The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-04-21
LIEUT.. CALH0UN'S
SKILL AS SPOTTER
Cruiser Maryland Holds Cham
pion Workmanship
Record
Owing to Skill of Former Palatka Bo,

Owing to Skill of Former Palatka Boy
Ii may not be known TO the people OF
Palatka that Lieutenant William Lounds
Calhoun, who some half dozen years
ago entered the United States Navy from
this city, has already won fame for ex,
cellency in that branch of your Uncle
Sans service. But such is the case.
The cruiser Maryland has held the
championship at the target practices in
the United States Navy for the past three
years, and Lieut. Calhoun is the officer
TO whom credit is given for this record.
Lieut.. Calhoun is son of the late
Hon. BENZ. P. Calhoun and a younger
brother of Judge E. Noble Calhoun OF
this city. He was a member of the
graduating class of the Putnam High
School of 1902, and soon thereafter was
appointed to a cadetship in the Naval
Academy at Annapolis by Hon. Robt.
w. Davis. He graduated with high
honors in 1906 and has risen from the
rank of midshipman to lieutenant. For
the past two years he has been with the
Pacific fleet, and is now with the fleet
at San Diego, California.
The News takes the following from
the San Diego Union of the 4th inst.
$50 keen is the rivalry among the
sailors and marines of the Pacific fleet
as to the outcome of the spring target
practice, which began off Coronado
yesterday, that they are betting not only
all the money they possess but are bor-
rowing all they can to place on their ia
vorite ship.
shooting began early yesterday
morning and continued through the day.
The cruisers are shooting in divisions.
The contest probably will be in progress
for about ten days.
SIN the betting the Maryland rules as
a favorite, with the South Dakota as
second choice and the others in the
field" The Maryland has held the
championship for the last three years.
Lieutenant w. l.. Calhoun is the Spotter
for the Maryland, and it is claimed that
through his skill the excellent scores
have been made. In the practice just
started the South Dakota has developed
a Spoiter who is said 10 be just as accu-
rate as Calhoun. He is Lieut. r. r.
Riggs. Because of this the South Da
kota had hopes of landing the prize this
year, but few days ago Riggs was taken
Ill and it is not known whether he will
be in condition to lead his ship in the
contest.
"ThoSe who have been following the
work OF the gun crews of the different
cruisers admit that the Maryland and
South Dakota may be the contestants
for championship honors, although there
is a good chance that one of the other
three cruisers may, finally win the COW
eted prize.
"Admiral Thomas is ready for the Japa-
nese, or for any others who might care
to attack the American flag. Although
he cannot boast of battleship fleet, he
can and does boast of the best marks
men in the American navy, none ex-
cepted. The cruiser Maryland flies the
flag of the champion ship. Although
recent reports from Washington were
that the South Carolina, one OF the
ships on the Atlantic, was the champion,
Admiral Thomas told The Sun the
cruiser Maryland is the only ship in the
United States navy that flies the red tri-
angle flag with the black ball in the
center. The South Carolina ranks
eleventh. Not only is the Maryland the
champion, but the South Dakota is the
second best. 1t Is not explained why
the Pacific fleet gunnerS are better than
those on the Atlantic; it is simply as
serted that they are"