Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-07
BIG NORTARS
Continued from Page u

weights are then marked plainly on
the projectifes, which are carefully
placed in position for quick handling.
The rotating band which circles the
base of the proiectile is callipered to
one-thousandth of an inch, and what
is known as the bourrelet, the SVEN
Immediately behind the head, Whlcn
grips the rifiing, is carefully scraped
and cleaned. ;. = s..'--..
Powder Tricky. - .>.... -. Il. .,
The blending of the powder is one
of the most delicate and interesting
operations. for no matter how care
fully this is done originally, some OF
the powder dries out faster than other
portions, under apparently the same
conditions, and there are other vari-
ations in the same lot of ammunition.
To make it as uniform as possible
then, the powder is piled in great
heap, and ten men with wooden shoy-
els divide it into ten equal piles. These
ten piles are then re-mixed the oper-
alton Of separation and mixture being
known as a cycle" Several cycles
are requireda to assure the proper
blend. - s.~...
/ The charges are then weighed down
to fractions of an ounce, sewed in
bags, and tried out in the mortars, to
be sure that they will go in smoothly
when required. There have been, in
stances when an entire target prac-
tice has been thrown out bcause It
tice has. been thrown out because It
the powder bags did not fit.
The target itself is small pyra-
midal one, to be towed 400 yards be
hind the navy tug Navajo, which has
been loaned. by Admiral Cowles for
the purpose ANY splash coming with
in a 50-yard radius OF. the target is
considered a hit, the fall of the pro
jectile being taken by the splash.
Practice Now. n. a.. -,
For some time past the tug James
Makee has been towing targets across
the zones of mortar fire to give the
men in the station practice at track
ing its course. Such gcalibre practice
has been finished, and the gunlers
are now worked up to state of keen
anticipation for the supreme test of
the year. 49, 49,
Monday the firing win be in the in
nermost zone, from $500 yards to
$500 range Wednesday the target
will be towed at from $500 to $500
yards. On each days practice there
will be four trial shots, and ten record
shots fired. The. record shots are fired
at one-minute intervals, from altern-
ate pits, every mortar being fired once
except the No. l mortar of each pit,
which will be fired twice. The first
shot is the only one on which time
can be saved, it being allowable to
fire as soon as possible after the UNI
pire gives the command to commence
firing, but after the first shot the 9TH
ers must be at regular intervals OF
one minute. J.. s...
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, adju-
tant general, is to be the umpire, and
as such is responsible for the safety
of the firing. Major Timberlake, COM
handing the coast artillery district,
has his command in high state of
efficiency, and good results are ex-
pected.
Last year there was some trouble
with the target, which became en-
tangled in tie towing apparatus, and
the record practice was up to the best
standards. Everyone at Fort Kruger
is anxious to make the coming shoot
ing as nearly perfect as possible.