Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-05
TACTICS FOR TARS.
TO CHECK RIOTS WHEN THEY HAP
PEN TO DE IN PORT.
AVAILABLE WHEN The ARMY IS NOT.
The Details of Marines Carried by
Vessels Are Insufficient Against
Large Crowds--SO the sailors VIII
Act Hereafter.
Correspondence of the DIspatch)

WASHINGTON, September f-'""
men of Uncle Sans navy are 70 DC
taught how to handle mobs
II so happens that a vessei Oh INC
navy is frequently in a port lar run
detachment of the army. In suen
emergencies. II the sailors were properly
LIMA sre,t loss of both life and pro-
rar,v might be avoided by Temporarily
detailing them from the snip ana nun
ing them To the scene OF troupie W ie
main until quiet was permanently re-
s,orod or troops arrived to relieve tnem
s,cb is really the object and intention
=, tho drills instituted, and so sincere
an interest is being taken In the matter
nv both officers and men that there Is
scarcely any doubt that very eNcelieh'
degree of proficiency will be reached.
AS every one knows there are certain
number of soldiers aboard every ship OF
the navy, who are called marines Dut
their numbers are never sufficient to per
init them to cope with anything INV
a riot. They are the police of the ships
of tho navy. and although sometimes
landed at foreign ports when display
of force is considered necessary, tnes
always find II necessary to act with the
sailors II any land movement OF conse-
uuence Is intended
THE naval officers who have compiled
the new regulations have introduced
therein a vast deal more or common
sense than is ordinarily found in docu-
ments of this sort. There Is no sign
OF martinetism about them ana there
are no long drawn out, tedious, ana un-
-
necessary movements. The hrst Oh tnese
drill regulations applying to the Iorlia,
ton of bodies of sailors detailed 10 quel.
street riots gives an excellent iue" u
the whole Here 1t Is: 1000,
"Tf practicable. each commander OF pri-
,odo battalion. or company should have
n map showing all the principal streets
squares. parks, and open places where
a force might be rallied. When pracu-
cable IL IS recommended to utilize the
services of civilian scouts, or men uis
guised IN civilians clothing, In order 10
Iaon the commanding officer informed as
10 the situation OF affairs in the CITY
A few pioneers with picks, crowbars'
shoyels. and axes will accompany the
command Squads may advance alohA
the bousetops. or in the rear OF houses
whenever practicable and necessary I"
secure n Ranking position against par
ricade or 10 command the windows OF
the houses opposite. Pieces gums VIII
no habitually carried with the bayonets
fxed. II is essential that perfect con-
troll of the fire discharge OF the guns
no maintained to prevent unnecessary
loss of life A few selected marksmen
should be ready at all times. under the
direction Of officers, to pick of the lead
ers of the mob
MANNER OF FORMING.
The regulations recite the manner or
forming i'm various fashions as occasion
NAV require, giving in detail the tactics
necessary in forming in street colunlh'
telling how to deploy to protect the
TANKS of a body of sailors marching
how TO form that old friend tne holoN
square. telling how 10 protect the TANKS
81 e,reet crossings: how to form TO clear
a street and. in fact, all the information
necessary for either officers or men at
such times as the regulations are In
tended to cover.
One of the most interesting features
of the regulations IS that referring 10
wall scaling AS the author or TINS
feature of the Northumberland
William J. Maxwell. of the navy-states
The manoeuvres consist OF simple
admiration of human pyramids 10 mill
tary purposes. Says the regulation: AS
q m4nOelEre,
height Is fifteen feet, but greater heights
NAV be scaled by extending the prin-
cinle when circumstances are favorable.
This exercise will be of great practical
value when men are compelled to adj
vance i'm the rear Of houses where walls
and fences are encountered. The unit
adopted is the No. 4. Chat Is, tour
men will form the pyramid, and all
movements will be by fours)
1.-THE first petty officer mounts with
the rear rank of the right four the
second petty officer with the Iroht
rank of the left four, the thlfu
petty officer with the rear ranh
Of the right-centre four. and the
fourth nettv officer with front rank
of the left-centre four. The chiefs OF
section will mount with the front rank
of the centre-four Of their respective
sections. The company commander
mounts as circumstances may require
The front and rear ranks of each four
mount Independently, the rear RANK
mounting 10 the right of it's own 'front.'
rank. For heights of ten feet. or less,
no special equipment Is required. FOR
greater heights lanyard Is PROVIDED.
The lanyard consists or a piece OF
twelye-thread manila. six feet long, with
an eve large enough for a mans hand
at one emu anu al StOppSt -hii'N - $50
other Matthew Walker knots of spun
ward are worked on the lanyard at in
tervals of eighteen inches. When not In
use the LANYARD Is bighted up and
hooked 10 the left sling of the KNAPP
sack by means of a small eye worked on
the lanyard.
To those unfamiliar with naval terms
some of the expressions used in the
regulations may seem extremely technl-
cal. but little explanation makes all
simple enough. A petty officer is any
officer below the rank of ensign, such
as the boatswain. the master. the mas
ter's mate. etc. To blight up rope means
TO arrange IT in close form,
something like coil. The left sling of
a snapsack is the left fastening. A
stopper-knot is one which prevents a
rope slipping past designated point. A
Matthew Walker knot is enc that is tied
about the rope so that the hands OF 2
person holding on thereby will he checked
should they slip. An eye is a ring OF rope
through which 1t Is intended another
rope shall pass.
SCALING WALLS.
This is the prescribed method Of scaling
the wall: "At the first command.
the subdivision, company. or battalion
that Is to mount first will be formed
in line of squads along the wall at such
intervals that the rear rank Of each
squad may form on the right OF it,
front rank At the second command
given when the rear ranks are SO form
ed. all the numbers. except No 4
OF each rank, rest their pieces against
the wall Nos. and . thea