Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-12

has special place of its own on the up
per deck. whittier the men repair when
called. Every officer on board has a special
station, where he is to be found unless
specially employed elsewhere.
The danger of fire during action since
the battle of the Yalu has occupied the
close attention of the admiralties of all
countries All fires breaking out below the
gun deck are in charge of the fire brigade.
thus leaving the guns crews free for their
important duties. When, however, the fire
Is likely TO make head, Notwithstanding the
efforts of the fire brigade one or more
guns crews are called off as necessity may
arise for the purpose of attending the
noses. AS fire may occur in the neigh
pofhood OF a magazine or a shell ROOM and
the supply of ammunition to the guns on
deck during action be INTERRUPTED from this
cause. special drill for obviating this diff
ncuity is arranged so to prevent the
slackening of fire, by the provision of shell
ana other ammunition from other maya
zines. IL the fire is on the gun deck the
guns crews are not told off to deal with II
except in emergency. as the maintenance of
RAPID and steady fire in action is the para
mount object of every commander. In case
the IRE becomes SO serious as to make il
necessary to go to general fire stations the
guns are fired, or their ammunition is
thrown overheard. The small ammunition
on deck is either thrown overheard or
pose.
Other details of action drill include the
resistance to torpedo boat attack, which
the Americans are now hard at work prac-
ticing in their various squadrons If an
attack be expected by night in dry weather
the decks. gun carriages etc, are white
washed, device which in the absence of
artificial light is of great service to the
ere" OF snip attacked by torpedo boats.
Inc use of small arms is DISCOURAGED as
experience shows that no weapon using
lead bullets is of much use in repelins tor
peoo attack The guns in the fighting tops,
as theE ENJOY the advantage of plunging
IRE through the unprotected decks of the
torpedo boats, are found to be the best
primary means of defense The larger
guns can only he used against torpedo
boats for one or two rounds. They are re-
served when hitting is practically assured,
and then only in a last resource The in
PRODUCTION of smokeless powder for the
auxiliary armament is likely to prove an
immense advantage to the American navy,
as with ordinary vigilance the successful
approach of a torpedo boat is practically
impossible. In the event of a night attack
ana, in fact, in action altogether, the use
OF the bugie is restricted as much as posi-
bic. None but important orders are now
conveyed by il.
Inc noise of an action under any circum-
stances is b2wildering, the torment of the
ear-splitting sound of the three-pounders in
the tops being considered more trying than
neaNF guns in the turTet. Each gun in the
event of torpedo attack IS given a definite
arc of the horizon to defend and the guns
crews are forbidden from Gire citing their
ann at any object outside the limits of
those ares. Ali the men at disengaged guns
are as rule ordered TO lie down and to
take cover as much as possible but they
are not, as a rule, sent below during an
action as the service OF the guns may be
required 10 be resumed at any moment
The fire discipline pre- scribed In the ma
Nles OF the great powers is practically the
same. though long experience has taught
Bfltlsh naval authorities certain details or
q
confidential. cannot be disclosed in a news
paper article