The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-03-22

ton is invariably answered by the
visitor himself, who excIaims:
what! Seven hundred men on this
ship! Where are they? I haven't
seen 50?"
A pad and pencil would easily
| show that 700 will not crowd a vessel
that is longer than a city block,
| broader than most streets, and whose
upper decks. if she were hauled out
on dry land, would overlook the fifth
story of the average building.
| The question of the man-o'- wars
mans daily life is so general that it
| is interesting to spend a working day
with him. He is called by the notes
| of the bl:gle at 5 a. m, while it is
| dark and must be dressed and have
his hammock slowed in 5 minutes.
| Strenuous, it is granted, yet his
day has just begun. Thirty minutes
are allowed to drink a bowl of cof-
fee and have a smoke, and then the
boatswain's pipe orders him to turn
! to-" and scrub his clothes These fin
ished and stopped on the line, Jack
scrubs decks. using sand and "holy-
stones" to get out every vestige of
grease or dirt.
! While the landlubber is Swathed in
blankets. waiting for steam heat to
thaw him out of his blue funk, the
bluejacl;et is wading around in an
undershirt and trousers rolled up to
his knees, with never fear of catch
ing cold
The decks are dried down. the
bugler spreads mess gear" and at
1880 all hands go below to breakfast.
At s the crew reappears in the uni
form of the day, to clean all bright
! work, coil down boat falls, and clear
up the decks for muster at quarters
at $50.
Everyone attached to the ship must
be accounted for at this function
Following muster, the crew has its
muscles loosened by setting up" a
manual of physical drill
Then comes the piece de resistance
of the day. the important drills that
lasts until 1870. On Monday it is
battery drill, in which the guns
crews are taught to do team work"
in handling a great gun: Tuesday it
is company or battalion drill at in
fantry or artillery: Wednesday it is
general quarters, at which the whole
ships company becomes a fighting
unit, and all ammunition hoists. tele-
phones and electric appliances are put
to Il severe test: Thursday it is col
lision drill. when a huge compound
'thrum mat" is placed over a sup
posed hole in the ships side and held
there by chains; Friday it is boat
evClutions under oars and sail; or it
may be fire quarters, when 40 hose
must be led out and concentrated on
the fire in less than minute; extra
men close all doors and matches, and
smothers stand ready with hammocks
ana hand grenades.
These drills are so changed each
week that they never become stale
from repetition. For instance instead
of infantry, the battalion may be
equipped in heavy marching order,
ana sent ashore for a weeks cam
paign; boat drill may become 'aban,
don ship" when every soul on board
must leave the ship in his designated
boat, which must be supplied with
provisions and water; and general
quarters may be changed to the
actual firing of guns and torpedOes.
MI drills are capable of variety and
are so handled as not to become duh
and perfunctory.
Jacks afternoons are hardly less
busy than the mornings. Sailing,
rowing, swimming, signal drill, bag
and hammock inspection, diving and
instruction in gunnery and seaman
ship fiji up his afternoons until 4
O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon is mending
day. when clothes are overhauled and
made shipshape, each garment being
stenciled with the owners name
Once month he Is allowed to draw
from the paymaster, clothing and
small stores" which comprise every
thing from combs and mirrors to soap
and tobacco
One of the most important drills.
which is carried on irrespective of
all others. is the training of gun
pointers with dotters and Morris
tubes.
These are miniature targets whose
motion resembles that of a ship I'm a
away. and the pointer who becomes
expert in hitting them may count
upon bull's-eye at target practice.
"Ping-pong." as the jackies love to
call this drill, must not be intcrfered
with by any other work. and as each
man finishes his string OF shots, he
resumes his place at other drills.
This constant training of eye and
nerve will put guns crew ION
edge and they may become over
trained. like football team. This
drill is the cause of our naval marks
manship. unequaled by that of any
other navy in the world.
Saturday is tho sailors field day.
and the forenoon Is given up to