The San Francisco call., 1895-10-15
GUNS BOOM At REDWOOD
Light Battery F Annihilates an
Army of Dummy
Figures.
The Science Of Locating an Enemy
at Unknown Distances
Demonstrated.

REDWOOD CITY. Call, Oct 14.-Light
Battery F, Fifth United States Artillery,
under the command of Captain Charles
Morris, gave practical demonstration to-
day of the science of locating an objective
point stationed at a considerable distance
and then raining down upon it devastat-
ing shower of shot and shell.
All the morning the camp was the scene
of great activity. AT an early hour, every
thing being in readiness, Captain Morris
detailed Second Lieutenant Ellis to con-
duct the shooting over the first range or
position taken, with orders to inspect the
battery.
Three percussion shells, to be used as
'range-fnders, and eight shrapnel max
ing eleven shots in all, were allowed for
each officer, who was to take the battery
in turn and conduct the firing. AS each
caisson was approached the chest was
opened, and disclosed the death-dealing
missiles-the shells conicaI in shape and
filled with explosives, the shrapnel very
much resembling champagne bottle in
shape and appearance, being but 8 1-5
inches in diameter, about inches long,
each weighing 1917 pounds, and being
filled with 162 bullets that literally rake
the ground when the shrapnel explodes.
While this was going on mounted de-
tachments were out in the foothills doing
picket duty to see that the range was clear
of stock. Another detachment located a
flag signal station at a point in the foot
hills about two miles distant from the
county road and on a convenient ridge at
safe distance to the left of the targets,
their duty being to witness and signal back
the effects of the shots as they burst.
Everything being in readiness promptly
came the order, Attention, mount, for
wardl" and the battery moved out into
the open field on the Robinson property,
near the county road and just back of Red
wood City. The distance having been
quickly estimated by the officer in COM
mand, the red flag dropped and first shot
with percussion shell went screening
through the air on its way to the targets.
1t exploded about 500 yards short
With mechanical accuracy the next
she'll was planted about 200 yards nearer
the target, and on the third shot the range
was established. After that the whole
battery opened fire and it was simply a
matter of raking the hill with q storm of
shrapnel, which went tearing through,
over and all around the targets, which in
thlS instance were representations OF two
detachments of infantry, formed company
front, the figures being made of whitened
boards two feet wide and six feet high,
with spaces between each.
The firing to-day was conducted as fol-
lows: First range $3.50 yards, by Second
Lieutenant Ellis; second range, 2425
yards, by Second Lieutenant Hahn; third
range, about 100 yards, by Second Lieu
tenant Burgess.
As each range means an entirely differ
ent position the whole battery is kept
moving from point to point and each
officer in command of the firing has to find
the range of the guns without previous
knowledge of the distance to be fired over.
But three explosive shells are allowed him
with which to find the range; that is
enough.
The artillery practice will be resumed
tomorrow on different series of targets.