The Elbert County tribune., 1912-06-14
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the pointers. their eyes also fixed upon the target
by means of telescopes, They try to keen the
crossing of the hair sights upon the distant speck
representing the mark. while the ship says away
or slowly rises on the sinking and swelling seas
signal Is received at of the guns and a
hash OF flame and yellowish gas tells that the
great shell is on Its way toward the horizon The
spotter In the towering mast watches the pro
1ectiles course with his glass and notes the dis
tant geyser which marks the watery grave OF the
snot lnstananeously he estimates how far short
OF the target 1t struck for 1t many hundreds
yards from its goal. He telephones his guess
the plotting room The range is plotted according
ly. and another shot is fired. The white fountain
IN the distance close TO the target informs the
spotter that his guess was a good one and he
telephones his latest opinion to the correction
required The new range is instantly communi.
Gated to the gunners and the ship. poughIng along
through the sea, shvers the savo of shots leaps
from her side and speeds on its way toward the
canvass covered framework far distant represent
Ing the vitals of battleshp. The spotter notes
the geysers and the fact that there is little left
OF the target except the posts between which the
was spread
The destruction OF the major part OF the target
does not stop the firing however The range and
the rate of its change is known. The gunners fire
their giant pieces accordingly and the shots tear
their way between the posts of the distant mark
or drop around IT, where their descent is photo
graphed by two cameras so placed on the stern of
the vessel towing the target that their lenses
sweep the sea In front and in rear of the target.
They tell the story of the success failure and
the practice continues until the ships allotment
of shots has been discharged
This does not constitute all of the firing of the
big guns which will take place On another day
there will be division battle practice In this the
feet forms in line OF battle by divisions and at
tacks string of targets moving along the horizon
several miles away In a formation intended to
represent corresponding feet of the enemy. In
this drill each battlesbip is conine its firing to
the period of time within which the particular
target. opposing battleship which has been as.
signed to II for destruction lies between certain
prearranged bearings forward and aft OF the beam.
In this the firing will be controlled in meas-
by the flag officer of each division Problems
are assigned to each division and each ship Is d.
rected by signals from the flagship of the division
usually by wireless to the part 1t is perform
II may be, for instance that in the of the
action It will be deemed necessary to concentrate
the fire OF more than ship upon given
sci of the enemy. This will be sgnalled and the
ships will aim their guns and fire accordingly
Torpedoes are employed for defensive purposes
on battleships themselves Should their guns be
come disabled in the course OF a conflict and the
enemy's vessels approach too close for comfort.
say within two miles the batteshp would wish
TO terminate the career of the intruder. AS bat
tleshp would be required to do this only in the
daytime. the torpedo practice OF the crews takes
place in the daylight hours
The motions of torpedo are governed by
gyroscope which. set going In plane persists
in maintaining that position Attached to the
vertical rudder by means of an arm. 1t ressts
any chance DETECTION from the appointed course
and conducts its charge undeviaiingly toward the
goal.
II the records made at the recent target prac-
tice were to be published judging from some OF
the reports. the people Of the United States would
be satisfied that the floating buwarks of the coun-
try were amply able to take care of themselves
and their charges in the face of any navy on the
globe.