The San Francisco call., 1910-05-17
Eight TARGETS
MADE IN EIGHT
TRIES BY CREW
Record Made in 70 Seconds of
Firing by Gunners on the
Maryland
Ship and Targets Moving at
Full Speed in Opposite Di-
rectiOns During Test

Although civilian America took much
satisfa ction in the destruction of the
Spanish feet at Santiago. that same en-
gagement was the cause OF much un-
easiness TO the navy department. CT
william America heard only the shouts
Of victory saw only the shell shattered
huIls Of the enemy's ships. The navy
department, as the result Of careful
survey OF those same broken hulls.
knew that the craftsmanship Of TIE
Yankee Eunners had been bitterly dis
appointing. Instead of wasting time in
useless repining, steps were at once
taken TO train the man behind the
gun. so that the next time he faced an
enemy the record hits would be more
inspiring 10 Yankee pride.
RESULTS SURPRISING
From the time the board that exam
inej those Spanish derelicts made its
report until today the United States
navy has been making systematic ef-
forts 10 improve its craftsmanship. and
the results have surprised the most
hopeful of those who planned the
scheme whereby the efficiency OF the
gunners was TO be increased. Every
six months since then, at the regular
target practice, the gunners have been
set 2 task Just a little harder than the
wear before. At the last practice of the
Pacific feet. held in the Santa Barbara
channel a few weeks ago. where the
ships. rolling in the open sea, steamed
~ fun speed and fired at targets being
towed ~ full speed in the opposite di-
rection. the hits scored were more nu-
merous than they were in the days
when stationary ships, lying in smooth
water. fired al anchored targets.
The scores made by the ships are
navy department secrets, but when the
Maryland scored eight hits in eight
shots from the eight inch guns in its
after tUrret too many eyes saw the
holes in the target for the incident 10
be buried in the department records.
The eight shots were fired in 76 sec
onds. and the photograph produced
herewith shows how nearly they came
10 being bullseyes. Each shot weighs
about 250 pounds.
STIcAHING FULL SPEED
The canvas target was riggeJ on a
boatlike raft The Maryland at the
time the shots were fired was steaming
at fun speed while the target was be-
ing towed nearly as fast in the other
direction. The ship was rolling heav-
lily and the target. being lighter. was
dancing like a cork. IT was practically
wing shooting. other ships Of the Pa
ciic and Atlantic feet made records
nearly as good, which would indicate
that. although civilian America did not
appreciate what it was shouting for
after the battle of Santiago, there was
after all good cause for rejoicing.
The tests viii be made harder still.
until. as a navy officer said the other
day. There won't be a guns crew in
the navy that couldn't, if YOU give
them the ordnance, stencil their ships
name around the rim of the moon"
THE MEN BEHIND
Lieutenant Hand was the officer in
charge Of the Maryland's after inch
turret. on March IS, when the phenom-
email score was made, and the men that
manned the turret and loaded and
aimed and fireJ the two big guns were:
Gleer Welch, +. le Veil. McGrath, Le-
mana, LOrnig, King, Birch. Shay. NJ. J..
Mayes, Eismore, Green, Hurley, Kecky,
Tom Young, McQUilton. Snoring, Roach.
Fitzgerald. jenkins, Painter, Sullivan,
Michigan, -Beggerman, Mayer, Symers,
Carlson, Sence, Crandall. Stott, Ham
burg, Bolger, BuzzOla, Shaw, Huddle-
son, Shoup. Buckley, Dixon.