New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31
DAILY WORK ON A WARSHIP
A CONSTANT SUCCESSION OF DRILLS AND
EXERCISES FOR THE MEN.
THE RAPID FIRE GUN PRACTIcE-THE ram
DRILL" AND ITS UsEs-ORDERED Be
LOW IN HURRY WORKING
THE ZIG GUNS.
THE ZIG GUNS.

THE Big GUNS
Whether at sea or in port, there is no lack OF
daily work for the crews Of the big warships
For the sake of discipline and training. as we'll
as for the physical exercise. the men are kept
Jumping from one drill to another at a lively
rate. A morning recently spent on 'board the
monitor Puritan. lying 1T the Cob Dock In
tn, Brooklyn Navy Yard was an exceedingly
interesting experience. No sooner had the
active hardy looking Jack Tars finished one ex-
ercise than they were promptly summoned, by
the clear notes Of the buge. to another of an en-
tirely different character
To an outsider the most striking and effective
OF them all is the drill with the rapd-firing
guns, which include three and six FOUNDERS Al
a bugle signal the men take their places. four or
five to each gum The first move is the sighting
and taking aim One man screws the gun into
the desired position by rapidly revolving a
wheel which turns it, and the others meanwhile
are getting out the ammunition and opening
the breech AT the order. Drill cartridges
loadw a dummy cartridge Of the same size as
the real one is slipped into the open breech.
This is then closed and locked by means or
crank The firing which is accomplished by lhe
pulling of a string or the pressing OF put'oh'
Is not practised. of course in the ordinary GRILL
The aiming and loading are repeated Ire
quently. and the men who have been a''acheu
to the ship for some time work with the utmost
swiftness and precision A raw recruit 'he
other morning, who had been at his duties Only
three DAYS was evidently nervous under the
watchful gaze of the officers He did iairiy WE'LL
however and his comrades assisted MN when
they could by significant nudges in the proper
directions and by explanatory words in under-
tones The drill cartridges are kept IN cases
near the guns so to be handy, put III an
actual engagement all ammunition mas 10 DC
passed up from below through the ammunition
hosts These are tubes extending from the hold,
where the ammunition is stored, up TO the gun
deck The gunners' mates and their assistants
below feed the cartridges into the hois's' anu
they are carried up by means OF an ei'u'eS' "o'''
which is kept constantly in motion.
Several times the gun practice was ih'e'
runted nv a sudden signal ordering all the men
ha,ow This has to be done occasionally IN an
on,agament when the enemy's fire is too heaVy'
IN nrevent unnecessary loss of life. Ihe men
d;sanpear below and reappear on deck again III
marvellously quick time.
In connection with the firing Of these guns 'ie
"ram drill is practised. At signal every man
drops where ne stands into posture Ill " my"
his body is extended at nearly fun ihe'h' O"'
does not touch the deck. being supporter uP'"
the tins of the fingers and the tips oil inc to0'
1t is put into practical use when the snip Is ABOUT
to ram or be rammed by another 'esSei' - III.
men did not put themselves mo poSi'io' -
tbis sort which lessons the shock as much as
possible they would be throwD down. ana woaiu
be far more likely to be injured. no" "ou''
the same thing do for the cable cars susseS'
ed one OF the Puritan's officers. with 'he di
of man who had had an inspiration. Suppose
Hold
seems to have much effect. the conductor gave
tho signal for the ram drill and the standing
Messengers all dropped forward with their hahd'
on the floor j think 1t is an idea which ough'
To he considered by the companies
Another point of value In the ram driii iies /"
the fact as the executive officer Observed 'ha'
II il one more thing done according 10 ORDERS ana
with a purpose AS such 1t strengthens IN"
general morale. promiscuous tuhDiihe D"
the other hand. such as would ehsue II tne
,,,, tried IN stand during the collision. would
cor,ainIv not have this effect. The ram drill is
practised on only few ships OF the navy
In an engagement the decks are cleared OF
everything which is not absolutely necessary a.
fighting material Such articles which ihciuue
chests and all superfuous wocdwork, even the
lifeboats in the davits. are all indicated ny the
word "Oyerboard' painted upon them. They
cut away rutnleSSIS anu wv 49,
side at the beginning of the action. In speak
Ing of the loss of the boats and the other APP
planes an officer said: 1T is just this way;
II we are whipped we have use for them;
and if we win are able to put hto
port and get new ones" The same ofhctr toid
Of a sailor on one of the ships who was distinct
Nv a product Of the Nays early days, and VINO
was more of a hndrance than a help on the
modern war vessels. The fact that he had out