New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08

III groups.
the hill just TO the south 81 Fort Tompkins, and
they are fitted for guns with disappearing car
RACES the Buffngton-Cf ROLLER carriage to be used.
FROM the inner side the observer sees long line OF
n-curves. and in each Of these curves there is
gun platform. Between the curves the concrete
bers are located. Everything is out OF sight from
the CANT gun is Elevated for firing BY simple
adjustment OF weights the recoil of the gun -
weights at the opposite end OF the swinging cradle
harm, The men are amply protected from machine
gun fire, which would sweep an exposed battery
the enemy came within range with small cabre
arms. In this instance the nearer the approach TO
Fort Wadsworth the less the chance OF mortal hurt.
because OF the extreme elevation. Bullets would
simply slide the hill and lose themselves in
Without the concrete. which may be considered as
the base OF the defensive wall Is parapet of earn
which s nearly fifty feet wide AZ the top and then
descends the hill in an increasing slope until. at the
v'als OF the fertilization nearly seventy-hve ieet
hostile she'll before II could do any damage. The
ton OF shell that the chances hundred to one
OF the projectie glanclng or and continuing It's
course toward the heart OF Staten Island.
ONE GUN HAS ARRIVED.
This much has been completed at Fort Wadsworth.
and one gun has arrived In about ten days it will
be mounted. 1t is not possible to ascertain just
Fort wadsworth but the plans of the Department
contemplate the location OF nnetytnree riled can
non for the defence OF NewYork. These are 20 be
twelve, ten and eight inch calbres Then there are
projected 17s mortars, presumably OF the twelve
inch pattern. The twelve-inch guns have been fin
shed. and both at Sandy Hook. Two ten-inch
guns have been finished. and Of these is lying
at Fort Hamilton. with carriage ready. Five
eight-inch guns have been completed, and one or
these is at Fort Wadsworth. Thrty-two mortars
have been built. OF these sixteen are at Sandy
Hook and four at the sound entrance. Tnere IS
one ten-nch gun and one eight-inch gun In process
or construction. and no mortars are building. Inc
siooc6
What is to be done with these guns when COM
pleted and mounted? They are sensitive pieces Of
machinery costing much, requiring the finest skill
10 he effectively served; they must be constantly
The entire coast artillery arm Of the service com
prses something like thirty-hve hundred men.
worth has three batteries OF artillery containing now
Schohed. in an annual report made an estimate OF
the number OF arterymen required TO man the
time power and placed the complement at 10000.
and 10000 OF them for the effective defence Of New
ssnGy ' HOOK; FoTt WadsWorth Fort Hamilton and
the Sound defences General schoheld argued that
should be maintained to one-tenth of the strength
or 5000, as skilled professional gunners ought at
least TO stand one TO ten Of the raw recruits in
time OF His appeal fell upon deaf ears
WHAT A GUNNER MUST KNOW.
It something to be sea coast artillery
soldier in these days glance at the scope
OF the annual examinations shows. He must be
able to estimate distances to both fixed and NOV
ing objects. He must estimate the speed of vessels
he must Judge accurately Of the velocity Of the
wind, he must understand the use of the barometer
the thermometer and the thermometer and the
intelligent manipulation OF powders ana other hlgh
explosives. He has TO solve problems in gurnery
He must study the drill OF great guns and mortars
and also OF field pieces and machine guns. He
must master the subjects OF axis bore, line OF fire.
plane OF fire. line Of sight. plane OF sight, elevation
quadrant elevation, sight elevation, angle OF sight
velocity. initial velocity. remaining velocity strk-
ing velocity, deviation, DRIFT wine, jump, Inc OF
departure, angle OF departure, trajectory point OF
fall, anglo OF fall, range, greatest range aiming
OF the piece and laying gun. and direct and in
age and its sailor. He must know
strand from yam and marine from spun yarn
should not mistake parcelling for whipping nor
warming for serving. He must be able TO make
short splice and long splice, eye splice and a
grOmmei. He may get the strap Il ne rams %
make two half-hltches. Then there is Glove
nGh and & m1eF R b Whh n9u Eno HG
OF a bowne must not conflict with an intimate
acquaintance with his granny. He must know an
anchor from sheet bend. and catspaw from a
sheepshank. SO the rope curriculum runs along
from nipperlng to stop. from housing to whip and
sRe Sutton upon runneP Sarrck BEND shermen
bend. and then ne may be brought up standing
against rolling hitch as fnalty and land with
the marines. He must know the ins-ruments used
such the quadrant and the transit re must be
able To auayZe an aZlmuth circle and De must De
able TO give the various stages OF the plotting
board.
Is this a holiday trade, a thing to be picked up
by any chance volunteer conscript? No, many
OF the artillery men understand modern gunnsry
for the reason that they nave never had any mod
ern guns 10 manipulate They have almost ceased
learned will have 10 be unlearned as diligently
v,he