New-York tribune., 1912-02-18

I.N
test the big guns which go to make make
Il up the equipment Of our battleships
must undergo before they earn the
right 10 Uncle Sans firing line. THESE
tests are made at the naval proving
grounds at Indian Head. Maryland, Sc
cIuded spot on the banks of the Potomac
Riyer about twenty-five miles from WASH
ireton. Hero the United States govern
nent owns twelve hundred acres OF lahd'
and almost every day a bloodless oattle
bctveen guns and armor Is waged on INC
river front.
This conflict is jealousy guarded from
the public eye. The place is aosolu'el!
closed TO visitors, and only those VINO are
fortunate enough to obtain pass from
the Bureau OF Ordnance at NasmhsIoii
are permitted to look upon the techhlcdi
tests 10 which the guns and armor arc
subjected. The government tug is the oH'S
boat allowed to make landing AT 'he
wharf
Thore il a corps Of naval officers at lnd-
ian Head. md these men and their faml-
,,os live on the far end of the reservation
away from the valley where the firing Is
done. About five hundred civilians three
are empIoyed 10 carry on the dangerous
not TO say difficult work OF sdlesudi "i'i7
the lives Of our sailors, as well as proN'He
tine awful power of our modern guns.
PUTTING THE GUNS IN PLACE
Only those who have seen gun 60
through its many tests can tul!y redi'@'
the havoc which Is wrought by the h"S9
s,ael Instruments. The guns are brought
Inv tug TO Indian Head from the gun iao-
tory Of the Washington Navy Yard. Al lhe
rroving ground wharf giant crane hI'S
,reu IN a truck. which runs on rails 10
roipi near the spot where the trSou' IL
70 he made. At this point ano'hor 'i"i'o
Urts them into position, where tHoio ioub j.
examination Of the structural paIlS -
made by the naval officers on duty. inc
reavv work ia done by the negro employees
and as soon as the gun has been pro-
rounced structurally perfect the men oesih
to make ready for the firing
Tho first trial IS a dangerous experiment
and accidents sometimes happen. SeNriaI
vaars ago a negro's head was blown OH
hv tho explosion Of a siN-pounder ITO
ioc,rcs. too. sometimes perform strange
s,tics Special prccaution is taken 10 "IlA'
MIC the number and extent Of the disasters
which might result through the freaks OF
tho proiectiles by the use Of siren
Whistle This is blown five minutes before
thn tast begins, thus anording the WORK
p,en who are at the works near by or Walk
,r, about the grounds an opportunity 10
s.or sbeIter in some Of the shacks erected
for that purpose. The whistle can be
noard for AT least a mile. and even the IN
babitants Of the village are prepared i''
tho concussion. which is little short oil an
earthquake
Tho after effects of great gun hre are
sometimes serious, for the conclusion
freouentIv looscns plasterlnE from the cell
irgs ~ the houses in the vicinity ana I'D
ono instance several windows In the ho''l
- tho village were shattered. Nearly an
tho officers homes have pressed ihe'a'
ceilings and many Of the Buildings nave
,,,adovs made Of a material known as
enre,o,d instead Of glass Everybody aoout
,bo rIoce has become accustomed 10 inc
na,se and the tremendous conclusions oc-
r,eion little excitement among the WoIh-
ore The men in the administration ouiIa-
Too hardly look Up from their books "hen
tho build,ng seems 10 rock on It's fouhaa-