Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-04-02
ON TARGET RANGES
THESE ARE BUSY DAYS WITH THE
BATTLEsHiP FLEET AT
MAcDALENA BAY.
WITH THE BIG GUNS BOOMING
The Record Practice Will Take Until
April 20 When the Ships viii
Be Coaled and
Cleaned.

Magdalena Bay, Lower California,
via San Pedro, Cal, Mar. 26,-Sunday
was not a day OF respite for the hard
worked crews Of the Atlantic feet. All
day long, from early light at six
o'clock in the morning, the big guns
doomed or the target ranges, the great
kissing shells tore out across the
smooth unruffled waters Of the bay,
smashing ragged rents in the white can
vas targets and throwing tons of water
high in the air. The men worked with
almost frenzied activity in the turrets
and classmates and exposed batteries.
The ships sailed around the target
ranges, the guns blazing forth as they
passed the position buoys and came on
to the range. The din on board was
deafening, the effect electrical and
thrilling. 5-n, .,..
Guns of nearly all sizes are being
fred, from the sharp barking three
Founders to the ponderous reverberat-
ing seven and eight-inch calibers. The
largest guns, the IL and 13-inch sort,
are to be the last fired. The sharp,
quick smiling report of the automatic
three Founders mounted on the bridges
Of the superstructures Is most piercing.
All of the ports and battle ports are
closed tightly during firing but these
do not keep out the noise. Four regu-
lation target ranges have been laid out
and battleship is busy on each. They
are somewhat closer together although
far enough distant not to be disturbing
of each other and arranged in such
IAanner as to eliminate all danger The
record firing will occupy about four
days to the ship. With four ships on !
the ranges at one time 1t should be |
completed some time between April Is |
and 20. 1t is upon the record practice |
that the percentage tables are COM |
puted and the trophy for battleships |
awarded The percentages are secret |
and will not be known until they reach |
Washington and then only the name of |
the winner Is announced.
On many of the smaller guns, the
loading is by hand. The heavier ones
require electrical machinery. The big
shells are picked up with the most
rapid movements, lifted to the open
bnqech and rammed home. Two bags
Of smokeless powder follow in the
Lwinkling Of an eye. The breech block
slams and shuts, the pointer aims and
fires, there is deafening conclusion,
4 tremendous recoil of the big guns,
light puff Of smoke is blown from the
nuzzle, pieces of paper and cloth in
which the powder is contained are
hurled into the air, the great heavy
,rojectile sails away across the water
With frightful velocity toward the tar
ret. 1t travels with lightning speed
md yet because Of Its size is visible
through glasses In its flight through
he air. The trained observer can fol- |
ow It with the naked eye and instant
y call the hits and misses. The range
4 the firing is directed by men in the
crows nests" far up on the masts
bove the fighting tops, and by others
q the very bottom of the ships who,
nth papers and maps, call out orders.
he method Of range finding, the de-
ection from the speed and roll of the
hip, the velocity Of the wind, the
cean currents and other variations
ccupy the intensely applied attention
scores Of officers and men on each
hip during the firing.
Percentage Of hits and rapidity Of
re are what is desired. The men re-
Give cash consideration from the de-
artment for superiority in work in ad-
ltion to the much-prized honor that
.taches to the winner. Numerous UNI
Tres from the ships then engaged,
ldge the shots and mark the score.
fter a ship has fired a round. she
ills by the target where the result Of
lie shots may be observed.