New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-28
THE FIRST TIME UNDER FIRE.
rxHILARATING EFFECT OF RATTLE
AS FELT ON \ WARSHIP.

tho day before on the station off Santiago. and
ocr eyes were still wide open with staring at the
,sw scene about us. and with wondering what
,c,ures Of war would be impressed upon it.
Where would the close nlanpuvring occur
Who're would decisive broadsdc be delivered.
.tber from ourselves or from an enemy Where
vouid we ram him or grapple with him in
death struggle? Where would one of us urch
and sink beneath the waves? Such questions
will come UP at such a time. for the magma
ton OF a novice in is deeply stirred. Our
erm thoughts were cut short by signal from
the flagship which informed us that would
have to stop thinking and take to acting. In
half an hour a fleet would go in and attack the
sn.nish forts. With a thrill of interest and
pleasure the ships company felt that H. was
Going to he under fire for the first time
We had had so much practice at preparation
sor An enemy on our trip down to CUBA that IL
had become merely a matter " routine FOR us 10
.nrine TO our guns with agility and quietness
that were catlike On that trip we had sish'eu
..nv susn;cious vessels and it was only SEN
dh,e precaution to act Immediately on the oehei
that they we're hostile until We couid steam
nm close enough to make certain they were not
In one twenty four hours remember -FOUR times
when We were sure that We had crossed the
oath Of the Spanish feet. And each tifne IL
needed but the two words commence nrihs
for destruction 10 begin.
The clearing Of a ship for action Is not SIM
Mo operation and it involves the swift and SUD
aen activity " every person on the ship. and all
q, the same instant 40 matter where they may
h. or what they may 10 doing Gil must ny 10
their stations for battle. Then the guns and
magazines must be put in instant communica-
f,on with each other SO that projectiles may
aox Ike 4 stream from the magazines to the
guns II il essential that the moment after
shell is fired the breech If the gun should be
nnened and a fresh shell inserted With accu-
racy Of aim. it is plain that rapidly of fire may
destroy an enemy before he can destroy you
READY FOR ACTION.
All the many hasty preparations incident 10
clearing a ship for action having been MADE inc
INNS crews stand at the loaded guns Ihey
had often reached this particular stage OF the
perfor,nance before. but never with quite tho
zane zest as on the day speak Of on Santi-
NO There are the groups at the guns the
lines Of men connecting the groups win the
bver decks the lower decks alive win men
near the matches There is silence. fore ana ait'
ave for the orders Of the executive officer. Inc
.nn., c,e,ys stand alert. more wide-awake than
ever before in their lives. II il not Day ana
.ome Of them are stripped to their waists most
NJ ,be,n are in their bare feet The officers slip
.c,;ve,v from gun TO gun or prOWl up and down,
v.;,i,, ror action to begin one OF them is
vhstllne softly to himself. Everybody mas
wads OF cotton in his ears. for otherwise the
noise OF he guns might ruin his hearing Every
one seems collected. for the truth is ne IS eager
10 face danger in order I" test himself ana 10
prove whether or not he has the courage skill
and coolness to do his duty in battle lie Is ex-
cited, but he controls his excitement. he Is
anxious to prove himself "a better man thah
his enemy And happy Is the man VINO al such
time feels within him the im'neasurape
Stimulus OF believing that ne il battling for the
hght. and that every shot ne fires is shot into
Injustice and corruption.
Meanwhile our ships with large gatherings
flying are moving. ahead and will soon reach
point about three miles of the Spanish batteries
There are two Of these in sight. and each on
bill two hundred feet high. and each overlooking
the narrow entrance into Santiago Harbor All
eyes ON our shin that can be spared are turned
90 the Spanish guns. We must now be near the
point where the order will be given to us to fire.
The captains of the guns are toiling. Dathed III
respiration. at the small wheels which controi
The movements Of their guns. and are keeping
ne sights OF the great weapons placed Directly
upon the enemy in spite Of the rolling OF the
NIP Will the SpaniaTds fire first?
GREATNESS minute passes. and the order 10
begin the battle comes from our bridge BOOM!
"es our first great gun at the enemy. second
uerward two more follow simultaneously.
raree clouds OF dust whipped from the side OF
ne Spanish hill show US that our shells fall a
~ue short Of where they were intended to 30.