New-York tribune., 1907-09-28
GUNNERY CONTROVERSY
ST4RTED BY PRESIDENT.
Deeply Concerned Ouer Lack Of
Progress Made by Army.
From The Tribune Bureau. !

FROM The tribune bureau
Washington, Sept. 21-Any doubt which may
| nave existed to the origin of the contro-
! versy regarding the respective merits of the
! army and navy systems of gunnery has been re-
moved since the Presidents return. The Presi-
I dent requested Commander Sims director OF the
navy target practice. to ascertain the extent OF
the development of the army system Of gunnery'
and to make a report of his findings to the
Executive. When that report received 1t
was of a character TO occasion the President
| serious concern. and he Immediately forwarded
Commander Simss' report to the General stan
with instructions that he be promptly advised
what the army had to say for itself in the light
of Commander Sims's comments and recon-
mendations.
The reports 1t may be said parenthetically'
included statements that the army system was
cumbersome and complicated. that it lacked IN
numerous ways the accuracy and modernity OF
the navy system, and recommendations thal
the army be required to adopt the navy system.
INSTALL it's fortfcaton guns in turrets instead OF
on disappearing carriages. and adopt the navy
method of calculating ranges and correcting er-
rors by the observation Of the splash of the
preceding projeCtile, observed by an ofhccr
with a field glass
Until the receipt Of the Presidents letter the
artillerymen had no knowledge of the TACT 'hat
they had been under observation by naval
officer and when they read the report they de-
cared with vehemence that Commander sims
observations had been superficial, his comments
wholly ex parte and his recommendations i'm
nractica BILE to the extent of being ludicrous I'M
mediateIv the chief Of artillery and the chief OF
ordnance were detailed TO prepare reply 10 'lie
Sims report When that is completed It VIII be
nlaced in the hands of the President. not later
than on the day of his return from the trip on
which he starts next Sunday.
The more radical differences between the army
and the navy systems of gunnery and hre con-
troll have already been explained in these olS-
matches and Il is sufficient TO say mere that
while the President is deeply concerned over
the lack OF progress which he believes 10 nave
attended army gunnery the members OF tie
General Staff and the officers OF the coast de-
fence artillery are rejoced at having so e1-
cellent an opportunity bring to the attention
Of the commander in chief the remarkable re-
suits which they have achieved. despite the
handicaps OF smaller appropriations for target
uractice and smaller compensation for expert
gunners.
\ navy officer discussing the Sims report and
the general subject said to-day that In his estl-
nation Mr. Sims had permitted his enthusiasm
TO interfere with his good Judgment. that un-
limited credit due Commander Sims Tor ths
progress made in naval gunnery, that there was
a time when certain oflcers were uiSpoSeu ~
rfdicula the commander because OF his energy
and enthusiasm in this direction. but that he
had made good" and had by sheer hard Work
and in the face Of almost insuperabe obstacles
ACCOMPLISHED wonders for the navy. and had be
come one of the worlds experts on naval gun
merry.
Nevertheless" continued this officer, no one
should lose sight OF the fact that navy gunnery
and army gunnery. that is coast defence gun
ner,. are two wholly distinct problems. The
navy fires from a nova BILE platform "a PLATFORM
which seems TO move seven ways at once. some
+irpas, is compeIled TO operate it's great guns
-t,b;r the terribly circumscribed space Of an
ar,nored turret and is obliged 10 ascertain its
o,s,e nv the use of an extraordinarily short
base line The coast defence gunners. on the
other hand fire from absolutely iHrnoVanle
r,latforrn have at their disposal practically
unlimited space for the installation ana opera
,ton of their disappearing gun carriages ana
can avail themselves of a practically unlimited
bosa line Under these conditions 1t is TO be ex-
,,ec,e5 that they will secure greater accuracy az
long ranges than is possible in the navy
",rha Presidents interest in the matter and
~. discussion which has ensued are certain to
make for good in both arms Of the service. but
am satisfied that when our commander in
chief has concluded his Investigations he Will
find that the navy has accomplished all that is
oss,h1e under the conditions attending its gun
,,er, and that the army has done the same and
that under like conditions neither the army nor
the navy gunners are excelled by those of any
other nation in the world"