Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1892 — ABOARD A MAN-O’-WAR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ABOARD A MAN-O’-WAR.

HOW A BATTLE-SHIP IS MADE BEADY FOR ACTION. ■Why the Sailors Strip to tlie Whilst— Bare Feet Prevent Their .Slipping' Upon the Bloody Decks—Little Time Lost tu Pre--1 Umlnaries. Working the Big Guns. “All hands clear ship for action!” “Sand down the decks fore and aft!” .quickly follows the first order. Now the sailors strip to the waist, and with bared feet glide noiselessly about as the huge breech blocks open, and the guns are charged with their cold steel messengers. Soon a shell from the enemy pierces the side of the unprotected cruiser. It hisses a moment — then deals forth death ancl destruction on all sides. The blood of a s 'ore or more of brave fellows now dyes the once im-

maculate deck, but the sand recently Strewn prevents the still living feet from slipping. 'Train on the enemy—two points forward of the beam!” and the great 10tnoh rifles swing around and then thunder America's answer. The smoke of battle now overshadows Officers and men, save when a brilliant flash lights up the deck with a hellish flare. Another shot from one of the onemy’s rapid fire guns and rivulets of blood trickle from starboard to port. Sven the non-professional can now understand why the men fight with naked feet—for they are slipping in the blood Of their comrades. This Is a pen picture, not overdrawn, of what may take place any day on board one of our handsome new cruisers. Wise was the poet who wrote: God and our sailors alike we a lore In time of danger—not before. Though the ponderous fighting maehlnes of modern times have very much simplified the sailor’s duty, the high power rifles and murderous Gatling guns nave Increased the probable percentage of killed and wounded. In the old days ships came together {is rapidly as possible, the boarders leaped over the bulwarks, and then the battle was often tedded in hand to hand combat Now the object is to keep as far away ss the efficient fighting range of each battery will allow, but under no condi-

Bon to approach the enemy within 400 yards. This is the danger limit of the deadly torpedo. As a last resort rumpling is often attempted, but the superior maneuvering qualities of modem vessels fenders this a very hazardous undertaking. I will give briefly in this sketch, writes W. Nephew King in the New York Press, the preparations lor battle that each pommander of a United States vessel is Instructed to make according to the Ordnance Department of the navy. Of Bourse the many types of ships now in existence will give more or less latitude tor a display of discretion, but there are pertain general rules which must be observed In all war ships. * The battle call was formerly the "boatswain’s pipe,” followed by the prder. “All hands clear ship for action." The electric gong has eutiroly superseded this now, however, and the pipe and call are quietly stowed away in •Davy Jones’ locker.” Underlying all orders for battle is the effort to secure the vessel against injury or embarrassment from the enemy Or from the working of her own armament. To remove, as far as practicable and safe, all obstiuctions to the most effective use of her means of offense pnd defense, and clear away such Bxtures and appliances not needed for action as might otherwise cause the enemy's shot to create wreck or confusion, and, lastly, the removal of such •bjccts as might be Injured by exposure. As Soon as the gong is heard the men hastily get up all hammocks and stow them out of the way, steam is th> n genprated in every working boiler, and all unnecessary gear is sent below decks. If the ship should carry yards or light ■para of any kind they are sent down and the bowsprit or jibboom is rigged in. The next step is to unship all stanphlons and remove such bulkheads as are la the way of the battery. The torpedo tubes are now placed in position and the steel netting lowered for defend* against attacks from these weapanSC The binnacles of the standard and ether compasses are also removed and iMlp out of the reach of any shot, also ■fcaphrono meters and other instruments awher parings are attached to each ■nbjp and the beats are lowered and off »t a distance, with oars and

all movable objects lashed, or the plugs may be drawn and each allowed to sink. As eoou as the guns are cast loose tho crews are divided into two parts—riflemen and boarders—and as it may be desirable to fire upon the enemy with some of the great guns while the small arm men are in action, one gun’s crew out of every five Is sometimes detailed to remain at quarters. The crews thus stationed are all armed as tne others and can at any time, if desired, be called upon to assist in the small arm contest. As a general rule, however, it is not considered wise that they should leave their guns unless tho fire becomes useless or all hands are called to repel boarders. The location of the guns that are thus to remain manned is not of any special importance, as the crews may shift to the pieces that have the best command of the enemy. It is wise, however, if the vessel under the above rule should have only one such gun, that it should be near the center of tbe battery„as one of them i 3 likely to be near the point at which the boarding contest will probably take place. While tho riflemen are on deck engaged in a small-arm contest, if the snips should approach each other, the commanding officer Is instructed to observe the strength of his adversary’s battery fire, anil whether ho can safely and advantageously return any of his

crew to the guns. Under the ordinary conditions of battle, should riflemen be deemed necessary, the marines are lirst to bo called upon for small-arm Are. This is because in the old days they were supernumeraries at each gun, and left their quarters to as-

semble under the orders of the marine officer. It is hardly probable in any of the fights to come that vessels will ever get near enough to attempt hoarding with any prospect of success, or even to get secured alongside of an unwilling

enemy in such a manner as to admit of even an attempt boing made. In the days of Nelson and the old navy there was no more thrilling spectacle than a hundred or more sailors, with cutlasses and pistols in hand, gathered on the bow or quarter. In those times each ship wa9 surrounded by a high net to resist the attacking force. Science has stepped in, however, and modern vessels now attach a steam hoso

to the boiler, which melts away the enemy like snow before the sun. When the hostile vessels approach each other within suitable range the marines are called away as sharpshooters, and if they require assistance should be re-enforced by a part of the. guns’ crews. This body of men then assemble in some part of the ship designated by the captain and direct their fire against the officers, spongers, loaders, topmen or other important persons on the enemy’s vessel. As long as It is desired to keep up a brisk fire from the battery a part of the guns’ crews remain at quarters, but when It finally becomes advisable to call them away the order is, “All hands repel boarders!” A concentrated fire is now opened upon the vicinity of . the place where the attempt at boarding Is being made and every exertion Is put forth to clear the way for the attacking party. - I

Should the kSlps become fouled or otherwise secured together, the order is given, “Board with a eheer!” The men are supposed to gain the enemy’s deck as quickly as possible, pistols and cutlasses in hand, but to keep sufficiently near each other, however, for mutual support, and to act In concert against the opposing force, using every posotole exertion to clear the enemy’s decks by disabling or driving the men below. The hoarders are followed very closely by strong supporting bodies of riflemen, who covor and defend them, directing their fire principally against tho riflemen of the enemy. In aiddition to these some of the machine guns that have an overdeck fire must be ready to assist and support these men. Topmen, supplied with hand grenades, aro supposed to use them against the enemy while the foregoing movements are in progress. As soon as tho gun or fighting deck is cleared the officer In charge has all ladders triced up or removed, detailing one or more men to each hatchway for its defense. Should the boarders gain the enemy’s deck the guns must he depressed as much as possible in order that there may be little or no danger to our own men. As long as the contest is kept up, even after boarding, a brisk fire must be maintained and from as many guns as possible, for much injury can be inflicted upon the enemy in this way, besides the advantage to be gained by

dividing his attention at such an Important crisis. Often an attack or feint may be advantagoously made from another part of the ship, so as to create a diversion. Or the party on the enemy’s deck might detach a body to attempt to secure his

gangway on the unengaged side, the possession of which is generally considered very advantageous. Parties of sailors are also often instructed to enter the enemy’s ship through the gun deck ports. Boarding, at best, is a hazardous undertaking and can rarely be successful unless tho enemy is surprised or has been decidedly worsted at tho battery. Unless such should be the case it is considered advisable to continue tho battle some time longer with tho great guns before resorting to a hand to hand combat.

In all engagements it is understood that the men are to be sheltered from the enemy’s fire as much as efficiency will allow, and officers must be quick and vigilant to select and supply shelter, as it enables the force to hold out against superior fire. In this connection it inay be said that a brrrlcade would be very useful in the defense of a deck, and in cases where time for preparation is afforded such an obstruction could be made by running in guns and by the use of ladders, hammocks, etc. The nettings, which are sometimes supplied to small vessels, or these having low freeboard, are made of wire or of some small stuff, tarred and sanded. The lower edge is secured along the rail, and the upper is triced up by whips. Very often in close contest on a ship’s deck the sword becomes a more effective weapon than the musket and bayonet. In such cases the cutlasses of the boarders , are brought into play and the bayonets unfixed and used as swords. Torpedoes are often employed to keep an enemy off should he desire to board, or even a dummy may sometimes disconcert his plan of action. An interesting feature of a naval battle is the quartermaster standing by

With the signal book, answering or sending orders to the other vessels of the squadron. This volume, if it should ever fall into the hands of the enemy, would possibly enable him to anticipate the offensive movements of our vessels and thus give time to prepare his method of defense. For this reason all signal books are bound in heavy leaden covers, and when all hope of victory is lost the first duty of the navigator is to see that this important factor of warfare is thrown overboard. The above are the general directions which are supposed to be observed in action, but with the constant change that ships are undergoing a great deal depends upon the commanding officer’s originality in preparing methods of offense and defense. When two war ships meet on the high seas there is little time lost in preUmin- i aries. As soon as the character of each I l is ascertained, however, and they are

sufflcieatlT near to feel the efTeet o! their rapid-fire guhs the battle is opened. As a rule the heavy rifles are seldom used until It is certain that they will b« effective. This precaution is as much a

matter of economy as if; is a desire to inflict the most serious damage upon the enemy, for the charge of one of these guns costs about S3OO. Unless both vessels should be armored over their vitals, it is questionable if either would live more than a few hours after being pierced by a projectile from a modern high-power gun. The only possibility of a hand to hand fight would be between two armored ships of the line endeavoring to use their rams.

THE BIG S-INCH RIFLED CANNON CARBIED BY THE NEW UNITED STATES CRUISERS BEING TRAINED UPON AN ENEMY.

FIGHTING DECK OF A MODERN SHIP.

PREPARED TO RESIST TORPEDO ATTACK.

FIGHTING DECK OF AS OLD-TIMER.

MACHINE GUN IN ACTION.