The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-21


diana. Tables showing the score of
| each ship have been received and made
public by the navy department and are
exceedingly interesting to all who are
concerned in naval affairs. They show
how straight the gunners of these mag
nifcent ships can shoot and how much
the "men behind the guns have taken
to heart the formula of President
Roosevelt that ''the only shots that
count are the ones that hit"
1t is estimated that in the sea fight
of Santiago only 8 per cent of the
shots fred by American gunners hit the
enemy's ships, while the Spanish gum
ners, according to the forcible descrip-
ton of Rear Admiral Evans. didn't
hit thing but the water" The record
of Pensacola practice shows that gun
ners have improved greatly in their
craftsmanship since the Santiago fight.
though they were then sufficiently ac-
curate to put Cervera's ships out of
commission in short order.
The tables are complete for all ships
except the flagship kearsarge, from
which no data have been obtained and
none is obtainable. However, the num-
Der of shots which this vessel fired is
known and the number of hits made.
from which her final average has been
figured as 4S. Not counting in the
score made by this vessel. that made by
the other six puts up the fine general
average of 51.50. The record of prize
firing by the British feet on the Asiatic
station shows the average percentage
Of hits was 40. The Ocean. the record
of which was unapproached by any of
the other ships on that occasion, made
6S per cent of hits. This record was for
the II inch guns.
In the general practice the Alabama
led all of the rest and in accuracy of
gun fire can be considered the queen of
the American navy. With her Is inch
guns the Alabama struck the target %
| times out of 80 shots. this being 6S75
per cent. Firing the same number of
guns, the Illinois, sister ship of the Ala
bama. made only II hits. her average
being 53.1. marked difference be-
tween two sister ships
With those two other sister ships, the
Massachusetts and the Indiana, the
difference is still more marked. The
Massachusetts, hit the target only G
times out of Is shots from her IS inch
rifles, while the Indiana's gunners
missed the target only times out of "a
shots, her average for the big guns be-
ing % per cent to the 40 made by the
Massachusetts,.
In the score made by the Texas is
convincing testimony to the value of
target practice. This vessel was only
recently commissioned, and as a result
her men have had no opportunity be-
fore this of testing their skill. The Tex
as made only one hit out of eight trials
with the II inch pieces. While the final
merit ranged as high as $3.50 per cent
with the Alabama, it dropped to 1913
with the Texas.
must be remembered that the
practice record was made when the
vessel was steaming at 10 knot gait,
the target being 1000 yards distant.
1t IS of course to be regretted that
the splendid record of the practice off
Pensacola was marred by serious acct
dents. Beginning with the affair on
Irona island. where several workmen
were killed and injured while unload
ing inch shells, there mas been
rapid succession of accidents In the
navy, involving loss Of life and directly
traceabie to the weapons In use The