Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-04-02
The NIGHT FIRING
UNIQUE SPECTACLE 10 PRESENT
ED THEN BY RATTLEsHIPs
IN MAGDALENA BAY.
THE SCENE As DESCRIBED
Sweeping Shafts from searchlights,
Bursting Flashes from Gun Muz-
zIes and Soaring Flaming
Shells illuminate the Sky.

-
Magdalena Bay, Mex, via San Diego
CAL, Mar. S1.-The night firing by the
battleships OF the Atlantic fleet is q
brilliant, unique spectacle. 1t Is OF q
vastly different variety from the cease
less, unvarying shooting at the white
canvass targets by daylight, from sun
rise to sunset, which finally becomes
dull, methodlcal and monotonous
enough. 1t Is the perfection OF pyro-
technics.
The sweeping Of the great shafts Of
light from the searchlights; the burst
ing flashes Of fire from the gun mug
zles; the spark-streWn pathway OF the
soaring and flaming shells; the ric-
ochets that resemble giant skyrocketS,
and the tremendous echoes OF below
Ing sound that break across the waters
and over the silent, fog-enshrouded
hills, combine to present scene that
thrills long after the firing has ceased.
1t is the work Of repelling attacks
Of an enemy's imaginary torpedo
crafts. Black targets with white bulls
eyes are the objects at which the shots
are directed. Two or three ships may
be seen firing at a time Perhaps
second ship may be standing by as
sisting with her searchlights, the one
which is firing, in bringing into palmer
outline the black targets sitting far
out across the water Sometimes the
firing ship does all its Illuminating |
Big searchlights Of intense brilliancy |
and power Of penetration, high up In |
the fighting tops Of the mainmast and |
foremost, turn upon the targets long |
before the ship comes upon the firing |
radius.
The lights Of the ship are all blazing |
out. Every portfolio Is a white light,
standing out in the inky darkness.
Other lights hang here and there on
the lifted gangways and other neces-
sary locations. The ensemble is Of
irregular outline bearing no resem-
blance to the lines of a battleship,
The single red truck lights are oscil-
lating back and forth at the mast
heads ma the vessel rolls SLOWLY Ia one
hide or the other. The red and white
signal lights strung nm the halyards
az the foremast are alternating in
their colored flashes transmitting of.
Acial messages tn other sbips. Heavy
clusters Of electric lights are on the
forward and AT bridges the big re-
Nectors turned sharnlv downward ten
Aoet distant where thew Illuminate
IIko dov the hreacbee of Tho Ouns The
O1,n crow worhs In nerfact IIght "A
thopvh Tho ann were shining
Tho shin steams on the range M n
-onid snaed her nowerf,l searchl,gbts
HING ont th,s wav ana that Tho mi.
liant shafts ~ lIght NAV ono instant
no NosbInv unon the dlsturhed waters
So toa, ,ror, tho side ~ tha chin then
v,.h ,rorad,hIa sw,,tnoss troye, ton
U,iIos 20 tho shoro ana Soorch steadily
Ihara so- minutes along ths hIsc[ H.
raSnIor beach linz Nov ond then thev
.S,cbt unon other sh,ns ~ tha eeet
I,,rm,rot,ng dacks ana SrnervtrnctureS
ana averv ohiect With a white vlow
sooD no shin nassas ! rod huov aIvnaI
light II is the STANDBY" signal The
searchNehts are now concentrated
unon the targets tIny spots far of
the mort how
A whistle Is blown. an oticer shouts
the sharp command "are." The three.
pounders and three-Ipch gums 20 in.
SANITY into action. These pieces are
aami-antomatic and the orews are