New Britain herald., 1917-10-29
FATS ABOUT THE AMERICAN NAVY
BY LIEUT.. FITZHUGH GREEN, U. s. N.

A DuSler IS to DattleSnlp what the train-announcer is to railroad station.
 His noise reminds you when to l move on, where, and how. If it is l not your turn to go this noise may be bearable, even beautiful But if his harsh metallic notes are signal that weary legs must again take up their beer-fed burden your biased ears whisper, "who let the bars down, any how!'
 The big ships have from 3 to buglers apiece. Destroyers, tugs. and subs so far have none But they are getting longer and deeper every year, these sea-sneakers, and soon may rate not only buglers but brass bands as we'll.
 Beside his trumpeting a bugler has no regular tasks. There is always one on duty ready to jump at the Watch omcer's word to call away boat or to arouse the crew in an emergency. In off hours he helps scrub and shine his own part of the ship.
 Ihere are 11s standard bugle calls Tn naval use. Most of these also pe- long to the army, many for different purposes entirely. Stable call, for instance, is blown aboard ship to summon the saluting gums crew to battery.
 Calls are divided into four differ ent classes, depending on the reason Tor and the manner in which they are sounded. Routine boat calls, in tantry movement signals and school calls are sounded by the single bugler on watch and refer to only a few men.
 General service calls such as tat too, taps, morning and evening col ors, and salutc3 are played by all buglers in unison and are frequently accompanied by the band At colors for instance the Star Spangled Ban ner follows immediately after the opening bars of the call.
 Fire and collision. torpedo defense, man-overboard, and battle stations are emergency calls which by the very nature of their stirring notes thread the uttermost passageways and decks and drag man out by his ears. Immediately the accident or crisis arises bridge bugler starts the alarm which is taken up by the other buglers throughout the ship. Drills and warnings also pass from one compart- ment to another by relaying bugles.
 The fourth class of calls merees into band music. Though a bugle has but notes, 13 marches are avail able. Of these are common drill quicksteps, one of which was written by Sousa. The president and the commander-in-c chief each has his own march. No one else in the serv- ice may hope to receive special bugle music unless he has the bad luck to die or to get a "kick-out" In the former case the bugle Funeral March" adds something to the occa- sion. In the latter the "Rogue's March subtracts something - it drowns out the jeers and farewell remarks
 Boat calls are 13 in number includ- ing Away all Boats" and Man the Boat Falls" Falls" by the way Is the paradoxical name of the boat hoisting tackle, by virtue of which a boat cannot fall. The "Hook-Her- On" jingle at the end of boat call means bring her alongside and pre- pare to hoist her in.
 Bugle tunes are distinguishable not only by their actual airs but by the predominance of high or low notes. In marching al movements and turns to the right are indicated by calls running up to and ending on high notes To the left the oppo- site is true. Quick music signals quick movement as in reveille, double time, and man-overboard calls. Taps is slow and soothing.
 The most common calls have appro- priate words. Everybody has heard of ''I can't get 'em up" for reveille. Mess-gear goes "Soupy, soupy, soupy, without any beans.' One of the quick steps boasts the elegant verse, You're in the Navy now: you Son. of-a-- you'll never get rich, you're in the Navy ncw!"
 A bugler uses 7S2 cubic feet of air a day to breathe; 1923 cu ft to blow his bugle; and about three mi1- lion GU. it. on gossip while he is sit ting around waiting orders.
 Here Bugler, call away the gig!'
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