Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-10-27

WIS CndISinS COuISt W Keep Tic CHIEFLY
on the beam. The two columns steam
ed on almost parallel. therefore, but
still gradually converging and bring
Ing the leading vessels of each line
within range.
The day was bright, and the sun,
high In sky, gave little favor to the
gunners of either fieet-what favor
there was lay with the Americans. The
sun glared down into the water and
disclosed to the observers In the n.y.
d~roaeroplanes of both sides the move
ment of submarines. The guns Of de-
stroyers clattered continuously as the
craft darted back and forth on their
charges for the protection Of the bat
tleships. But the destroyers of the
two sides did not seek duels; only the
aeroplanes hurried to engage before
the battle and drive their opponents
from the sky.
The conditions were almost perfect
for battle in which gun power-the
ability of the great turreted fighting
ships to give and to take-must decide.
Mile after mile the battleships ex-
tended. AS Bob Wendell gazed back
along the line Of American ships, when
the Arizona turned after the Idaho,
only the tops Of the Missouri, the
Georgia and the Connecticut marked
the end Of the American line. The
Connecticut was eight miles back, al
most as far away as the Trajan. Now
the American column was slowing a
little to let the weaker ships at the
rear close up, so hat two of the Con-
necticut class could engage each OF
the Zeus and the Thors.
For a moment, therefore, Bob was
on the deck breathing the glorious
cool air, seeing the sweep of the sea,
the mighty panoply Of ships, and hear
ing the sound of the water rushing at
the vessels side. Would his veins
Jingle again at breath from such a
breeze? The alarm bells were sound
ing; the bugles were blowing:
Battle %stations!"
The breeze brought the notes OF the
bugle back from the Idaho, as the wind
was bearing the call of the Arizona's
trumpets to the Pennsylvania, and so
all down the line. Bob Wendell was
no longer himself-no longer the all
important figure In a girls vision, the
desired one of a dream whose life must
be spared. He was at his post in No.
2 turret of the second battleship In
the American column about to fight for
the victory of the western world. In
the telescope through which he gazed
he saw reflected the image of the tops
of the Xerxes-the second ship in the
regents line-which the Arizona was
to engage and which was to engage the
Arizona in the battle which now was
begun. A great geyser Of spray 800
yards short and astern the Idaho told
that the Trajan had opened; almost
simultaneously the Xerxes tested the
range.
Commence f1ring!"
Constrainedly, automatically at first,
as the range came to him from the
chief fire control station, Bob saw that
the sight settlers adjusted the sights.
He witnessed that promptly. AT the
signal on the buzZer upon Louden's
naked breast, the first ranging shots
were fired. Now. at the signal for the
Baivo. all three of his guns were firing
together with the three of No. 1 turret,
further forward, and with the six of
the two turrets astern. The first shell
which struck the Arizona stirred In
him only contempt. 1t struck and
burst during the wait between salvos
and shook the ship far less than the
firing guns; its shock did not affect
the men behind the heavy turret armor
and the noise vas nothing.
Then more shells came.
No. l turret was not firing. 1t missed
a salvo; Bob was sure of 1t. Now 1t
missed another. No, 1t was not firing;
it was out of action. Well, If the Arb
o was getting it, the Xerxes was
getting 1t too. Bob's blood raced hot
through him, and he vas dizzy with
exultation as he saw the foremost of
the Xerxes totter and fall.
1.-The foremost is gone! Now We'll
give 1t to them again and harder!"
Louden, the firing pointer, STOPPING
at his telescope, had seen it also, and
he cried out as the leaders cheered
They cheered, gasping and choking
with the heat, the sweat running In
streams down their bodies, as they
rammed in more great shells, hurled
In the monster bags of powder; and.
closing the breech Of each gun, they
stood back ready, at the instant the
guns recoiled, to do 1t all again. The
salvo went; and now n ~turret-at
least one turret-of the XerXes failed
to make reply.
Bob cried that to his crew; as they
stood back from the loaded guns they
slapped each others backs in triumph.
They gave 1t to the Xerxes again
there was no doubt about that. Now,
again and again! But slowly, gradual.
ly, as the turret trainer kept the guns
IN tho Xnryas tha turret was turntnp