The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-28
A WARSHIP IN ACTION.
Exact Account of W hat l. Done Dur
ing Fight at Sea.
From the Chicago Later-oceanJ

(From the Chicago Eter-Ocean.)
Few people outside the naval service
know just how a war vessel goes into
a fight To put a battleship like the
Iowa or Indiana in thorough readiness
for action ordinarily requires about
two hours, though. Of course, il can be
done in much less time in case of ur-
gency.
There is one thing that makes it a
comparatively simple and orderly task
On board a fighting vessel every man
mas 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 il brings every man to his
place, and long familiarity makes the
work, so involved and complicated to
the eyes of an outsider. a mere matter
of routine.
If a ship engages an enemy unex-
pectedly so that there is not the usual
time for PREPARATION. the call to quar-
tiers is sounded Immediately and the
men take their places in divisions In
this case each division. attends to a
part Of the work Of clearing the ship
but ordinarily the first signal is: Clear
for action" AT the boatswafn's whis-
tie and the verbal command the men
move to their positions, those whose
places are on deck forming in squads
under the direction of the different Of
ficers. The captain takes his place on
the bridge. Later when the battle be-
gins, he will go into the protected
coming tower. through the narrow
Sits of which he can watch everything
that takes place on deck and the move
ments Of the enemy as well. But for
the present, while the preparations are
being made, he must decide the gem
eral plan of action, how the guns are to
be used, and the class and nature of
projectile on which he will depend.
Near the captain stands the naviga-
tor. who will have charge. of the hand
ling of the ship during the engagement.
the signal officer. and the various aids
First of all. the decks and working
spaces are cleared. The spars. rigging,
and boats are secured. Everything
movable that will not be needed during
the engagement is firmly dashed into
place. where it will not interfere with
the wark. The tOpmen, who are in
charge of the little platform high I'D
on the mainmast. haul up arms and
ammunition and make everything
ready in their lofty quarters even to
0lllng the IRE DuckeJS With winch 10
put out a blaze should one be started
up aloft. The carpenter. under the di-
rection of the navigator, sees to the
removal Of awning, stanchions. hatch
rails, and every light object that is not
essential to the management of the
ship. The chronometers and other
delicate instruments are carefully
gathered up and laid away below, TO
save them from destruction by concus-
sion The torpedo division gets out it's
apparatus for sending torpedoes. and
spreads the intercepting nets over the
ships sides. where they can be quick
ly lowered IL need be.
Below the activity is equally great
The engine fires are stirred up and
steam is made as fast as possible, for
modern battle-ship is intended TO go
into action under a full head of steam.
The steam and bilge pumps are rugged
and the magazine squad stands to its
post, but the magazines are not unlock
ed until the signal for action. The
keys. however, are delivered to the Of
ficers of the powder division by the
captain at the first signal
When the ship is cleared the call to
quarters is given and the;smen take
their places in divisions. = The gun
them ready for use The matches. ex-
ed with gratings and tarpaulns. the
carpenter collects his men and with the
armorer stands ready to repair any
that may be done by the en-
emy's fire or the recoii Of the ships