The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-18
OUR SUPERIOR GUNNERS
WHY THE AMERICANS ARE ABLE TO
OUTsHOOT THE SPANIARDs.
Their Marksm anship the Result of
Long Competitive Practice with Big
and Little Guns at Sea.
New York Herald.

founded at the wonderful craftsmanship
shown by the Americans at the naval vic
tories of Manila and thA ~ilencing OF Matan-
zas batteries. 1t scems If the guns which
were used with such lg effect by the
American gunners were more than pop
guns in the hands of the Spaniards. Every
body is asking why 1t is that we are so
much better at this game than the Dons,
our superiority being greater than any
body expected it would be. 1t is not luck.
1t is due TO hard work and constant prac
tice, although the natural superiority of the
Anglo-Saxon in games of skill is partly re-
sponsible But the work that has been gone
through to prepare for just such battle as
that in the harbor of Manila is enormous.
The navy is constantly drilled. and those
Europeans who believed that there was no
such thing discipline with us have been
astounded to find that there is no better dis
cipline in the world The men act not only
as parts of a great machine, but intelligent
ly. They not only obey orders, but they
are able to do so the better because they
have the intelligence to appreciate the ad-
vantage Of obeying orders promptly.
The result is that the American public,
which is pretty much in the habit of dis
paraging, is now about ready to believe
that the American seamen are the best in
the world, and while other nations may
have larger navies and more ships, what
we have is as good if not better, than that
belonging to any other country Europe
realizes this to-day. Manila and Matanzas
have taught them that we are unexcelled
as markSmen. This excellent Workmanship
is the result of constant practice. 1t is ex-
pensive practice at that, and perhaps
SPANS lack of practice has been due to
the inability of the Dons to afford the ex-
penditure that 1t entails. The cost may be
appreciated when it is learned that it cost
Uncle Sam $500 every time the Puritan dis
charged one of her big guns.
Such sum this prevents much prac-
tice. Our navy has adopted other means
OF insuring proficiency on the part of her
gunners. Our ships are obliged to have
target practice with big guns at least once
every three months. when the number of
shots to be fired is prescribed by regua-
tons. which vary as the men grow IN pro-
ficiency. The great expense attached to
this necessarily reduces the number of shots
fired from each gun. But in order that prac-
tlce may be kept up daily drills are subst-
tuted, either in the form of subcaliber or
aiming drills.
BIG GUN PRACTICE.
The great gun practice takes place under
conditions as near as possible to those which
would arise in actual warfare. The target
is anchored and the guns are trained on it
both while the ship is moving and while
she is stationary. This target is placed
upon platform supported by barrels. Up
from the center comes pole, on the sum-
nit of which is attached a red flag. Then
there are four protruding canvas wings or
sails, with a semi-circle painted on each, so
that no matter which way the target SHIFTS
there is always a bullseye to aim at The
target may be placed at any distance out
side of 1000 yards from the vessel. Twelve
hundred yards, is usually the range. To
each gun is allotted a certain number OF
fires, or strings as they are technically
called. The total number of shots fired
during one quarter for a ship, say, of the
Texas class, would be 642. Two twelve-inch
guns would fire three shots each, one each
with full charge and two each with reduced
charges. The weight of the shot would be
800 pounds, and the charge OF powder from
300 to 400 pounds.
Then there would be thirty-six shots
Founders, 144 from six one-pounders and
ninety-sx from four Hotchkiss revolving
cannon. Six shrapnel from siX-inch guns
and twenty-five additional shots would be
allowed the secondary battery. in order to
give others than those regularly stationed
at the guns practice in craftsmanship.
These days of general gun drill are epochs
in the lives of our brave sailor boys. Four
observers are employed to note the accu-
racy, of the fire. Two are in the small boats
on the water They determine by means of
graduated T squares the point of fall of
the shot, whether it be to the right or the
left Of the target, and a. whether ne the shot
The other two observers are stationed on
the ships. One notes the number of shot
and records the apparent fall as 1t appears
to the fourth observer, who watches the
fight of the projectile. A similar record of
shots is kept by each of the observers in
the boats This system applies particularly
to when the ship is stationary. In moving
practice. whenever possible, the same sys-
tenn of recording is observed. but there ar
times when this is impossible, owing to the
condition of the sea. Regular reports are
made to the admiral of the fleet, and the
successful gunners are then indeed happy.
Money prizes are given to the best marks
men of the various ships, and quarterly the
Bureau of Navigation issues printed cir
cular showing the relative standing OF each
ship in the service as to target practice.
THE BEST MARKSMEN.
This list contains the names of all the
best marksmen of each ship, arranged in
order of merit This in itself fosters a spirit
of emulation among the men as well as
keen rivalry between the ships and even
among the gun divisions Of the same ship.
The honor thus gained is by far more highly
appreciated by Jack than the mere money
prize.
But it must be remembered that the ac-
tual firing of the big guns is great ex-
pense. 1t is a luxury which might easily
bankrupt a nation if persistently kept up.
Consequently the subcaber and the aiming
drills are those which are practiced daily
The former practically brings into play
the same degree of skill ia sighting and
manipulating the bis fellows But instead
OF actually firing the great guns. with their
massive charges a rife or musket is placed
inside the bore. and the shot is discharged
from that. There is a circular frame, with
four supports, which fits inside the bore.
and this supports the small firearm in posi-
ton. The gunner thus has practically the
same opportunity to exercise his skill and
accuracy and to maneuver the big guns
he would have if ii were heavily charged
Inc aiming drill is most interesting oD-
Grafton in that no shot is actually fired and
yet the greatest degree of accuracy is OBJ
tanned. In this drill a marksman mounts
rifle on tripod, at d distance of usually
taking place on the main deck The target
is piece of blank paper, ruled off into
squares and nailed upon a wooden back
ground about the size of an ordinary door
AT the side of this stands the gunner's mate
holding in his hand a circular disk made of
hole. This disk has a handle. and the gum
ner's mate holds it over the target.
THE AIMING DRILL.
The man. at the gun sights his weapon.
aiming a the hole in the center of the disk,
which he tries to get as near the exact
center of the target as possible AS he
squints along the barrel he calls out to the
gunner's mate where to sight the disk.
Right, left. up and down goes the piece of
tin. according to the direction shouted out
by the marksman. When he thinks he has
trained his rifle so that it points directly at
the center of the target. and the ball would
go through the hole in the disk. he shouts
Stop