New-York tribune., 1907-07-14
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Remarkable accuracy Of Mortar
Battery Fire.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau
washington, il


Washington. July 15.
PLJJNGING EXPLOSIVES EFFECTIvE.-Re-
markabIe accuracy of fire has recently been devel-
oped with the mortars throwing explosive shells
which form part of the armament OF most Of the
coast defences, being usually placed four in bat
terry with more such batteries at each fort.
Formerly 1T assumed that because OF the high
trajectory necessary they were not aVahaoie ior
fire moving target, but recent target prdctlcc
has demonstrated that Of 80 cent of hits
can be attained and, therefore, with a battery OF
four mortars all fired simultaneously, as is the
custom. shot would be certain TO be placed ef-
fectivey. An advantage of the mortar is that its
accuracy increases with the length Of range. which
is the of the conditions governing fire with
the big coast defence guns. At ranges OF 1000
5000 and 5000 Yards the mortars make consider
ably better than the big guns, the accuracy
of which diminishes at such long range. The
present type of mortar IS eleven or twelve feet
long and twelve -calibre tone foot. and fires
1000 pound projectie Of either the explosive shell
the torpedo type. Its plunging fire would reach
attacking warship's most vulnerable points,
where little or no armor protection has been pro
vded
FORTIFICATIONS AUXILIARIES.-An impor-
tant test will shortly take place at Fort Wads
worth, New York Harbor, with four different range
finders This test TO have begun July
At Fort Monroe. but the conditions at the New
York post better, and the trial will be
Quoted there under the observation of the artillery
board from Fort Monroe. 1t is hoped to find
range finder which may be used at coast forts
means of promoting the accuracy of heavy gun
ire The four types to be tested the inVen-
tfons Of army officers. About 100000 will be
pended by the government this year in the pur-
chase OF instruments Of the type recommended for
adoption as a result OF the test at WadswOrth.
FUEL FOR ARMY TRANSPORTATION
master General Aleshre has taken up the project
ot the development of the coal mines in Batan.
Philippine Islands, for the purpose of establishing
source Of supply of fuel for the army transports.
coal mine expert hes been employed. a new dia-
mond drill machine has been purchased and min
ing party will be sent out TO prosecute the work
ORDERS following
been issued:
tilery. to Jamesown GT 90 temporaTN Sio daty
with Battery D Sd Field ARTILLERY.
H RoBERT. corps of eng engineers from Washing
Lieutenant Colonel JOHN MILLS. corps of
First lieutenant WILLIAM b WALLACE. 2Oth In
fantry. TO Presidio of Monterey. duty with Pacihc
Firs, Lieutenant JOHN F cLAPHAM 5th Infantry.
NAVY
Rear Admiral = sEBREE' Commando H PHELPS @
MsaGa DrsotqF McLTRG and Naval
Lieutenant SommandeT r'i' F. RELLoG detached
the scoTpion hone and wait orders rs,-,
Lighthouse District Tompkinsvle: command
lieutenant Commander 9 NJ STONE. detached naval
war college; 20 duty as Inspector in charge Four
teenth Lighthouse District Cincinnati
lieutenant Commander If. +. BRYAN. detached Office
OF naval intelligence. Washington. September l; 70
I-ieutenant r A ABERNATHY. detached the Inliana;
Ensign p 9 DENT. retired temporary duty charge
branch photographs ofhce. New York thence
home
Surgeon 2 ". F WEBER. detached naval hospital.
Pensacola 70 command naval hospital Canaca.
Assistant Surgeon O II MCONN0N. resignation
Cepted, 70 take effect August
Assistant surgeon @ c. ALDERMAN. appointed
Acting Assistant Surgeon r A CAMPBELL detached
Midway Islands home and await orders
Assistant PayUaster n / MCREA, resignation
ceptsd. TO take effect September so
Naval Constructor n. .. GILLMOR. detached Bath
Iron Works. July 25: 70 duty experimenting
constructor. works Fore River Shipbuilding Com
pany. Quincy, August g. vice Naval Constructor
r, NJ WATT. 20 navy yard. Norfolk.
Civil Engineer L. 8 G. WHITE detached Navy De-
partment, August !; 10 naval academy.
MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPS.-The following
movements OF vessels have been reported to the
Navy Department:
ARRIVED
July 1.-THE Pompey at Che-Foo
,Fly 12-The Tennessee and the Washington Br.st:
the Pontiac and the Nina az Newport: the Leb-
anon at Lambert Point. the Arkansas. OIyul-
pia. the Florida and the Nevada at New London.
SAILED
'Oly 1.-THE Concord and the Wilmington from Che
Foo for shanghai: tho Raleigh, from Che-Foo for
Cavite
July l2-The Helena from Shanghai for Yangtzs
River the Powhatan. from yard New Y ork
for Newport. the BrutUs from Newport News
for Boston; the Triton. Norfolk for Wash
ington. the Arkansas, from Newport for New
London
July l3-The Wasp. from Wilmington Y 9. for Nor
folk. via Southport. y G..
The AmphitVte ordered placed out OF commission At
navy yard, League Island