The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-07-15
HOW A wARsHiP FIGHTS.

Bcforc batile-ship goes into action.
all spare gear Is slowed away. and her
decks made rs bare as possible. This is Ia
order that the enrmy's shot may find but
little 10 make splinlers OF. should they
come aboard A warship possesses three
means or attack - her guns. ram and
torpedocs The guns range from Hilton
weapons. which throw 40 l.sOO-pound
proiectile, with charge Of 0oO pounds
~ powder, down to thFec-pound quick
frrrs.
Some of the batfle-ships carry ms many
as if,-four guns. thirty-nve Of which
IRE able 20 discharge in one broadslde.
thus throwing some 3.0ls pounds Of iron
. minute At the enemy. The effective
range Of the bi-; guns is over ten miles,
and zen shots minute can be thrown by
the qnicl-fring ones.
One Of The big baitle-shlps fighting Mt
close quarters. with her Mnxims in play.
would hurl at the Zoe about 1900 pro-
jectilcs minute; these varying 10 weight
from | 800 pounds TO one ounce. Some Of
these prolectiles would be filed with
high explosives, and would destroy
everything Tor yards around the place
where they exploded. As British possess
ions are 10 widely scattered that ships
have to remain fora long time AWAY
from ammunition bases. they carry much
more shot per gun than do foreign men
of.war.
When ship is Commissioned. the first
thing that her crew do Is 10 practice
general quarters until they ARE able
10 clear for action aud be ready to fire n
broadside within three minutes from the
moment the order is given. Eventually.
however the crew get TO know the shin
~ well that they can get her ready for
action In minute and 70 half This they
have to do by night Ms we'll rs day. Prob
ably the captain chooses midnight. when
all but the watch are fast asleep. To
'fdcr 'qnartcrs" to be sounded. Imme
di"icly the bugle rings ont. every man
Jumps from his hammock and rusbes
straight FOR his station. each one en-.
1eavuring To be first at his post For
a couple Of minutes the changing OF
iron doors and the clanking Of CHAINS
are heard throughout the ship: then
all is silent again. The bright muzzles
u the guns glistcn out At the ports:
Town In the magazines are men readv
u send ammunition To the gunncrs on
he decks above; the torpedo crews have
olac.d Whiteheads In the tubes. and
every other preparation has been mnde
10 give battle To the enemy Illuminated
sights ARE used on the guns al night
Zach big gun is worked by what is
termed ''crcw"--that Is. a number nj
sailors or marine nrtnlcrymcn special,
told of To IL. The captain. or Mum
Der One " as he is called. lays the gu,
aud fires 1.-THE other members Of IN.
crew" stand In file to pass the pro
ie,tlles and load the gun. There n
ilso a crew to each torpcdo-tuhe. Thcs,
tubes ARE now nearly all submerged
\ Nhlcheaded torpedo costs abou
5000. 1t has an effective range O
500 wards, aud It's war-head carries
bursting charge consisting OF ISIS hounds
~ gun cotton. The Whitehead is pro
nelled through The water bv beauti
fully designed engine. situated at It's tail
end. The weapon can be set to run A
given depth. In any given direction
and either 10 float or sink ut the en-,
OF us journey. IL is fired from IN
tube by means Of compressed air q
a powder charge Both for the TORE
does and guns the smartest men 4
the navy are chosen. These receive
special training In the schools on shors
and get extra pay for performing the,
duties. For ~ ship TO make the mos
effective use Of her armament everythin
depends upon the skill OF the crew
The ram is ono weapon which
manipulated by the captain. His oh
lect Is To out.mancuvcr the rncm,
So that he can bear down upon ther
wi,hou, fear OF their ramming his shiT
When the order TO ram is given. ever,
body throws himself flat ON the deck
10 prevent being thrown down by IN
force Of the impact Ramming is. how
ever, very risky operation. as. taoug
the captain may succeed ia crashin
hole through the enemy's side. N
enemy may blow up his ship by dii
charging her submerged torredocs. e.
Selected.
To Cure Constipation Forever.