Page 4. 
THE BLUE BONNET 
U.S.S. Houston 7-26-38—900 
AFTER ENGINE ROOM CRIME 
WAVE NIPPED IN IBUD 
Gregson smelled a mouse the other 
day when he made a complete check 
of the trash buckets in the after 
engine room. His careful check re- 
vealed that one bucket had strayed 
from its usual resting place. 
Gregson hastily organized himself 
as a committee of one to investigate 
its strange disappearance. He buck- 
led on his trusty flashlight, establish- 
ed himself in the vicinity of the tele- 
phone booth in the engine room which 
is in the immediate vicinity of the 
crime and upon establishing communi- 
cation with all parts of the ship set 
out an air tight drag-net. His only 
request was that the coffee pot be 
kept hot. 
As a preliminary check, all avail- 
able buckets in the engine room were 
examined and the following facts 
were ascertained: 
That the bucket bearing the name 
of Cardinelli had not been removed 
from its rack for the last six weeks. 
That Slodek, upon being shown a 
bucket testified that he had seen a 
similiar article in the bilges during 
our stay in the yard. A search of 
the indicated bilge pocket revealed 
that the bucket was still there. 
Working on a theory that the buck- 
et might have drifted to the boat 
shop, one, Pat Patterson was closely 
questioned. He readily admitted hav- 
ing such an article and pointing to 
a circular object in a corner said, 
“that should be it.” Examination 
showed the designated article to be 
a large piston. As the investigating 
committee left Pat Patterson was 
wondering which engine to operate 
on first, and also bemoaning the fact 
that all the engines were operating 
so quitely that it was impossible to 
tell by the sound which piston had 
been replaced by the bucket. 
McCarthy came forward with the 
information that shortly after his 
arrival on board there had been a 
bucket in his fireroom. A search of 
this fireroom brought to light one 
bucket and one skeleton. Examina- 
tion showed the bucket was really a 
beer growler from a local saloon and 
it has not been determined yet wheth- 
er the bones are those of a bilge rat 
or a fireman. 
At this point Gregson while stating 
that he was yet not defeated in his 
quest declared that he would first 
get some needed sleep before investi- 
gating the powder magazines. 
Flash! Flash! 
As we go to press it has been dis- 
covered that Gregson was sitting on 
the bucket during the entire investi- 
gation. 
BATTLESHIPS 
There are 15 battleships organized 
in four divisions, each of which is 
commanded by a Rear Admiral. When 
all divisions are operating together a 
Vice Admiral, Commander Battle- 
ships United States Fleet, commands 
the entire group. 
Battleships are the backbone of the 
fleet. This is the type around which 
a fleet is built, all other types being 
considered as contributory. Although 
contributory, these other types are 
necessary. 
In designing the battleship the naval 
constructor strikes a balance between 
the machinery weight which governs 
speed, armament weight or striking 
power, armor weight or protection 
against damage which might be in- 
flicted by an enemy. 
There must be a give and take a- 
mong the above three elements. If one 
is to be increased, the others must 
sacrifice something, unless the size or 
displacement of the ship is to be in- 
creased beyond all reasons. 
The battleship is the strongest light- 
ing unit; it can deliver the hardest 
blow; it can take more punishment 
than any other type and still remain 
afloat. It must be capable of engag- 
ing any vessel it may encounter upon 
the high seas; and it is to enhance its 
effectiveness and improve its oppor- 
tunities that all of the smaller types 
of men-of-war must cooperate. Mod- 
ern battleships are capable of speeds 
up to 21 knots and mount guns as 
large as 16-inch. 
The oldest battleship is the AR- 
KANSAS, commissioned 17 Septem- 
ber 1912, and the WEST VIRGINIA, 
commissioned 1 December 1923, is the 
latest battleship in our Navy. 
RAT PLEA 
All sail ors like tu go ashore 
After dey been at sea 
But ven in port, our gud ship’s rats 
Ain’t gat no liberty; 
Ay link our rats ain’t treated sqvare 
For when the ship ban moored 
Dey put tin collars on da lines 
Tu keep da rats aboard. 
Our rats stand vatches in da bilge 
And never make a fuss 
Ay never know a Houston rat 
Tu even growl or cuss, 
Dey du deir duty plenty gude 
And du it qvite like; 
By Yimminy, if Ay vas a rat 
Ay link Ay start a strike. 
In Panama our poor rats 
Ain’t never see da beach, 
Ye moor da ship by big varehouse 
Vich ban yust out of reach; 
ly ain’t blame our deserving rats 
For gatting plenty sore; 
Next time lets leave dose collars off 
And let dem go ashore. 
P. S. 
All rite, Okay, if yu insist 
Ve keep a rat restricted list. 
SOURCE OF NAVAL TERMS 
Origin and definition of a few of 
the many terms formerly peculiar to 
sea-faring men only, are listed below: 
Douse the Glim— now slang ashore, 
was once good English afloat. Douse 
here means to lower or slacken, the 
reference is to the practice of lower- 
ing the lantern into an empty pail 
so that it could not be seen. 
Dungarees — now a part of milady’s 
beach costume, are sea-going work- 
ing clothes. The word is of Hindu 
origin. 
Fairway — originally a naval term 
meaning navigable channel; now it’s 
a golf term. 
Figurehead — this was an ornate 
carved wooden figure placed at the 
prow of a vessel and supposed to 
bring good luck. 
Gadget — derived from a French 
word meaning a small hook, was 
applied to a lot of different small 
articles aboard ship, also called chick- 
en fixings, gill guys, wim woms, or 
timmy noggies. 
