Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-25

send surging through his veins to con-
troll the thought and action of him who
directs the conflict.
CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED.
With the change in ships. their de-
velopment and undermining. from the
picturesque type Of the famous old
wooden three decker to the steel-clad
ship of the present day, all other con-
dtons have changed of necessity. The
preparation and training for their
work of the men who sail or command
them has altered, too with the cond'-
tons. The sailor of to-day has much
more to master in the way Of learning
and science than had his sturdy pro
decessor in the ships of half century
ago: the complicated machinery of A
modern Warship, the improved guns
with their intricate mechanism, the
deadly torpedoes. the tremendous pow
cr of high explosives and the handling
and use of all these. demand a prcpar-
alton on the part of officers and men
alike. the lack of which in time of
actual war no amount of courage
could replace or atone for
The days of the cutlass and boarding
pike are gone forever from the annals
of the sea. Great guns and great pro-
jecties have rendered our forefathers
manner of lighting obsolete. 1t VIII
never again be yard arm to yard arm,
and gun muZzlc to gun muzzle. The
Captain will no longer lead his mon
sword in hand over the cnemys side.
His sword might just as we'll be glued
fast in it's scabFlard. for any use be
You'd the purely ceremonial one, that it
is ever likely to be TO him. in time Of
war. at least, for the spectacular ha~
departed almost entirely from his cali
ing. Nor will he climb into the shrouds
the better to observe the movement Of
the enemy.
THE TELEPHONE IN USE.
The shrouds have gone with the
masts and sails, literally by the boards.
His ship has become a modern thing.
an invention if you like. and he viii do
his fighting in a modern way and that
will be, in part at least, by telephone.
He will stand in the cOnninG-tower IF
his ship with his lips to speaking tube,
or it may be With his finger resting IT
one of the row of brass topped push
buttons that line the walls of his steel
cage, and so direct the fight But these
| ingenious aids, push buttons, speaking
tubes and telephones have increased
his responsibilities, not lessened them.
1t is true he is more master of the sit
uation than ever before, but he has
more situation to master. his care has
broadened with the means to meet that
care.
touch Of the finger and the cleo
trio bells will communicate his conf
mands to the gunners. or give the or
der for some necessary maneuver of
the Ship to gain an advantage in posi-
ton for the coming struggle, the in
creasing or diminishing of first speed
From the conning-toWer will come
the order that will fire the first shot
or send forth the first torpedo against
the foe Then when the mighty storm
of battle breaks with its pent up thun-
del to ring forth across the water
from his narrow cage, it's rim of steel
perhaps ten inches thick surrounding
and sheltering him. he will order every
movement governing the fight. The
speaking tubes will put him in control
men are stationed. Steady hands at
the annunciators will send his orders
to the engine room. A touch on one
of the row of brass-topped buttons and
he will have command of the guns: the
pressure of a finger and they will be
aimed and discharged at his pleasure
The delicate nerves of the great fight
ing machine will center there in the
brain of the snip. The whole ponder
Gus, but wonderfully plant fabric.
will rest, as it We're, in the hollow of
his hand. And that hand will need to
be steady one. its every action or
dered by a judgment as cool as it is
masterful and quick. if disastrous mis-
takes are to be averted. For if in a
moment of panic or hesitation or fear.
the wrong command should be sent to
the engine room or the wrong button
touched, it might mean and would
most likely mean. the loss of the ship
and those aboard of her