The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-11
DEWEY's ABLE HELPER.
InnOcent-LOOlxing Little Instrument
which Keeps Its own Secrets.


From the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Since the welcome news of Admiral
Dewey's remarkable victory at Manila on
the list of May was published throughout
the civilized world, it has been a matter
for wonder everywhere, not less in the
United States than in Europe, that the
American gunners We're able to destroy
Spanish squadron in a Spanish harbor
without the loss of a single American life.
When history repeated itself at Santiago
two months later the wonder was intensi-
fed.
In the government building a the Trans
mississippi Exposition is an exhibit which
in measure explains the mystery This
is a navy range finder the invention of a
United states naval officer. Up to date,
no one outside of Uncle Sans service has
been able to discover how it is operated
The instrument is shown in a glass case
with various other nautical paraphernalia.
and, of course, the attendants refuse to
answer questions as to its method of
working.
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 calculat ton. This
implies a good deal of lost time, and in
most cases they find 1t quicker to get the
range by actual experiment. The Span
iards, for instance, have 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 overshoot and by that time
the position of the vessel may have been
altered, and they are stil al sea. Mean
while the officer IN the coming tower of
the American ship has located them al
most exactly with this instrument and re-
ported the range by telephone to the va
r!ous gun captains. This has only con
sumed a few seconds, and while the Span
iards are still trying to get their range the
shells from the American guns are sweep
ing their decks.
The peculiar thing about this instru-
! ment," continued the officer, lis that
while 1t is one of the simplest things in
the world 10 anyone who knows its Sc
cret. the most expert mechanic or invon-
| tor might examine II as long as he wanted
10 and still be unable to discover how
| it worked. This is why representatives
of other navles have been completely
| battied in their efforts to find il out. They
| have range finders of their own but none
! that give the same instantaneous and
| accurate results. AS long as they car
be kept in the dark we viii be able &c
outshoot any nation on earth, even il
| there was no difference in The skill Of
! the gunuers.'
| There is another advantage in the use
| of the instrument which amounts to con-
! siderable in The course of half a dozen
! naval engagcments. 1t COSTS 81 300 TO fire
a pair of l3-inch guns once. If the Span
iards go into a fight they must fire al
| least two shots to secure range Frequently
| these do not answer, and they go on
| shooting $3.50 charges in the air, while
every pound of powder chat goes into a
United States gun is utilized. The ability
of the American gunners to obtain the
exact position of the enemy before a gun
is fired saves thousands of dollars in am
| munition in every engagement