Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-03-16
BIG GUNS IN ACTION,
Evans Fleet In Good Enough
Shape to Begin Practice.
HAVE HAD GOOD EXAMPLES.

Records Recently Made by Pacific
Squadron viii Serve to Test YES
sells Relative Efficiency - Shots at
Various Ranges.
San Diego, CAL, March 16-Wire-
less reports from Magdalena bay say
that so splendid is the condition of the
American battleships, even after their
long voyage from the Atlantic, that
they have already begun the serious
work of target shooting for records.
! This will be another shock for for
eign naval experts, but 1t is no secret
aboard the warships or ashore that
| they came here In such fine trim after
their world beating trip they could
have opened fire Immediately on any
enemy and brought every man and
gun into action.
The targets have been set and
ranges established at the lower end of
Magdalena bay, where 1t narrows to
channel leading to Almejas bay, an
other land locked harbor. The ranges
are set first at 1000 yards. They will
be next extended to 1000 yards and
then to maximum Of 5000 yards for
the smaller target, which is IL by 81
feet in size. For the great turret guns
the twelve and thirteen inch rifles
the ranges are heightened from 5000
to 1000 yards, and the targets are In
creased to 30 by 60 feet. AS one
ordnance officer on the battleships ex-
pressed Ait, it is absolutely essential
that the gunners should be able to see
the target before they can train the
sights upon 1t. At 5000 yards the
white canvas object to be shot at ap-
pears as only tiny speck upon the
water.
Hard Task Before ounners.
The gunners of the Atlantic feet are
conscious of the fact they have hard
task before them to equal or surpass
the records recently made at Magda-
lena bay by the guns of the armored
cruiser Pacific fleet, under command
of Rear Admirals Dayton and Sebree.
These ships have been at the practice
grounds in the Mexican bay for the
last two months, and six of them have
completed their work. The Maryland
outdistanced all of her competitors
among the armored cruisers of the
station, with percentage Of 1889
hits out Of possible 100, with all
classes Of guns. The Tennessee came
next with percentage of 1924 hits,
the Colorado being third with 63.6S,
the Pennsylvania fourth with $3.50,
the West Virginia fifth with $50 and
the Washington last with $3.50. The
seemingly low score Of the Washing
ton was expected, as she is brand
new ship, with new guns and new
crew, but 1t serves to make all the
more important the splendid record of
the Tennessee, Admiral Sebree's flag
ship. which is just as new as the
Washington and which went to the
targets under the same conditions as
to green pieces and .gunners.
Guns of New Size.
The Tennessee and Washington also
for the first time used ten inch turret
rifles, new weapon for American
cruisers. which were put on board the
vessel in response to the demand OF
ordnance officers for heavier guns than
the eight inch rifles Of the West vir-
glnla class.
All Of the big armored cruisers are
ranked with the battleships in sum-
ming up their target records, and for
this reason their scores are of I'M
usual interest at this time. when the
world girdllng feet is about to begin
fits target work.