The Jersey City news., 1899-09-09
!.
HANDLING Guns.
What an Artilleryman in
Uncle Sans Service
Must Learn.
FIND THEIR OWN RANGE
Privates Study Many Things
Unknown to the
Public.

zen today knows far more about the army
and army ways and methods than he did
two years ago, because of the stirring
times the country has passed through in
the last year and a half and yet surpris-
ingly few have a clear idea of the re-
quirements of the different branches Of
the service says the Newark Sunday
CALI Since the war with Spain began
between four and five hundred young men
have enlisted in the regular and yolun-
teer regiments from Newark and the
nearby towns, most Of them going to the
local recruiting station. while few have
enlisted from New York. The infantry
has no doubt secured the greater proper
ton. although the cavalry has great at
fractions for the average youth, since he
likes the idea Of riding horse Usually
he passed by the artillery. although, If he
only knew it, It has many features which
would commend 1t to him did he only take
the trouble to familiarize himself with the
routine life OF the men behind the guns.
Now and then young mechanic,
brought up In one Newark shop or an
other, who has liking for mechanism
OF any sort, sees q little deeper than some
other recruits and soon comes to realize
that in the artillery there is much of
value for him to learn, much that will be
of sound benefit to him when once he
leaves the service There are few men,,
too, who confess to a certain fascination
which the big guns hold over them. They
have deep desire to learn the mysteries
y frv
OF war" to tame them and know their
every twist and turn. 1t so happens,
therefore. that out Of all the recruits sent
forth to the various regiments by New
ark, goodIy percentage has found its
way into the artillery, although the NUM-
ber would. beyond Q doubt, be far larger
were 1t generally known Just what the
work Of an artilleryman consists Of
just how broad is the field for obtaining
a good understanding of important scien-
tiac principles.
1sIt is surprising said the artillery Of
ficer. .how proficient many of the men
become. knew little corporal who was
killed before Santiago who, venture
to say knew more about surveying than
half the surveyors who regularly engage
In the business
Then the artilleryman may learn visual
signalling (wig wag and torch, tele-
rapfly and the use OF the telephone. the
mechanism Of the gun and its carriage,
and also may acquire thorough knowl-
edge Of all the different guns used in the
service as well as becoming proficient in
preparing and caring for ammunition,
More theory is also TO be learned, to en-
nh fY,
range table. in the pointing Of the gun,
allowing for drift OF the. projectile due to
fis rotation about the axis. They fired at,
when II is on the water They learn. too,
the effect Of a cross wind as well as that
of a rear or front wind, on the fight OF
the projectiles, It's velocity having first
been determined.
There are several grades or classes OF
efficiency-tfle first, second and third class
gunners and the gunnery specialists. Ii
depends upon the man himself what class
he attains to, and promotions are very
largely regulated by the progress the man
makes in advancing through these classes
or grades. It is astonishing the Interest
taken In the work Non-commissioned Of
feers of the artillery are expected, In
fact required, to qualify as second-class
p,,nners yearly The several classes are
dasignated by certain additions to the uni
form and OF bronze and silver medals
worn on the left breast Of the coat.
The advantages to the individual from
suoh a training as this are many, ana tne
ambitious recruit comes out OF the ser
vice sf he chooses. competent telegraph
or surveyor and perhaps both. He hKe-
yv,xa fnds himself at once fitted for posi-
| ttons In civil life that he could not nave
bonad 10 fill before going into the service.
/ A great MANY on-comnaissioned stan Oh
| dces are open to the private, TOO ihes
are very much sought after ana are a.
| eo1lous.-Post quartermaster sergeant
nost comrnissary sergeant, oroiiianes I,
sergeant and electrician sergeant. TINS
last occurring wherever a post mas a.
electric plant. These are consiaefeu ills
,,os,ttons. with good pay, ana aiiowahees'
from which, after thirty years OF ssss,es. ,.s.
,an may seek rest on the retirsu iis'
with pay. a,n,avs of The
--astos. interest to all in the commahu
$3.50. 80 rivalry between the different pat
.assas, !. often very keen. Wniie = =
ss,,sort,,tsnded by the officers the acsual
as',- = 1eft 10 the ''non-coms, SO as 70
% a,n,I,a,.tze them with the practical g
nal, - theoretical work, and all quaiineu
s,,n,,ars s,rl whether they be prlvates q
esarseo,ns,, 1870 engage in the calculations
and ~ are deeply interested in determinlhs
,s.,sats,er the theoretical training Is 2
sound practical use on the field or n tns
fort. when target practice Is held the en-,
t;ra community turns out and frequehtis
80 much interest is manifested as N
haseball game. The people take SIDES
favor one battery or another-ano thess
.oronet,tions are usually the events OF tne
season at small towns near coast for's.
The artilleryInan also learns the use :,
tha modern breech-loading mortars, o.
course which hurl 500 and 1000 pouno
,,ro,ectiles out to sea at high angles Y
araar to reach the most Vulnerable par
~ 1 man-of-war. the deck The mor1a's
/ ara' located behind high ramparts and thf
i cannoneers do not see the object they arg
fsrina e. Some idea Of the skill to whief
t,a men attain may be had from the FOL
loyvsnr. A few years ago battery that
had onlv theoretical instruction was taker
Il SANDY Hook for it's first practice. Tnt
4 farret was an imaginary square Of lU
4 vards three miles at sea. The practlcs
was conducted during a heavy wind, anf
Ana necessary calculations for It wers
c1,raf within tN{