Gilpin observer., 1912-06-13

the pointers. their eyes also fixed upon the target
by means of telescopes. They try to keep 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.
A signal is received one of the guns and
flash of flame and yellowisb gas tells that the
great she'll is on its way toward the horizon The
spotter In the towering mast watches the pro
Jecties course with his glass and notes the dis
tant geyser which marks the watery grave of the
shot lnstantaneousy he estimates how far short
of the target 1t struck, for IT many hundreds OF
yards from its goal He telephones his guess to
the plotting room. The range is plotted according.
y, and another shot Is fired. The white fountain
in the distance close to the target informs the
spotter that his guess 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, poughng along
through the shivers the savo of shots leaps
from her side and speeds its way toward the
canvass covered framework far distant represent.
Ing the vitals of battleship. 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 1t, 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
fleet forms in line of battle by divisions and at.
tacks string of targets moving along the horizon
several miles away In formation intended to
represent corresponding feet of the enemy In
this drill each batteshp is to confne its firing to
the period OF time within which the particular
target. opposing battleship. which has been as.
signed to It 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
assigned to each division and each ship is di.
rected by signals from the flagship OF the division.
usually by wireless TO the part II is to perform
1t may be, for instance that in the course Of the
action It will be deemed necessary to concentrate
the fire of more than one ship upon a given yes.
sci of the enemy. This will be signalled 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 n conflict and the
enemy's vessels approach too close for comfort
say within two miles. the battleship would wish
to terminate the career of the intruder As a bat
tleship 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 a
gyroscope which, set going In one plane. persists
in maintaining that position. Attached to the
vertical rudder by Of an arm. II resists
any chance DETECTION from the appointed course
and conducts its charge undevatngly 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 bulwarks OF the
try were amply able to take care OF themselves
and their charges in the face OF any navy on the
globe.