The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01

gregate result. More money prizes are not
required. but honorary distinction to ships.
officers and men that excel in great gun
shooting would be appreciated. A blue jack
ct is as proud of a badge as an officer is of
a c.. B., but he carries nothing to show
that he is a marksman with a 4.1-inch. O.
inch or Pinch gun. What issues depend
upon directing with precision in action the
S9O-pOund prOjectiles from the Pinch guns
of the Majestic, The individuals who waste
the fewest of these shots should be held in
honor and cherished. Then. as regards the
officers by whose aSsiduity and zeal such
good results are obtained. What a stimulus
to improved shooting would the occasional
promotion OF an officer for efficient gun
merry in sea-gOing ships give. Is not too
much thought. even now. of decorating
the ship" as Roosevelt says Of 1872? l can
recall TO mind, not so many years ago, how
the promotion of one of the ablest officers
in the service was inlperiled because he
neglected the paint work in his labor 10 in
crease fighting efficiency.
TRAINING IN MARKSMANSHIP.
How many admirals, when inspecting
ships. reported favorably on their capa-
bility for engaging an enemy successfully,
owing to good shocting-a matter quite
apart from smart handling of the guns
with dummy charges? Has it not been the
custom rather to commend for less essen
tial things in which spotless paint work
and %stanchions FURNISHED TO the brightest
of mirrors assume no unimportant part?
Training of some sort goes on every day
ahoat, but how much of it is directed to-
ward straight shooting with the guns?
Yet this Is a matter upon which too much
time and care cannot be bestowed. Quick
ness and accuracy of aim are the first es-
s~entials, and though impeded by the mo-
ton of the ship, they can be greatly devel-
oped by good methods and continuous
practice. 1t is not necessary TO eXpend a
large amount of ammunition to make
marksmen with heavy guns. Cap Percy
Scott has demonstrated in the ships COM
handed by him that a high standard can
be attained without exceeding the allow
ance prescribed for the fleet. He has de-
viSed an apparatus TO train men In keeping
the sights OF a gun on the object: indie
pendent of any rolling motion the ship may
have at the time, instead of waiting until
the roll brings the object in line with the
sights, as has hitherto been the practice
with heavy guns. Thus time is saved and
quick firing is secured, as well as rapid
loading, with ordnance that cannot be Civ
en- vertical movement by a shoulder-piece
while it also tends to greater precision
with the smaller guns.
The first thing in training. however. is
to find out who are most likely to make
good shots. These are usually born, not
made. Some men have a natural aptitude
for it; many no amount of training nor
practice will render otherwise than indif-
ferent in this respect. 1t is waste of time
and ammunition trying to improve them,
and such men should not be allowed to fire
precious rounds at a target, thereby reduc-
ing the amount available for those who
would really benefit by it. To. ascertain who
have this aptitude is easy, and does not
require the expenditure of much ammuni-
ton. 1t may be found where least sus-
| pected, but none the less all should pass
through the test. Then, again, it is not
unusual for a man to shoot well for two or
three rounds, and then fall off lamentably,
due to some peculiar condition of the eye,
which apparently tires. When ascertained
such a man should be put on one side as
not a reliable shot. In the German artillery
every gunner passes through this test, and
thus the best marksmen are secured. They
do not fire many practice rounds-cannot
afford it, they say, and not necessary-yet
we may be sure their artillery is efficient.
Whether our navy compares favorably or
unfavorably in great gun efficiency with
foreign fleets / do not know. To ascertain
this with accuracy would require presence
with each on more han one occasion when
practice is carried out. l do trust, however,
that nothing will be left undone to insure
the best results being obtained from the
admirable guns now furnished to our ships
when the real thing comes, and that the
nation may not look in vain for the sue
cess it anticipates.