The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-07-26
MIMIC WAR On
PUGET SOUND
Lively Little Episodes of At
tack and Defense by
Night.

CAMP FORT wORDEN, July 12.-
1t is the simplest matter in the world
to convert a hat-bottomed, antique
easy-going government transport
steamer into a frst-class battleship-
in mimic warfare The work of at
lacking Forts worden. Casey and Flag
Ter that guard the entrance of Puget
Sound necessitated a battleship. And
there was no battleship. So those who
had charge of the recent maneuvers
gathered in a tent and unloosed the
conglomerate wisdom which is the pos
session of the artillery officer in coast
defense and which runs from the use
of asphaltum on roads TO the price of
Standard Oil.
AS a result of the meeting a first
lieutenant a detail of artillerymen and
a six-pounder waited at the wharf at
Fort Worden for the steamer Major
Evans Thomas and freely predicted
that the vessel would collapse the in
slant the gun was placed on her, for
the Thomas is most cordially hated by
all who have ridden on her, is daily
mathematical with barrackroom point
and the prophesy of every man in the
posts is that she will some day turn
turtle.
..vot?" shouted the Norwegian skip
per of the boat from the bridge as he
caught sight of the six-pounder, do
you put heem on my deck?"
That's what" said one of the detail.
The skipper grew interested and leaned
over the rail ingratiatingly.
.vin we fght?" he asked in whis-
per.
NO one knows nothin' nohow," said
the corporal, I'VE sail under sealed or
ders and the whole show is secret
except what the orderlies has told u.s."
AN what a striker don't know about
secret orders amt much, an what they
don't tell is less" chimed in a private.
"An right men," said the lieutenant
breaking the line of comments, "heave
her on board And the six-pounder
was heaved accordingly. The men
clambered after her, a newspaper man
with an overcOat pitched
himself over the rail, the skipper
grinned with delight at the anticipated
fun and the men babe long and mourn
f111f V1e
him not to grieve for they would write
at the first port. Because the lieuten-
ant was within sight, the sentry OBJ
served them with eyes which looked
about five miles ahead, for the regula-
lions forbid sentries becoming joyful
when they are on duty. AS the boat
moved out, those on board could hear
the strains of the regimental band
playing at the top of the hill where the
is, and the corporal lean
ing against the gun sang most vilely.
The plan was to take the boat about
ten miles out, turn around and attack
the forts. The Elliot, tiny launch,
a torpedo boat destroyer,
could be seen dipping away in the gath
ering darkness and the men on the
Thomas settled back until the time
came for them to work.
But they did not settle long. The
instant the steamer passed the light
house and entered the straights of
Juan de Fuca, she was met by heavy
sea which sent her careening like some
wild thing.
Ouch yelled the corporal as he re-
ceived the full benefit of a volume of
spray coming over the bows and, with
a laugh the men sought sheltered
the rOugher it became and the more
she rolled. The wireless operator was
the first to feel the effects. An I'M
usually heavy pitch had sent his ap-
paratus all over the cabin floor and |
he stopped to pick them up but he
arose suddenly with a panied and sol |
emn face dropping oaths with the rap
Idity of heliograph but distinctly not
in code. Then he went over to the rail |
and ruminated.
The arI1nerymen laughed but the |
laugh died away from their lips and |
they combined in an artistic and con- |
certed attack on the Thomas and one |
by one they went silently to the ships |
side.
Therefore it was when the genial |
skipper came down and saw the havoc |
in the wireless cabin he called the !
operators attention to it.
Il don't care" moaned the operator
who was abjectly curled up on sofa. |
An I don't care whether school
keeps or not" said one of the detail.