Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-01
WHY GUNNERS SHOOT WELL
New Regulations Made Under which
the hest Talent Comes TO
the Front.

WASHINGTON. July Si.-As the remarka-
Bile gun practice Of the United States sailors
exhibited at Manila and Santiago and else
where has attracted the attention Of the
whole world, with the result OF calling forth
much speculation as to how this high de-
gree of proficiency has been attained. 1t is
proper to state that this Is Of comparatively
recent development and is ascribed entirely
to the energetic efforts OF the navigation
bureau Of the Navy department, seconded
by the early cooperation Of the commanding
officers Of our shics.
About a year ago Captain Crowninshield.
chief of the navigation bureau, assisted by
Ensign Ward, one of the brightest and
most scientific of the younger officers of the
navy. began to recast the entire gun sys-
tenn of gun practice as 1t existed in the
navy. In their opinion that system, as it
had come down from the last war, was not
sufficient for the needs of the day. At
the beginning it was found that owing to the
restrictions imposed by departmental rules
it was scarcely possible to have gun prac-
tice aboard ship more than once a year, in
stead of once a quarter, as contemplated.
Courses had to be laid out and stake boats
placed with angles and records. making it
extremely difficult to find conditions admit
ting of the practice.
Captain Crowninshield at once changed
these rules and impressed upon commanders
the importance of gun practice a. every OPP
portunity, even where it was not possible to
lay Il course in which case barrels or float
ing targets of any kind might be tossed over
board when the ships were under way.
Moreover, the number of times that target
practice must be had was increased to seven
annually. Then orders were issued calling
for night practice, repelling torpedo boat at
lacks and following this, Captain Crownin-
shield turned his attention to the personnel
of the gun corps and induced the secretary of
the Navy to sanction the rating of gun cap
tains, a new rating entirely, and one so well
paid as to excite the ambition of men. I'M
der the old system, the chief gunners were
not chosen for their proficiency in %gunnery,
but were given their stations because they
happened to be petty officers, such as quar-
termasters or boatswains or the like. This
system was completely reversed and sailors
were made petty officers because they were
good gun captains, thus getting rid of a
number of inefficient men.
The next step was to instruct the gunners
thoroughly and they were placed aboard GER
tain vessels set apart solely for that pur-
pose. Thus the Amphtrite was given a crew
VI Ihese SuhheiS anu sent W ioTl hoyal, %
c., for extensive drills. The purpose in
selecting this place was to secure a large
body of water free from the presence of mer-
chant marine.
Being away from large cities both officers
and men were able to avoid distraction of
attention from their work, which progressed
remarkably. Thus, through careful calcula,
ton and hard work when the war broke
out, the American Navy had a splendid nu-
cleus for the magnificent corps of seamen
gunners, while it developed to the surprise
of the world.