The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-07
SAILING A WARsHIP.
Navigator Must BE Person of Re-
marISnbIe EruditiOn.

From the Philadelphia Times.
1t is doubtful if any Office in the navy
aside from an absolute command involves
so vast a responsibility as that af navi-
gator Of a man-of-war. The duties of this
important station in former years fell to
officers of the rank of master but with the
abolition of that grade its affairs devolv-
ed upon the lieutenants holding the highest
numbers on the list. Upon the navigator
of warship depends not only the task
of shaping the vessels course for any
point across the seas to which her des-
TIMES may direct her, but also the re-
sponsibility of plotting her in and out Of
harbor and of selecting a safe anchorage
for her in every port visited during the
period of her cruise
Hence it follows that, combined with a
thorough nautical training. the compe-
tent navigator must be possessed of a
vast fund Of geographical, meteorological
and photographed knowledge While
at sea he must know the vessels posi-
ton to a degree. which necessitates his tax
ing frequent observations of the celestial
bodies and making solutions of intricate
problems in geometry and trgonometry
such as constantly arise through devia-
uonS brought about by innumerable causes
from her given course,
meut in navigation because of its infali-
bility, under ordinary conditions, in deter
mining the latitude, longitude and error
In the ships compass is what is known
In maritime phraseology as nautical as
tronomy." With the aid of sextaut or
quadrant for measuring the altitude of
the heavenly bodies above the horizon or
their distance from each other, a time
piece to mark the instant of am obserVa-
ton chronometer TO show the time at
the first meridian, nautical almanac and
an azimuth compass. the navigator can
readily determine his position with the ut
most eXacutude thus obviating unccr-
tainties resulting from the more simple
but less accurate method Of dead reckon
ing
The average voyage Is more or less char
acterized by erroneous estimates in dis
tances sailed, in varying currents, careless
steering, deviation in the compass and nu-
merous other obstacles and upon the navi
gator rests the responsibility of adjusting
such errors. In long passages across The
open sea the navigator is governed by
rather complex combination of motives,
which may be summed up as follows; To
cover the required distance in the shortest
space of time, with the smallest eXpendi-
ture of fuel ana the least wear and tear
of the vessel that is possible.
With these objects in view, the naviga-
tor must prior to sailing, superintend per-
sonally the slowing Of the hold, the ar
rargenent of ballast, water. provisions,
stores, etc, and the inspection and ad-
justment of the motive appliances of the
ship, all of which features, severally and
collectively. greatly affect her speed and
sea-worthiness. If his vessel possesses the
facilities for making sail he must. while
at sea, exercise the keeuest judgment and
foresight as to utilizing the same; for SAL
used 70 good advantage is a great saver of
coal, while otherwise. If used indiscrimi-
nately, 1t may entail much loss of time.
The expert navigator draws the line with
exceeding hneness between a high fair
wind and a gale making the most of the
former as long as his vessel is not jeo-
pardized, heaying her to at just the prop
er period and getting under way again at
the first sign Of moderation in the Wea her.
The commander Of a warship reposes the
utmost confidence in a skilled and careful
navigator, and rarely interferes with his
plans.
Another of the>numerous details coming
under the naVigators supervision is the
keeping of the ships log. This is com
menced by him at the time the vessel is
placed in commission and Its pages record
the events of each succeeding day. There
Is absolutely nothing which transpires,
officially, on board of a man-o' war that is
not written IN the log, and each day The
navigator must carry il TO the command
ing officer for his inspection. AT the ex-
piration of every six months the ships log
must be closed ana forwarded to the navy
department at Washington, where it is
placed among the records.
The navigator has charge Of all the va
rious weather indicators Of the vessel and
must render quarterly reports of an mo-
teorological observations. These are tal-
en- at regular intervals by the quarter
masters of the watch and fully entered
upon the ships log The navigator must
regularly inspect the steering gear. com
passes, anchors and chain cables Of the
ship and daily report their condition to
the commanding officer.
lie must also keep a separate book in
which are recorded all calculations relat-