The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-01
GREAT GUNNERY OF OUR NAVY.
HOW THE HIGH DEGREE or PRO-
FICIENCY WAS OBTAINED.

AscribabIe TO the Energetic Efforts
ed By the Hearty Cooperation OF
the Commanding OmcerS-Entire
system OF Gun Practice Recast
About IA Year AGO-Incentive Fur
nished to the Men to Become Good
ShOts-Tcrget Firing Required TO
Be Practiced seven Times Per An
mum.
Washington, July S1.-As the remarka-
bic gun practice of the United States sail
ors exhibited a 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 of proficiency has been attain
ed. it is proper to state that this Is of
comparatively recent development and is
ascribable entirely to the energetic efforts
of the navigation bureau of the navy de-
partment seconded by the hearty cooper
alton of the commanding officers Of our
ships.
About year ago Capt. 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 sys-
tenn of gun practice as it existed in the
navy. In their opinion the 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 ow
ing to the restrictions imposed by depart
mental rules it was scarcely possible TO
have gun practice aboard ship more than
once year, instead of once a quarter as
contemplated.
Courses had to be laid out and stake
boats placed at angles and records taken,
making it extremely difficult 20 find con-
ditions admitting of the practice
Capt. Crowninshield at once changed
these rules and impressed upoa command
ers the importance of gun practice at
every opportunity, even where it was not
possible 10 lay q course, in which case
barrels or floating targets of any kind
misht be tossed over as the ships were
under way.
Moreover the number or times that tar
get practice must be had was increased
to seven annually Then orders were is
sued calling for night practice, Tepelling
torpedo boat attacks, etc.
Following this Capt 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, a new rating entirely and one
so well paid as to excite the ambition Of
the men.
Under the old system the chief guuner's
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 boatswalns or
the like.
This system was completely reversed
and sailors were made' petty officers be-
cause they were good gun captains, thus
getting rid of a number of inefficient men.
The next step was to instruct the gun
ners thoroughly and they were placed
aboard certain vessels set apart solely for
that purpose. Thus the AmphitrIte was
given a crew of these gunners and sent TO
Port Royal, S. c., for extensive drills.
The purpose 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 Off !ers and
men, also, were able to avoid distraction
of attention from their work, which pro-
crossed remarkably. Thus, through care
ful calculation and hard work, when the
war broke out the American navy had a
splendid nucleus for the magnificent corps
of seamen gunners which it developed 10
the surprise of the world.