The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-30
THE SPITFIRES.
Programme for Practice
by Heavy Artillery.
THE
What the Boys in Blue at the Preside
and Other Pests Will Have
to Do.

The army regulations relating to the season
and course Of practical instruction for the
heavy batteries of artillery for the current year
have just been issued by Brlgadier General
Ruger, commanding the Department of Cali
foThia. The scope Of instruction Will embrace:
First-The service OF all classes of seaeoast
guns md carriages, mounted IN the armam t,
their menclature. manual and ammunition.
Special attention will be given TO aiming or laying
guns with accuracy, to adjusting sishts, quadrant
aud detection scales according to tables of fire to
counteract errors in range, the effect of wind.
will include direct and Indirect aiming or laying
at moving target or vessel
Second-For All non-comnissioned officers and
for such other enlisted men in the opinion of the
post commander have sufficient capacity to profit
by the drill Judging distance to stationary and
moving objects. tie speed and relative direc ii on
OF movement OF vessels, velocity OF the wind. its
direction and component relative TO an assumed
plane. These exercises viii be conducted in con-
Eection with range and position finding vessel
tracking) using the plotting board, range-fnder.
anemometer and vane, or other instrument OF pre-
csion. Measured results viii be announced for
direct comparison with the estimates made at he
time. Military signaling with flags. torches and
Third-Annual artillery and small arms practice.
Fourth-Eiementary cordage. setting up and
RIGGING gins. shears etc. the use of other ma
chimes and appliances at the post for moving
heavy guns.
Fifth-Battery competitions.
Sixth-infantry drill regulations: School OF the
soldier. schools OF the company and battalion, In
Guiding extended order.
Seyenth-Exerc ses in the prescribed course OF
artillery instruction proper Will be habituaIly
conducted in each battery separately and con
tinue at the same lass OF guns and instrume nts
on consecutive drill days until the course in con
Dection Herewith Is finished. a fair proportion Of
the time being given to exercises under each
head of minimum qualifications for gunners In.
struction in telegraphy, with chronograph or win
meteorological instruments. may be given under
one officer specially detailed as instructor
During April and May here will be TWO drills
daily excepting on Saturday and Sunday, thu
time of the drill being one hour and half
The time will be devoted by the cannoneers
with a view TO perfectng them In the perform
snce of their duties, To training battery, to
serve a group OF guns with regularity and
speed, and the commander Of the battery VIII
direct the men so that the fire of The group OF
guns can be administered a unit. aud he
Will have 10 indicate by his command Oh signals
the target, the elevation and drnectlon. Ibls
drill Will be held specially at the S-lncl
cOverted rife and at the 10-lDch smooh-Dore
gun.
During these months there will also be drills
In the use OF instruments for the purpose oil
training observers to work together with the
regularity and speed that would be required in
actual service. There Will, in addition. be mill
taly signaling with flags, torches and hello
graphs, IN which the gafrlsons at he Presldio,
Fort Mason and AcatraZ Island will cooperate
with each other In signaling, and tile Two lat
Ter posts Id range aud position finding lyessel
trackng)
During June there will be the annual artll-
leIy practice and small arms practice. The ar
tilicly III dCtioo vi edcu DdLtefy Will De cOn-
Quoted with the S-lnch converted rifle, firing
ten prOiectiles WITH solid shot or plugged shells
at 100 aud 200 yards and with the 15-inch
smooth-bore gun firing twenty-four projectes,
three solid shot and twenty-one plugged shells
at 2300 yards.
During July the men Will be drilled in eIe.
menlary dage, setting up ana rigging gins,
shears ana so forth, also IN the use OF machines
and appliances for moving heavy guns.
During the month each battery Will dismount
1O-inch smooth-bore gun or It's equivalent Gan
S-inch converted rife IN casemate or barbette,
remove the carriage from the platform, replace
il and remOunt the gun; first, using maneuver-
ing blocks and hydraulic jack; second, using
hosting blocks and tackle, or, in lien of both
exercises, smoOth-bore gun and carriage may
be dismouDted in the second tier OF classmates.
lowered TO the parade, raised and rem0unied.
Two batteries combined will dismount 15-