cosmoline

A substance obtained from the residues of the distillation of petroleum, essentially the same as vaseline, but of somewhat stiffer consistency, and consisting of a mixture of the higher paraffins.

To coat with cosmoline.

With the Model 1917 tripod, the pintle should be removed from the socket from time to time, wiped clean and lightly oiled or cosmolined where there is friction between it and the socket.

Now, as I understand it you testified that that would lead to the inference that they did not fear an attack and you said that they had the guns themselves there on the ships but they were cosmolined and could not fire.