Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-07-21
COAST ARTILLERYMEN
HAVING FINE TIME.
Making Some Good Shots at Fort
Mansfield, With Fifth Company in
the Lead-Sub- Caiiber Practice In
terestins.

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terestins.
Sub-caliber practice is engaging the
attention of the Coast artillerymen at
Fort Mansfield. This is carried on with
projectile very much smaller than
the caliber of the guns and very much
smaller charge of powder than service
charges. 1t is less expensive and gives
the artillerymen a good idea Of the
handling and powers of the big guns.
1t is said that there will be no firing
Of service charges this encampment,
although it may be changed. The rea-
son for this is that the state of Con-
necticut is not sufficiently wealthy to
allow enough firing to do any good. 1t
costs between $500 and $500 to fire one
of the ten-inch guns once. With four
teen companies participating in the en-
campment and each firing a. string of
ten shots the officers of the c. N. q.
are inclined to think that there would
be a grave protest from the legislature
If these companies started firing SER
vice charges.
The local officers have been serving
as officer of the day since reaching the
fort. On Thursday Second Lieutenant
Burdick of the Fifth company was
chosen for that duty and on Friday
Lieutenant Church of the Third filled
the office. Captain Arlington of DAN
ielson was officer of the day Saturday.
with Lieutenant Nichols on Sunday
and Lieutenant Darby OF the Thir-
teenth on Monday.
A number of prisoners have been
taken in, there being eight in the guard
house now against four when the COM
panies arrived, they being members of
the Eighty eighth company, stationed
at the fort, charged with intoxication
and desertion Of their post.
On Friday and Saturday there was
battery drill with evening parade and
retreat at $50. followed by guard
mount On Saturday the sub-caliber
tubes were inserted and on Monday
there was practice at the stationary
target at LOO yards. Each company
had ten trial shots and ninety rounds
of sub-callber ammunition.
The 18th company was at Battery
Connell and got 80 hits. The Third
company was at Battery Wooster with
eight inch guns and made So hits. The
Fift hcompany, at Battery Crawford,
with five inch guns, like the 18th COM
pany. made 50 hits, the best of the
companies from this section on Mon
day. At Battery Connell there are two
telescope sights, and one at Battery
Wooster. but at Battery Crawford there
is only the open sight, but despite that
the Fifth company led the bunch.
On Tuesday the 18th and Third
companies had more slIb-saliber prac-
tice, and today the Fifth company will
have its turn, each getting $50 rounds.
Evening parade was omitted on Mon
day and Tuesday for battery drill
The men all like it very much at
Fort Mansfield and are allowed to go
to Watch Hill il they do not abuse the
privilege, which none has so far.
The 8Sth company has made a rec
ord of SO 1-3 per cent out Of a posi-
BILE 100 per cent, with two eight inch
breach loading rifles at Fort Mansfield
the mean range being 4339 yards The
first trial shot struck so near the tar
get that the spray completely covered
it, The third record shot entirely de-
molished the leading target causing
the tug which was towing the targets
to go back and pick up the second
target. The gun pointer who did such
good aiming was Corporal Albert Pet
erson.
There will be a joint field day at
Forst Mansfield at l D. m. today.
There will be plenty of sport for all.
No charge for admittance will be
made to enter any part of the post,
to witness these exercises. Three
companies of the G. A. c., G. N. G.,
from Norwich and Danielson, will join
in these exercises. There will be the
very best music furnished by the c. N.
G. band. =
A call to arms is expected by the
civilian soldiers on Thursday. This
will follow the training to allow each
company's gun details to become fully
acquainted with the workings of the
batteries to which they have been as
signed. Steamers of the quartermas-
ter's department will make an attempt
to pass the forts and the guardsmen
will be prepared to repulse them.
The hospital corps attached to the
Coast artillery, c. n. G., are enjoying
themselves at the state camp, accord
ing to one of the members who was
home Monday on short leave. The
camp, he says, is one of the best he
ever attended.
The New London hospital corps is
widely distributed. At Fort Mansfield,
Napatree Point, are Lieut.. J. T. Black.
who commands the New London de-
tachment Sergt. Richard w. Mansfield,
Sergt. Lawrie III. Turner and Privates
Robert Mcdonald. Peter Toolin, Carl
Bergstrom, George Mix and Ransel J.
Frost
Sunday was the quietest Sunday ever
seen In camp. Everything but parade
and guard mount was omitted. There
was a religious service held by the Y.
M. c. A. The tent is in charge OF
Frederick p. Rockwell of New London,
assisted by Arthur Stevens Of Port
land. Me-. and Mr.. Rockwell led the
service. r. w. Mansfield, general sec
rotary of the New London Y. M. c. A..
was a speaker.
The Coast Artillery band from
Bridgeport Is at Fort Mansfield, and
Sunday gave a concert, also assisting
in the musical portion of the Y. NJ. c,
A. service which was held in front of
Major Hermann's tent
The scene on the water in the wind
and rain storm OF Sunday was never
to be forgotten. the artillerymen say.
Groups of the guardsmen stood about
on the parapets and other points of
vantage and watched the storm as it
swept along the water
Married by DR.. Pratt.