The morning call., 1892-06-04
MORTAR TARGET FIRING.
Heavy Artillery Practice On the
PresidiO Hills.
Dropping Shells at 1000 Yards Range-Poor
Powder Resrons..Ie for Bad Marksman-
ship-The Instruments Used.

Two OF the heavy artillery companies, 81
and b of the Fifth Regiment, we're exer-
cised in mortar battery firing yesterday.
The scene of the target practice was the
Preside hills The range was 1000 yards.
Thirty-four shells were aimed at the target
during the day, and the practice will be con-
tlhued to-day by two other companies.
Mortar-friDg is very business like opera
ton. But four men at a time handle the
piece. The others lounge about with the
instincts of seasoned soldershiD. They loll
on the grass in groups until called upon to
take their trick at the mortars. AS mounted
markers stationed near the target have TO
ride over to the place where the bombs
strike the earth after every shot the firing
is very slow work. 1t took nearly the whole
day to fro the "a shells.
AN EXHAUSTIVE RECORD.
Lieutenant Sawyer was in command of
Company ii and Lieutenant Blunt of Com
pany b. These two officers have to pre-
serve quite an elaborate record OF the de-
tails of the shooting, in which task they are
assisted By Don-cOmmiSsiOnedO officers. The
weight Of each pr0jectile charge of powder,
period Of flight, recoil. angle of elevation
and terminus of shot have to be noted.
These items constitute mass Of data to be
worked up and formulated into future re-
ports for the edification Of the ordnance de-
partment
Considerable apparatus is taken into the
field with the mOrtars There is vane
mounted on tripod TO indicate the direc
ton OF the wind All barometer TO determine
the rate at which the wind is blowing, a
theodolite to measure the horizontal and
vertical angles, and tresteS to hold the
piumbs used In allgning tie sights.
UNSATISFACTORY MARKsMANSHIP.
The craftsmanship yesterday was not sat
lsfactory TO the officers. With Old-fashOned
mortarS and poor powder the best results
cannot be obtained. With the same angle
OF elevation, charge OF powder and weight
OF shell two shots would land at widely
distant points. This left little or no Oppor-
tunlty for the display OF skill. and the shells
Tell IN ali directions some close to, some
far in front and others far behind the target
Some of the shells fell 800 yards beyond the
target and others fell 1856 yards short.
Thirty shots were fired from 8-nch and
four from 10-inch mortars. The 8-iach
shells weigh about 40 pounds and the 10-inch
shells about 50 pounds With the first the
charge of powder is one pound, and with
the second one pound seven ounces. Only
four ounces OF powder is placed in the
shells, or just enough 10 blow out the fuses,
as the soldiers recover the shells for future
practice. The fuses are cut tO15 seconds,
the time consumed in travelling 1000 yards.
THE MORTAR TARGET
The target is vertical and 20 feet square.
COncentric lines, with radius Of 90 and 100
yards, are marked on the ground around the
target. An idea of the location of the point
Of ground struck is maintained by reference
TO the dial of watch, with the MI mark
held toward the target. All shots falling
behind the target are recorded as X, XII,
XII, | and III shots; those falling to the
left are TX shots; those to the right III
shots, and those falling in front OF the tar
get by other numerals, VI being directly in
front. The mounted markers ride to the
point hit and then ride back to their station,
where they telephone the distance in yards
to the firing point
AN APPETIZING BREEZE.
The wind yesterday was an appetizng
one, right in the teeth of the firing part "
1t Travelled at the rate of 16 and 4-10 miles
an hour.
The greatest precautions are taken
to secure the safety of the mark
ers. A signal flag is displayed at
the firing station whenever shot
is ready to be discharged. The command
''fre" is rot given until the markers have
displayed flag, indicating that they. too
are ready. The fight and track of tie
shells can be plainly seen. These great
S-neh and 10-inch shells resemble ID size
skyscraper, batted heavenward by q base
ball Dlayer