The evening times., 1899-04-03
splendid SHOOTING
BY DEWEY'S GUNNERS
American Squadron's Work in
the Manila Bay Fight.
Lieutenant Ellicotfs Report on the
Details.
Spanish Admirars Flagship Struck
Thirty-nine Timcs-Practical
Conclusions Drawn.

Lieut. John NJ Ellicott, of the cruiser
Baltimore, has prepared a report which
will prove a valuable addition to the his
tory Of the war with Spain. 1t concerns
the effect of the fire from Admiral Dewey's
vessels on the Spanish ships in the conflict
of Manila bay. Lieutenant Ellicott shows
the results obtained from the heaviest pro-
jectiles, as well as those from the smaller
guns and secondary batteries.
Lieutenant Ellicott is from Maryland,
and was selected to examine the wrecks of
Spanish ships and investigate the damage
sustained by them from the fire of the
American cruisers. His report draws some
conclusions which will be of Importance to
the Navy Department in forming estimates
of the relative value of certain types OF
guns on cruisers, and in addition indicates
how difficult il is to make a majority OF
shots from heavy guns at long range count
for much. unless hits are made at the nor
NAL.
The accuracy CT aim on the part of the
American gunners was maryetous, when
compared &c the miserable showing of the
Spaniards, yet from the number OF hits
made. considering the amount of ammuri-
tion expended, il is plain that erective
shooting AT 3,e90 and 4,0g0 yards cannot al
ways be expected even from American
gunneFs Lieut.. ElIieotts report is based
on a personal examination of all the Span
ish ships and conversation with Spanish
naval officers. The damage sustained by
the flagship Reina Christina and the num-
Der of lives lost through the concentration
of fire by the American vessels more than
edualed that suffered by ali other ships of
the enemy combined, although not one in
i'm the fight according to the report, es-
csped being damaged by shot and fire.
The Reina Christina was hit 80 times,
porbsbly not mere than half CT the pro-
jccliles fred az this ship striking the
mark The Castillo hit 10 times, and
Lieutenant Ellicott estimates the number
Of shots fired at her at so. The Don An
tonic de ulloa was struck 33 times out Of
probably sc shots sent at her. The Don
Juan de Austria was hit 13 times and so
also was the Isla de Cuba. The Isla de
Luzon was struck 5 times. In all l4S hits
were made by Admiral Dewey's vessels.
OF the total number of hits made, Is
were from the S-inch guns carried by the
Baltimore, Olympia, and Boston, the larg
est calibre on the feet, from the 6-inch
guns aud - from 5-inch guns. Thirty
one 6-pounders hit the enemy's vessels
and the remaining hits were made by guns
OF smaller calibre.
Lieutenant Elliott draws the following
conclusions: The sides of iron and steel
built cruisers do not arrest projectiies
enough to explode them: the effect of
bursting S-inch Projectiles. so far as fire
is concerned, is out of proportion to that
of lower calibres At ranges over $500
| yards the gun shields OF cruisers are in no
sense a protection. but insure the aunihi-
lation OF a guns crew and the disabling
of the gun if struck by large projectile
Warships of the present day will generally
be placed hors du combat by conflagration
and the destruction of their personnel be-
fore they are sunk by gunfire. Emphasis
is laid Oh the use of as little wood as pos
sible en- the warships and the great dan
ger from flying splinters.
Lieutenant Ellicotts report will be care
fully considered in connection with the
preparation of plans for the new vessels
authorized at the last session of Congress.