New-York tribune., 1896-09-29
PLANS FOR COAST DEFENCE
Apr,1J,rRYMEN TO BE TRAINED IN THE
USE or MODERN ORDNANCE.
TUE ,rrrur,oN rs TO HAVE A FORCE OF EXPERT
GtNNERs READY FOR DUTY IN CASH
OF EMERGENcY-DETAfLs OF GEN
ERAL MrLEs's ORDER TO BE
ISSUED TO-DAY
rpy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNE'I

fry TELEGRAPH TO THE rRfBuNE'j
Washington. Sept. @.-in connection WIZ ~,
gramme Of putting the coast oeiehceS VI nv ,,.a
on modern footing. an order mas D.." 80,
bv the War Department relating 10 III. -.
inc ~ the artillery Of the Army for service VIII"
no ..e covered guns and rfed mortars The OBJ
,, l., % nake those troops proficient In the use OF
modern ordnance that they may be famiiiar VIII"
tho duties of gunners in the event OF WAT i"o ~
order was drawn up by direction 0. GENERA, -.
7, will direct that heavy artillery pracuo' o "
In each military department. at such pia0e' NV
times as the commanders OF the 'ep", ,,
designate The practice Is to be with such o'ee''
,ood,ro s,ege and seacoast guns and mortars as
may be available at the several posts ~here ue
tachments OF artillery are stationed ""e,.
are not available practice Will be hao WIZ" '
fashioned guns until new ordnance II P
Ranges over which firing Is TO take pia'e nv ,os
Axed by department commanders IN 'anu-lo".
horhors care "a TO be observed that accidents 10
shipping do not happen.
table OF allowances OF ammuhi'ioh WIN apP
in the new order. This Will prescribe '"a' 'o' IN
year's training Of the artillery the allowances s"''''
be as follows: Siege guns-Fivei"ch rineS '"'"''
rounds for practice and twenty rounds TOT coHpe"-
,,on for this arm of the service: seven-inch now
tiers fifteen rounds each for practice and compel"
ton; seven-nch mortars, the same n''"
rounds Seacoast guns-Eight-inch rihes' Ten io.'u'
for each class Of firing. and for eght-nch ten
nd
three rounds OF each class. There Will be no con'-
ret,tve firing from the smoothbore guns. but eight
nractice shots will be fred from the hfteen-inch
guns and ten from the en-inch guns In general 'he
firing will be the water. and not at lana 'arses
When practicable shots will be directed at moving
objects as these more nearly resemble shps "hch
the artillery would have TO fight In case OF war.
coreraI Miles regards 1t as important that all
military exercises should be subordinate TO gun
practce and the order will say that uurne
the season OF training at the guns other .ac'ica
instruction of artillery will be suspended a"
practice Is be preceded by careful instruction oy
officers in order that the gunners may learn the'r
Duties thoroughly To this end each battery COM
mander Is personally superintend all details or
gunnery practice The new order makes II ooied-
tory upon officers and men TO atteno battery il"
stuction and firing and no one Is to be excused
except the post commanders and then for goou
reason To prevent delays in the programme hoat-
ing targets are TO be kept ready at posts. and
steam launches where available. are to be en-
ployed to carry out and place the targets
The order specifies In detail how the practice Is
10 be conducted and to insure uniformity Is
directed that no changes Of the prescribed system
are TO be made unless authorized by high authority.
Information as to sizes Of targets, value or sho's
IN computing results of practice. the kinds OF hre
that are TO be had. etc, Is given IN the oroer'
With a view the development OF expert sho's III
the artillery branch the order encourages riVarY
three grades OF competition. namely. battery com
petition for gunners and gunnery specialists resi-
mental competition and general artillery compeu-
tion Battery competition Is 10 take place al posts
where the respective detachments are serving ., d.
ponts to be designated by department comndnueIs
1t Will be separate for each battery ana De onte4
enlisted men. regimental board wi De ac appTb, og tb,
competition Is to determine the relative exceiehcss
of gunners in mastering the important duV OF
6ring heavy artillery The order Will give detailed
instructions 10 be followed by all concerned based
Of drfpC "A
90 per cent is required of hrst-ciass gunners lnese
experts will be entitled TO badge. wnich ney may
hold for one year. when 1t Will again De c0"pe'eu
for. .Ao ,-,u,orv School "a
10 be conducted in the general manner as pre-
scribed for batteries. Regimenal competitions are
general OF the Army. and will take place at such
pa and times he prescrbes In all cases me
must have been equal and each battery wishing 10
compete must present twelve men VINO are quaIim,ea
glnners Reglmental competition VIII comprise
two stages The first is to be called preliminary ex,
ercises and relates to the service OF the gun ana
ac.ual firing with siege and seacoast guns ana NOR
The order will SAY in GeaDP To ynf viii FSe"shd Se hd
such time and place as the commandinS gens1 h
Of the Army ma er an% W De by HIM nrd
the rules governing the reglmentat conpet ettloil !
The competitors will be the detachments sincluding
cempetitions immediately preceding the general
competition Each detachment will be commanded
by IT'S own battery commander. There shall appear |
nil ming s' regiment Winner Of the General Artillery
competition. Season OF -. this entry 10 be contn |
composition Of the detachment entering the regi- |
mental competition shall have changed In respect TO
more than five of It's members before the general |
competition a report will be made to the adjutant
general for decision by the commanding ma general OF
take part In the general competition. and. II So
under wha, conditions; Within the limits indicated
the battery commander is authorized TO NIL va |
cancies in the detachment