The record-union., 1898-04-25

pairs and the next day the Chinese
steamed and limped into Port Arthur.
The victory in the end was undoubted
ly with the Japanese for they had
driven their enemies from the sea and
kept them penned in a harbor, where
subsequently they fell an easy prey.
The outcome of it all was that Japan,
by the signal results of an indecisive
battle, was able to impose the terms of
peace, and gained, to some degree, the
objects with which she had begun the
war.
All this leads up to the question of
how ships are prepared for battle and
what is the dull routine out OF which
the enormous energies are secured.
It is first of all organization, then
persistent drill, both of which must be
based upon sea training and experience
upon that experience in the open sea
which teaches coolness in emergency,
fertility of resources and preparation
for the unexpected.
Broadly generaliZed the points to be
considered in preparing for action are
to get ready the battery and battery
supplies to clear the decks for the
passage of ammunition and the free
movement of the crew, to secure I'M
obstructed arcs of fire for all guns and
torpedoes, to take precautions against
fOuling the screws, to secure successive
means of efficiently steering the ship
in case the usual appliances are disab-
led, to reduce to a minimum the dam
ger from splinters and fire, to localize
and be ready to repair injuries below
and near the water line, and to insure
means of warning and escape to those
below.
In preparation for combat many ar
ticles will be thrown overheard, and in
forming barricades or shelters it must
be borne in mind that the penetration
of modern bullets is SO great that ham
mocks and furled sails or awning, even
when we'll wetted afford only slight
protection. Splinters are disastrous ac-
cessories to hostile shots, and fire is to
be dreaded no less than torpedoes.
DETAILED PRECAUTIONS.
In the detailed instructions it is pro-
vided, first of all, that every prisoner
must be released; this, of course, mean
ing the delinquents of the crew. Then
all gear and rigging must be secured,
ratings and ladders on the upper decks
be unshipped, and anchors be unstockeG
when these masses of metal interfere
with the sun fire. If in the open sea.
cables are unbent and sent below or
SO disposed as to give additional armor
protection. Such boats as are kept at
the davits are thoroughly secured, and
around them are wrapped sails or avn
ings TO check the flight OF splinters.
1t may be at times necessary to cast
adrift all boats, securely moored each
to the other or, If on soundings, TO
anchor them. with the chance of re-
covering them subsequently. Hatches
must be covered with gratings and
battle plates, all skylights be unstrip-
ped, and in every way no single object
left exposed which if hit might prove
harmful to the ships company. Spe-
cial precautions are taken to clear the
screw or screws of such debris or lines
as might foul them, and various and
many are the eXtemporized agencies
employed for this purpose. Spare til
lers are supplied and in the battleships.
where no human ingenuity could ship
one of these massive forgings in the
heat of the fight, extra tackles and ap-
pliances are made ready to assist a pos
sibly damaged rudder. Leak mats are
provided the fire hose of the ship is
connected up and led out. and no wiser
order or provision can be made than
to keep the fire pumps going from the
beginning to the end of the fighter of
the ship.
GUNS AND AMMUNITION
Guns are provided with all the re-