Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-29
Long-Range Shooting.

Word comes from Provincetown, Mass,
that there Is intense rivalry between the
battleships of the Atlantic feet as to which
will make the best score at long-range FIR
ing. The main body Of the fleet is anchored
off Barnstable, where the shooting is now
in progress. In succession the ships go TO
Provincetown to test the accuracy OF their
guns, by firing at small target planted
near Cape Cod, and return to Barnstable,
cleared for action, so to speak, for their
long range practice, which is being watched
with the keenest enthusiasm by all the
officers of the fleet: and the citizens OF
Barnstable are also taking considerable
interest In the competition, doubtless stlmu-
lated by the presence of number OF the
officers wives, who naturally share the
enthusiasm of their husbands. The con-
cusson of the big guns makes all the
windows of Barnstable rattle in response
to each shot. though the ships are ten o:
twelve miles away but the general interest
In the shooting is such that this Is not
considered as nuisance.
Several SINGS have already finished their
firing. and up to the present time the Ala
bana has carried off the honors by making
the remarkable score of 80 per cent of hits
with her huge thirteen-inch guns, the fir
ing of which directed by Lieut..
Landenbe~ger, who, by the way, was
member of the navy rifle team which won
the national trophy at Camp Perry, Oh1o'
last ninth.
The ta.get used for this practice is a
canvas screen thirty feet high and sixty
feet wide. aud II IL remarkable how small
il looks at {. distance of three to four
miles. The ships steam past the target at
a distance varying from 5000 to I,OoO
yards, according to the power OF the guns
they cary and firing continues as the
ship steams away from the target until
these distances are, respectively, about
1905 to 1908 yards.
The Alabama made her splendid record at
a distance of about 5000 yards, or over
three land miles The Virginia and similar
vessels fired at greater ranges ana maze a
less percentage of hts though tmeir shoot-
ing was very credita ble especially as this
was their first practice of this kind. The
Georgia made nearly 80 per cent OF hits
with her Pinch guns and over 80 per cent
with S-inch guns and the Virginia made
something over 30 per cent with both -
inch and S-inch guns which results are re-
garded as quite satisfactory Tor snip
first attempt, considering the small size OF
the target and the long distances at which
these ships shoot this distance being about
three and a half land miles when they be-
gan firing, while steaming on a diagonal
course away from the target, and about
four and a half when they finish. OF course,
| a great many more hits would be made II
the target was as large as battleship:.
Those who have witnessed such shooting
from on board ship describe the scene as
one of intense interest and enthusiasm. par
ticuarly the moment of suppressed excite
ment just before tie ship arrives at the po-
sition to commence firing: but when the
the tension is relieved and all hands turn
their glasses on the target anu watch the
splnedid, roaring fight of the great 600
pound shells, which are aimed by the skill
full gunners who in turn are directed by
the gunnery officers stationed high up on
the foremost These latter bear the brunt
of the strain, for upon them devolves the
greatest share of the responsibility for the
success of the shooting-the result of the
training Of the year preceding the practice
for all Of ships training has for its object
success in hitting at long ranges. or bat
tie ranges" as it is called;"and, incident
ally, one great object Is to do up" her
friendly rivals 1t Is for this reason that
the interest in training Is maintained by
every man concerned throughout the entire
year All the gunners strive to make the
best scores at the gunners' testing-out prac-
tice in the spring (for which purpose they
fire at small target, ten to sixteen feet
high, at a distance of 1900 yards), SO that
they may be selected for the honor Of firing
the guns at the battle practice in the fall.
Wind Effects on Bullets.
1t has been found that the wind has a
different effect on the new sharp pointed
bullet, recently adopted for the army, than
on the und-pointed bullet which has been
in use. Therefore changes will necessarily
have to be made In the wind gauges of the