The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-01
JUST LEARNED TO SHOOT
STARTLING DISCLOSURE REGARDING
Our sEA&IEx-GUNNERs.
According to Navigation Bureau 1t Is
Responsible for Recent Remark
able Naval Victories.

WASHINGTON, July 31.-As the remark
able gun practice of the United States sail
ors, exhibited at Manila and Santiago and
elsewhere, has attracted the attention of
the whole world with the result of calling
forth much speculation as to how this high
degree oH'proflcency has been attained. it
is properAto state that this is of compare
lively recent development, and is ascribable
entirely to the energetic efforts of the navi-
cation bureau of the Navy Department,
seconded by the hearty cooperation of the
commanding officers of our ships.
About 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 system of
gun practice as it 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
1t was found that owing to the restrictions
imposed by departmental rules it was
scarcely possible to have gun practice
aboard ship more than once a year instead
OF once quarter as contemplated. Courses
had to be laid out and stake boats placed
at angles and records making it extremely
difficult to find conditions admitting of the
practice. Captain Crownnshed at once
changed these rules and impressed upon
commanders the Importance of gun practice
at every opportunity, even where it was
not possible to lay course. in which case
barrels or floating targets of any kind might
be tossed over as 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 attacks, and following this Captain
Crowninshield turned his attention to the
personnel of the gun corps and induced the
secretary Of the navy to sanction the rating
OF gun captains, new rating entirely, and
one so well paid as to excite the ambition
of the men,
Under the old system the chief gunners
were not chosen for their proficiency in
gunnery, but were given their stations be-
cause they happened to be petty officers
such as quartermasters 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 number of inefficient men, The
next step was to instruct the gunners thor
oughly. and they were placed aboard GER
tain vessels set apart solely for that pur-
pose Thus the Amphytrite was given
crew of these gunners and sent to Port
Royal, S. c., for extensive drills The pur-
pose in selecting this place was to secure a
large body of water free from the presence
of merchant marine
Being away from large cities both officers
and men also were able to avoid distraction
of attention from their work, which pro-
crossed remarkably. Thus through careful
calculation and hard work when the war
broke out the American navy had a splen-
did nucleus for the magnificent corps of
seaman gunners which it developed to the
surprise of the world.