The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-01
A WARSHIP IN ACTION.
Sights, Sounds, Smells and SensaA
tfons without Parallel.
From the New York Tribune.

, From the New York Tribune.
A member of the naval reserve who
has studied the subject and is thoroughly
posted and equally enthusiastic said that
a well-conducted target practice on one
of the battleships is similar in many re-
spects to a naval engA cement Every
thing is made shipshape, decks are clear
ed, and the same precautions are taken
as in actual contests, and, although thera
| is full assurance that no enemy viii APP
| pear, the decks present a warlflSe appear
| ance, and soon after the exercises have
begun the ship resembles anything more
| than pleasure craft.
| To the novice the discharge of a big
| gun is a startling thing, and may be fol-
| lowed by unpleasant results unlesIs the u.s.
ual precautions are taken. The men
brace themselves for the shock wlrich fol-
lows the discharge OF a big gun by holding
the arms rigid and the hands well away
from the body, to give the lungs free
play They also keep the mouth open,
and by that means equalize the pressure
on the lungs, head and eardrums.
1T is a question which admits of some
argument" said the naval reserve man,
whether the discomfort comes from OUT
ward pressure in consequence of the con-
the shock. The fact that men who use
cotton in their ears experience more trou-
bic than those who use no external pro-
lection shows that there is much to fear
from vacuum and the natural pressure
from within. Bursted eardrums and rup-
tured blood vessels are less likely to fof-
low the discharge of big guns when those
who stand near by keep their mouth@
open and their arms extended from the
body"
To illustrate the force of air conclusions
1t was stated that during target practice
on board the Atlanta some time ago a
sheep was killed outright by the shock
following the discharge of an S-inch gum
although the gun was behind a barbete
and the sheep thirty feet away Al an
other time, also on board the Atlanta.
two 6-inch broadside gins were discharg-
ed several times, and then it was discoy-
cred that the cutters and whale boats
which were suspended on davits fifteen
teet over the guns and to the rear of the
muzzles opened in the joints. although
they were well built and seaworthy small
craft.
Another similar circumstance was mem
toned in connection with target practices
on board the New York The two S-inch
guns in the forward turret have range
OF about 120 degrees on either side of the
Keel, and on this occasion one of the guns
was ranged about 30 degrees forward of
the beam and fired with a reduced charge.
Twenty feet away were several signals.
ana near these was a signal chest with
all the ships signal paraphernalia All Of
these, chest and all, were scattered in all
directions by the discharge of the gun
and rendered useless.
The noise made by the discharging OF
heavy pieces is less painful to the sense
OF hearing than that produced by smaller
arms. The roar seems to envelop one
said the enthusiast, land the man VINO
stands in the turret. which shields him 10
some extent. becomes oblivious to it, The
excitement connected with handling the
guns or passing the charges does much
TO make one forget the noise, and the
smell of burning powder has an intoxi-
eating effect which lends charm to the
situation. A man who has charge of an
S-inch gun is allowed about three mini
utes to load and fire his piece, and he and
those who form the guns crew are kept
constantly busy. Smaller arms are fired
more rapidly and 1 have seen a 5-inch
gun shoot at target two miles away 10
rapidly that five shots were in the air pc
fore the fire one struck. That is work
over which any one will forget his SUR
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