GOING INTO ACTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1571, 1 July 1916, Page 4

GOING INTO ACTION.

HOW A BATTLESHIP IS

“FOUGHT.”

When a naval action is about to be “fought” everything not needed for the actual fighting is thrown overboard; this is in order that the ship may not be hampered by any unnecessary gear, and it is also to lessen the risk from splinters, which might cause many casualties if boats, doors, furniture, or other wooden gear came to be struck by flying fragments of shell. The boat davits and the stanchions that carry the protective chains round the deck are laid flat, or they may even be thrown overboard; but for the most part it is only the wooden articles that have to be sacrificed in this way. For the rest, anchors and any heavy gear that might possibly break loose in the thick of the fight are securely lashed in place. Though all warships are provided with a conning-tower, which is very heavily armoured, captains often prefer to “fight” their ships from the bridge, and, in order to provide some protection for them and those of their officers whose duty may require them to be on deck, the bridges and other stations are surrounded with hanging ropes and matting that will serve to arrest the smaller shell splinters, and will reduce the blast from a. passing shell. The conning-tower, which has been described as the nerve-centre of the ship, and which is provided with a system of bells and telephones that provide communication with every part of her, is.never unoccupied, however; and, though the captain should he directing from the bridge, his commander and several other officers will remain in the tower, and he will always keep in touch with them.

When everything: that human foresight can suggest has been done to secure success, then comes the stirring bugle-call, “To general quarters!” with the ship steaming at full speed for the enemy. The range-lindors and the “spotters” arc diligently at work, the great guns are kept on the target —an enemy super-Dreadnought/ we will suppose, is coming gradually nearer — and at 15,000 yards, or thereabouts, the order will be given to lire. Mr Alan J. Burgoyne, the wellknown authority on naval subjects, gives a vivid description of a fight at sea between “capital” ships. “A click, a, sudden tightening in the air,” he writes, “a. tremendous dull blow coming from everywhere, and the shell is speeding at 2,000 miles an hour in the direction of the enemy. The action has begun! From this time on the guns in the barbettes each fire one shot a minute. In practice they have done three a minute, but ‘Control and reserve your fire’ is the order from the powers that be in the conning-tower. Then comes a terrific blow on the immense steel hood of the barbette, an intense roar shakes the very firmament, and a, deep bulge, glowing with heat, appears inside the steel plates. A shell from the enemy has hit the shield —a large shell —and it has exploded. The lieutenant in charge had been glancing through the sighting-hood. He drops like a log, his hand over his eyes, and his nose and ears bleeding. This is the penalty of war. He is deaf for life. Two other men have fallen beside the gun, for boltheads have been crisply shorn oil; by the immense jerk of the impact, and they fly with the power of rifle bullets across the confined space. Thus one poor fellow is killed, and the second has his leg bi’oken. A midshipman carries on the work of his wounded senior. In swinging'round the guns a point is reached where they stop, the roller bearings have been strained, and the young officer tells his captain up in the conningtower that he can fire only from right astern to a point or two before the beam. And they in the conningtower draw a chalk-mark across one of the horizontal coloured lines to correct the new arc of fire,” It may be added to this description that guns are handled entirely by very powerful electrical .machinery, so that to alter the range, to bring up another shell and the cordite propelling-charge from the magazines far below, or to open the massive breech-blocks and then put in the new load, is only a matter of touching so many buttons. It should also be explained that when firing at very long range, with the enemy ship enveloped in dense smoke, it is difficult to tell the exact range. This is where the destroyers help the range-finders, for these little cruft, always prepared to take desperate risks, get comparatively close to the enemy ami then send back directions and suggestions by wireless.

CUT THIS OUT. GOOD COUGH MIXTURE RECEIPT. SAVES ABOUT 10s. Everybody knows that family cough remedies contain water and sweetening as well as medicinal ingredients. By getting the pure ingredients alone and mixing with water and sweetening at home you obtain a pint for 2s, instead of a small bottle that lasts almost no time. From your chemist or grocer obtain one bottle of Hean’s Essence — this Essence is the undiluted medicinal ingredients. Take home and mix with water and sweetening, as explained on the label. There is no boiling or straining or fuss of any kind. This will make a pint of better cough mixture than you can buy ready made and saves 10s to 12s. It will last a long time and never spoils. It takes hold of a cough—that means business straightaway. It gives a soothing, comforting, warming feeling all the Avay down. It is good for sore throats, and promptly relieves the tickle that worries so much. A few drops to a child, or a spoonful to an adult, gives wonderful relief in croup, whooping cough, asthma, bronchitis, etc. There is no poison or harmful drug of any kind in the mixture, and, as it gives about 8 eighteenpenny bottles for the price of one, the above recipe has become wonderfully popular. Hean’s Essence is now procurable from chemists and stores, 2s a bottle, or post free, on receipt of price, from Hean, chemist, Wanganui. Note how my name is spelt— H-E-A-N —four letters only.—Ad.