The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-06-17

Practice That Keeps the Crews
In Fit Condition.
CLEARING SHIP FOR ACTION.

A Lively Time While the Decks Are
Being Stripped Of Everything That
Would Impede the Fire Of the Guns.
Working the Torpedo Nets.
1t is little after two bells In the
forenoon watch, or, In shore going talk,
8 a. M, and the officers and men OF
the battleship wear an expectant afr.
The ships company is fallen In at sta
tons for general exercise. The conn
mander. surrounded by his sta6G-a
midshipman, bugler and the chief
boatswain's mate-is standing on top
Of the after barbette. A kind Of tense
hush Is over all hands and, indeed,
over the rest Of the squadron at anchor
In the bay. 1t is a general drill morn
ing, and the ships Of the squadron are
about to compete against each other
at various evolutions.
On the after bridge the glasses OF the
signal boatswain and his yeomen are
glued on the flagship. Presently a
couple Of gayly colored flags are hoist
ed at her main. Hardly have they left
the rain when the signal boatswain
spins round. Signals place net de-
Tense, sirv " he cries. .Out netsg'
bawls the commander. "Out netsg
shout the boatswain's mates. Instant
" hordes of men dash at the neat roll
Of wire nets lying on the shelf round
the ship and push it overheard. One
edge being held in place, 1t unrollss as
it falls, making veil on the side.
"Clear the net shelfr' The men van
ish. Man the purchaser Somewhere
above q bugle blares out &C."
The marines, handling large bearing
out spars, shove the upper ends .of the
booms, from which the nets hang, out
board. They revolve slowly about their
lower ends, which are near the water
line and, hauled by the steam capstan
on one side and the seamen on the
purchase on the other, extend them
selves at right angles to the hull.
'BreakI' bellows the commander, ana
q signalman jerks the halyards. A
red, white and blue pendant, hitherto
waiting In ball at the topsail yard
arm, breaks from its confinement and
floats out on the breeze, announcing
to all and sundry that the ship has
finished the evolution and Is now pro-
tected from torpedo attack by her
crinoline Of nets. First ship, sir,s re-
ports the signal boatswain, and the
men, once more at their general sta
lions, grin contentedly and make con-
temptuous comments on the struggles
of the remainder OF the fleet. There
is short pause till these are ended:
then another hoist rises from the dag
ships bridge. "In nets!' is the order,
and the ships company is once more
galvanized into action. Amid scene
OF orderly confusion the huge booms
return to position, shut back against
the ships side, the braiis which pass
beneath the nets every few yards s1e
manned, all hands haul with Win,
the mass of steel meshes is rolled ylp
and secured on its shelf, and the bright
pendant at the topsal yardarm ~
again broken by the signalman.
a short Stand easyl'' follows, soon
ended by another signal, "Clear for
actionr' To the mind of the bewilder-
ed spectator pandemonium follows.
But it is only in appearance. Each
man knows what he has to do and
does 1t. Under the onslaught Of the
seamen davits. stanchions, rails, stove
pipes-in fact, all things that can pos
sibly restrict the fire Of the guns dis
appear with rapidity that gives the
impression of their being moved down:
skylights are masked by steel matches,
boats are turned In and secured, and
In two or three minutes the decks are
stripped bare and the men again fall
en- In, awaiting the order to replace
gear. This done-a longer job, but
still accomplished with celerity-the
last and most exciting signal Of the
forenoon appears-"Away all boats
crews; pull round the feet"
The men tumble into their boats at
the davits, the lowerers pay out the
falls. and In few moments the cut
tiers, whalers. gigs and galleys are
pulling for dear life, midshipman In
charge Of each. On the after bridge
the commander. waving two small
hand flags which control the huge
steam derrick. is lifting the pinnace
and launch from the boat deck and
depositing them in the water. Men
drop into them, double and treble
banking the long oars. and soon these
are pounding after the lighter boats.
The evolution Is race, ship against
ship. Who will have the first boat
back7 Who viii have all boats back
and hoisted first? Midshipmen, prob
ably with bets on the matter, are urg-
ing their crews on. Every man is
putting his back into it for the honor
Of his ship. Telescopes watch prog
ress from all the vessels Of the feet
Here comes the galley-the captains
boat. manned by a picked crew and
dancing through the water under the
long sweeping strokes of the oars
first boat back Again the tricolor-
ed Dendanf flies ouf and the carfafn,e