Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-28
Best Marksmen in World
Aboard South Carolina.
BOTH FAST AND AC cURATE
TweIve-lnch Rifle Crew OF Semi
Dreadnaught Makes Sixteen Hits In
Sixteen Shoots in Four Minutes
During Practice on Drill Grounds.

When the new semiDreadnaught
South Carolina came sweeping into
Hampton Roads yesterday morning
from her initial target practice on
the Southern drill grounds, thlrty-slx
miles southeast OF Cape Henry, she
brought with her the worlds bIs-gun
firing record of sixteen hits In Six,
teen shots in four minutes with
12inch rife. Besides this wonderful
record with the guns OF one turret,
the vessel, which has been in commits
sion only two months. made hneI
scores with her other 12inch rifles,
and her secondary battery and is
rated as second of all the ships OF
the Atlantic battleship fleet in the
deep sea target practice.
Details of the firing of the South
Carolina were brought TO this city
yesterday by Captain Horton, of the
United States naval collier Hannibal,
which lowed the target at which the
South Carolina fred. Captain Hor-
ton says that the record made by the
new battleship is regarded in naval
circles as little short of marvellous
and Ensign Ballinger, who is captain
of the record gun crew, and the men
under him are heroes on the new ship,
Weather Conditions Unfavoraole.
The weather conditions under
which the South Carolina fired were
far from favorable. The big battle
ship put to sea Sunday for the pur-
pose of firing at moving targets, but
she was unable to get down to work
Monday because Of thick mist that
hung over the drill grounds. The
weather cleared up Tuesday and the
ship began firing that afternoon, u.s.
ing the eight Pinch rifles, which
are mounted in pairs in four turrets
along the ships center line
Running at ten knots speed through
a choppy sea. the ship fired at the
regulation canvas target. which was
mounted on raft 143 feet long.
which was being towed by the collier
Hannibal at a rate of FIVE knots an
hour. The range was 1900 yards. In
sign Ballingers gun crew in No. 4
after turret, began firing late in the
afternoon and in four minutes the
Grew had registered sixteen hits in
sixteen shots and new worlds rec
ord was hung up.
Has Night Firing Practice.
Tuesday night the battleship had
night firing at the moving target,
which was kept in sight of the GIN
ners by the use of the battlesnips
searcbights. A storm broke during
the night, kicking up very rough
sea and finally the vessel had to stop
firing. The practice was continued
Wednesday afternoon and night and
Thursday. the vessel starting for the
Roads that night.
In the dey practice the South Caro-
lima made a record second to none OF
the ships, but owing to the unfavor-
able conditions obtaining at night, her
night-firing record fell below the
highest and the ship was forced TO
take second place in the feet. the
Idaho, which was commissioned last
year, holding the highest score in the
target practice.
The South Carolina continued past
Old Point and proceeded to the Nor
folk navy yard, where she Is to IN
dergo some repairs before starting
on her final trial GUNS She will join
the Atlantic fleet this fall This YES
sci is of $4,000 tons displacement and
besides the eight 12inch rifles, she
carries secondary batterly OF twen-
ty-one 5-inch rapid-hre guns. Her.
speed is 10 knots an hour.