The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-12-13
Torpedo Attack
at Night

1 DdIJleSlin
cruiser there is perhaps nothing more
nerve racking in modern naval warfare
than the sudden, unexpected attack of a
torpedo boat or destroyer. He sees the
sharp prov of this little black demon
of war headed at the ship he commands,
dashing toward him as fast as a rail.
road train travels, smoke pouring from
its tunnels in binding clouds. Standing
on the bridge of his sLsp, which perhaps
cost his government 100000, and on
which may be quartered 400 officers and
men, he knows that he must sink this
tiny adversary before it can get within
range and discharge an explosive suffi-
GENTLY powerful to blow the leviathan
out of the water. 1t is not a time for
thought then; it is time for quick ac-
ton and sure firing. And it is a time
which tries the nerves of gun crews to
/ the utmost, says the New York Tribune
Of course one well planted shell
would sink the torpedo boat or de-
| stroyer, but will the gunners7 aim be
| true, will they hit such difficult target |
In the few seconds intervening before |
| she viii be close enough to DISCHARGE |
her tOrpedo2 The officers and men on |
the battleship know that there will be |
no hesitation on the part of the adver- |
sary The men on that sharp proved |
little boat will persevere with their boat |
sinking under them. They will count |
themselves lucky to sink their opponent,
even though they themselves go down.
1t is because of these facts that the
navy department pays particular atten-
ton to training its officers and men in /
defense against torpedo attacks On Il
every practice cruise of the midship- Il
men sham attacks are made which to Il
the young officers are almost as exciting
as real attacks would or perhaps win be
later
The following is a description which
a mldshlpman gave Tribune reporter
recently of his first torpedo attack:
. was making my first practice
cruise on the old AtIanta,' he said.
. She used to be the pride of the navy,
but now, of course, is practically an
Anticipated type of cruiser and would
be of no service in actual warfare. We
were steaming down the Atlantic coast,
keeping about 100 miles or so out, in
squadron formation, when, one evening.
the flagship signaled to stand by that "
:
''There were, / thing, four or FIVE tor
pedO boats and destroyers with the 4
squadron, and these, acting under or
ders, had steamed away to the east
ward earlier that day and were, of /
course, out of sight. The night was an
ideal one for the attack. 1t was pitch
dark, and soon the rain began to fall in
torrents. After the second dog watch
was lOafng around on deck; my
watch, the starboard watch, had Just
been piped down, and / was hoping that
we would get orders to turn in, when
the order rang out, EAll hands
clear ship for action
We'll, that order always has and al
ways will send a thrill through me, es-
pecially when | hear it on board ship at
sea. Instantly everybody was on the
jump, and we got stripped in almost
record time. The cathead watches and 1
the loOkOuts were then doubled, but 1
orders were given not to use the search
lights. There was an air of expectancy
about. We could not tell at what min 4
ute the enemy might heave in sight
and make a rush for u.s.
cit was evident that there would be
no sleep for either watch until after the
attack had been made, and we all won
dered how long it would be before II
General quarters was sounded Gen
eral quarters is the bugle call sounded II
before going into action, ordering every II
nan to his station. We did not have to III
wonder long, for the call soon rang out u
through the ship. Have you ever heard II
t! No? Well, you should. 1t gives
,ou an indefnable sensation and sends
he blood rushing through your veins
The gun crews went to their guns
n the run, ammunition was hoisted, and 4
re were all ready for the enemy Hour
fter hour passed, and still there was no
Ign of the foe. Ny station was at |
ve-inch gun, and the crew clustered II
round the gun port, trying to peer 4
trough the darkness of the night.
light bells struck, and still no sign of
he enemy. ] and other members of the
tarboard watch were relieved and went
p on deck to relieve the lookout. NY Il
tatlon was on the bridge-starboard /
ridge lookout.
1.-The rain was still coming down. and Il
Though it was summer we were soon Il
livering with the cold. That was i
rying four hours from midnight until
clock. When the latter hour finally Il
)lled around the lookouts were again II
alieved, and | went below to take my II
lace with my gun crew. When | cot II
Glow | found that the officers had or.
cred some hammOcks stretched bv the Il
uns and allowed the men to lie on II
lese. They could do nothing until the II
tack was actually made but still none o.
the men was allowed to drop asleep. II
tell You the hammock / stretched out =
l felt good after those four long. cold, -
my hours on the bridge =
." 1t was hard work keeping awake, of
spite the excitement, for / was dead as
red. 1t must have been a little before ing
o -clnck when the starhnnrl nnthnna shl