The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1898-05-12


Few people out side the naval servic
know Just how war vessel goes INTO
fight. TO put bsttleship like the low
Ur Indiana in thorough readiness 10
action ordinarily requires about tw
hours, though, OF course, it can be don
i'm much less time in case OF urgency.
There is one thing that makes 1t con
parstively simple aud orderly task. o.
board fighting vessel every man has
certain assigned pot aud a certain tssl
laid out for him, with which be is periec
y familiar. This holds true from the cal
tain himself dowp to the little coolies who
wait on table for the ditl .rent messes
When the signal is sounded it brings
every man TO his place, and long familiar
ty makes the work, so involved and con
pllcated to the eyes Of an outsider. mere
matter OF routine.
III sship engages an enemy unexpected
ly, 80 that there ia not the usual time for
preparation. the call to qsrters is sound
ed Immediately and the men take their
places in divisions. 10 this case each
division attends to part OF the work OF
clearing the shir, but ordinarily the first
signal is, "Clesr for actionw AT the boat
swsin's whistle and the verbal command
the men move to their positions, those
whose places are on deck forming in
squads under direction OF the different
officers. The captain takes bis place on
the bridge, Later, when the battle be
gins, be will go into the protected coming
tower, through the marrow slits OF which
he can watch everything that takes place
on deck and the movements OF the enemy
as we'll But for the present, while the
preparations are being made, he must de
eide the general plan OF action, how the
guns are to be used, and the class and
nature OF proiectile on which be will de
pend.
Near the captain stands the navigator,
who will have charge OF the handling OF
the ship during the engagement, the zig
nal officers aud the vsrious aids. First OF
sll, the decks and working spaces are
cleared, The spsrs. rigging and boats
are secured. Everything movable that
vii not be needed during the engagement
8 firmly asbed into place, where it will
lot IL terfere with the work. The topmen |
who are 10 charge Of the little platform
ligh up on the mainmsst. haul up arms
md ammunition and make everything |
esdy 10 their lofty quarters, even to Gil
ug the fire buckets with water with which
o put out blazs should one be started
Up sloft, The carpenter, under the di
ection Of the navlgst r, sees to the re
noysl OF awning stsnchions, hatch rails
nd every light object ths, is not esseut
al TO the management OF the chip. The
hronom sters and other delicate instru
nents are carefully gathered up On I laid
way below, TO save them from destruc
ion by conclusion. The torpedo division
cts out it's apparatus Tor sending tor
edoes and spreads the intefoep,ing nets
yer the ships sldes, where they can be
uickly lowered II need be.
Below the activity is equally great.
he engine fires are stirred up and steam
made AZ fast as possible, ior modern
sttlesbip is intended 10 go into action
nder foil head Of steam. The steam
I'D bilge punps are figged and the maya
iue squad stands to its poet, but the
Iagszines are not unlocked until the Gig
oil for sction. The keys, however, are {
eliyered TO tie tiiicefs Of the powder di /
sion by the csptsin at the fret signal q
When the ship is cleared the call TO &
1srters il given and the men take heir /
Iaces 10 dlybi)ps Tie quo tqusds a
and TO their guns and male them ready
Z use Tue hstchss, eIc pt those that =
III be used, are covered With Pr.tinss /
ID tsrpsullns, the csrpsltrf collects bic b
eu sDd with the srmotet stands ready 10 v
pair suy dsmagc tbst my be done by b
e eneuys fire or the fecoil Of the sbip's ID
unon. A msn with lead liue 10 plsoed q
the veil aud during the hsht will make J.
tq1eut eoul ldinss 10 discover II the yss Il
Is iulared below tie water line. The b
zee squad is plscsd 10 charge OF The FIRE u
psrstus, ready iJr instant service. v
iemicsl IRE tr,inguisbers are used on O
The Uaited states ~srsLips pos, and O
L d stsnsdes are placed 10 every quarter b
the sbio. Every preesn,ion is tskeu TO d
cure The instaut stamping cot VI the IRE II
ould il start 10 or near the magazines. G.
DoEn 10 the sick bay the head .rEssoD, b
'bull doctor, hss been directing the b
fiug oai Of eots, Instruments and ben 81
gee. 0as hslebwsy, ss near snidships, b