The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-11
Something That Gunners of
United States Army
Must Know.
Notes Of the School of Instruc-
ton for the Education
of the Soldier.
Two o fcers SUNNI oned to Appear
Before the Examining Board
for Prom otion.

TIE military posts were comparatively
deserted last Saturday afternoon, and it
was all on account of the ball game that
the boys of the Army and Navy team
played at the Central Park grounds wit h
the team of the University Club.
Yesterday there was happy smile on
every face at the Presidio from that of the
stern faced general down TO the raw re-
c-uit, and all were pleased because the
boys from the post had won, and that by
such great odds
There is still a large force of men at
work filling in the marsh lands north of
the parade ground at the Presidio and the
earth mounds that were built and for many
years stood to the west of the grounds
are disappearing. When the whole place
has been filled in and brought to the
proper level the space will be converted
into parade ground, and will be the
largest and best ground at any post in the
| Unit ted States for military maneuverings.
| During the present month and the
month of February there will be school
of instruction for the men VINO mount the
| guns that have been placed in position for
coast defense. During the days when
there is no Indictment weather there will
be outdoor instruction, but in rainy
weather the instructions will be indoors
all with view to make the officers and
men thoroughly familiar with their duties.
| The course of instruction during these
months will comprise:
| Gymnastic drill; parade and foot drill; ar
| tilery drill with local ornaments at the posts
where the batteries are stationed); instruc-
ton by detachments with q view 10 qualify ing
as many men as possible Tor the duties of gun
ners, and making all the members of the bat
teries familiar with the nomenclature and
uses, OF the more important implements and
instruments employed in connection with
| their duties.
Such instruction will be given by commits
! stoned officers, under the supervision of the
commanding officers, in the manner best CAL
culated TO bring their commands to high
| average OF proficiency, aiming rather at max
ing as many men as possible competent to
discharge the ordinary duties of gunners,
under modern conditions, than at qualifying a
necessarily small mum Der in the more difficult
subjects which constitute special course.
The following are embraced in the re-
| qnirements for gunners, with view to
make them as proficient as possible, and
with the idea that every man who has to
do with one of the guns shall know as
much as possible about it:
Nomenclature and use of azimuth instru-
ments, transits, plotting boards, setting up,
| leveling, adjusting, taking and reading OBJ
servations and plotting same.
Nomenclature and use of quadrants and
| sights, principles of construction, adjustments
| for range, DRIFT, movement OF target and dit-
| ference OF level.
Nomenclature and weight of guns, carriages,
| projectiles and powder charges.
| Laying of guns and mortars on stationary
| and moving objects.
/ Service of local armament.
| Fuses and ammunition, nature, care and
preparation
Tracking drill estimating and determ lining
! the speed of vessels.
| Judging distances to stationary and moving
! objects, and use ofstop-watch In connection
| with Judging distances.
! Memorizing distances to all prominent land
marks.
as they can be practically applied and readily
| understood.
| Nomenclature and use of thermometer, Their
| mometer, barometer and psychrometer.
! Use of drawing instruments.
Judging and determining velocity of wind,
causes affecting flight of projeatiles, espe-
| cially those due to the wind and to improper
loading and drift.
Nomenclature and use of electric batteries,
| machines and primers.
Mounting, dismonnting and moving guns,
mechanical machines, gins. gun-lif,s, jacks
| and Grad les.
Tackles, falls and slings.
/ Cordage, knots, etc.
This instruction will be given in the fore
moons of at least four days of each week.
-Four days in the week, weather and
/ condition OF the ground permitting, there
are drills in the morning at the Presidio
/ by four troops of cavalry and two batter. es
OF light artillery. Those who a.e early
risers and take an interest in matters
military can witness some very fine
maneuvers.
Lieutenant r. B. Turner, Sixth Infan-
try, and Lieutenant J. A. Nancy, Fiji
teenth Infantry, have been ordered to
appear before the examining board for
promotion.
The announcement recently published
! that there would soon be a number OF the
officers of the army retired on account of