New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-17
A DANGEROUS SERVICE.
GUNNERS IN A NAVAL BATTLE HAVE
THE MOST DANGEROUS POSITION.
From The Providence Journal.


From The Providence Journal.
Now. more than ever before the question pre-
sents itself to the American mind What posi-
ions in great war offer the greatest dangcrS?'
True, /. would be cowardly To select Il branch of
the service or function in battle such as would
guarantee immunity. yet il is important to know
what men must bc selected hold those inn
portant posts which appear 10 promise certain
death.
The most dangerous positions In 4 naval battle
Will probably Dr. those occupied ~ the gunn"r5
occupying the circular galleries arranged upon
the military masts Their function will be- to
man rapid fir" guns pouring hastorms Of bull
let's upon the decks and ports IF hostile ships
with sufficient severity To make The handling
of their largest guns impossible 1t Will there
fore be the .lrst duty of great warsi.ip to RAE
To the docks tho military maStS If its ADVERSE
ries. II is not expected that any ship will come
out Of hot engagement with military mIstS
standing. one wcll-directrd shot would be- SUI
hcicnt 10 trim of each mast The great tower of
steel would fall with A crash. the gIinn"rs IF the
supersructur-s dying deaths ~ agony worse
than any prJjcciile could niict Tn" battle
ship Indiana has twenty rlpil-hrc guns
mounted in those armorrd galleries. TIL" decks
being cleared for action their sunncrs viii
mount their ladders with almost certain death
staring them III the facr-d glorious martyrIom.
hut one disagr"cablr 10 anticipate. They viii
have but one duty before IN INTO XIII rs many
~ the enemy as they possibly can before the
trembling Of the great mass bcr"ath them an
nounces their summons ID another world
Torpedo boats ara in greater danger II 10
struction than any craft On thu sea-. ana their
crews will embark In open BATH" almost Ger
tain II death. During night attacks there viii
bc less danger than In the day. but during all
~ their hostile movements their only hope will
y" the avoidance Of IN" rapi-firing guns IF
the batte-ships selected their prey and such
"A hop. Will be at all events fOrlOrn. y tiny
torpedo boat may wipe A five" mlliOn-dDar war
ship of the and send live hundred men 10
the bottom but the likelihood that any one on
board the former will live - brag IT the de-
struCtion H. very scant In lay attacks tiotillas
of torpedo boats will distribute. themselves and
hilr behind IN" great hulS of tn" giant warriors
"a the young chicks hover beneath he wings
OF the mother hen. To max" bold dart be-
Meath the sun would b" done At / sacrifice. and
every on on board would expect death. Their
most valuable work. " course. viii be done
a. night With all lights out Dr below deck.
with nOls"l"ss machinery. with smpk"lrss fuel
and with bodies painted the color II tn" sea.
they will venture closer ana closer - their giant
prey. continuing to launch automobiles until
assured that At least on" has taken effect. The
giant srarchlights u the Iivrrslrirs would lis
covcr one ~ these little snraks 4 mile away
Should sh- b, discovered At thus distance she
would have about "A minute ana htlf - 10 her