The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-07-29

ca REVIVAL of target prac
~ tice dates from the Spanish
An American War. Up to that
time adequate attention had
IL not been paid TO the neces-
~ sary training TO produce ex-
peri .esults in any navy in the world.
except possibly the French and Rus
Sian. Since that time, England and
Germany have made important
changes in their systems, and in the
United States target practice has been
carried on 80 assiduously that recently
the American gunnerS established the
best records that have ever been made.
The Wisconsin first broke the record,
and later the Texas shot even better.
Target practice in our navy is as old
as the guns. We always devoted much
time and attention TO the guns, and in
so doing we acquired worldwide
reputatiO in all our wars for excellent
shooting.
In the beginning Of the new century.
when the infant navy OF the United
States first began TO make itself heard
In the West Indies and on the coast Of
Barbary. target practice-not the
scientific drill Of today, but none the
less target practice, including shooting
at beef casks-became throughout the
navy n part Of every ships routine
and our sailors were thus for years
kept in training until the great strug-
gle came with the acknowledged
champions Of the ocean. Up TO that
time only one English ship. the Shan
non. had target practice. or put sights
on her guns, and her reward came one
eventful June day in Boston Bay
ninety years ago, when she fought the
Chesapeake.
The necessity for target practice was
taught for all time on the bloody decks
of the Guerriere. the Macedonian. the
Java, and the Peacock. 1t matters not
whether the gun In vogue is a carron-
ade. a Dahlgren. or n modern high
powered rifle; unless II can be made to
hit the target, il is absolutely useless
But ii was not until the battle OF the
Ialu in the Chinesa-Japanese War.
that heavy gun-practice was seriously
considered. The value of the practice
was proved at Manila and Santiago
The search Of foreign experts for the
best way TO hit a mark resulted I'm the
present system Of target practice. gen
orally the same in all navies. and
brought to a high point Of efficiency in
ours
1t is only half the work to arm and
equip ships with the most improved
guns and sights: they must also have
highly trained personnel capable Of
manipulating guns. turrets. and tor
pedoes. When China found herself ar
rayed against Japan she offered $500
cash per month for skilled guA
pointers. but, in all great navies. gun.
pointers are trained, not bought. and
when the fight is on It Is too late for
instruction.
How does n man become an expert
gunner? Diligent drill and constant
training are not enough without a GER
tain amount OF natural aptitude. One
man after another is tried. A few
days drill in the turrets eliminates all
except the fairly promising. For the
ltitil u eye dLl nerve Wulcn marks
the born gun-pointer the Government
pays from 81 to $40 a month I'm add.
ton TO the mans regular pay. This
premium IS not confined TO any race.
creed, or color. ON one vessel I'm the
navy one Of the gun-pointers is a
negro.
Selecting gun-pointers Is one OF the
most important duties in the navy.
Having selected the men for gun.
pointers. the next step is 20 train them.
Two methods are now In vogue. both
having the same principle. but differ
Ing In detail In the old days OF sails
and smooth-5Ore guns. the Invariable
rule-and the only rule the zun-cap-
tains knew-was this: "Flre at the
top of the downward roll Just as the
ship begins 70 roll toward the target.
and aim az the eneny's waterline. I"
This rule lasted far lnto the age of
steam and turret guns. and has only
recently been supplanted by "cont,nu.
ous-aim-frlng or the art Of keeping a
gun trained on the target regardless of
the oscillations of the vessel. during
the whole or portion Of the roll