Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-06-06

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The big ships Of the most powerful
fleet ever under the american nag
when visited by correspondent were
working day and night to bring about
the defeat of Germany on the So
Ready for battle, they are spending the
waiting period turning out sailormen.
The feet temporarily is great work
shop of war. Already it Is turning out
one Of its finished products-men who
can fight. They are serving the guns
on American armed merchant ships.
Its other produet-men who can run
the great merchant feet the United
States viii use to feed the allies-will
be ready as soon us the ships.
Five inch guns. the kind mostly used
against submarines, are there BY
the hundreds. On the decks great tur-
rets house fourteen inch and twelve
inch rihes-three or two to turret
On platforms guns used for de-
Tense against aeroplanes point to the
sky Brass always is shining. steel al
ways is polished, paint always is new,
and decks always are white with scrub
bing.
Crews Anxious For Avsnss.
The men behind the guns have lost
shipmates in the war-they were gun
crews on merchantmen SINK by Ger
man submarines. And other shipmates
now are on duty aboard the destroy
ers operating with the British and
tho =.
lantie fleet are working to prepare
themselves to avenge the killing OF
their mates.
Here's what happened the other day:
A crew was practicing with five inch
gun. A bluejacket about seventeen
he still had down on his ehin-was
pointing. He crasped handles on
broad brass wheel; his eye WAS steady
at a rubber cup at the end Of a long
sight, through which he saw the tar
get. His duty was TO keep the gun on
the target so it might be fired any
time Around this beardless youth
were grouped other gun crews ready
to fire when his crew had completed
It's period
The breech snapped open, the load
was thrown home. the breech was
hurled back III place and then buzz
ger, operated from the fire control sta
ton, sounded; there was a fash, a
roar, the hiss of a projectiie speeding
through the air and the louder hiss or
compressed air blowing smoke out or
the gun. Miles away the proiectile
struck the target.
Coy Does .t.--.'erft., e,,oossi=s.
Guess that's u,,,." said an old man
DIVA. leasi - 90 ffls:l.srinvlg at
the third sho, as he a.ssn's crew got
the range and the pillar of white wa
ter leaped into the air.
How would that do for Fritzy?
Suppose that had been submarine
and
The buzzer the roar of the gun and
the hiss of air interrupted him.
Another hit. Gee, that's shcoting!'
Recruits Taught to Handle Guns.
On the afterdeck latest arrivals
aboard the ship were set to work that
day and every other day, in fact, upon
the loading machines. They consist
principally of breech and block and
slide that carries away dummy pro-
jectiles and powder bags.
Officers with stop watches in their
hands set one crew after another at
work. the idea being to develop ex-
treme loading speed by competition
The newest members of the ships COM
panies work for days at these loading
machines. The next step in their train
Ing carries them to the guns. But.
they are not yet ready to fire the regu-
lar charges. One Founders that go of
with sharp crack are dashed on top
Of the big guns, and the crews go
through all the motions Of firing but
instead of big shell little one weigh.
ing pound speeds for tho ter~et when
the buzzer sounds or when the trrTet
captains In charge of the bisser rifles
yell Fire.
After period of firing with the sub
caliber arrangement the crews get
down to real battle practice. There
are few buster places than a turret
in action. Concave steel walls are all
around, and steel roof is just above
the heads of the gunners.
The powder bags are driven home, Z
man at the breech swings a lever, a
ton of steel swings up with a hiss of
compressed air, the breech block turns
and locks. a buzzer sounds. the charge
is ignited. and with a rush of air the
guns reco.l about a yard and then
jump back into position. There is a
loud 'swish-swash' as the guns come
back and then go forward.
Outside 1t is much different There
is flash, roar, a ring of smoke and
the loud whistle Of the projectile rush.
ing through the air.
Fifteen seconds from commence FIR
ing" to 'fire" is considered pretty good
time for the big guns in the navy
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