THE NAVY IN ACTION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2228, 14 August 1914, Page 6

THE NAVY IN ACTION

. PREPARING SmP FOR BATTLE. I ' "Prepare ship , for battle" is an order lieavd only once orrhyice in the esperi-. ence'.of tho average seaman, and carries •ft. far different meaning than the comjparatively fi-equeinf-'Qleardecks for action.": ;' The latter command .is merely the order to remove obstacle%froni the guns so that they may be fired; the former means t6 get the ship ready not only for firing her guns, but to receive the fire, of .the enemy. , . ■ ' '. ■ Prepare ship for battle is carried out on very rare occasions, .never more than once duririg»a commission, as it entails a 'great deal of work and discomfort to the ship's company concerned. Aβ soon : as the word is>given the ship becomes a veritable seething turmoil; . every man working at his utmost .speed. *'. First, all the boats except two are thrown overboard, tho pinnace and launch only being kept. These are filled with water, and' wrapped round with awnings and rope, the object being to .prevent splintering. Then, all the cable is got up from the lockers and wrapped round the, barbettes and turrets and funnel casings. All the men's mess tables and stools are sent down into the stokeholes, and most of the furniture thrown overboard. In fact, everything liable to be an encumberim<v>. and likely to burn is thrown away or burnt. . ; " . ' . Then a move is made to the masts, And in a few minutes; tlie topmasts are down on deck and lashed-to the side of the mainmasts; the rigging is:"siiaked down" —that is, served round and round with rope to strengthen it: and arransements ore made for the wireless-aerials. All the hatches-are then dosed down and- tho lieavily-arimured ' doors, are closed over them! lights are extingaishwl, and only a fenble dimmer in the online-rooms and coninnir-towcrs is allowed fo remain. Then 'Hie bitrie goes for "general'quarters," a«d Bre hoses are., all rim nut and connected 'with the.sea-water mains... ..''.-. All the stokers btp placd in three watches, seamen in two, nnd all "domestics" aud spare ratings are utilised 'as sbff. Fire parties aTe told off, nnd nil guns' orows sloen nt tlieir puns. Spliit»r nets arc rioged. anrt nmimmition is placed riviVfi- for instant use. ' .'••::.■. ' Lookouts,' usunlly sioiialmon. are nlaccd in"the flr(>-rontrol tons.-and evfrvthiii" is (hen cleiTxxl for iminwliate.- action. The. signal stiff take np their o'liwt'ers in tlie nnppr coT>nins--towpr. and d'reot sicrnalli'irr oneratioTis from tlieiv. under the immwiinte survpillnnce, nfi a Yeoman of Signals, tnp'wiiolp staff Vitfti? controlled by the oignal-WRn-n or chief yeoman, who 'attend on Hie captain. ■ •• ...'-. All gunsnre electrically controlled from the fire control, where the ranire of the pnemy' is obtained by « patent ranff<«-find-inp.apnwfttns.-' The gnn-layers merely lay the sioltts and .keop tho gmie traine<l on tho object.

The Best Map of the Seat of War can now bo obtained showing air Towns of importance, Railways, Sleamei - linos. «nd distances. Size, 26 x 22 inches. Price 15..3d. posted. Map Department, Box J«7, G.P.0., Wellington.-_Adrt.