Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-05

naval men OF Europe. 1t has convinced
,1s nations that after all it is the man
behind the gun, and not the thickness OF
amor or the estimated horsepower Of
he engines that comprises the chief
ts.eHce OF a ship in a naval fight 1t is
10 new thing Tor England TO get in
STATE verging on panic at the condition
q her navy. Periodically. a furious on
s-ught is made on the naval experts and
llmiralty officials by some member OF
Parliament or cranky taxpayer. and the
whole country trembles at the idea of
!,s naval strength having been over
estimated or wilfully misrepresented.
These scares are useful. for they usually
have some foundation in fact, and serve
70 draw out columns OF newspaper ar
cc,es and correspondence, which in the
end result in Improvement and the allay-
Ing OF the chronic fear of the taxpayers
that they are footing huge bills and are
getting nothing stable for the defence Of
the empire
Just now the scare owes its origin TO
the remarkable accuracy and deadliness
@, the American gunners. Britons are
comparing the records mads at Manila
with the scoring during the practice fire
o. the British crews. and are asking, with
q good deal of feverish apprehension
where there own gunners c5me in. This
has started a mass OF correspondence and
special articles on the subject Of naval |
glnnery and naval training, and the SUBJ |
.sc.s OF the Queen are learning. 10 Their |
Csmay. that very little II any importance |
Is attached 70 the training Of the gunners |
q. what is supposed TO be the first navy (
IN the world. Among the numerous con-
.r5glons on the subject, the most start
Ing IS that Of a prominent naval officer
who knows whereof he speaks and whose
eear-cut statements have caused Sensa-
ton here.
According 20 this authority, the gunnery
practice in her Majesty's navy is regarded
rather more as a necessary evil than as
duty that, for the good OF the service,
should be Of first-place Importance. Here
Is his calm statement regarding the gun
merry practice in the royal navy:
1T is a usual thing for the signal 10
be made. Spread for target practicei re-
Join by such and such time the con-
sequence being the practice is carried out
10 hurried. panicky way, without SUM-
Glen. supervision or correcting Of errors
made, 90 order 70 get 1t over Who has
~ heard something OF the following: |
WY don't you fire that gum can't
Zee the target sir Never mind that,
lrg Oh the splash Bang! And away goes
pounds and pounds of the unfortunate
'lie-payers money into the sea. The al ]
51aucs Of ammunition is very small
lay eight rounds a quarter being allow
q Tor such guns as a AZ or 6-inch quick
ring gun, ten rounds for the nghter
'-ieE-hring, and four rounds for the Il ]
ach wire and upwards The allowance
o' the heavy quick-hring represents four .
olncs each for Nos. and 2 or less thah
, minutes firing once every three months
y 90 addition. this allowance is exceeded
Wen prize firing when the number OF :.
.-tcs fred IN the two minutes allowed
2 unlimited, the amount fired in excess
= the allowance has 10 be deducted from 1
as next quarters allowance; or l.
-.pose a smart AZ guns crew IRE sixteen
olras, which they should do In TWO
-h1tes. they get no more practice Tor
4 months, which IL, as Euclid would
sy absurd. Out OF the ten rounds al
'Sed Tor the light, quick-hring guns, has
come the amount fred from these guns
boats. likewise the amount fred In Z
stt practice, which leaves about four
'gncs for No. / 70 fire at his quarters v
iactice. II is. to say the least Of IT, 4
ara 70 train a man 70 pick up his range I.
luckily, and keep IL on such an allow r
nee which might well be doubled; and Il
expended IN an intelligent way, the
creased proficiency would well repay the
wa expense In wear and tear OF ammu- n
4on. The four rounds per heavy tur- y
= gun give four rounds TO the captain
me turret and two 10 the captain OF
ga gun. no other man Of the turrets
T." getting chance II
"a addition 10 the ammunition proper, ,
never, the admiralty allow an immense CT
+,Wil Of tube cannon ammunition, which
intended for Individual instruction OF rf
trained or partially trained men, and
yAa DO expended as such. II is, how h,
~ 100 frequently fred al the same
~ ~ the heavy gun practice takes
- with every available tube going at
Tor the same old story. 10 yet III.