New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-12
mously praised even by the Oldest and most ex-

mOusly praised by the Oldest ana most tX-
perienCed officers.
After the mortar practice the entire party pro-
ceeded by the military railway to the ranges,
where ii was found that the projectiles had pene-
trated the sand 10 a depth OF over eight feet
those Of the first vollcy all falling within an
area OF about G00x450 feet. and those Of the sec
ond within an area of about 400x300 feet. After
the discharge Of each salvo. gunner VINO was
stationed a knO. near by during the flring
noted the location Of each projectile all OF which
were marked for identification before being dis
charged. The marking done that the
aim of each mortar, which was carefully re-
corded. could be precisely determined. and the
facts advantageOusly used for reference after a
survey of the ranges shall have been made to
facilitate the preparation Of charts for guidance
hereafter. The Lower Bay and its approaches
have already been "Chartsd' by ranges 50 that
the position of any ship having been determined
by cross-bearings and paradox. the mortars may
be turned upon her by the use OF the chart. which
will show the precise section IN which she floats
HOW THE BIG GUNS WORKED
In interesting exhibition of 10-inch,
breeCh-loading rihed gun. mounted on a Gordon
disappearing carriage, a solid shot which was
projected about five miles at pointblank range
riCOChetted four times, throwing up immense
volumes of foaming water. The shot weighed
515 pounds. and charge of 270 pounds of powder
used 4 false parapet of light lumber.
which eXperimentally used to shield the
gunners from smoke after the discharge. worked
satisfactorily.
y HltN-Npl iNelNc-l1lCD llUfu DI't'N-4pdiluE 4 III
In the lift battery. trained at elevation Of ten
degrees projected a solid shot weighing 1000
pounds about eight miles across the bow Of the
outward bound French Line steamship La
Touraine. but high in the air. lis splash strik-
ing the water could be with the naked eye.
the day being bright and clear. and It's shrek
was weird and startling. as was also that Of The
shot from the tcn-inch gun. The charge Of
powder was 40 pounds, or about thirty pounds
less than the maximum charge. The maximum
effective range OF this gun is about eleven miles
Many Of the officers had never seen a gun thus
mounted The ease with which the steam lift
elevated the gun. the carriage and the platform
filled with officers. Of total weight ~ fully 10
tons, TIL the muZzle Of the gun was several feet
above the top of tho cscarped parapet Il solid
masonry forty feet thick. was viewed with wonder,
and received many favorable comments.
The only improvement suggested by the Off
GERS during and while afterward discussing the
excellent exhibition that it would hc better
If the machinery by which the mortars are oper-
ated should be worked by power instead ~ 10y
hand. and II believed that this single do
fec, will soon be remedicd GrizZed and famous
veterans of the civil War emphaticaily declared
that they hoped never to he subjected t. "A huu-
bardment such as the mortars were capable OF
bestowing upon an invader. and expressed the
opinion that the new battery will prove to he
genuine Gibraltar Of defence for this port should
any foreign power or powers ever try - Get sip
the dogs OF war" on this particular part Of North
American soil.