Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-14
MAKING READY FOR A BATTLE.

Few people outside the naval service
know just how war vessel goes into
tight. To put battleship like thu
Iowa or Indiana in thorough reaIiiness
for action ordinarily requires about two
hours, though, OF course, 1t can DO
done in much less time IL case of emer-
goncy.
There is one thing that makes it
comparatively simpla and orderly task.
On board fighting vessel every man
has certain assigned post, and Ger
tain task laid out for him, with which
he is perfectly familiar. This holds
true from the captain himself down to |
the little coolies who wait on table for |
the different messes. When the signal
is sounded it brings every man 10 his
place, and long familiarity makes tho |
work, SO involved and complicated to
the eyes of an outsider mere matter
OF routine.
II a ship engages an enemy unez.
pectedly, 10 that thereets not tine usual
time for preparation, tho call to guar
ters is sounded Immediately, and the
msn take their placea in divisions. In
this case zach division attends to a
mart of the work of clearing the ship,
but, ordinarily, the first signal ia
AlbhF tut uGtAphs tlu pout1NhsH
whistle, and the verbal command. the
men move to their positions, those
whose places are on deck forming in
squads under the direction OF the diff
fcrent officers. The captain takes his
place on the bridge. Later, when the
battle begins, he will go into the pro-
tecteu coming tower, through the mar
row Sits of which he can watch every
thing that takes place on deck, and the
movements of the enemy as we'll. But
for the present, while the preparations
arc nade, he must decide the general
plan OF action, how the guns are to ba
useti, and the class and nature of pro-
jectile on which ne will depend.
Near the captain stands the nayiga-
tor who will havs charge of the hand
ling uf the ship during tue engagement.
the signal officer and the various aids.
First of all, the decks and working
spaces are cleared. The spars, rigging
aud boats are secured. Everything
movable that will not be needed during
the engagement is firmly lashed into
place, where it will not interfere with
the work. The tlpmen, who are in
charge of the little platform high up
on the mainmast, haul up arms and
ammunition and make everything ready
in their lofty quarters. even to filling
tile fire buckets with which to put, out
a blaze should one be started up alnft.
The carpenter, under the direction OF
the navigator, sees to the removal OF
awning stanchions, hatch rails and
every light object that lie not essential
to the management of the ahip. The
chornnometers and other delicate in
struments are carefully gathered up and
laid away below, to save them from de-
struciion by concession. The torpedo
division gets out its apparatus for send
ing torpedoes, and spreads the inter
copting nets over the ships sides, where
they can be quickly lowered If need be.
Below the activity lie equally great.
The engine fires are stirred up and
steam is made as fast as possible, for q
modern battleship is intended to 60 into
action under full head of steam. The
steam and bige pumps are rugged ano
the magazine squad stands to its post,
but the magazines are not unlocked
until the signal for action. The keys
however, are delivered to the officers o
the powder division by the captain a
tie first Bignal.
When the ship is cleared, the call h
quarters is given, and the men tax
GHtlT HldCoS al dtflbtuuSs LILO Is
squads stand to their guns, and max
them ready for use. The matches, ex
cent those that will be used, are COY
cred with gratings and tarnaulins, thu
carpenter collects his men and, with tn
armorer, stands ready to, repair an
damage that may be done by tn
snemy's fire, or the recoil OF the shin
cannon. A man with a lead line
placed at the we'll, and during the figh
will make frequent soundings to dis
cover il the vessel is injured below til
water line. The hose squad ia place
in charge of the ire apparatus, read
for instant service. Chemical fire o.
tinguishers are used ON all the Units
States wraships now, ana hand erei
AIDES are placed In every quarter of til
ship Every precaution is taken
secure the instant stamping out of fir
should il start in or near he magazine
Down in the sick bay the hsf
surgeon, or "bull DOCTOR" has het
directing the laying out of cots, instr
ments and bandages. One hatchwa
as near amidships as possible, is alwa
lett open for the passing down
wounded men. The surgeon may hR
no call upon his services, but the ru
in every quarter of a battleship
''l3e prepared for the worst and ho
for the best. !"
When everything is ready the Office
move to their stations. Ii the ship
monitor the battls matches are close
and the men at last hear the final col
mand for which they have been il
patiently waiting" A ction.
At that command, the doors Of t
magazines are opened, and the me
who form the different chains OF SCI
ties. begin to pass the cartridge cal
up to tile deck. This delivery of a
munition ia in charge of the gum
In modern naval fortunes the gunner
not, as many landlubbers suppose, t
man vino firea the gun. He is a W
rant officer, and his position is a M
responsible one in time OF action,
he must see to the prompt and stea
delivery OF cartridges, shells and p
jectiles 10 all the guns. The CHI
deck, where he can nots tho nrugr
of the work; his chief assistant
lelow in the main magazine euper
tending the handing out OF powd
and quarter gunner is in charge
each Of the other magazines, and
the delivery on deck.
Charges are passed up from
magazines in wooden cases, which
painted black, with the size of
calibre and charge painted in la
white letters on the side. They
pascal out OF this magazine to a n
who sends them up to the lower de
Then they are passed through Hit
the magazine screen-R heavy can
curtain which is intended to prey
the possihility of sharks resrhinp