Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-14
sstlf fsl3FaaRRs, AsapAisas:Y
y,4s Sci, % Ia.oGre Ia '"s H;-'sh II
ts.krN Sltnt,

clos. range has taken the. place OF the
oIl-t;n, gunner. and he in turn has
,;.en ava il now y warrant officer, oc-
n,r,,,. !, ,,l,cp hrtween the seaman
oul ,fp NON Commissioned ,i,iacr. hay
~, ;, mess mart from the ordinary
se@oar no is not however. eligible
=. anv.nrau,pnt further than that OF
:, .,,,,,,,ar ~ no ti,s,-,lass Below him
40 ~. curve. nf ,ha 50 on, class,
f,,-,.,,,,i,. 10 ..,,;,r,nr., mates ard The
,1,,,,,o.: ~, ,ra t,ird class VINO in the
49, nf ~, ,!ii navy we're known as
mo tanners. appren,ices. In the old
cq,jar nj naval affairs ;uuucrS rose
frnm tha rank al ordinary seaman.
titles lie sSill in the puiut blank
shooting of the time. acquired by long
practice
BESIDES the cool head. steady hand
and Keen eve OF the uld-tiue gunner,
ihe gunner or the new navy must
possess a ruuner's education. including
NOT unly a 1i,oruush knowledge Of both
common and ,ierili:.! fractions. but
also The use and application OF the
p:.i,,cilics of algebra geometry, triS-
olumntyy and trajectory.
No is tn,,s.il, first that 10 locate. to a
nicer The object anon which lie is TO
train his run he mast observe i; from
t,yn Iinerrnt noluts ara tncn nayiua,
established n l,asc line ana the.tv,9
adj,ce,t nn.l..; ly tho science ut tri-
| au.i,la.iou it, finds ,hr intervening dis
lance SIa;.v eM yi.rii:.aa;s have result
ed in the Formation Of tables ana the
invention of mechanical instruments
which make the calculation a matter Of
but a few seconds. These arc based
able the gunner to linow in an instant
at what angie to elevate Ills gun
Cnm,,aya.ively sinple as this may
scc,r with the us, of the Instruments
ana tables il embraces in naval gun
merry ;,r,,ua,e ,..Irulntiors Of the speed
ana direction of mutiun of the vessel
carryjn. the gun The sueed and direc-
| lion of noti0n of the target if i; he
| another shin. and the direction and
| velocity of The wind not one of which
| can he ajsrrgar,.nd if the range arc
| ovorcumc TO q great extent by the
| shorter distance and nv the high rate
of snend attained by the proler,le.
In tie ease of a moving vessc! ic-
ing the target. the range is determined
| by means OF the ranse-Ender and no.
| ted Alter an interval or Two MN
| uleS or a cHnNenlenI. fraction thereof,
| 4 second cH'+nlnt!nn is made. by the
! tables lie distance In yards between
| the two points Is determined, ana MS
| divided by the interval OF time gives
the speed, BY another table. based
| upon the rate OF speed attained by the
| prnlcrtlie ANA the range. the distance
which me TARGET VIII nave trASeisaa
! curing ne i'lSht o. Inc Pr"lectlie may
| he nhtalncd. and the gun aimed at such
1 n ~ In IN Ina ii,,t th
| erect rs desired.
Sy another process II the ship upnn
| when the gunner Is stationed be NOV
ing. the aim can be made quite rs ;,c-
| c'irale, anu 10 lhis exact reduction or
the science is due the almost marvel
GUS craftsmanship OF the Yankee gam
/! nets III the recent engagements in Gu
p'n waters.
f. me our modern gunner must
hho" lho!ohGhly All TINS. ne does not
| Ha'e 'hc 'l'uoi '"n!'S III AN ehSaSe-
| :'c''. ~ "ppls II. lile oiHeefS IN 'he
'i'''"H ''Ms, ''h" ~ .he la!sel lallS
~, ~ t"sh " ,ir'Siii''h'ns me ranges
! ans ans 10 "a",!''s a.Ae ", gre oilceIs Oh
| to.thc officers on heard the other ships
| by. means OF sgnus. From them The
| gunner In the lrrat gets his angle.
| and by means of Il lever and a scale
elevatcs or deri csscs his gun as his
| orders may require.
| Then comes the task which he alone
! may perform. Attached! to his gun
near the hr"crh, is a powerful ,ale-
scope fitted at the outer lens with a
| horizontal and Il vertical hair. crossing
| at right angles In the centre Through
this he locates his mark and having
done SO kruMs hat his aim is true.
In spite OF the eNuctneas OF the
science it is necessary, under unfayor-
| able atmospheric conditions. such as
fog or rain. To resort to the old method
Of trial shots A smaller gun is used
and by means of u ange-iiuder al
tached to its brecch the range can soon
| he determined.
| Then the gunner applies the know,-
| edge which has given him his rant,
and science does what the greatest
| Skill Of the old days could not.
| On the old wooden shin with tho
| brisl!ing sides the process was entire
! ~ different The gamer. though far
| inferior to ours of tc d.,v h,d n,l.. ), II;