Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-07
COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL
ADMIRAL RODGERS ON THE TRIAL
OF THE kEARSARGE.
No Effort Made to Ascertain Accuracy
hcers Regarding Double Turrets.

The naval inspection board. has returned
| to Washington from Fort Monroe. having
completed the two day sea trial of the
battle ship Kearsarge.s The board he'd a
meeting today to draw Up its formal report
on the trial.
Admiral Rodgers, the president. says that
the test was completely successful. The
ship went out from Hampton Roads into a
stiff wind and spent two days in such move
ments as would be incident to active serv-
ice in the navy. There was no hitch in
the performance of any of these. The hull
of the ship is strong, the engines afford
more than the minimum speed require
ments and the battery functioned without
a hitch. 1t was not within the province of
the board to make any tests of the military
advantages of the double turret system as
exemplified in the Kearsarge Consequently
no effort was made to test the accuracy of
the guns or the synchronism of fire-a very
essential point if the guns are to be con-
centrated upon one point. A great many
things remain to be done upon the kear
sarge before she can be reported as com
plete, but these jobs can be done without
putting the ship out of commission, and
should not occupy more than a months
time. Naval Constructor Woodward, who
was in charge of the ship while building
reported that she would not be complete
at the date fixed for putting her into COM
mission. so that the report Of the board on
this point bears out his prediction.
The Double Turret system.
Conceding the excellence of the Kearsarge
in speed, structural strength and advanced
ideas, there is still great division of senti-
ment among the naval officers here to
the merits Of the double turret system,
and the opponents of the idea insist that
the trials of the guns so far made have
not by any means met their objections.
The constructors, almost unit, are still
opposed to the double turrets. and they put
forth the claim that all that has been dem
onstrated so far is the integrity of their
own work in designing and building a COM
plicated double turret strong enough to
resist the formidable recoil and blast of four
great guns in combination. But as to the
military merits of the system. they insist
that further trials extending perhaps even
to the crucial test of battle will be nee
essary to demonstrate the merits or de-
merits of the turrets.
One line officer, a member Of the tnspec-
ton board, has adopted the constructors
objection against the policy of putting all
the eggs in one basket as Is done by con-
centrating four guns in practically one tur-
ret.
Simultaneous Fire.
Another, one of the highest line officers in
the navy, has advanced the objection that
it is a practically impossible undertaking,
even with the aid of electricity, to fire the
is based on the irreguarity Of fuse action.
A lack of syncronsm in the discharge of
the guns, even If one gun was fired but
fraction of a second before the others,
would, according to this critic throw the
remaining three guns out Of range, and
cause them to completely miss the target.
This result would be brought about from
the fact that the guns are laid on either
side of the turret, and are not on the GEN.
trail line that the discharge of one of
them would tend to rotate the turret slight
ly.
To meet this objection. the double turret
adherents assert that the occasions would
be very rare indeed when the turrets would
be subjected to the severe test Of the COM
bined discharge of the four guns, and as
matter of fact, in actual battle the guns
would be discharged separately, loading and
firing in order, and thus enabling the tur-
ret captain to keep up perfect stream Of
fire from his guns.
Meanwhile, as the discussion has enlisted
the interest OF all the naval men here, it
is probable that the department will feel
called upon soon as the ship Is complete
and shaken down." to direct Capt. Folger
to make an exhaustive set of experiments
with the turrets, with particular reference
to ascertaining the accuracy of the fire of
the guns, involving the placing of targets at
carefully measured ranges, and the firing
Of the guns with the ship stationary in
smooth water.