The times., 1898-05-08
A WARSHIP IN ACTION.
Some of the Details Of n Great Naval
BATTLE


Now that new naval war is imminent
the nature of the discipline on board an
ironciad in action will be OF interest to
the general reader. The distribution OF
the crew for action Is based on the prin-
ciple of dividing the armament into
quarters. and TO number or name the
guns so as to give them an individuality
without reference to their size Whel ac-
ton IS imminent every one on board re-
pairs to the allotted station. below. on
deck or alOft. The gunner obtains the
keys of the magazines. gives them TO the
men in charge, sees that the lights ara
| III and everything IN working order. As
soon as the guns are cleared away and
loaded report to that effect Is male IN
the captain
when this has been done the gun crews
are provided with small arms. upon which
they close up round their guns and await
further orders. A supply of light. quick
firing machine-gun. rifle and pfztoI am
munition is then passed up ready for dis
,rloution on deck and a proportion OF IL
Is sent aloft- This ammunition is served
out nrst to the small-arm party and to
! ooarders, and to the remainder of the
crew as soon as their guns are cleared
away and arms provided In each tube a
torpedo Is placed ready for DISCHARGE
heimsmen are provided ready to take
chdrBe or the hand-steering apparatus in
.he event OF the steam-steeering gear be-
| ing carried away Orderlies. bueIers and
| men stationed at voice tubes are ordered
10 repair to their stations, but the use OF
ehe ousie IN action Is restricted as far as
possible. as long and complicated caUs
are liable to be misunderstood
Ihe dress for men in action is as unin-
Hammable as possible the blue vyorLino,
Ils Deing considered the best There il
no reason why action dress should not ba
IN future saturated with the non-infara-
ii,aole material similar to that now en-
pioyed in all American ships of war.
~ is a curious point that in action boots
ana shoes are ordered to be worn by all
men on deck and in the tops That pot-
| uoh OF the crew engaged in the maga-
zines are provided with slippers. There
was great tendency in Nelson's time
lot the men to strip during action. This
practice Is now discouraged. Waist belts
anu pouches are worn, and men who have
pistols are obliged 10 wear them.
A fire brigade. consisting OF carnanfArz
and stokers. screw on hoses and rig an
hdnd-pumps ready for fire. \ man Is sta
TONED at each water-tight door. which ia
kept open, ready to close it when the
order Is given. As the spread Of fire may
at any time menace the safety of tbs
magazine. the key Of the valve admit
tlns water to the magazine level ia
either Kept IN the personal charge OF ths
edp,alh or az MS discretion by the officer
in charge of the gun deck.
supply Of oatmeal and water for
drinking is arranged all over the shin
especially in the vicinity of magazfnes
machinery compartments, stOke-hOles ana
Sheil-rooms- No intoxicating iquor Ia
served on the day Of action on board auv
well regulated ironcIad. This is a great
departure from the practice of double
rauohs of Srog that was in vogue a hun
dred years ago.
Each division Of bOarders ready 10 leap
onto the enemy's ship and take it by as
sault when its armament has been ST.
fenced has special place OF its own ON
the upper deck, whittier the men repair
when called Every officer on board has a
special station. where he IS to be found
unless specially employed elsewhere
The danger of firing during action sincs
the battle OF the Yalu has occupied ths
close attention of the admiralities OF all
countries All fires breaking out below
the gun deck are in charge OF the fra
brigade. thus leaving the gun crews free
Tor their important duties. When. how
ever, the FIRE is likely TO make head. not
Withstanding the efforts of the fire bri-
Sade, one or more gun crews are called
OF. as necessity may arise for the pur-
pose or attending the hose. As a fra
may occur in the neighborhOod of a mag
azi3e or shell room. and the supply OF
ammunition to the guns on deck during
action be interrupted from this cause.
special drill for obviating this difficulty
Is arranged. so as 70 prevent the slack
eHing of fire by the provision of shell
and other ammunition from other maga-
zines II the fire is on the gun-deck ths
% Far,% es.FI -
except IN emergency. as the maintenance
OF rapid and steady FIRE in action is ths
paramount object of every commander
In case the fire becomes so serious as to
make II necessary to gO-Jo general fire.
stations the guns are fired or their am
mcnitlon Is thrown overheard. The small
ammunition on deck is either thrown
overheard or placed in q convenient DO
SitiOn for that purpose.
Other details Of action drill IncIuds
the resistance to torpedo boat attacL,
which the Americans are now hard az
work pTacticinS in their various SQUAD
rons- IL an attack be expected by- nirh-
in dry weather the decks. gIln-carriaass4
etc are whiJewashed-a device which
IN the absence of artificial light. is Of
great service TO the crew of a shin a.
tackled by torpedo boats. The t:sa Of
small arms is discouraged. as experience
SHOWS that no weapon using lead bullets
tack
The guns in the fighting tops. as they
enjoy the advantage of plunging firs
through the unprotected decks OF the
torpedo boats. are found to be the best
primary meGns of defense. The larger
guns can only be used against torpedo
boats for one or two rounds. They ara
reserved when hitting is practically as
sC-ed, and then only in a last resource.
The introduction of smOkeless powder for
the auxiliary armament is likely 10
prove an immense advantage TO the
American Navy, as with ordinary vigil
lance the successful approach OF a tor
pedO boat is practically impossible In
the event of a night attack and in fact in
action altogether. the use of the bugle is
restricted as much as possible None
but important orders are now conveyed
by it.
The noise of action under any circuu-
stances is bewildering. the torment OF the
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 10 de-
fend. and the gun crews are forbidden
from directing their aim at any object
outside the limits Of those arcs. All the
men At disengaged guns are as a rule or
derei to lie down TO take cover as much
~ kHiSSAS4es tbN tACS are HQL dS 4 IuA1
sent below during an action. as the ser
vice OF the guns may be required to be
resumed at any moment.
The fire discipline prescribed in the na-
vies of the great powers is practically the
same though long experience has taught
British naval authorities certain details OF
secrets OF the greatest value. which be-
ing confidential cannot be disclosed in a
article.
Astonished the Conductor.