Charlevoix county herald., 1912-07-06
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shining black muzzles out of the turrets of the
dreadnoughts will stand the pressure to which
they subject when fired, but ii Is believed that
their life is somewhere between 100 and 200 shots.
No one wishes to find out by experience what
their longevity is. Therefore, no practice except
at the prescribed times may be done with the
big guns Even at target practice they may be
fired only eighteen times through the entire prac-
tice period. AT the end of couple of years they
refined. and in this way get new lease OF
life.
"Ping-pong" practice as it is called. and sub
calber practice have solved this difficulty. Very
small guns shooting tiny bullets attached to
the big guns In front of these small guns swing
targets whose distance and motion be regu-
lated to correspond to the conditions under which
the turret's guns are fired. The aiming is done
by the movement of the large guns, but the firing
is done with the tiny, pistolike firearms In this
way the manipulation of the guns In every respect
Is like that in target practice. except the actual
discharge of heavy shells
1t may be supposed that the time for spring battle
practice has arrived 1t is early April and the bat
tleships with their attending craftare at the ranges
The Atlantic has long. easy roll that does not
seriously disturb the equilibrium of the ponderous
fighting machines forcing their masterfu way
across the waves. Rainbows form In the spray
thrown up sparkling from the bows into the sun
light and lacy foam on blue ground flows back
ward into a spreading wake
Individual battle practice Is to be the order OF
the uay. In the OHnB lne targets lnOuSanu5 VI
yards away, are being towed along-whte dots
on the horizon. The ships which are to engage
in the practice clear for action and the gunners
are at their stations. Clouds Of black smoke pour
from the tunnels. Indicating that the fremen are
at their posts and performing their duty well. Up
in the rectangular baskets the tops of the lat
tce masts ,tEs spoilers 9nd tsstr ssslTtans saccs
connected with the plotting room far below them
and with the gun crews by telephone. are scan
ming the horizon with their glasses. They have
their eyes the targets, and are insnctively es'
timating the distance. On the forward turret is
tube supported horizontally a heavily bsilt tri-
pod The lenses In either end are directed upon
the target which Is the ships particular mark. and
a seaman Is focusing the two images reflected to
him at the center OF the tube. The two coincide.
and he reads off the figures shown on the scales.
The range OF the distant object. thus obtained. is
telephoned down to the plotting room. This opera
ton the range finder performs from time to time,
noting the changes In the distances thus recorded
Below in the plotting room. the brain-case OF
the vessel in battle, the nerve center, men are
busy recording the messages that come to them
over the electric nerves Of the great organism and
coordinating the information. Protected by armor
plate and out of sight Of friend foe, this bureau
OF information. this multiple motor center, directs
the fighting forces Of the great machine. undis-
turbed by accidental sights and sounds. Messages
are received at regular intervals from the range
finders The rate OF change In range Is noted and
n piece of cockwork. invented for the purpose, Is
set going IL will plot and indicate the changes OF
the distance OF the target at regular intervals OF
time. Everything is in readiness to begin hring.
In the turrets the trainers and pointers are on
edge awaiting the word to fire. In each Is the
trainer with his hands on levers guiding its move
ment and the guns within. his eye glued to the
eyepece Of the sighting telescope. He constantly
strives to keep his guns upon the target horizont
ally. At the side of the breeches of the guns are