The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-09
HOW DEWEY DID 1T
Naval Exhibit at Omaha-Value Of the
Range Finder

Since the welcome news Of Admiral
Dewey's remarkable victory at Manila
on the LIST of May was published through
out the civilized world, il has been mat
ter for wonder everywhere, not less In
the United States than in Europe that the
American gunners were able to destroy a
Spanish squadron In a Spanish harbor
without the loss of single American life
When history repeated Itself at Santiago
two months later the wonder was intensi-
fled.
Tn the government building at the Trans
Mississippi exposition is an exhibit which
In measure explains the mystery This
is naval range finder, the invention of
a United States naval officer. Up 10 date
no one outside Of Uncle Sans service has
been able to discover how 1t is operated.
The instrument is shown in a glass case
with various other nautical paraphernalIa,
and of course the attendants refuse to an
swer questions as to its method of work.
ing.
In showing the enormous advantages
derived from the use Of this instrument
one Of the naval officers in charge of the
exhibit says:
1T is fact that no other navy has any
means of finding the range that does not
involve mathematical calculation This
implies good deal of time lost, and in
most cases they find It quicker to get the
range by actual experiment. The Span
iards for instance. hnvs to fire several
shots before they can get the range Of
one Of Uncle Sans ships. If their first shot
falls short they try again and then they
are apt to overshcot, and by that time the
position Of the vessels may have been al
tered and they are still at sea. Mean
while the officer in the coming tower of
the american ship has located them al
most exactly with this instrument and re-
Gus gun captains This has only consumed
a few seconds. and while the Spaniards
are still trying to get their range the
shells from the American guns are sweep
Ing their decks.
THE peculiar thing about the instru-
ment." continued the officer, "is that while
1t is one Of the simplest things in the world
to anyone who knows It's secret, the most
expert mechanic or inventor might ex-
anime 1t as long as he wanted to and still
be unable to discover how 1t works. This
Is why representatives Of other navies
have been completely baffed in their eff
forts to find 1t out. They have range
finders Of their own, but none that give
the same instantaneous and accurate re-
suits. And as long as they can be kept in
the dark we will be able to outshoot any
nation on earth, even If there was no diff
ference In the skill of the gunners"
There is another advantage In the use Of
the instrument which amounts to con-
siderable in tho course Of half a dozen
naval engagements. 1t costs 81, 800 to fire
a pair of 1s-inch guns once. If the Span
iards go into a fight they must fire at
least two shots to secure the range FIRE.
quently these do not answer, and they 20
on shooting $3.50 charges in the air, while
every pound of powder that goes into
United States gun is utilized. The ability
of the American gunners to obtain the ex-
act position OF the enemy before a gun ia
fired saves thousands OF dollars In am
munition In every engagement.