Thinking nothing of such activity, since it was standard battle practice, Casca decided he had better find Metah and see how she had made out.

Trippe began 1914 as she had the previous two years - by heading south and conducting battle practice in the Caribbean through the end of March.

This 'bad safety habit' carried over into real battle practices.

"Won't have much choice 'bout touching her at battle practice," said Maharg with a note of gloomy memory.

Even shouting above the noise of battle practice it was the same.

For the next month, she conducted engineering trials and battle practice near Haiti in the Gulf of Gonaives.

During this time, the ship conducted a short-range battle practice.

During battle practice on the camp, he accidentally sliced open the hand of a participant.

She emerged revitalized on 20 February 1915 and headed south for the usual battle practice in the vicinity of Cuba.

This was followed by battle practice off California.