Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-16
HOW AN IRoNcLAD IS FOUGHT,

HOW AN lR0MCLAD IS FOUGHT.
Here Ii . British DeseriptioD Of the
Way In which Il Ii
Now that a new naval war is imminent
the nature Of the discipline on board an
ironclad In action will be of interest 10 tns
general reader. The distribution OF the
crew In action is based ON the principle
Of dividing the armament into quarters,
and to number or name the guns SO as 10
give them an individuality without refer
ence to their size. When action Is immI-
nent every one. on board repairs to the
allotted station. below. on deck, or aloft.
zines, gives them to the men in charge.
sees that the lights are lit and everything
in working order. As soon as the guns are
cleared away and loaded report to that
effect In made to the captain.
When this has been done the gun crews
are provided with small arms. upon which
they, close up around their guns ana aWait
further orders. A supply of ..ght, quick
firing machine-gun, rifle and pistol ammuni-
ton is then passed up ready for distribu-
tion on deck. and proportion OF II Is sen. SEM
aloft. This ammunition Is served out nrst
to the small-arm party and to boarders, ana
to the remainder Of the crew as soon as
their guns are cleared away and arms pro-
ready for discharge. Helmsmen are provtd-
ed ready to take charge Of the hand-steer-
Ing appartus in the event OF the steam
lies. buglers and men stationed at voice
tubes are ordered to repair TO- their sta
ttons. but the use Of the hugle In action Is
restricted as far as possible las long ana
stood.
The dress for men in action is as unin-
nammable as possible. the blue working rig
being considered the best. There Is no rea-
son why action dress should not be IN fu-
ture saturated with the non-inhammable
material similar to that now employed IN
all American ships of war
1t is a curious point that in action boots
and shoes are ordered to be worn by all
men on deck and in the tops That portion
of the crew engaged in the magazines are
provided with slippers. There was a great
tendency in elson's time for the men to
strip during action. This practice is now
discouraged. Waist belts and pouches are
worn land men who have pistols are
obliged to wear them.
A fire brigade, consisting Of carpenters
screw y. on r hose and rig an
toned at each water-night door, which Is
kept open, ready to close 1t when the order
Is given. As the spread of fire may at any
time menace the safety fthe magazine,
the key Of the valve admitting water to the
magazine level Is either kept in the per-
sonal charge Of the captain or at his dis
deck.
A supply Of oatmeal and water for drink
Ing Is arranged all over the ship, especially
nthe vicinity of magazines, machinery
compartments, stoke-holes and shell rooms.
No intoxicating liquor is served on the day
Of action nboard of any well regulated
ironclad. This Is great departure from ron
was In vogue hundred years ago.
Each division of boarders ready to leap
onto the nemy's ship and take 1t bJ assault
when its armament has been si1enced has
special place Of its own on the upper deck,
whiltner the men repair when called. Every
officer on board has special station. where
| he is to be found unless specially employed
elsewhere.
The danger of firing during action since
the battle Of the Yalu has occupied the
countries. All fire. breaking out below the
gun deck aare in charge fthe fire brigade,
| thus leaving the guns free for their impor-
likely to make head notTith.tand,n9 e ,hs
efforts of the fire brigade. one or more gun
crews aare called of. az necessity may arse,
for the purpose Of attending the hose: A. .
fire may occur in the neighborhood Of a
magazine OF shell room, and thesupply Of
ammunition to the guns on deck during
action be interrupted from thihs cause, q
arranged, SO as to prevent the slackening
Of fire. by the provisioning Of shell and
other ammunition from other magazines. If
the hre Is on the gun deck the gun crews
| are not told on to deal within it, except in
emergency, as the maintenance of rapid
| and steady fire in action is the paramount
/ case
ire becomes SO serious as to make it neces-
sary to 60 to general fire stations the guns
are fired or their. ammunition is thrown
of Daes sa
convenient position for that purpose.
Other details Of action drill include the re-
sistance to torpedo boat attack, which the
IN their various squadrons. II an attack be
expected by night In dry weather the decks,
gun carriages, etc, are Whitewashed-a de-
III IN H0Av 49, @r1 Il<~H~A
Il of great service to the crew Of a ship at
tackled by torpedo boats. The use Of small
arms Is discouraged. as experience shows
that no weapon using lead bullets il Of
much use in repelling torpedo attacks.
The guns In the fighting tops, as the en-
| joy the advantage of plunging fire through
are found to be the best primary means OF
defense. The larger guns can only be used
against torpedo boats for one or two rounds.
They are reserved when hitting is prac-
resource The introduction Of smokelees
powder for the auxiliary armament is likely
TO To- prove an immense advantage to the
the successful approach of a torpedo boat
Is practically impossible. In the event of a
night attack. and. in fact. In action alto
together. the use of the bugle is restricted
as much as possible. None but important
orders are now conveyed by 1t.
The noise OF action under any circum.
ear-splitting sound Of the three-pounders in
the tops being considered more trying than
heavy guns in the turret. Each gun, in The
/ event OF torpedo attack, Is given a definite
arc of the horizon to defend, and the gun
crews are forbidden to direct their aim at
| any object outside the limits of those arcs.
AL the men at disengaged guns are as a
rule are ordered to He down to take cover
| as much as possible: but they are not as a
rule sent below during action. as the sery-
Ice Of the guns may be required to be re-
| Sumed at any moment.
I The fire discipline prescribed in the nayies
OF the great powers Is practically the same.
| though long experience has taught British
! navai authorities certain details of secrets
| OF tue greatest value. which. being conf
| DENTAL cannot be disclosed in Q newspaper
| article.
! Cigars for Dewey.
From the Philadelphia Record.
Admiral Dewey and his band of he
roes at Manila will receive a pleasant
surprise when the next transport reaches
! the Philippines, in lot of 10000 choice
l hu