New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
SINK SHAM WARSHIP.
CADETS 1T FORT HANCOCK
First Class from West Point at
PROBING Grounds.

The first class OF cadets from West Point
made its annual trip OF inspection yesterday to
Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook proving
ground. The cadets were TO have talssn spe-
cial train from West Point, but through some
misunderstanding they were compelled TO take
the regular train which arrived at Weehawken
at 1925 o'clock. The government steamboat Cen
eral Meigs took the cadets to Sandy Hook ar
riving there at 10 o'clock
Colonel Charles S. smith, Of the Ordnance
Department who was in charge Of the gun tests.
lost no time in beginning operations when the
cadets asrlved. What was probably the most
spectacular feature Of the days programme was
the blowing up by a submarine mine. of the
sham cruiser Dreadnought, thirty feet long,
built at the Fort Hancock shipyard The tar
get was made Of wood and canvas and painted
drab, with the word Dreadnought in large
white letters. 1t was crude imitation Of a war
ship. but served its purpose. After the cadets
had inspected the target it was towed by gov~
eminent tug to a position over a mine. There
was plenty Of hawser and the tug was in no
danger. As the "pasteboard' warship bow passed
over the mine spark flew out of the switch on
shore and instantly a column OF water spurted
slKyward. The Dreadnought's bow was blown
TO atoms, at which there was much cheering by
the spectators on shore.
When the cadets arrived at the proving
grounds assembly was sounded as a signal to
proceed to Batteries Richardson and Bloomfield
where the armament was inspected under the
direction of Captain E. d. Bricker, Ordnance
Department. Lieutenant Corput of the artillery
corps. was in charge Of the firing of the Pinch
breeeh-loading rife No. l. model 1900. One
round was fred at maximum range of 10000
yards, using smokeless powder, and one round
using brown prismatic powder Major Dunn
Lieutenant aDd pant /,
Ordnance Department, were in charge of the
explosion Of a mine buried in sand 700 Yards
down the beach.
The 12-inch breech-loading mortar at Ord
nance Proof Battery fired, throwing tor
pedo shell loaded with high explosive three thou
sand yards at an elevation Of sixty degrees
Captain Ames, of the Ordnance Department
was in charge. After inspecting the rapid fire
gun batteries on the left flank of Battery Alex
ander the cadets inspected the mining 1asemate
in the old dynamite gun battery to see the
method of operating mines. Captain Sarratt,
artillery corps, was In charge
Shortly before luncheon the cadets inspected
the 16-incf gun and 12-inch arInor plates which
were recently put under test
Captain Skerrett OF the artillery CORPS was
in charge Of the firing from Battery McCook Of
two salvos Of four mortars each. The range OF
this firing 1000 yards at an elevation Of
45 degrees. The projectile thrown weighed 500
pounds.
The cadets also inspected the comparative
firing from a 7-inch hUwitzer in charge Of Lieu
tenant Moody; sub-calibre practice with 10-inch
guns, Captain Wright Smith. artillery corps in
charge; 6-inch rapid fire gun. Captain E. D.
Bricker in charge; semi-automatic 15-pounder
gun. Lieutenant McNair in charge; semi auto
matte 6-pounder under Lieutenant ColIey, ord
nance department: 3-tnch service field gun firing
ten rounds shrapnel, Captain Ames. ordnance
department. in charge: pom-pom gun. firing ten
rounds, and .3o-caiibre yickers- Maxim auto
matte machine gun, Lieutenant McNair, ord
nance department commanding
Among the officers from Fort Jay who were
present at inspection were Captain Stanley H.
Ford. Colonel Kerr. Major Weaver. Lieutenant
Mudgett and Lieutenant Clarke.