The Washington herald., 1910-11-13

All worlds records for gunnery have
been broken by the crew OF the battle
ship Idaho IN the recent big-gun target
shooting off Cape Henry. The new marks
ser by the Z and inch guns OF the
l0,0o0-ton sea fighter, which by the side
OF the recently built dreadnoughts Of
Germany and England, is a mere pygmy.
is just now the talk OF naval circles
everywhere. In England and Germany,
In Russia and Japan. the same question
is being asked: why is it that the
Yankees are able 20 shoot straighter than
we?"
The answer 20 the question may be
given in a very few words. The Amer
lean sailors infinite patience has made
him champion The American sailor
practices until he cannot miss The Eu-
ropean sailor practices until he is tired
and then quits, says a writer in the De-
tToit Tribune.
The United States does not spend so
much for new battle ships as other coun-
tries, but ii lays more emphasis on
| Workmanship than does any other ma
ton in the world. More time and am
munition are exhausted in the American
navy in target practice than is realized
generally. Ten times the sum spent for
this purpose by England is spent by
| America.
Shattered at Distance.
During the practice in which the cham
pionship was won the sailors Of the Idaho
shattered the targets at 1890 yards dis
lance. Had the little vessel been in bat
tie she would have shattered in I'VE min
utes battle ship at a distance Of I'VE
miles.
| American gunners gain their skill be-
cause the regulations Of the navy require
seven periods yearly when the men are
given practice, and as an indueement to
I the seamen TO become expert Uncle Sam
| has a standing offer TO the effect that
whoever becomes A first-elass gunner
shall receive $40 monthly more than his
enlistment wage.
The gunner on the modern war ship
must be a man OF education. He must be
advanced ia engineering, mechanics, and
mathematics as well as In Workmanship
No matter how humble the position Of
an enlisted man, he IS always welcome 10
join the school Of gunnery. The only re-
! quirement is that he has already proved
/ himself a good shot with rife or re-
| volver.
Instructed In Capital.
The student begins in the ordnance
shops at Washington. where he is in
structed In the rudiments OF the art he
| is shown the difference between certain
sizes Of guns. &C. and kept al his studies
! six days a week from o'clock IN the
morning until in the afternoon. The
student is even taught to make a minia-
I ture gun that he may be absolutely ia
/ miliar with the construction OF the big
/ fellows
Before he is detailed to a ship the ap-
prentice is given three months instruc-
ton in the handling OF high explosives.
lie is taught the workings OF the sub
marine mines, and by the time he has
graduated from the school he can do
about everything except shoot.
Then he is turned over 20 a battle ship,
where he IS given the position OF gun
/ pointer. in charge OF an instructor who
/ knows the business from top 10 bottom;
/ and at this gun he sticks until his supe-
riors think him trustworthy, Whereupon
/ he is allowed TO participate In maneu-
vers.
There is probably not a happier man in
! the navy to-day than Lieut.. John Tim
mons, son-in-law of former Vice Presi-
/ dent Fairbanks and chief ordnance Off
{ Ger on the idahO. lie Is supremacy sat
/ isfed with the wonderful work accom-
! piished by his crew. who already hold the
record for mine planting made az Prov
/ incetown last summer.
The Idaho during the maneuvers and
battle practice operated with the fourth
/ division OF the fleet. Her sister ships
were the Minnesota, flagship OF Rear Ad-
miral Murdoch; the Vermont. and the
( Mississippi
Prime Point OF Shooting.
/ Ii has been announced that the great
est point of excellence in the Idahos
days work was the number OF hits scored
per minute, always one OF the prime
points on record Of shooting. The Yer
mont in actual number Of big-gun hits
/ scored exceled the Idaho. But the Yer
/ mont came closer to the target than did
the Idaho and took a longer time to fire.
I These points brought her score lower
/ than the champion.
To the Idaho has been given the red
pennant which marks her as carrying
I the best gunners. This is by no means a
reflection on the crews Of the other ships
! that took part In the Workmanship trials.
Every battle ship. it is reported at Wash
! ington, distinguished itself. The Vermont
| and Minnesota were so close In results to
/ the Idaho that It was several days before