Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-13
ARMN GS2;!5;;El\N

percentage of 80. All this was done
under more severe conditions than ever
before, the ranges being increased and
the smaller caliber guns being placed
in faster company with the big fellows.
For instance. the guns above eight
inch caliber were fired at targets
thirty by sixty feet at a distance of at
least 1000 yards. where d battleship
would look about as large as row
boat Yet at that range. in 81 cases
out of 49, practices, every shot found
it's target which shows how small the
chance would be of a hostile ship get
ting into one of our ports.
Efficiency of Battleships.
Rear Admiral Schroeder has very much
pleased the naval officials by report
upon the recent full-power trials Of the
batteships composing the Atlantic feet
off Guantanamo. The remarkable show
ing made that ships eleven years old. like
the Wisconsin. are capable of exceeding
their contract speed is regarded as high
testimonial of the efficiency of the engi-
neer forces and the care taken of the ma
chinery In fact, the general statement
Is made that the horsepower realized by
the fleet exceeded that developed on the
contractors trials, although in the case
OF these late trials the crews were regular
navy men. the ships were long out of
dock and, the coal was not specially Sc
lected Another significant fact is that
the ships are now ready for any kind OF
service, notwithstanding the severe tests.
The Nebraska appeared 10 hold the
speed record at 49, Tho Virginia came
second with 1904 ana 90 Georgia third
with 1905 knots per hour. The Yer
mont made the lowest record at 1914
knots.
The Washington Not to Go South.
Owing to the necessity =" thorough
disinfection of the L. 5. $. " .t.shngton,
as result Of the recent cases of small
poX on board her. it has been found inn
practicable to get her ready to sail for
Buenos Aires with the L. S. s. Tennessee,
as originally planned. and the u. S. s.
South Dakota will go to Buenos Aires in
her place. The Washington has been as
signed to duty with the Pacific fleet.
Speed Tests of Warships.
The United States Navy will soon deter
mine the question as to whether the
speed of vessel is affected by the depth
of the water through which she is steam
ing. A series Of tests are to be made
over the regular courses off Rockland
Me-, and off the Delaware breakwater,
representing two standards of depth. The
battle snip Michigan will have standard
tleshipS Michigan and South Dakota Will
also make similar trials over the same
courses. Then the torpedo boat destroy
ers Flusser and Reid will be put through
the tests. Valuable data is expected to
be obtained through the various tests.
To Be Punished for Deception.
Orders have been given for the trial by
court-martial of Private James Hall, the
ms nr1Snnpr a II
who obtained his liberty through a faxed
confession that he murdered Miss Anna
Schumacher near Rochester, N. Y. last
August. The charge against Hall, who is
again in custody, is conduct to the pref
udice of good order and military disci-
pine. The specifications allege that his
so-called confession was wholly false
and intended to deceive
Naval Orders.
Rear Admiral S. A. Staunton has been
commissioned.
Commander c. +. Plunkett. from Fore
River Shipbuilding Company. Quincy,
Mass. To the North Dakota.
Lieut.. Commander a. L. Willard, from
the Idaho to navy yard. Washington.
d. c.
Lieut.. Commander O. b. Price. from
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company to the Idaho
Lieut.. &. y. Arnold, from Fore River
Company, Quincy, Mass, TO
the North Dakota.
Medical Director J. c. Wise from naval