Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-21

next command for the men in the big
turret lis open breech;" two and three
respond, and the breech plug is moved
back and out of the way
Then sponge" is the order One
turns on the hose, two washes out the
shell space of the gun, and five helps
three cleans the face of the breach
plug. and then, With two, places the
loading tray which guides the shell and
powder charges from the carriages OF
the ammunition hoist to the gun
While his has been going on the men
in the magazines below have supplied
the ammunition to the hoist and now
at the order up lift" four works the
lever and the ammunition hoist comes
up behind the gun. The gun has been
run to the loading position and is
ready.
At the order load shell" one extends
the hydraulic hammer and pushes the
projectile home.
place first cartridge" four drops the
hoist down until the first of the two
powder cartridges is opposite the gun
breech
Load first cartridge" one extends
the hydraulic rammer again, and half
the powder charge that Will drive The
big 1l00-pound projectile towards The
cnemy's snip is showed home in the
chamber Of the big rifle.
place second cartridge,' and the
lift drops again until the second charge
is level with the gun breech.
drauic hammer works the third time
and the second charge is pushed home
Down lift" four lowers the ammuni-
ti0n hoist back to the supply gang in
the magazines, who promptly fill ii
again. Two takes out the loading tray
and wipes off the breech plug
Close breech," two and three return
the breech plug to its place.
Prime one inserts the primer and
connects it up with the electric firing
button in the hood. Then he calls out
Ready" and the men stand clear Of
the gun. Their work for that load Is
over, except for six of the left gun,
who stands by to set the sights as the
gun pointer orders, and six Of the right
gun. who moves the turret as the Off
Ger commands.
Then, with the guns loaded, the gun
pointer in the hood keeps them trained
on the approaching enemy until sud
denly the captain in the coming tower
receives from his range finders a signal
that shows that the enemy is not two
miles away. The hull Of the antagon-
ist looms up big and clear in the after
noon sun, Il fine mark. The distance Is
signallcd TO the forward turret by the
electric indicator, there Is an instant
wait for the train Of the guns, and then
the captain gives the last order:
Fire"
Tnc action is on. The huge projec-
tiles so plunging toward the enemy.
but strike the water a little short. lie
responds in kind but neither ship
Stacks speed The gun crews in the
forward turret rush through their work
again. but now no man commands. Tho
drll they have had has made them
familiar enough with all their work,
and speed is the greatest consideration
nov. The men at the other guns wait
eagerly the moment when they, too,
can get into fight. 1t comes with small
delay.
Now the Oregon is near enough tul
the enemy 10 give her a hroadside.
The after turrct swings around and its
big guns are trained with those of the
forward turrct. The four S-inch rifles in
the amidships turrets join in the assault
and all together they hurl their muir
derous bolts at the enemy. This time
they do not miss, for they are fired by
expert men who do not waste ammuni-
ton in finding an enemy's distance.
But now The oregon is under the
enemy's fire as we'll and Il storm Of
shot from his rapid-ffrc guns in playing
havoc with the hattleship's superstruc
ture The range finders We're long agoI
sienced and the surgeons in the sick
bay have their hands full. our fellows
stick CALAMITY 10 their work, and il
we ar" hurt What must be the state of
affairs on that big fellow in the other
corner of the ring? the Oregon must
demonstrate in her first action that she
can take as We'll as give hard knocks.
Paragraphs Tor Children.