Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-08-12
CLEARED FOR FACTION
PREPARATIONS on : STRIP fch fHs
LiFs-sNp-r tATH s1nuccLf.

Engines ~ wssk. csswsas she 0uss-E s-
srsy - . Bish Tension. and Death the
Only Reasonable Probability In sight.
"cle1r ship for aetionl" IL the CON-
mand FROM the executive ofIicer. In
modern battle every one must expect
injury or destruction: he who does not
had better not go 10 sea In a modern
iron-ciad. Some will escape death.
but not many. In the engagement
between the Peruvian ironclad Huas-
car and the Blanco Enealada cniy nifty
OF the Huaaear's crew we're uniElured
out Of two hundred. Que hundred
were killed and ffiy TOuEdst.
Continuing the survey % She inner.
human life Of the ships. The spectator
would first note the bugle-cail. and the
subsequent instantaneous rush 10 his
appointed station Of every officer and
man. The great end IN view II the
quickest possible use Of the weapon
throwing power. The magazines and
the breeches Of the great guns are the
centres Of action. The conning-tower.
or little round room made OF metal a
foot thick. with sllts for observation.
II the centre Of thought. for the cap
tain stands there with his aid and d.
reefs the battle by means Of speaking
tubes and electricity.
First Of all. the decks are cleared OF
every obstacle that would embarrass
the rapid passage Of ammunition from
the magazines 10 the guns. All ships
are full OF objects that are 70 be
thrown overheard before going into ac-
tion. Tanks Of turpentine, alcohol.
yarnish. cartoys Of acid. must all ny
over the side Then the ships hose Is
20 be attached 10 all connections, and
when action has begun the steam pump
n started and kept running. All nov
able bulkheads 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 necessary are left In
place, the others being hung over the
side or carefully placed apart. All
compasses and blnnacles except one
are sent below. HammOcks are furi-
ed; awnings are wetted and used In
certain exposed places as barbados or
shields. but Il ls not expected they will
do much aslhst modern bullets
Each great gun and small gun has
its ofiioer aad group Of men behind Il
TO work a. It's big iron covering.
like a large hood. shield some OF the
men (but no, alll from the IRE Of the
enemy. They must expect their own
death or that Of their opponents. All
the ammunition holsts are Immediately
put to work Shell and charges are
hurried like lightning 10 every breech-
loading gun. Boxes Of ammunition
are whisked up aloft into the fighting
tops Of the military masts. The end
less mechanisma OF the great guns and
their tuuets must be set going like a
fash. whether by steam, hydraulic.
pneumats or electrical power. The
lower decks. being dark. are often
whitevashed. n there he time % do 90.
IN order TO make all objects on them
more visible Cots or chairs are rig
ged Tor lowering the wounded below.
where the surgeons operating tables
are covered with lint and steel instru-
menta The engineers are below, do
ing their human best with the ships
fires. and II a shell should reach one
Of their boilers Heaven help them!
And now. with the big crew on the
upper deck separated into small groups
behind the various guns. all eKpectant,
training the gllsienlng brass sights on
the efemy-the centre Of the opposing
mass near the water Il the best place
20 ain for-the battle Il on the point
! OF beginning. Uniforms are not worn
with neatness or precision on these oc-
; casions Some men are stripped TO
the waist and officers are In their shirt
sleeves The ships have approached
within the radius Of accurate IRE. and
the command Is given for the battle
10 begin.
All this description will NJ. with
, small changes IN details. the exercise
known a. Clear ship for action" In
all modern navles. and what appears
an invinclble preparation on one side
Is exactly reproduced on the other.
, The skin Of the marksmen must deter
mine who will emerge as victor from
the coming great clash.