The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-14
THE INSPECTION OF BATTERIES.
Orders Issued to Prevent the Dete-
riOruti0n of Coast DefenCes

officer make a thorough inspection of the
1 battery empIacement casemate, maya
zines, gun carriages. guns, and all appli-
aHCes and submit q report of the iRSpec-
ton
The purpose of the order is to prevent
III the future the deterioration of the coast
defence works. Within the past year
there have been several reports to the
War Department showing a lack CT prop
er care Of the guns and other appliances
connected with the coast defences. This
lack Of care has been due principally to
the deficiency in the number Of men as
signed to the batteries The reorganiza-
ton Of the army provides for an increased
artillery force and. hereafter. there will
be enough men to hook after the batteries
and keep the armament in proper condi-
ton The SecTstary's order follows:
4 As soon as practicable after taking
| over any battery. emplacemeut, or min
ing casemate, under Army Regulations
1856 the commanding officer viii make a
careful and thorough inspection. inviting
! the local engineer officer to accompany
him. OF the battery, empIacement mining
casemate, magazines, gun carriages, guns.
/ and all mechanical and electrical appli-
/ ances connected with the battery. submit
/ ting a separate and complete report there
I g.
/ the artillery district commander
/ - The commanding officer will note the
/ condition Of the galleries and magazines
/ with respect to moisture: ne viii cause
[ all doors to be opened and closed and ali
ammunition HOSTS to be operated with
J full charges of ammunition If on hand:
I he viii note if the means of ammunition
supply is adequate to the most rapid fire
obtainable from the guns; ne viii inspect
3
free and open, the condition of the par
apet with respect to guIIies, and note
the prevalence of drifting sand; ne will
inspect all ramps. roads, and covered
ways connected with the battery
80 If guns have been mounted they
must previous to inspection be put in
condition for service. They viii be run
to and from battery and the action Of all
meChauisns connected with the gun viii
be tested. Each gun must be traversed
several times between the stops to test
the operation; the gun must be brought
to bear upon two or more reference
! points the aZimuth being carefully noted
/ in order TO determine whether the centre
OF motion of the carriage Is concentric
with the circle. Test the level Of the
/ traverse circle, ascertain whether it is
/ properly graduated, and if graduated the
/ orientation should be verified. The gTadu-
( alton and accuracy of the eIevatig device
SHAH be verified. All breech Eechanis-ns.
/ all bright and working surfaces. and all
/ mechanical appliances pertaining 70 the
( gun CT carriage must be carefully exam
/ med for present or previous rust; for
( this purpose the hidden surfaces OF the
breechbIoCks must he exposed and all
covers should be removed from gears or
other mechanism
Il Whenever a battery. or eu1pIacemeut
IS turned over without the guns and car
TiageS mounted the inspection prescribed
in para graph OF this order viii De made
by the commanding officer as soon al the
guns are mounted
.. Whenever any guns. carriages.
DresrhbiOcKs. or any parts thereof. OF any
implements pertaining thereto are receiy-
ed at 4 post the ordnance officer viii
make 3 careful and detailed inspection
reporting to the commanding officer their
condition This report VIII be forwarded
To department headquarters through the
artillery district commander
6. Whenever any implement or I4rt
of the armament IS shipped from the post
Tor repair for transfer. OF for any other
purpose careful inspection and a full
report IS to its condition viii be made By
me responsible OTIICeT to the post com
mandST- and q copy Of such report viii
be sent to the officer to whom the article
is shipped
Is asSlgIled 10 battery he VIII make {.
careful inspection Of the same with de-
F.. tailed report rs TO its condition to the
pest comma Ilder ms report viii be
compared with the report Of the preceding
battery commander. and # any deterior4-
tpl - found to have occurred The com
handing officer VIII cause an fnvestfe4-
ton 10 be made as to the cause thereof
. Z ne report OF such Investigation xiii be-
lGr'Earded 10 department. headquarters
tilIH1En the artillery dIStT1ct commander.
y The comma n.iing officer viii Insuecr
the battery commanders station and re-
port a. to what trees or Other obstr7lc-
lao Tr.r
!. the position finder q fed % view egI!ai
10 the field Of fire of the battery.
= The power plant OF the central sta
Sl9ii- or OF separate batteries, including
their boilers engines. dyuauos. storage
batteries. and switch boards must be
thoroughly tested Fire shall be started
IN The cold boiler and the time required
70 get up steam or power noted The sta
ton equipment must comply with the re-
quireneuts Of the Drill Regulations.
coast ATtliieTE- pages g. 20 and Il The
wiring IN the station must be in plain
view and wires Of different polarity or
with great differences Of potential within
them must be so located as to preclude
al possibility OF theIr coming in contact
The overhead lines and the conduits lead
ing from the power plant to the gun en-
placements must be inspected and tested
for Insulation The current must he turn
ed on the mains and inspection made to
ascertain whether all the lights burn
properly. and whether they are 50 placed
as 70 give sufficient Illumination for the
reading Of yeTniers and diaIS of the svs-
TEN OF communication All switches and
junction boxes must be carefully exarnin-
cd and the insulation Of the entire svs-
tenn determined II the guns or HOSTS are
worked by electric power all motors used
N the system must be operated and the
time required to traverse the gun. elevate
IL reJraCt II from the battery. and to
hOise the ammunition and the amount Of
current used in these various operations
must De carefully noted 4 similar in
speCtion must he made whenever a new
electric plant at any post Is turned over
to the artillery Commanding officers may +
detail officers who are skilled IN such work
70 make the technical tests required. The
reports Of these officers viii accompany
the report Of the comma RdiEE officer
10 Whenever any Se4rchlights, posi-
ton finders. dial telegraphs OF other IN
StrUments for U.s. in fire control and di-
TsctiOn are received at q post an officer
skilled in their use will be detailed to test
them and report as TO their condition. The
same action viii be taken upon these re-
ports as is prescribed in para graph s.
IL Whenever mining equip
mcuts are turned over by the Engineer |
department to the artillery an officer
skilled il the use Of the same viii, II pos
Sibie. be- detailed to inspect the property. /
IN case no such officer is available the Of /
fcer receiving this property viii be gov
eTncd by the following directions
"a Inspect all transformers. switch
boards operating boxes, storage batter
les, electric light equipment circuit clos
ers, regulator plugs, cUt-oUt fUzcs, and
other electrical Instruments to see that |
they are free from rust and in good work
ing order. and whenever possible test the /
various apparatus TO determine if the cir
cults are complete and insulation good
b All engines and other mechanical
appliances must be inspected to see If
they are complete and in !. good state al