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

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Of the navy that nave undergone radical
changes in the past ten years. The mon
themselves ars din srent, and 90 are some
Vt the regulations.
In the first place every man now in the
navy ID an American citizen. There 10
one old story about us which our enemies
enjoyed even better than We did. and that's
saying q good deal.
II was about a British and an American
naval ohlcsr who we're standing together
on the quay when the Britisher pointed
20 his own vessel and exclaimed:
Isn't that a noble sightP Five hundred
soul aboard her and every one OF them
a British subject"
That's nothing replied the American.
There's my ship yOnder. There are 500
men aboard OF her and every n Of them
10 q British subject"
II vas a good story in its day, but Il Is
ancient history now. There are no sub
iects Of any nationality whatever aboard
American battleships now. There are only
American citizens. And though some Of
them are OF the naturalized variety most
Of than are of American birth.
Even Of the latter the navy gets q very
different class low than formerly. Once
most OF the men wore enlisted at the sea
board and not q few Of them were the left
overs or other vessels.
They were men OF all ages and pretty
frequently Of 90 limited education that
IL was q custom In the navy for the pay
master TO sign all the ON the pay
roll. the men merely making their mark.
The custom doubtless persisted for some
time after any real need for IL had disap-
peared. but IL is a fact that IL was not until
the modern naval recruit came to the front
that q place had to be found in every sailor
mans kit for a pen or . pencil.
The recruits Of the last few years hail
chiefly rom che northern half OF the Missis-
sippi VRliey. Every one OF them has to
pass an examining board to make sure that
he ID up TO the physical requirements. As
a result the American navy Of to-day is
being manned by the finest. huskiest lot
Of young men that yer walked a deck.
The g limit In another rule OF recent
years. Aside from the officers there isn't
to-day on board an American warship Of
Any class q man past 20. The s~hellbacks
OF other days, with their frosty boards and
their ancient preiudices. are gone.
And with their disappearance has come a
now regulation which 10 OF immessurabIs
importance TO the navy al a fighting ma
chine. Under the old regime the captains
Of the various gun crews were generally the
oldest of the sailors. without regard TO the
fact that they might be less efficient than
some men very much their juniors both in
actual age and in length OF service. The
way things are managed low, svery NOM
Der Of a gun crew 10 chosen for efficiency.
10 matter whether he Is the Oldest In the
crew or the merest youngster.
h efficiency 10 determined by COM
petitive tesla; the most ingenious OF these
being what is known az Morris tube practice,
We got il from che British Cshank youD. but
have elaborated It to suit our own methods
and ideas.
Actual target practice was enormously
expensive and hardly the sort Of food on
which the navy could bring up it's babes.
The Morris tube proceeding was invented
70 ft the contingency.
For this purpose a Flobert rife is attached
TO the top Of the regular gun, apygmy on a
giant. Thu target is placed a certain num-
Der Of feet in front Of the rife and is auto
matically manipulated to simulate the roll
ing and heaving OF a floating target. dis
tances n motions being proportioued
for the rife and small target to agree with
those which would exist In the case OF the
big u and It's target.
Every gun has two pointers. One has the
horizontal motion Of the gun in his charge.
the other the perpendicular.
The former swings the gun right or left
it is not really the gun but the turrst
tself which turns. The second man then
or depresscs the gun to find the
OF the target. Every movement is
controlled by electricity. The process Ia I
precisely the same with the rife as with the
Big gun. and when q mans record at Morris !
,ube praceicels better than that Of his fellows
10 next shows what he can do at regular tar
ret practice.
While the two pointers are the most inn
Q generally it's captain. He directs TIE
'est. But it lie the pointer who eIevates |
Ind depresses the gun that carries most OF |
he responsibility
The sighting 10 lone through a telescope |
whose lens is screened with fine lines |
which divide the target into squares. The !
holds in his hand a key resembling |
! tuning fork.
Just a little higheri' he will say to the
keeping his eye glued to the |
.elescope. "A little hit mOrel" And then |
lie shuts his hand sharply or the two prongs
VI arms OF the key he holds: that closes
he circuit and with a roar the great gun
ends it's shot straight for the target.
That's a perfectly conservative state
nent to make. for American xunners rarsIv
MAS. Ten years ago We thought the navy
'Ould shoot straight and fast. but they
do a whole lot better now.
Whereas it used TO take from sever TO
en- minutes to fire One OF the big gun
hey how pop them on at tho rate of thirty
econds to a shot. And that is while the
hip is in motion and at a target LOO yards
Instant and only II by p feet in size.
As thet two pointers Of a gun crew receive
10 a month above their regular pay and
re pretty important p~ersonages into the
'argain, there In keen rivalry for the posi-
ion. Sometimes ar experienced mechanic
'etting high pay secures the coveted place.
aasn Il wAD1 % /. uo.-a ~ - -