The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-08

doesn't rel. the worst uaocss 81 a. swn
hring. A groater shock may Do telt ~
some Of the crew. Moreover L IL possible
10 adjust the nervoua syntem 10 an an
pected shock, while an Unexpected one
takes the nerves on their guard.
The greatest force OF the vibration from
the firing OF a gun 10 naturally just outside
the muzzlo, and that is outside the tnrret.
So terrific IL this vibration that the deck
under the muzEIs will be ripped b piecss.
sheet iron doors will be wrsDched from
thsir hankings and akyliGhts shattered.
To guard against these effects h deck
under tho gun muzHle 10 reenforQed with
steel plates about an inch thick, Ind sky-
lights are taken OF and replaced with
inGs OF aEraor plate.
OF COURSE there in more or less roar and
jar eelt inaidS tho turret. Men who are
looling for tho refnementS Of proCaUhon
recommend that Gunners wear shoNe with
cushioned sOles and heels to lessen the Jar
Of the deck. As for the air vibration
due either to firing in ones " or aouas
other turrot, that has caused 90 many
cases OF gun deafness that tho departznent
has expsrimented with endless devices Tor
its prevention.
To stun the ears with cotton 10 Of course
the exESdient, followed by
officers and men alike during target prao-
tice. Here il also what lie called h Cheat
ham device, an English invention, consisting
Of q mixture Of clay and wool. IL 10 very
flexible, can be nodded to any ear and still
allows Ito wearer to hear orders.
Another with which both the army and
the navy AVE been experimenting 10 the
Elliott device. IL is In the form OF q little
ceIluloid ball which fits into the ear and
10 which 10 attached by a tubular stem
q celIuloid wing which fts outside tho ear.
The air vibrations are broken up IN the
angle OF the hollow stem and yet orders
can DO heard through IL.
Gun deafness may como Immediately
as q result Of q ruptursd ear drum, or
gradually. owing TO an injury TO the audi
tory nerve.
The reooiI Of q gun used to be one ~
the worst features Of ito firing; that IN 10
say, for the mar behind IL. That reooil 10
now largely taken up by . cylinder Allied
with a mixture OF glycsrine and water.
Az for the turret itself Il IL . great core
running down through successive decks
till II reaches what might he called Amrnu-
milton lsveI. For reasons which are evident
this level IL well holow water line.
Inc ateeh Ch8inB Oh th0 SufTet Turns On
the deck; but the roots. 90 to speak, 70
deep. Through these roots tOns OF powder
and of shot are hoisted by means Of electric
elevators. They are first run u Of the
ammunition rooms on little tracks Inc
from them loaded into the elevators.
From the first hand laid on q sack Of
powder until tho pointer closes his hand
on the key that fires the gun everything 10
douo with the most perfect precision.
Every man has hin particular job cut out
for him, and there is no confusion or getting
in one another's way. Al the same time
every man has his understudy, ready AZ a
moments notice to take his place.
The old picturesque ramming in Of the
charge has gone ~ completely as tho
equally picturesque groups which watched
the firing Of the gun by hand. Every step
in III process is made with the help Of
electricity.