The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-04-30
Superiority of Homemade
GUNS and Native Gunners.
PrOjectiles That Will Pierce The
Heaviest Arm0r.
PeacemnIsers That HurI n Half Ton
of Metai-Building of Great Guns
mt Washington and Troy.

American seamansnip and gunnery.
The achievement of Admiral Dewey's
feet In the harbor OF Manila and. the de-
struction of Cervera's feet at Santiago by
the intrepid Schley has filed the hearts of
Americans with pride and caused the peo-
pies of the world to seek the reasons for
such wonderful results. The bravery of
Americans, both on land and sea, had new
er been questioned. but the ability of this
country to successfully conduct a naval
and military campaign in an enemy's
territory had long been a matter OF doubt
and speculation 10 the modern fighting
powers of Europe.
The navy was regarded as an expert
ment. and the effectiveness of American
guns and the methods employed in han
ding them looked upon as unknown guam
titles. The world was not prepared to wit
ness the destruction OF two supposedly
modern fleets without serious injury to any
of the victorious vessels. and next to 10
loss of life The news, which was at first
received incredulously. has since been fol-
lowed by candid acknowledgment plac-
ing America in the top rank among naval
and military nations Of the world.
Training American Cunners.
Among the causes assigned by the ex-
perts of other countries for the wonderful
victories of Admirals Dewey and Schley is
the fact that the American Government
expended s70O.e00 for target practice in
1891 and over 100000 in 1898.
That this large amount was not useless
waste of money is demonstrated in the re-
suits attained the Spanish American war
In fact it has been argued by experts that
it was the direct cause of the early termi-
nation of hostilities. These same authors
ties add that but for the accuracy OF
Schley's gunners at Santiago. Cervera' s
feet would have escaped and the war
might have been indefinitely extended.
This would have resulted in an enormous
expenditure of money and a corresponding
loss OF life. The training of American
gunners is not confined to the officers or
the more intelligent class of enlisted men
of the artillery or navy. Each and every
soldier and sailor is given an extended
course of instruction in the handling of
the guns used in both the army and navy.
Drill alone does not make an efficient
sailor or soldier, no matter how expert he
may be in executing the various move
ments and eyolutions prescribed by the
manual. He must know the power of
every gun used and how best to utilize
that power against an enemy. None ex-
cept those who have made the subject a
conditions that enter into the firing of a
great gun. The slightest deviation to the
right or left will throw the shot wide of
its target. The first thing that a gunner
does in aiming his gun is TO get the range
OF his target finder or By approximating
the distance from experience.
The various other conditions entering
into the accuracy of shot are the velocity
and direction OF the wind, the velocity with
IL, Nol -,
OF flight. the density Of loading 1.-THE space
occupied by the charge in the bore of the
gum. the weight of the proiectile; the
speed at which the target is moving, and
numerous other minor details. The train
ing given is not alone theoretical, but each
year every ship in the navy and all the ar
tillery companies in the army, are required
TO spend several weeks in actual target
practice. The physical activity of the
American gunners and the quickness Of his
mind in readily estimating the conditions
under which he must aim his gun easily
account for the results attained.
Spanish officer, in giving an account Of
the Santiago fight said Shat the rapidity OF
the American fire completely smothered the
shots OF the fleeing vessels. and drove their
sailors under cover. The ranger employ
ed by the American navy averages between
500 yards for the small guns and 5000 yards
for those of larger calibre. The speed OF
the ships while at practice must not ex-
coed eight knots. In the Santiago fight the
distances were from 5000 to 5000 yards
most OF the time. The targets, Cervera's
ships. were making their utmost speed. and
the smoke was dense, but the work was
nevertheless effective.
Americn's Coast Defences.
According to a military writer of ac-
knowledged ability the term coast de-
fence is one of the most elastic in the
naval and military vocabulary. II is
broad or restricted in its meaning. accord
ing to the policy of the particular country
that may be under consideration, and q
wide diversity of opinion exists as to the
exact extent of the field 1t should cover
in its narrowest sense it refers to the sys
TEN of Notifications and submarine mine!
which guards the entrance to a country!
ports and harbors and protects
the seacoast cities against BON
barGmenL. This allows countrl
10 act only on the defensive ant
precludes the idea Of carrying the war int
the enemy's country. Evidently the NOR
economical method of defence is to sup
pieInent the land Notifications with a fee
of battleships capable OF concentrating d
any threatened point on the long line o
coast defences. The reXt and perhaps tn
most important defence is a fleet of cTuis
ers and battleships capable OF going any.
where in any weather and carrying anC
even combining the conflict If so desired u
the enemy's seaboard. The policy adoptes
by America is that which presents a three
fold line OF defence. First we have a fee
OF battleships capable of keeping the Sc;
in all weather and provided with Goa
supply large enough TO enable them t,
operate, IL occasion demand. at a grea
distance from q coaling station. The sec
ond line of defence lies in a ell-organ
lied and effective feet OF monitors an
coast defence ships. The inner line CT on
defence consists in the forts and forti
fcaticns that stand guard over the en-
frances to our seacoast cities.
Superiority of Native Ordnance.
Ships OF the mat approved type and de
sign and Notifications OF indestructibI
emplacements, would be Of little value un
less the guns used in defending them wer
capable and effective America has tn
best guns and the best-tralned gunners Ii
the world. and is. therefore, the creates
fighting power on earth. The heavy breech
loading rife sspre-eminently the most for
midable weapon OF coast defence Wit
its extreme carrying power of over lively
miles and its ability to penetrate twenty
two inches OF steel at a closer range,
constitutes the chief agency upon whic
reliance is placed for both defensive an
offensive work.
The manufacture OF steel breech- loadin
guns In the United States commence
about the time when the work OF buildin
up new navy began. Since that tim
the genius OF American inventors and th
skill OF American workmen have give
this country the most formidable and ter