The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-05-26

IN II
clesn ase ~ e,usSssndling Char
opoDeo11us - - l,ctIotls Used In
N >1(nlio ~ 1lsa wko Go Down 20
- - ~ 6WsiuA.pu ana Form the
~ D. ~ ps(~ssc Asainst En-.
'c1n1es Wl,o Nay NY % Invade Our
lo ~ unissd States Atlantic
NAV s4--xhe big ships of the
~ Dcvsrfui Asst ever under tho
)celcaa dsg. wllen Waited by a cor
pn1snt Of ths Associated Press,
4o0A arrangensent with the Com
- on Public information, were
1>nG dsy and night to bring about
( - oeSedt Of Germany on the sea.
~ Tor battle, they are spending
y waiting period turning out sailor
N 3oo meek temporarily, IL a great
Aep Of war. Already II h turn
'--||'t - WV W ~ uutSuo0 prO0uCt6-
- who car nsnt. They are serv-
~ ~ gums ON American armed
creAant ships. Its other product
- Who can run the grea, merchant
~ The Unised States will use to
~ ne Alliss-will be ready as soon
~ ~ ships. 'f
- -.
Sve-mch gums, the kind principal
ood against submarines. are there
the hundreds. On the decks great
Fro0 house long fourteen and
o1vvIinch rides. three or two to q
tsG On high platforms guns used
dsfsnss against airplanes point
Ne sky. Brass In always shining.
- always polished. paint Ia always
seeks are always white with
oPubblne.
Y kns men behind the guns have lost
nafes In the war-they were
P crews on merchantmen sunk by
Dnan submarines. And other ship
- now are on duty aboard the de-
voro operating with the British
french heetM The men with
- Atlantic feet are working to pre-
uore themselves to avenge the kill
~ o1'thsir mates.
Hers's what happened the other
~. A crew was practicing with a
uve-inch gun. A bluejacket about
oeventeen--hs stili had down on his
cn,nwas pointing. He grasped
nandles on a broad brass wheel; his
Xo Was Steady at a rubber cup at
the end Of a long sight. through
which ne saw the target. His duty
'vas 70 keep the gun on the target SO
q might be fred any time.
Around this beardless youth were
0oupsd other guns crews ready to
nve when his crew had completed its
period.
" the breach snapped open. the load
wNs thrown home. the breach was
hurled hack In place and then buzz
ser, operated from the fire control
s1ation. sounded; there was flash,
: roar. the hiss Of q projectile speed
ing through the air and the louder
hiaD OF compressed air blowing smoke
cot Of the gun. Miles away the pro.
1ec(ils struck the target.
Guess that's bad" said an old
man-o'-war man looking on admir-
ingly at the third shot. as the gun's
crow got tho range and the pillar of
white water leaped into the air.
How would that do for Fritzy?
Suppose that had been a submarine
and"
The buzer. the roar or the gun and
the hiss Of air interrupted him
Another hit Gee whiskers that's
shooting"
On tho after deck latest arrivals
aboard the ship were set to work that
day. and every other day. In fact. up
o. the loading machines. They con-
s>ss principally OF breach and block
and o slide that carries away dummy
projectiles and powder bags.
onicers with stop watches in their
honds set one crew after another TO
work: the idea being to develop ex-
sssms loading speed by competition.
Inc newest members Of the ships
companies work for days at these
leading machines. The next step in
their training carries them to the
Guns. Dut they are not yet ready TO
nrs the regular charges. One pound
ere that go of with sharp crack.
are hshed on top Of the big guns and
~ crews 30 through all the motions
q hrinG. but instead of big shell. n
- -