NAVY LEAGUE NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10081, 31 August 1910, Page 3

NAVY LEAGUE NOTES.

~ (Contributed). j : LIFE ON A WARSHIP. ; W A ship's company is divided intotwo watches at sea, part and starboard. ****** Jack's day begins at. 4 o'clock in the, morning. ****** At that hour the ever restless boatswain's mate wanders round the mess-deck shrilly piping and shouting, "Starboard watch," or port, a 9 the case may be, "and daymen, rouse out—rouse out," etc. ' ( ****** * Soon all hands are gathered on the upper deck scrubbing and washing it, while the "daymen" are busy below. ****** Every man becomes for the time being a deft housemaid.

* * * * * * Jack, dressed in Iris old suit, with his trousers tucked up to his knees, and in his bare feet, flies about the flooded decks. **. # # # While all this commotion is going on the men'of the other watch, who turned in at 4 o'clock, sleep below. # * # * * At 6 o'clock it is their turn to re spond to the call of' the boatswain's mates. Hammocks and all night gear are then stowed away. v * * * * * * * Tables and stools are placed out, and Jack's "bedroom" is transformed into his meal room. ****** « Between 6.30 and 7 breakfast is served. *. _ * * * *'. * « By 8 o'clock the ship must be as clean as a Dutchman's house. * * * * * * «

At 8 o'clock the to "quarters." * * »: » » % « The worK of cleaning'is resumed, on this occasion the guns are taken in hand, and the engines and boilers are cleaned. A modern warship has about twenty-four engines, and some have as many as ttiirty-Bix boilers. * * * * * * 95 At 8 o'clock in, summer and at 9 o'clock in winter, the colours are hoisted, while every officer and man stands at the salute, facing aft. * * * * * * * ■ '■ # After the guns have been burnished, the decks where breakfast has been eaten are swept and tidied and other finishing touches put to the ship's toilet. .'*■#'# * # * ss

At 9 o'clock the officers inspect their divisions. •' * '# * » '*_«;' After "inspection" the men march to the quarter deck for prayers. * * * *, * a His religious duties done, the morning's drill or exercise follow. Theie last until 11.30. The chief executive officer then serves out punishment' to the delinquents. Si M * » *'■..* On the bridge, the navigating officer will be busy noting the position of the ship and the sun. **** s , * * At noon he gives his report to a messenger, who proceeds to the captain and exclaims: "Twelve o'clock sir," aod indicates the latitude of the ship, the ship's course and speed. On the captain being satisfied, usually replies: "Thank you, make it so," the sentry strikes eight bells, and the boatswain's mate pipes for dinner. -X * * * * * Half an hour is allowed for dinner, and then the "grog" is served out. ****** For about forty rninutes the men enjoy their "smoke oh!" * * * *■*'*■ At a qjarter past'one, all is or-

derly commotion, the decks are cleaned up and the small arms are polished. ****** Drill begins for one watch and lasts till half-past three. * * * * * * The other watch goes below to sleep. ****** At 4.30 the tables and stools again make their appearance, and the men sit down to tea, and then change into their "night rigs." ****** Halt an hour is allowed for tea and a smoke. ****** The boatswain's mate will then be heard piping "Out pipes and clean up deck-all but the cooks for the round." ****** The men then go to "night quarters" for inspection. If at sea, the guns are secured foi* the night. ******

If in harbour the boats are hoisted in, divisions inspected, and the men who have permission, go ashore. ****** Their companions have the rest of the evening to themselves. At 7.30 the order, "Stand by hammocks" is given. The men take down '.heir hammocks and hang them up. * * * * * * Suprer is then served. * * * * * * The men of the first watch (8 to 12 p.m.) are then'mustered aft, by the midshipmen of the watch, fur their night duties. ****** At 8.20 there is a final clean up of the decks. ****** i

The cry is then heard, "Out pipes, clean out and stow away spit kits" (clothes b gs). # r # * * * e Ten minutes later the commander makes bis inspection round. * * * * * * At 10 o'clock the mesa deck is quiet in healthy slumber.