The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-14
HOW A SHIP GOES INTO ACTION.
Stripped of All Wood and Directed
Solely by Signals.

Solely by Signals.
Cincinnati COMMERCIAL Tribune.
So perfect is the discipline and training
on board a war ship that even the most
ponderous fighting battle ship can clear for
action in a. very short time with but little
tumult or confusion Yet a great deal of
work must be done before the ship is
stripped for the fray.
Take the big armored cruiser New York,
in our own navy. for example. Vessels of
her class carry twelve small boats and about
45O men. She is steaming along at peace
with herself and the world, when the look
out reports an enemy in sight Clear ship
for action" is the first order given by the
captain, and every man hastens to his sta
tion.
With the headway sufficiently checked for
that purpose the men detailed for this duty
lower the boats OYER the side, all watered,
provisioned and provided with compass,
masts and sails Steam is raised in the
launches and the fleet drops astern in tow
of the ship. Keepers are placed in charge Of
the boats, which may be needed for aban-
doning ship. Hence their equipment.
While this is going on other preparations
are being made for the conflict One de-
tacnment OF men unshp the boat davits,
awning stanchions, scupper gratings deck
ladders and all small wood and ironwork
that might be splintered by shot and in
fiict damage on the crew. The marine guard
in the forehold assist in slowing away this
paraphernalia, all of which is handled cas-
lily and quickly The glass headlights in the
deck and on the sides of the ship are re-
moved. and into their places the men screw
battle plates of iron. Shattered glass flying
about is quite as unpleasant as slugs of lead
Down come the forward and after bridges
and the flying bridge over the forward one,
all Of which airy ed are putt fnr
every part in such an emergency. The va
rious appliances in the pilot house, more or
less delicate ard fanciful in construction,
are hurried below, as the handling of the
ship in action is directed from the coming
tower The paymaster locks his safe and
eight or ten men, brings forth lint ban
dages and litters, and stands by in the sick
bay for patients To the captains hand,
and kept close by is brought the signal
book, with the lead-bound back In the
event of capture the book is thrown over
board thus foiling The enemy, who would
like to obtain our secret code.
With the fighting deck cleared Of every
thing movable except the guns; the captain
gives the order for quarters. This alarm is
sounded on the bugle. and the gun crews,
top fighters and powder divisions bound to
their stations. Should this order come in
the blackness of midnight the agile tars
reach their posts with but little loss on
their day records The New York carries
four ten-inch guns, two in each turret, To-
Gated one forward and the other aft. A
crew of twenty men is stationed at each
gum in charge of three officers. The sole
duty of one of these officers is to sight the
piece while the others direct the passing
of ammunition and the loading of the guns.
AS a battle ship is seldom required to spit
fire from both ends simultaneously the
work of manning turret guns can be facilf-
tated by doubling up the crews.
Six tve-inch rapid-fire guns on a side,
each with crew of twelve men. constitute
the broadsides. With the enemy engaging
at one side only, the opposite broadside is
moved across the deck, enabling the ship
to pour out volley of twelve guns if nee
essary. One officer directs the action of a
broadside gun, which can be loaded and
fired with great rapidity Along the rails
and in the fighting tops are stationed the
machine guns, ranging from one to five
Founders. One man can handle the smaller
gun. 1t is fashioned like a. breech-loading
rifle, with a stock resting on swivel and
framework that protects the gunner from
the shock of the reeoil Three or four men
can work q Gatling, sweeping the decks of
an enemy within range or checking the adj
vance of small boats. The machine guns
in the tops are better calculated by reason
of their elevation for pickings of men who
expose themselves on the deck OF an oppos-
ing ship.
While the battle thus RACES above the
powder division is busy below passing up
ammunition from the magazines. Hosting
gear carries the heavier munitions into the
turrets. The lighter projectiies are for
warded 10 the guns by hand. the apprentice
boys being impressed usually for this serv-
ice under the title Of powder monkeys" !"