship and
the safety of her crew. Some of the other
drills have far different purpose. That of
general quarters is to make the men efficient
In fighting. Once week it is gone through
with, and the exercise is very lively while it
lasts.
At the call "Clear ship for actionp every-
thing in the way OF an iucumbrance about
the deck is bundled below into the hold. As
elaborate preparations are made fer the
mimic fray as though an actual encounter
was impending. Light yards are sent down
from aloft and the headbooms rugged in so
as to give the ram q chance to do its work
A big hawser is got up from the hold and
coiled upon the poop, to be used as spring
in case the rudder screw il
disabled and it becomes necessary
to spring the ship broadside to the enemy.
Grapnels are got over the stern in readiness
to clear the propeller in event of its becon-
ing touled by floating debris. Extra lash.
ings are put on the yards, and preventer
braces are put in place in case the others are
SHOT away. II at anchor, the boats are low
cred and dropped astern; at sea, sails are
passed under them to prevent splinters from
flying should they be struck by an enemy's
shot. Sand is sprinkled upon the gun deck
to prevent it getting slippery with blood,
and down in the SICK bay the surgeon
makes equally unpleasant preparations.
When all the preparations are completed
the drums beat to quarters. The executive
officer has charge Of the drill and gives his
orders from the bridge. The operation of
firing at an enemy ahead is gone through
with, and then one at the extreme quartet
engages attention. AS the action becomes
warm, foes bob Up at ali points Of the COM
pass The orders, 'Man @ starboard bat
teryw Man the port batteryr' MAN all
the guns" are given in quick succession.
The rapid-ire and machine guns keep up a
| sDitefuI rattle and in real action would ba