Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1912-09-06

Sembled in the still waters eI
~ Cape Cod Bay for target prac-
tice, and incidentally to enter
tain the summer visitors at the Cape
villages Of the north shore from Prov
tncetown as far as Dennis. On the re-
ceiving days, when the officers and
men are ready to play hosts to the
civilian population, there are scores
Of launches and pleasure craft plying
between the feet and the shore land
lngs, carrying loads of excursionists,
to whom peep 1t the inside workings
Of these war engines is a great event.
Traditionally sailors and officers are
courteous. and they seem very glad to
conduct the visitors about and answer
the unending questions.
When there is to be target practice
the great feet steams slowly out of
Provincetown Harbor early in the day
and steers across toward the Dennis
shore, distance Of about fifteen or
twenty miles, and falls into line for
nation, preparatory to the days work.
Meanwhile the targets at which the
battleships are to aim are being ar
ranged OF shore, about five miles at
sea. One Of the reasons why the fleet
gathers here in this way is because
there is very little traffic of fishing
vessels or steamers to interfere with
the practice, and the watchers, scan
ming the seward horizon with their
powerful glasses in search Of such
passing craft, seldom have to give
warning.
A. Seen From Shore.
The men behind the big guns on the
ships. five miles away, have to live I'D
to tho navy's traditional marksman-
ship II they are to hit the rolling can
vas targets, no more than twenty-five
beet square. This practice cannot be
carried on in rough water, and it is
the smooth water of Cape Cod Bay
that brings the warships here for big
gun practice.
The spectator on shore, who at
North Dennis may be within perhaps
two or three miles of the battleship.
drst sees sharp burst of smoke is
sue from the ship. An instant later.
before any report is heard, is seen the
spray shooting high in the air where
The shot has struck the water far ont
In the bay. Then comes the roar of
the gun. which rings long and loud for
several seconds, reverberating like
heavy thunder. In fact, when the
heaviest guns are being used. the
houses on the cape tremble and win.
dows rattle for some time after the
charge is fired. A few years ago the
big guns were fred frequently with
heavy charges and windows along the
shores at Dennis were often broken bv
the jar. The heavy gun firing can be
easily heard all over the cape and the
Jar felt in buildings as well. II "a
related that an accidental dischar.e
Of gun pointing shoreward once sent
shell in the direction of East Den.
mis-. 1t struck an empty house. which
naturally, was entirely demolished
In all the practice here-and the
squadron has assembled in the Massa.
chusetts waters for several years-ro
reports OF any damage done by str.v
shots beyond the targets have heen
heard, though there is considerable
traffic on some days between Boston
and Provincetown. The excursion
steamer Dorothy Bradford plys he.
tween these points twice daily ana
would be in direct line Of FIRE The
ships have made some remarkable rao
ords for accurate shooting whiia -.
target practice at this rendezvous
Night Attacks.
Another feature Of the war sau..
In the bay is the night attacks VIII,
the attacking fleet tries to get with n
firing distance Of the defensive scu.d
ron. 1t is not very often. howeua.
hat the attacking feet of destrovsn,
succeeds in creeping undiscoveras
within an unsafe" distance. Most -,
The work of this sort is done At nfsht
Then the powerful searchlights Of thc
craft are in play. making a free sna ne
Acle for the people on shore ~.
great lights fash back and ,or.s
ACROSS the sky. ind give the Cane CO..
residents . thrilling imitation Of wbs.