The record-union., 1898-05-17

SailmakerS, coal paSSerS musicians
buglers, baymen and the various grades
| Of cooks, stewards and mess attend
ants. Thus it will be seen that with the
exception of but a few men nearly ev-
cry warshipman is an officer of higher
or lower grade.
Of the duties of the warrant officers,
the navy regulations provide that they
| shall act as assistants to the heads of
departments to which they belong; the
boatswain and sailmaker to the equip
ment officer the gunner to the ord
nance officer and the carpenter to the
| construction officer
BOATSWAIN's WORK.
The boatswain's especial charges are
the spars and rigging, the anchors,
| boats and other movable articles and
| spare parts pertaining to these in the
| hold and stores. The gunner has charge
of the batteries, and supervises all ord
nance work. He has in charge the
condition and ready accessibility of the
armament and ordnance stores. The
carpenter, of course, has for his duties
all pertaining to the keeping in repair
of the wooden portion of the vessel, the
spars, the water tight compartments,
/ the bottom and the mechanical devices
/ for the management and safety of the
vessel In action, he must see to speedy
repairs of all damages which affect the
/ effectiveness of the ship. The sail
maker is the head of the department
in charge of the canvas in all condi-
| tions.
The executive officer of a vessel is
the Captains right hand man He is
detailed from among the officers of the
line by the Secretary of the Navy. He
is next in rank to the Captain, but has
no authority independent of him. The
executive officer takes the CARRYING out
| of the Captains orders upon himself
! and relieves the head of the vessel of
many minor and arduous details. act
| ing in his place and keeping a constant
and Watchful oversight on the men and
their work. He is also detailed as
equipment and construction officer, and
in these capacities has charge of all
extra supplies, the acquisitions, in
voices, returns and disbursements
The second officer below the Captain
is the navigator and ordnance officer.
He has general charge of the ships
course, under ORDERS and in reality is
the pilot skipper. He reckons out the
ships position and has the oversight
of the coming tower, chart house and
steering apparatus. The navigator has
charge also of the ships log, and in
fact is a small edition of the Captain
himself, always, however bound by the
| latter's orders AS ordnance officer he
performs duties in connection with the
magazines, shell rooms and torpedoes.
He keeps everything in readiness for
| instant action, and is held personally
responsible for the efficiency of the ar
rangement and appurtenances.
DECK OFFICERS.
The officers of the deck and of the
gun, torpedo and powder divisions, as
their titles indicate, have subordinate
control over these departments. The
officer of the deck resembles the army
officer of the day; he is the officer on
watch in charge of the ship. The safety
and immediate availableneSs of the ves-
sci is in his charge to a degree. The
junior officers of the line are defined
as being those of a rank below that of
a Lieutenant of the junior grade, not
assigned to regular duty as watch and
division officers. The Ensign may also
serve as clerk to the commanding Off
Ger.
The duties of the officers of the staff
are clearly indicated by their titles. The
medical directors, inspectors, surgeons,
passed assistant surgeons and assist
ant surgeons are detailed to duty rela-
tive to the anitary condition of the ship
and the healthiness Of all on board.
The pay officers with the same SUBJ
divisions) have control Of the monetary
receipts and disbursements and the
paying off of the ships men. The en-
!
power, electric lighting and appliances,
and exercise general supervision in the
engine. boiler and coal compartments.
The Chaplain addresses himself to the
moral welfare of the men and holds
divine service each Sunday at sea when
practicable. 1t is believed that this
feature was omitted last Sunday in
Commodore Dewey's squadron in Ma
Mia Bay. The naval constructor is a
general appendage to successive YES
sells of a fleet to observe their good and
bad qualities and the latter point out
to the Navy Department chances for
Improvement in the building of new or
overhauling of old warships.
The so-called flag officers are those
Immediately attached to the Commo-
dore of fleet or squadron. The per-
sonal staff consists of a Chief of Staff,
Flag Lieutenant, clerk and aides. The
Surgeon, Paymaster, Engineer and Ma
rine Officer Of the fleet constitutes the
fleet staff of a flag officer. The last
four exert powers in their respective
departments over the rest of the fleet
at the order of the Commodore. The
personal staff aids him in the execu-
ton of his orders and in signaling. The
duties of the four classes of petty Off
GERS are mainly the carrying out of
the commanding officers orders rela
tive to their stations, transmitted to
them by their chiefs of departments
New York Mail and Express.