The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-23
A SHIP IN ACTION.
What Happens on Man-of- War Dur
ing Battle.

| AA6 DSSSSAOs
New York. April 23.-Few people out
| side of the naval service know just
\ how a war vessel goes into a fight. kTo
| put battleship like the Iowa or Indi-
ana in thorough readiness for action or
dinarily requires about two hours, al
though, of course, it can be done in
much less time in case of emergency.
There is one thing that makes it COM
paratively simple and orderly task. On
board a fighting vessel every man has
a certain assigned post and a certain
task laid out for him, and with which
he is perfectly familiar.
This holds true from the captain him.
self down to the little coolies who wait
on table for the different meSSeS When
the signal is sounded it brings every
man to his place, and long familiarity
makes the work, so involved and COM
plicated to the eyes of an outsider,
mere matter of routine.
If a ship engages an enemy unex-
pectedly, so that there is not the usual
time for preparation, the call to quar-
tiers is sounded Immediately and the
men take their places in divisions. In
this case, each division attends to a part
of the work of clearing the ship, but
ordinarily the first signal is, Clear for
action
At the boatswain's whistle and the
verbal command the men move to their
positions, those whose places are on
deck forming in squads under the direc-
ton of the different officers. The cap
tain taxes MS place on the bridge. La
ter, when the battle begins, he will go
into the protected coming tower,
through the narrow Sits of which he
can watch everything that takes place
on deck and the movements of the en-
envy as we'll But for the present while
the preparations are being made, he
must decide the general plan of action,
how the guns are to be used, and the
class and nature of projectiIe on which
he will depend.
Near the captain stands the navigat-
or who will have charge of the hand
ling of the ship during the engagement
the signal officer and the various
aides.
First Of all the decks and working
spaces are cleared. The spars rigging
and boats are secured. Everything
movable that will not be needed during
the engagement is firmly dashed into
place where it will not interfere with
the work. The topmen, who are in
charge of the little platform high up on
the mainmast, haul up arms and am
and make everything ready in
their lofty quarters, even to filing the
fire buckets with which to put out a
blaze should one be started aloft. The
carpenter, under the direction of the
sees to the removal of avn
ing stanchions, hatch rails and every
light object that is not essential to the
of the ship. The chrono-
meters and other delicate instruments
are carefully gathered up and laid
tion by conclusion.
The torpedo division gets out its ap-
paratus for sending torpedoes and
spreads the intercepting nets over the
ships sides, where they can be quickly
lowered if need be.
Below the activity is equally great
The engine fires are stirred up and
steam is made as fast as possible, for a
modern battle ship is intended to go
into action under a full head of steam
The steam and bilge pumps are rugged
and the magazine squad stands to it's
post, but the magazines are not I'M
locked until the signal for action. The
keys, however, are delivered to the Of
icers of the powder division by the
captain at the first signal
When the ship is cleared the call to
quarters is given and the men take
their places in divisions. The gun
squads stand to their guns and make |
them ready for use. The matches, ex-
,ept those that will be used, are covered |
with gratings and tarpaulins, the car |
1enter collects his men and with the |
armorer stands ready to repair any |
damage that may be done by the en- |
emy's fire or the recoil of the ships |
cannon.
A man with a lead line is placed at |
he well and during the fight will make |
soundings to discover if the !
vessel is injured below the water line. |
The hose squad is placed in charge of |
he fire apparatus, ready for instant
service. Chemical fire extinguishers !
ire used on all the United States war
hips now, and hand grenadeS are plac-
ID in every quarter of the ship. Every
orecaution is taken to secure the in
slant stamping out of fire should it
start in or near the magazines.
Down in the sick bay the head sur
yeon, or bull DOCTOR" has been direct
ng the laying out of cots, instruments
md bandages. One hatchway, as near
amidships as possible, is always left
,pen for the passing down of wounded
men.
The surgeon may have no call upon
lis services, but the rule in every quar-
er of a battleship is, BE prepared for
he worst, and hope for the best
When everything is ready the officers
move to their stations. If the ship is
monitor the battle matches are closed,
md the men at last hear the final COM
nand for which they have been impa-
iently waiting-"ActiOni'
At that command the doors of the
magazines are opened, and the men, /
Who form the different chains of scut-
les, begin to pass the cartridge cases
Up to the deck. The delivery of ammu-
lition is in charge of the gunner. In
modern naval fortunes the gunner is
lot, as many landlubbers suppose, the
nan who fires the cannon. He is war
ant officer, and his position is a most
one in time of action, for
lie must see to the prompt and steady
of cartridges, shells and pro-
ectiIes to all the guns. The chief gun
Ter takes his position on the berth deck,
where he can note the progress of the
york; his chief assistant is below in
he main magazines experimenting the
out of powder, and a quarter
unner is in charge of each of the 9TH
r magazines and of the delivery on
eek.
The charges are passed up from the
Magazines in wooden cases, which are
ainted black, with the size Of caliber ,
nd charge painted in large white let
ers on the side. They are passed out of
ne magazine to a man who sends them
d to the lower deck. Then they are
assed through a slit in the magazine