The times., 1901-03-23

ger - To secure the RntinE and
Proper Classification of Gunners.
The Secretary of War and Assistant
Secretary Sanger have been occupied for
several days in the preparation OF plans
/ for improving the methods of conducting
| the technical instruction of artillery
| troops and target practice with seacoast
| artillery. A new project has been de
| termined upon and Will shortly be an
| nounced to the army. 1t provides for a
regular annual target practice, a classiti-
| cation of the enlisted men and non-cOm-
| mssioned officers. company examinations
| to ascertain the men qualified to be
| classed as gunners, and for the promotion
| of gunners and non-commissioned officers
to be designated as gunnery specialists.
The commander of the military depart
| ment in which coast artillery is located
| viii select a date for artillery target
practice. and a board will be appointed
| TO examine and report to the hydro
graphy of channels and the point in them
at which ships may be attacked to the
| greatest advantage. Charts are to be pre-
pared showing the depth of water
! throughout all portions of the field of fire,
! and, in so far as practicable, the area
| within which targets are placed for target
| practice are 10 include the areas of great
| est advantage in order that all the gun
ners may become especially familiar with
the conditions which obtain in connection
with artillery fire.
1t has been decided that in all target
practice except with sub-caibres the pro-
! iectiles used shall be of fun service
weight and service form. and that as far
as practicable smokeless powder shall be
used All practice will be at moving tar
gets. The programme of firing provides
! that after the officer in charge Of the
| practice informs the company commander
| that range and target ready fifteen
minutes will be allowed in which to fire
the first shot with ali guns and mortars.
An interval of five minutes will be al
lowed between the first and second and
second and third shots, and COM
pany commanders will be given the
plotting of these shots. For their
remaining rounds the company COM
mander will be givtn only the loca-
tion of the target every thirty seconds.
! Commencing with the third shot of each
series fired from the S-nch, 10-inch, and
f2-inch guns. and with the first shot OF
| each series fired from mortars, each hit
on the target shall have/a numerical val
ne depending on the time within which
the shot is fired
IN firing the Pinch breech-loading guns
and the S-inch muzzle-loading guns a
mark of zero shall be given if the gun is
not fired within seven minutes, and the
highest rating is given if fired i'm four
minutes. To receive the highest |
rating with the 10-inch and S-inch !
-breech-loading guns the shots must
be fired within two minutes, and if
not fired within five minutes the score of |
shot is to be zero. In firing the 12-inch !
mortar five minutes is allowed To secure |
Il SrrI- i
is eight minutes.
Under the provisions of the Army Re |
organization bill, the artillery corps is |
organized by companies and the plans |
Just adopted provide that the practice |
shall be exclusively by company and no |
officer or enlisted man will be excused |
from the practice of his company. Three |
or more floating targers of the standard |
form are To be kept in readiness at each |
post. The gun, carriage, platform, im- !
plements, equipments, and accessories
are all 10 he inspected before and after |
firing, and a detailed report made of any |
damage. The report will embody any |
suggestions for the improvement of the |
ammunition. the material. or the drill |
and before the commencement of the |
season of annual target practice there is
TO be a special test Of the powder To be !
used during practice. for the purpose of |
determining its serviceability.
The plans for classification of the ar |
stoned officers Will. in general, be selected !
from gunners and examinations viii be
held each year in each company after the |
annual practice for the purpose Of Sc
lecting the qualified gunners.
The board Of examination in each mill |
tary department shall consist Of the ar
tillerY inspector of the department, an |
artillery officer serving in the department
and the commanding officer Of the com
DanY undergoing examination. Enlisted |
men who obtain an average of IS per cent
will be Classed frst-class gunners and |
those obtaining an average Of 90 per cent |
as SecOnd-class gunners. a certain pro- |
portion OF the qualified gunners from
each company, including nOn-commjs- |
stoned officers. will be sent every year to
the artillery school for instruction In the
special course, and those who pass the
examination at the end OF the course |
will receive certificates as Gunnery spc- |
CiaIistS.