Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-20

measured in and marked g. 1t is called the setahead
3. The shells drift" during that time that is how
far its whing MOTION given by the ring will make it
baseball is curved
4. The powder charge necessary send the shell
that it will fall at the seahead point Though the charges
of guns those of with the
5. The direction in which the must be pointed
in order to bear the set-ahead point.
6. The angle to which the mort rs muzzle must be
raised in order to drop the shell at this point.
T. The direction of the predicted point from the fire.
All this has to be done within twenty seconds. in
order that the board may be cleared and the plotting
of the ships progress continued with view to regulat
ing future shots.
In the meantime the mortars have been loaded and
laid In the hrecommand station is third azimuth
point When the ship passes this point the mortars
will be fired, that shells-of in this case the
ship is of own, the shells only imaginary
that shells and ship may meet at the set-ahead point
when the time of fight has ended.
Some little time before the quick-fring three-inch
guns have broken forth, barking like angry terriers
the destroyer A few seconds later the heavier guns
have joined in. Now the bateships forward funnel
the point of observation the center of the
azmuth instruments field, officer leans forward and
presses electric button Instantly the crashing
of the mortars added to the chorus and completes it.
while the enemy's guns rumble dull and distant
Compartment. Only the rending smash of exploding
shells is missing, and in that pandemonum Of noise
cannot discern this lack. The fight is on
In the plotting room all this time work goes
quietly and unnterruptedy as ever The timing bells
ring, announce the angles they phoned from
the towers and the arms moved and clamped IN
place. At last the the battlecommand telephone
turns and addresses the range officer.
"We're struck by shell and disabled, Sir, he an
nounces.
Every good the Lieutenant instantly replies @Close
station"
The men rise, cover up the plotting board and hang
the head harnesses their allotted hooks Taking their
hats and rifles at the Corporals command, they file
The range officer lights cigarette and follows Like
everyone else in the fort, from its Comandant down.
he is anxious to have his side win in this game yet
the theoretical disabling of the station troubles him
at all Full well he knows that before his cigarette
is lighted the work relinqushed by his has been
transferred to other station where another
waiting and ready to jump into it. Emergency
stationsfre and battle command stations,there
many such, and it is practical impossibility for
enemy to disable them ALL
HARDLY has he closed the plotting room door when
- two officers Major and ordnance Captain
racing by The Major, as he the range officer
and the plotting crew, pauses for instant
"Theyre attacking in boats!' he cries. zone of EN-
is pulling in to the quartermasters wharf, Jump those
down there-quick'
At word from the Lieutenant, the Corporal banks
forth terse orders Bayonets flash and rattle they
snapped on the rifles. The men, in double time,
trot eagerly toward the