The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-15

alive, and in which the only hope of the
men who make it is that they may hold
out long enough to bring their enemy down
with them.
Silently the torpedoes are hoisted from
below, the war heads fitted in place. and
The launching tubes made ready. Quiet
groups stand by the rapid-fire guns. Sud-
denly a searchlight flashes on the horizon.
1t sweeps the sea from side to side, and at
last it touches the torpedo, boat. and re-
mains fastened upon it while every man
is outlined in merciless sharpness. 1t is
the searchlight of the enemy. The pent-
up steam crowds into the cyclinders I'M
der the lash of the forced draught and the
boat plunges along the path of light on
its race of death There are two miles
to cover before it will come in striking
distance, and already the splashes of pat
tering shots in the water tell that the
enemy's secondary battery is finding the
range.
The nerves of every man on board are
keyed up tense as harp strings. The eyes
of the lookouts peer fiercely through the
blacKness in which, with all lights out,
the hostile battleship lies ready to pour de-
struction on anything that approaches.
The method of attack must now be con-
sidered. There are two ways, one is to
steam up to about six hundred yards bows
on, stop, fire and then back straight out.
The other is to steam up turn around,
firing from the deck tubes while turning,
and steam back at fullest speed. The adj
vantage is that the least surface Of the
boat is offered as a target to the enemy.
In the second case the objection is ihat,
while turning, the entire side of the boat
is at the mercy of the enemy's guns, and
the boats tsern, with steering gear, etc,
is exposed to damage while running away.
The advantage in this last method rests
in the opportunity of firing the after tor
pedo tubes and in the shorter time the
boat is under fire in the danger space.
Like lightning the captain must decide.
All the millions of money spent on build
ing ships of war and organizing the naval
service, all the vast system of yards,
DOCKS training schools. coaling stations,
and gun factories, all the years of time de-
voted to The education of officers ard the
training of seamen, have for their one
object 10 enable a man TO stand behind
gun and to fire it to the best effect. The
man behind the gun now is the more inn
portant than the gun Itself or the ship
that carries it.
What must be the feeling Of this man
when he runs his eyes along the great
barrel of his pet weapon and for the first
time sights an enemy beyond IL is the
moment for which all his previous train.
ing has been the preparation. IL Is the
justification Nof his existence. For years
he has worked oven that sun, be-
coming familiar with all rs pecu-
liarlties training it on targets, practicing
between times with sub-caliber projecties
to save expense, but always working TO-
ward this supreme moment.
He has developed his skill until he can
put four shots out Of five into a target al
1000 yards; but win his training serve him
now. or will 'buck fever" shake his nerve
and destroy his aim? Yesterday his rec
ord in practice might have been absolute
perfection. and nobody outside Of his ship
would have thought anything Of it. To-day
the world is waiting 10 hear Of his work,
ana two nations are hanging IN feverish
dread on the result
WIN The responsibility unnerve or bewild-
er him? II all depends on the stuff the
man behind the gun Is made Of.