Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1904-08-04
- REVIVAL of target prac-
IS; e: :; +;


sary training to produce ex-
pert .esults i'm any navy i'm the world
except possibly the French and Rus.
s,ah. since that time, England and
ue'h'ahy have made important
changes in their systems. and i'm the
United States target practice has been
carried on so assiduousIy that recently
the American gunners established the
Dest records that have ever been made
Inc wisconsin first broke the record.
ana later the Texas shot even better
fsF2r.-Trsc,i-e ia our navy il as OLD
as the guns. We always devoted much
time and attention 10 the guns. and i'm
80 doing we acquired a Worldwide
reputation 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 to-day. bur none tho
ess target practice. including shooting
NJ beef casks-became throughout tho
navy part of every ships routine
and our sailors were thus for years
Kept I'm training until the great strup.
gle came with the acknowIedped
champions OF the ocean. I'D TO that
time only one English ship. the shan.
non. had target practice. or nut sights
on her guns. and her reward came one
eyentfuI June day in Boston Raw
ninHy years ago. when she fought the
Chesapeake.
Ihe necessity for target practice was
Taught Tor all time on the bloody decks
OF the Guerriere. the Macedonian. the
Java. and the Peacock It matters not
whether the gun i'm vogue is n carron.
ede. a Dahlgren. or modern high
powered rife: unless II can he made IN
III; the target. IL is absolutely useIcss
But IL was not until the bat,Ie NJ ,bo
1aiu. In the Chinese-Japanese War
'"a, ne'Ny Gnn-practice was seriously
CONSIDERED. The value OF the practice
was proved at Manila and Santiago
Inc search Of foreign experts for the
best way to hit n mark resulted I'm tho
present system Of target practice. gen.
orally the same IN all navies and
brought to high point Of efticiencv g.,
ours. III
III ~ only half the work 10 arm and
equip ships with the most imnroyod
guns and sights: they must also bov.
highIy trained personnel CAPABLE of
manipulating guns. turrets. and for.
Fedoes. When China found herself mr.
rsyeu against Japan she offered 300
cash per month for skilled pun.
pointers. but. In all great navles. gnn.
pointers are trained. not bought and
when the fight Is on IL Is too LATE for
instruction "
How )oes man become an exner,
gunner? Diligent drill and constan,
WANING are not enough without n cor.
tain amount of natural aptitude ono
man after another Is tried. A few
DAYS drill IN the turrets eliminate AFT
except the fairly promising. For the
talent OF eye and nerve which MARKS
the born gun-pointer the Government
pays from 81 10 SO a month in sddi.
non 10 the mans regular pay. This
premium IL not confined 10 any race.
creed, or color. On one vessel I'm the
navy one OF the un-pointers IL a
negro.
Selecting gun-pointers IL one OF the
most important duties In the navy.
having selected the men for gun.
pointers. the next stcp il to train them.
Two methods are now In vogue. both
hnvisg the same principle. but differ
ing in detail. In the old days Of sails
ana smooth-bore guns. the invar!able
rule--aDd the only rule che gun-cap-
eai'S knew-wss this: "Fire ut the