The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-06-03
CLEARED FOR ACTION
PREPARATIONS ON A SHIP FOR THE
LlFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLE.

euperfiuous Objects Thrown Overheard,
Engines at Work, Crews at the Guns-En-
ergy at High Tension, and Death the
Only Reasonable Probability in sight.
"Clear ship for actionl" is the COM
mand from the executive officer. In
modern battle every one must expect
INJURY or destruction; he who does not
had better not go to sea in modern
sron-clad. Some will escape death,
but not many. In the engagement
between the Peruvian ironclad Huas-
car and the Blanco Encalada only fifty
Of the Huascar's crew were uninjured
put Of two hundred. One hundred
were killed and fifty wounded.
Continuing the survey of the inner,
hnman life of the ships, the spectator
would first note the bugle-call, and the
subsequent instantaneous rush to his
appointed station of every officer and
man. The great end in view is the
quickest possible use of the weapon
throwing power. The magazines and
the brooches of the great guns are the
centres of action. The conning-tower,
or little round room made of metal a
foot thick, with Sits fer observation,
is the centre of thought, for the cap
tain stands there with his aid and di-
reefs the battle by means of speaking
tubes and electricity.
First of all. the decks are cleared of
every obstacle that would embarrass
the rapid passage of ammunition from
Che magazines to the guns. All ships
are full of objects that are to be
thrown overheard before going into ac-
ton. Tanks of turpentine, alcohol,
rarnish, carboys of acid. must all fly
over the side. Then the ships hose is
to be attached to all connections, and
when action has begun the steam pump
Is started and kept running. All NOV
able bulkheads and lockers which
might interfere with the working of
any portion of the battery are put out
Of the way. Only those ladders which
are absolutely necessary are left in
place, the others being hung over the
side or carefully placed apart. All
compasses and binnacles except one
are sent below. Hammocks are furl-
ed; awnings are wetted and used in
certain exposed places as barricades or
shields, but it is not expected they will
do much against modern bullets.
Each great gun and small gun has
its officer and group of men behind it
to work it. It's big iron covering,
like large hood, shield some of the
men (but not alp from the fire of the
enemy. They must expect their own
death or that of their opponents All
the ammunition hoists are Immediately
put to work. Shell and charges are
hurried like lightning to every breech-
loading gun. Boxes of ammunition
are whisked up aloft into the fighting
tops of the military masts. The end
less mechanisms of the great guns and
their turrets must be set going like a
fash. whether by steam, hydraulic,
pneumatic or electrical power. The
lower decks. being dark, are often
whitewashed, If there be time to do so,
In order to make all objects on them
more visible. Cots or chairs are rig
ged for lowering the wounded below,
where the surgeons operating tables
are covered with lint and steel instru-
ments. The engineers are below, do
Ing their human best with the ships
fires, and if shell should reach one
Of their boilers Heaven help them!
And row, with the big crew on the
upper deck separated into small groups
behind the various guns, all expectant,
training the glistening brass sights on
The enemy-the centre of the opposing
mass near the water is the best place
to aim for-the battle is on the point
of beginning. Uniforms are not worn
with neatness or precision on these oo-
casions. Some men are stripped to
the waist and officers are in their shirt
sleeves. The ships have approached
within the radius of accurate fire, and
the command is given for the battle
TO begin.
All this description will fit, with
small changes in details, the exercise
known as CLEAR ship for actionI" in
all modern nav&s, and What appears
an invincible preparation on one side
Is exactly reproduced on the other.
The skill of the marksmen must deter
mine who will emerge as victor from