Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-12-06
TARGET PRACTICE.
How the United States Sailors Become
Proficient.

Proficient.
1t was an early breakfast for all hands
Tuesday morning, Aug. Is, for this was
the first day designated by Admiral Ssmp-
son for the annual target practice with
the great guns of the main batteries and
the smaller rapid firing guns Of the sec
oudary batteries OF the North Atlantic
squadron. A target OF the regulation
pattern was placed by each ship, so as to
form he apex OF triangle. The base OF
the triangle was marked by two boats
placed 1000 yards apart, and each 1000
yards from the target. The target was a
case Of plsnks with triangular sails OF
canvas and black buli's-eye in the cen-
tire, the whole supported by small wood
en- mast with red flag on top. The tar
get stood about ten feet high. but when
placed half mile from the ship and the
gnnners' eye, it seemed two feet or less
high.
Having placed the target and stationed
the two small boats at the base, each an
chored to the bottom, and containing
observers to note the fall OF each shot
fred from the ship, the ship steamed
along betp cen the stake boats at eight
knots speed, firing as she went.
On board ship other observers were sta
TONED to note the fall OF shots. In the
fighting top on the military mast were
observers to note whether the shots went
over the target or fell between it and the
ship, to estimate with sextHnt the dis
lance between ship and target, and pass
the range" to the men at the guns, thus
giving them the necessary information as
to what elevation TO have for their guns
to hit the target. On deck were other
officers to note the exact minute W hen Il he
guns were fired, to note whet her the shots
went to right or left OF the target, to note
" no fired each shot, and from which gun
1t was fired. All this information, when
compared after the days shooting was
over, made possible exact data for refer
ence and for plotting the shot" for record
The "tndiansh began the days shoot
ing with a projectile from an eight inch
turret gun. She was joined by the
"Massacbusetts," the New York" and
the "Brooklyn", all banging away within
sight OF one another, but with their firing
grounds far enough apart to prevent any
possibility OF any OF their shells striking
or exploding near one another, instead OF
the proper target.
II there had been any spectators around
they would have seen a practical illustrR-
tion Of what sort OF gunner Uncle Sam
uel's warships carry. They would have
seen shot after shot go straight from the
gun toward the target, and ifthey did not
actually hi; the little canvas triangle they
went SO close to 1t that had ship or even
a row boat been in its place the shot would
have hit her. These spectators might
have seen projectie from one OF the
"lndiana's" guns hit the target pole
square in the centre, explode and wreck
The whole target, so that shooting had TO
be suspended for while until the ship
could place new one. Then. later in the
day, they might have seen the red flag on
the top OF he target suddenly drop over
as a shot hit its staff
OF course, all the shooting was not OF
just that order, but " hen you see one man
send a six pound projectile right into
t he target and then follow it up with a
dozen more in the same place, the ship all
I he ime on he move and the range chang
ing constantly, and then little later you
see another man with another gun do the
same thing, and when you remem Der that
ninetent hs OF these shots would have hit
a ship or torpedo boat, then you can form
some idea OF what shooting is and why
such a rain OF shell was poured into the
Spanish ships at Santiago and at Manila
aud at land fortitications in the late war
facts which have been written and talked !
a bout a great deal, but which remain
just as wonderful to-day as when first
brought to the public's attention. 1t
would do the people good to see a day OF
such target practice.
The work with the larger guns was just
as accurate, although an eight-inch rife
trained from a revolving turret on the
moving deck OF a bsttleship like the "In-
diana" cannot be expected to do quite as
keen work as a six FOUNDER, yet all the
proiectiles sent from one Gig hit inch turret
OF the "Indisns" went so close to the
target that not one OF them would have
missed a ships side.
The average distance from gun to target
was 1000 yards, although 1t was some
times ., 500 yards and again 900 yards, as
the ship passed along the base of the
triangle. wit the speck OF a target at its
apex. But the distance made no differ
ence with the shooting-it was good at
all ranges and with all caibres OF guns
and from all the four ships engaged. The
g reat bulldogs OF The thirteen inch turrets
on the "Indisna" roared forth their 500
pounds OF powder, and sent LOO pound
projectiles tearing through the air right
for the target just rs true AS the smaller
projectiles from he guns of less calibre,
or even the little shells from the baby
e-pounders that were fired afterward.
And each time this was done the govern
rahn