The Washington times., 1902-08-02
Developments of Tests
by Army Gun Car
riage Board,
WOEFUL LACK OF PRACTICE
Navy Hopes to Take Advantage of Fact
That Gunners Are Not Familiar With
Mechanism of Big Gun Mounts
Some Peculiar Conditions.

The disabling of three large calibeI
guns at Fort Wright. Fishers Island
several days ago during a test made by
the gun carriage board. revealed to the
navy a weakness in the defenses of thai
post that they are hopeful will be Of
service during the coming maneuvers.
The fact that there has been a woeful
lack of practice with the big guns at
many of the artillery posts is no longer
concealed. Naval officers who have
studied the situation are of the opinion
that this will be more than ever demon
strated during the war game in Septem-
ber 1t has already been shown by the
experience OF the gun carriage board,
and while this condition is no reflection
upon any of the officers of the army,
they do not deny that the situation is
bad
The gunners aboard the naval vessels
are nearly all experienced men and are
familiar with every detail of the opera
tion of their guns. Electricity is not in
its experimental stage on board the
ships whereas at the forts within the
war radius between Fort Adams and
Fort Terry, the wire connections have
barely been completed. The men have
had little or no experience in the hand
ling OF the guns and fully so per cent
OF the men belonging to the artillery or
ganization are little more than recruits
Never Fired Large Gun.
The majority of the gunners operat-
ing the big guns at Port Wright during
the firing by the gun carriage board
had never fired large caliber gun be-
fore, and few of them had never seen
a modern coast defense gun before their
enlistment several months ago. 1t is
evident that the army experts will de-
PEND largely upon their elaborate
searchlight arrangements to detect the
approach of the naval enemy, and al
ready scarchlight towers have been
erected on several of the islands near
New London
There has been some criticism of the
ravy owing to the appearance of sew
eral warships in the vicinity of Fishers
Island, Little Gulf Island aid Napatree
Point, it being charged that the naval
officers have been securing information
as to the formation OF the land bat
teries and the exact situation OF the
guns. IS well as plotting the location of
searchlight towers with a view TO
avoiding their glare in an attempt to
enter at New London.
No T~o,l1. r..
1t is no difficult matter for anyone to
obtain all the information he may desire
as to the conditions at Fort Wright On
clear day anyone with glass would
he able TO easily locate every search
light tower. and during the firing by the
gun carriage board an intelligent OBJ
server on the Connecticut shore would
Rave been able to tell by the direction
of the projectiles the location OF the
different guns
AS the maneuvers are supposed to be
under conditions approaching as near as
possible actual war. the navy officers
say they would be justified in securing
complete plot of the batteries OF Fort
Wright by sending a man ashore for that
purpose.
Department that prevents any American
citizen from approaching the new de-
tense works at any of the coast forti-
hcations. This rule is rigidly enforced
at all times against visitors
At Fort Wright the work of estab-
fishing a post is still in progress.
though the emplacements have been
completed and all the guns mounted a
large number of workmen are employed.
however, in grading the grounds for
the barracks and officers quarters. In
doing this they work Immediately in
the rear Of the new batteries, and in
full view Of the operation of the guns.
Italians at Work
II is an unusual condition that not
withstanding the rigid regulations
against visitors at all posts the work
men around the Fort Wright defense
works are Italians. They are quartered
on the reservation and come and go as
they please. and as one officer remark
ed upon observing them at work, it
would be an easy matter for any for
eign government to introduce an intel
ligent engineer officer as spy in this
way and secure complete drawings of
our Notifications.
When this was called 10 the attention
of officers in the War Department yes
terday II was Immediately pointed out
that 1t has been practically Impossible
TO prevent foreigners from securing in
formation regarding our coast defenses.
Naval officers say that irss view OF this
situation il would not be surprising that
If in the war game they should secure
plans of the forts and be able to avoid
certain danger points set up by the
Etillery.
II Dummy Searchlights.
To offset this, the artillery officers are
considering placing dummy searchlight
towers in full view of the naval ships.
so that when the time for the opera
tions arrives whatever information is
secured may become of little value.
The Importance OF the accident TO the
big guns at Fort Wright is fully rec
ognized by the artillery, and everyone
is asking:
What II it should occur during the
attack OF the nayy?''
One officer said yesterday:
III a breech block stuck during the
gun carriage test. how do We know that |