The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1912-06-15

Tue pointers, their eyes also fixed upon the target
oy 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
VI Slowly rises on the sinking and swelling seas.
signal is received at one of the guns and a
hash OF lame and yellowish gas tells that the
great smell Is on It's way toward the horizon The
spotter III the towering mast watches the pro-
Jectlle's course with his glass and notes the dis
'ant geyser which marks the watery grave of the
snot. hstantaneously he estimates how far short
ol the target 1t struck for it many hundreds of
yards from its goal. He telephones his guess to
tne plottlng room. The range is plotted according
~ and another shot is fired. The white fountain
Ill tne distance close to the target informs the
spotter mat his guess was good one and he
telephones his latest opinion as to the correction
required. Inc new range is instantly communi
cated to the gunners and the ship ploughing along
rougn the sea, sh1vers the salvo of shots leaps
lroh ner side and speeds on it's way toward the
canvass covered framework far distant represent.
Ing the vitals of a battleship. The spotter notes
the geysers and the fact that there is little left
OF the target except the posts between which the
canvas was spread
Inc destruction of the major part of the target
does not stop the firing however The range and
tne rate OF It's 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.
srapneo Dy 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
Ihey tell the story of the success or failure and
the practice continues until the ships allotment
OF shots has been discharged.
his does not constitute all of the firing of the
big guns which will take place. On another dav
there will be division battle practice In this the
meet forms in line of battle by divisions and at
JACKS strlng OF targets moving along the horizon
seVeral miles away In formation intended to
represent corresponding fleet of the enemy. In
this drill each batleship is to conne its firing to
the period of time within which the particular
target or opposing battleship, which has been as
signed to 1t for destruction lies between certain
prearranged bearings forward and aft of the beam.
IN this the firing will be controlled in some meas,
ure by the flag officer of each division. Problems
are assigned to each division and each ship is d.
rected oy signals from the flagship of the division
usually by wireless, to the part it is to perform
1t may be, for instance that in the course of the
actlon 1t Will be deemed necessary to concentrate
the nre OF more than one ship upon given yes
sci OF the enemy. This will be signalled and the
ships Will aim their guns and fire accordingly.
Iorpedoes are employed for defensive purposes
on battlesh1ps themselves Should their guns be.
come disabled In the course of a conflict and the
enemys vessels approach too close for comfort,
say within two miles, the battleship would wish
to terminate the career OF the intruder AS a bat.
tlesn1p 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 nv a
gyroscope which, set going in one plane, persists
IN maintaining that position. Attached to the
vertical rudder by means Of an arm, it resfsts
any chance DETECTION from the appointed course
and conducts its charge undeviatingly toward the
goal s.
Il the records made at the recent target prac-
tice We're to be published, judging from some of
the reports the people Of the United States would
be satisfied that the floating bulwarks of the coun.
try were amply able to take care CT themselves
ana their charges in the face Of any navy on tina
globe.