The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-09

as reserve; and the European destroy CTS, double in number to the American, darted ahead and abeam of the battle line.
 It was quarter to 3, ships time, when the Idaho, signaled to the column to alter course, and the flagship sheered little to the left; the Arizona, steer ing straight to the point where the Idaho sheered, altered it's helm like wise, and the rest of the fleet followed. The tops of the Trajan-the flagship of the regents line-were in plain sight, with the tops of the Xerxes, Varon and Floron following. With their superior speed they were at- tempting to gain position across the van of the American line and rake the leading ships; so the American column was changing course to keep the enemy 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 feet-what favor there was lay with the Americans. The sun g1ared down into the water and disclosed to the observers in the hy- droaeroplanes 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 I from the sky.
 The conditions were almost perfect | for battle in which gun power-the I ability of the great turreted fighting ships to give and to take-must decide. l Mile after mile the battleships ex- 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. all 1 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 that 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 stationsv'
 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 tl,e all important figure in girls vision, the desired one of 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 De 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 tue range.
 Commence firingv'
 i'm Re (s0nfiumAA