The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-09
PAGE SEVEN.

~s> PAGE SEVEE.
valuable information. Then, too, it
has shown that guns which have been
fixed many times are not absolutely
worthless, and can be depended upon
TO shoot fairy accurately The guns
Of the New Hampshire had all been
fired $50 times each, the allotted life
Of naval gun. before the San Mar
COS tests. The New Hampshire is
now being fitted out with new batter
les at the Norfolk navy yard.
Ship Was Only Junk.
In these days Of economy ana re-
trenchment in government expendi-
lures 1t seems to the layman that the
as she cost $4,000. 900.
From naval standpoint the Texas WAS
more than junk. She was OBJ
solete. Her fighting qualities were
worthless compared with the battle
ships OF the present day. every one
of which armed with batteries of IA
inch guns are able to whip dozen OF
the San Marcos type, As old junk the
San Marcos would not have brought
more than $4,000, As an experiment
she was OF great value. giving techni-
cal information TO the ordinance and
construction experts of the service
that il is said will have meatrial ef-
feet in the plans for the two giant
$4,000 ton ships, authorized at the
last session of Congress-
The San Marcos will not be sold to
the junk dealers. She is still valua.
bic as junk and the dealers would like
to have her, but the navy department
will let her stay on Tangier shoal.
From time to time she is TO be used as
a target. not to test the Workmanship
of he men behind the guns, but tn
ny out new explosives. new torpedo
nets, and new fighting masts. The
submarine flotiila, which makes An
napolis its headquarters. will soon go
to Tangier sound and enjoy in torpe-
do practice with the San Marcos as
the object of attack, For this test
the San Marcos will be fittel with the
latest design torpedo nets.
Fleet Now At Drill.
The battleship fleet is now on the
Southern drill ground. forty miles at
see off the Virginia Capes. When the
battle practice is over the fleet will
go to the navy yards. New York, Nor
folk Boston and Philadelphia for re.
pairs.
This battle practice. according to
program is most elaborate. There is
to be day and night target practice.
attacks upon the fleet by torpedo
boats, and If the weather permits. the
submarine flotilla will go out to sea
and then attempt to &c within the SAT
ETY. zone of the fleet.
The fleet in Tangier Sound last
week was ships of all classes includ-
ing naval wreckers and supply ships.
The submarines were not expected
They were picked up by the watches
on the battleships, who reported that
''spars" were approaching the fleet
from Chesapeake Bay, three miles
away. The submarines, under water
for ten miles. with only their periscop-
es out of water. came within hun
dred yards of the Dolphin, the Secre-
tary of the Nays boat, before rising
from the water. During the times
when the New Hampshire ceased fir
ing on the San Marcos. the submarin-
es entertained the sailors on the bat
tleships by their diving and maneu-
vering.
Navy officials, now that the San
Marcos tests have been concluded SO
far as heavy guns firing is concerned,
are relieved that the societies for the
prevention of cruelty to animals have
chickens and cats in the tests Aboard
of the San Marcos the day she was
subjected to bombardment. and when
the explosive shells were used, were
a number of cats and roosters. Two
of the cats were killed by bursting
shells, and rooster had leg nipped
off by a piece of armor plate. The
rest of the animals were not injured
and did not seem at all frightened.
One cat, belonging to the Battleship
Vermont. seemed to enjoy the expert
ment, and during the cease firing"
periods would come out of the turret
and rub against the officers who came
ducdiu wi InopCStIOu pun pOoCo. uo
rooster, when he was wounded, was
taken aboard the monitor Tallahassee.
His injured leg was dressed. The fol-
lowing morning he was up with the
sun and srowed SO Justify that the
ships crew decided that he was made
up of the right sort of stuff, and
from now on he will be the mascot OF
the monitor. .. --s
Secretary Meyer went aboard the
San Marcos in the first inspection
party. From the inside of turret
he remarked to young ensign that
a shall that had pierced the armot
plate hal left grooves. showing that
it revolved to the left as it went
through.
whats the matter with you?" ask.
ed the ensign. You are on the job
inside. All shells revolve to the
right. Get on the outside, look in,
and you will see that You don't know
what You are talking about
You are right said the secretary.
DO you know who you were talking
with" asked a fellow ensign.
No Guess II is one of those navy