The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-23
THE DRILL IN THE NAVY
SAILORS LEARN IT so WELL THAT
IT BECOMES SECOND NATURE.
They May Lose Their Wits In War,
icalIy-Preparing for Battle.
Golfers Weekly.

enlist in the navy with only vague con-
ception of what will be required Of them
either in times of war or peace Ordinarily
the enlisted man on modern battle ship
or cruiser has busy time of 1T, and in the
event of hostilities his position would only
be made more unpleasant by the dangers
and uncertainties of the battles. Aside from
the danger that may exist on war ship
in times of peace through fires, the explo-
sion of magazines and other accidents. life
on board is the reverse of play.
The drill and exercises of the sailors in the
navy are exacting and continuous. At first
it is all novelty to the newly enlisted men,
but gradually it becomes irksome. The men
soon think they know the drill thoroughly,
and to them it appears useless to repeat the
exercises day after day; to the officers 1t
appears otherwise They realize how essen
tial it is to successful combat that every
man be so thoroughly disciplined that he
would mechanically take the place assigned
to him. Many a sailor has lost his wits in
naval engagements, but he has confessed
afterward that he unwittingly did the right
thing. The daily drill becomes second
nature to him, and during moments of panic
and confusion it is not strange that reflex
action of the mind causes him to do and act
just right.
Reasoning in this way, the department
tries to make the sailors on a man-of-war
as efficient as drill will make them, and the
exercises prescribed are of such a nature
that man cannot be long in the service
without becoming familiar with all the de-
tails of his duty When a vessel is first
placed in commission, the men are provided
with station billets,' which tells each one
his exact place at every exercise and drill.
A book is kept by the first lieutenant, in
which corresponding numbers, names and
directions are kept, and If any man is in
wrong position it is quickly corrected. Of
the several exercises, the fire drill is one
of the first taught new crew.
A big bell hanging forward suddenly rings
out in sharp clear tones, announcing that
fire has been discovered somewhere on the
vessel The men are not supposed to know
unawares; but a glance at the station
billet" will tell them what to do. Each man
must mus move quickly to his allotted position
without waiting for orders. Some are de-
tailed to work the pumps, and they are sup
posed to drop everything and take their po-
unreei the hose; and few, called asm ~
erers, unlash their hammocks and follow
the executive officer. Sometimes at his COM
hammocks. Both of these when moistened
with water make excellent fire extin-
gulshers when thrown over the blaze.
THE FIRE DRILL.
All through the ship men are moving
quickly, but quietly, to their allotted tasks
The gunners stand by their posts ready to
hood the magazine and shellroom should
the hre approach too near. Matches are
battened down to exclude draughts, and the
fire, supposed or real, is localized as much
as possible. More than this preparations
are made Immediately to abandon the shin
should the fire prove unmanageable. While
the greater part of the crew are fighting
the fire few men from the crew of each
peat gather provisions and water for the
InIepoats. These are piled up on the deck
put the men do not enter the boats unless
the order is given. A marine with fixed
nayonet stands guarding each cutter and in
case of actual fire ON board it is his duty
boat. 80 any u ms ere" entering tne
AS fire at sea is one of the worst acct
dents that could happen, even to a vessel
punt almost entirely of iron and steel, the
nre drill is made particularly severe and
eXactng. The bell may be rung at any
are the sailors sent to their quarters TO
hight fire that they would attach little i'm
portance to an actual fire. In fact they
never Know whether it is a real fire or a
false alarm. Fires have occurred on our
men-of-war below decks, and the majorit.f
OF the crew DID not know Of 1t until it Lad
Deen ext1nguished. Not until the order 10
abandon ship is given are the sailors al
lowed to enter the boats swinging from
their davits Sometimes the Sailors are on
dered to enter the boats and test the tackle
II the sentry on guard permits them to pa ss
ders ans Va
Abandon ship is the order that nearly
always fellows in due time the ringing Of
me me bell. This order comes in the shape
or lively air played by the bugler, which,
In the face of extreme danger, seems very
appropriate. Every sailor then leaves his
post, and takes up another position which
mas peen assigned to him. Some lower the
boats, and others form line to pass water
ana provisions over the side of the ship.
when all is ready the officers spring into
the stern Of the cutters. and give orders to
shoVe on All this is done quickly and
Wltnout friction. The sailors would UNI
9oubtedly act the same in case of actual
fire; in fact many illustrations conId he
cited to confirm this view
PREPARING FOR ACTION.
But the most important drill, probably. is
that to prepare for action. How the sailors
would act in real battle may be an un-
known quantity. but in the mimic battles
they do their duty to perfection. 1t would
not be for lack of discipline that they might
fail to do the right thing at the right mo-
ment. The call to Clear ship for action!'
has warlike ring about it that thrills the
sailors even in mimic battles There is
much to do to get ready for an engagement
with an enemy. Everything loose about
deck is bundled below, the light yards aloft
are taken down and the headbooms rugged
lashings are put on the yards to keep them
from blowing out Grapples are got ready
over the stern to clear the propeller should
1t become fouled by floating debris Sand is
spr1nkled on the floor around the guns to
prevent 1t from getting slippery with blood.
The boats swinging in the davits are COW
cred with sail cloth to prevent splinters
from flying should they be hit by the
enemy's shot. Below decks the surgeon and
gunners prepare for their grim work
Suddenly the drums beat to quarters
Once more the men chance their positions
The executive officer has charge of the ship
then and he give his orders from the
bridge. Here he is in direct communication
with the engineer and the gunners Ffrst
the big guns in front are fired, then those
at the side and stern. As the supposed enc
my approaches the engagement becomes
more general, and the orders are given in
rapid succession to Man the starboard bat
terry! Man the port battery and finally
TO Man all the guns" The ship is in full
action now. The heavy guns pour forth their
tons or shot from all sides, while the rapid
ire guns are necessarily rafting out their
quick, sharp reports. 1t is a severe test tn
ones nerves to retain his reason on hoard
a man-of-war when all of the guns are
shooting at any imaginary enemy 1t is
not necessary TO see an enemy to imagine
war. There is war of noise and thunder
that could hardly be intensified If the enc
mys SHOTS We're crashing through the sides
ness OF no real danger in the minds of the
men, but the strain is severe one and ex-
tremely full of suggestions
Men are supposed to be wounded at the
guns and elsewhere. Instantly the officer
IN charge details other meh to take their
places; Inc sailors in waiting carry the
wounded down below decks where the slIr-
geon is waiting for them. Thus the work
moves on swiftly, and without confusion
until enough men are killed to make it i'm