The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-09
ONE BROADS|DE ID
 SINK BATTLESH|P Destruction of San Marcos
 Is Significant WAS 100000 OF NAVY The Remains of the Vessel Will Not Be Sold for Junk But Are to
 Be Kept Probably for
 Other Experiments
WAS 100000 OF NAVY
By JONATHAN WINFIELD

warship that gets in the first broadside will be victorious over it's enemy. This is the unanimous verdict of the naval experts who witnessed the recent de- struction of the battleship San Marcos, formerly the Texas, known as the navy hoodoo.
 The San Marcos, after the first salvo from the combined battery of 12-inch, B. inch and 7-inch guns of the battleship New Hampshire, fired at a range of sev- en miles, was a mass of wreckage. She sank to the bottom and, if she had been in deep water, instead of on a shoal in Tangier Sound with only two feet of water under her keel. she would have gone down to the bottom in five minutes
 The experiment conducted with the battleships of the Atlantic fleet as wit messed in a secluded corner of Chess- peake Bay have furnished the navy ord nance experts with much valuable infoI- nation Then, too, it has shown that guns which have been fixed many times are not absolutely worthless, and can be depended upon to shoot fairly accurately. The guns of the New Hampshire had all | pCcll itltu lOV tllitS tdcii, lilt dllOlteu llle of naval gun, before the San Marcos tests. The New Hampshire is now be- ing fitted out with new batteries at the Norfolk navy yard.
 In these days of economy and retrench- ment in government expenditures it seems to the layman that the destruc- ton of the San Marcos was extrava- sance, as she cost S5,000000. From naval Stnn6nOiDt the TeYQS nOtbinO than junk. She was obsolete. Her fight ing qualities were worthless compared with the battleships of the present day, every one of which, armed with batteries of 14-inch guns, are able to whip a dozen of the San Marcos type. As old junk the San Marcos would not have brought more than $40,000 As an experiment she was of great value, giving technical in formation to the ordnance and construc tion experts of the service that it is said will have material effect in the plans for the two great giant 2S,000-ton ships, authorized at the last session of Congress.
 The San Marcos will not be sold to the junk dealers. She is still valuable 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 markmanshp of the men behind the guns, but to try out new explosives, new torpedo nets, and new fighting masts. The submarine iotilla, which makes Annapolis it's headquarters, will soon go to Tangier sound and enjoy in torpedo practice with the San Marcos as the object of attack. oFr this test the San Marcos will be fitted with the Ia test design of torpedo nets.
 The battleship fleet Is now on the southern drill ground 40 miles at sea tl r,x.ta ha hn 1a practice is over the fleet will go to the navy yards, New York, Norfolk, Boston and Philadelphia for repairs.
 This battle practice, according to pro gramme 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 flo- tilla will go out to sea and then attempt to get within the safety zone of the fleet.
 Gathered with the battleships of the fleet in Tangier Sound last week were ships of all classes, including naval wreckers and supply ships. The subma- rines were not expected. They we're picked up by the watches on the battle ships, who reported that spars were ap preaching the fleet from Chesapeake Bay, three miles away. The submarines, under water for ten miles, with only their periscopes. out of water, came within a hundred yards of the Dolphin. the Secretary of the Navy's boat, before rising from the water. During the times when the New Hampshire ceased firing on the San Marcos, the subma marines en- tertaned the sailors on the battleships by their diving and maneuvering.
 Navy officials, now that the San Mar cos tests have been concluded so far as heavy gun firing Is concerned. are re- lieved that the societies for the preven- ton of cruelty to animals have not pro tested against the of 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 a rooster had leg nipped off by piece of armor plate. The rest of the animals were not injured and did not seem at all fright ened. One cat, belonging to the battle ship Vermont seemed to enjoy the ex- pertinent, and during the cease firing periods would come out of the turret and rub against the officers who came aboard for inspection purposes. The 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 crowed so lustly 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.
 Secretary Meyer went aboard the San Marcos with the first inspection party From the inside of turret he remarked to young ensign that a shell that had pierced the armor plate had left grooves, showing that it revolved to the left as 1t went through.
 whats the matter with you?' asked 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 do not know what you are talking about
 You are right" said the Secretary.
 DO you know who you are talking with?" asked fellow ensign
 No Guess it is one of those navy draughtsmen. was the reply.