El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-04-30
SHIP
FOR ACTION
PREPARATIONS FOR THE LIFE AND
DEATH STRUGGLE.
Superflous Objects Thrown Overheard,
Engines at Work, Crews at the
Guus-Energy at q High Tension.
and Death the Only Reasonable
Probability In sight.


Probability In sight.
The first thing to be remembered by
the people on shore who may ere long
be reading of sea-hght between two
modern ironclads is that MOD ern YES
sells will fight under way. All steam
will be put on the moment that the
two com batants descry each other on
the far horizon. Then the monsters
will begin to switch Themselves about
In the water and lash the waves. and
the great frames will trembie with the
engines vibrations.
A late trial of the Cincinnati in bat
tie trim occupied ten minutes going
and coming over q measured distance,
with q floating target at distance
varying from three-quarters OF mile
10 q mile and an eighth. Her whole
battery was fred as many times as pos
sible, one of the 5-inch gums being dis
charged Sc times in the ten minutes,
and the others nearly equalline this
rapidity. She was flying cloud OF
was not visible. The gunners could
often only guess at the position of the
target, or had to wait q few seconds
for q little momentary rift in the cloud
to take advantage of 1t. AS q matter
of fact, the target was completely
wrecked, owing to the skill of the Of
ficers and gunners' mates.
"Clear ship for ac.ion?" 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 60 to sea in q mod
ern iron clad. Some will escape death
but not many. First OF all, the decks
are cleared of every obstacle that
would embarrass the rapid passage OF
ammunition from the magazines to the
guns All ships are full of objects that
are to be thrown overheard before 60
ing into ac.ien. Tanks of turpeDtiue,
all fly over the side. Then the ships
hose is to be attached to all connec-
tiops, and when action has begun the
steam pump is started and kept run
ming. ALI movable bulkhesds 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 nee
essary are left in place, the others be-
ing hung over the side or carefully
placed apart. All cOmpasses and bin
Hammocks are furled; awnings are
wetted and used in certain exposed
places as barricades on shields, but it
is not expected they will do much
ae ainst modern bullets.
Each great Ruu and small gun has
its officer and group of men bshiud it
to work it. It's big iron covering,
like large hood, shields some of the
men (but not ally from the fire of the
enemy. They must expect their own
death or tina: of their opponents. All
the ammunition hoists are imms diately
put to work. Shell and charges are
hurried like lightning to every breech-
loading gun. Boxes OF ammunition
are whisked up alOft in to the fighting
tops of the military mssts. The end
less mech anisms of the great guns and
their turrets must be Get going like q
flash; whether by steam, hydraulic,
Pneumatic or electrical power. The
lower decks, being dark, are often
in order to make all objects on them
more visible. Cote 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 q shell should reach one of
their boilers H aven help them!
And now, with the big crew on the
upper deck separated into small groups
behind the various guns, all expectant,
training the gllSten1nR brass sig nts on
the enemy-the centre of the opposing
mass ne ar the water is the best place
to aim for-the battle is on the point
OF beginning. Uniforms are not worn
with Z eatness or precision on these oc-
cssions. 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.
Ali this description will At, with
small change, in details, the exercise
known as Clear ship for actiop!' in all
modern navies, and what appears an in
vincfble preparation on one side Is ex-
sctly reproduced on the other. The
skill of the marksmen must determine
who will emerge as victor from tie
coming great clash.-New York Tribu-
ne.