The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1910-11-25
TELLS Of LIFE
On MAN OF WAR
Sam Noyes Writes Interest
ing Letter of Service
in Navy
Continued from last weekly

LOOK luelf places III our DdltleSnip Hcet
only few months ago. The, are sister
ships, that Is exact duplicates OF each
other. and are $50 feet in length and so
Feet beam or width. Each ship has eight
- OF the IL inch guns, and in the matter
OF weapons, represents a policy of plac
ing eli ones eggs in one bonnet, for
neither battleship has any other guns
except inch and 3 Founders, which are
we'll enough for repelling torpedo at
tack, but would not be effective for
long range work.
The next brace of armor clads to APP
pear on our national horizon, the Della
ware and the North Dakota, have but
just been pronounced ready for duty
Each of these ships is $40 feet in length
and 50 feet beam and they go their pre-
decessors one better in the matter Of ar
mament, for each has five huge revolv-
ing turrets instead of four and FROM
these metal cheese boxes protrude the
muzzle Of ten Of the l2inch guns. These
latest recruits to our naval strength do
not show quite such singleness OF pur-
pose as distinguishes our pioneer dread
naughts. They are primarily "big gun"
ships, to be sure, but each has very
respectable second line OF defense to fall
back upon in the form OF IA OF the very
effective 5-inch guns.
1t will probably not be many months
ere two more dreadnaughts will take
their places IN the line. These ships,
which are approaching completion, are
the Utah and Florida. They are sister
ships-Uncle Sam always puts forth his
naval children in families, thus and
they are of almost identical size, 554 feet
in length by SO feet beam and each Of
these record breakers will have twelve,
II inch guns and more than score of
the 5-inch. Nor is even this the climax,
for Uncle Sam is planning to place yet
larger rifle, the l4-inch, on the latest
dreadnaughts in prospect.
There is no doubt that most of the
officers and men aboard one of the new
dreadnaughts are more than enthusiasts
tic regarding their charge. The officers
are proud OF her power and the men, as
has been said Seem to relish life in a
Enose popsfous floating community.
even to a casual visitor, that a dread
naught presents complications in the
way of living problems. The population
Of one Of these new ships shows a gain
over the old style warrior worthy the in
crease in a western boom town, and yet
the ship itself has not a proportionate
increase 10 size. Indeed, the dreadnaught
is only about one fourth or one-tifth
larger than the older batteship Obvi-
ousiy it has taken some careful planning
to quarter the larger community COM
fortably. A sight-seer, as he prowls
about one Of the new ships will see many
little evidences of how these new house
keeping problems have been solved. For
instance, one of the first objects to meet
his eye on deck are the great iron
screened bins for potatoes. 10 the old
battleships there was no such conspicu-
ou6 storage of "spuds," as the bluejack-
cts term these edibles. Another new
wrinkle to be seen on deck is the steel
cases which contain the concentrated
food TO be issued TO the men as they are
leaving the ship in small boats in the
event of disaster and the enforced aban-
donment of the vessel.
For all that, the interior of a dread
naught is marvel of concentration and
space economy. it would astound the
average citizen could he realize to what
extent provision has been made for every
want of this nomadic community 1t
would be difficult to find in all our land
a village OF 200 people that is anything
like so we'll off 10 comforts and conven
fences. There is an ice factory; an electric
light system; comprehensive telephone
system; circulating library postoffict
with at least two deliveries OF mail ev
? =s-s Iday, except sometimes while at sea
the cold storage rooms, way down below
the surface Of the water, and the galleys
or kitchen would put to shame the most
up. to-date New York hotel. Then, too
not only are such necessities as laundry
facilities and a liberal supply Of pure
drinking water provided, but one find:
such unexpected adjuncts as a black
smith shop, a printing office from which
tiny newspaper is issued, and hos
OF other surprises, not forgetting the
telegraph Office from which, via the
wireless, the battleship is always il
touch with the outside world. All sorts
OF parlor games have devotees among
the bluejackets, and the boys nave
magazine exchange, which affords it,
subscribers to see all the current maya
zines and thus supplements the regular
ships library.
Athletics are not only permitted, bu
are encouraged by the navy department
Gymnasium facilities are provided ant
liberty is granted so that the ships bas
ball team can practice on shore when
ever possible in order to keep in train
ing for the games between the differen
teams in the battleship league.
Every day at noon on every one c
these big ships the band gives a concer
on deck and there is no more attractiv
spectacle in life in the navy than is a
forded during these leisure interval
each noon, when dozens of the lac
in their white uniforms may be see
yaltzinp tn the music Of the hand IN