The Washington times., 1913-11-05
USE LOADED SHELLS
IN TARGET PRACTICE
ArtiIIerymen Make Realistic Use
of Modern Guns and Higher
Mathematics.

on the Fort Leavenworth Military Res
ervation. 1t was the first time in the
memory of the oldest inhabitant that
loaded shells were used in target prac-
uce
An old inhabitant did recall that
twenty years ago loaded shells were
fired from the military reservation. By
accident one of the shells was dropped
in Weston, Mo, across the river.
Some of the ex-Confederates across
the river were greatly surprised and
thought the war was being resumed"
the old inha bitant remarked dryly. He
wore a blue uniform.
Be that as 1t may, the demonstration
at Fort Leavenworth was the most war
like in the memory of the officers at the
fort. The demonstration was given for
the benefit OF officers I'm the army school
and Battery E, Sixth Field Artillery.
Capt. Fox Conner. commanding, came
all the way from Fort Riley, 1872 miles,
marching seven days, to make the dem
onstration.
The battery started on the return
trip to Fort Riley after a sojourn of
two days. Certain suspicious persons,
with a penchant for drawing conclu
sions, saw in the demonstration a de-
sire for preparedness on the part of
the Government in view of its rela-
tions with a certain peppery southern
republic. The Government moves in
mysterious way, and gave no ex-
PLANTATION of its unusual performance
in sending a battery of artillery 162
miles to teach the officers in an army
school how to fire guns containing
loaded shells.
Preliminary Observations.
The wooded hills of the reservation
were wrapped in a hazy fog that
hung motionless in the yellow sun
light Grows were crying in the iso-
lated trees that lay between 4 certain
plot of plowed ground and distant
wooded hills wrapped in the morning
mist Suddenly there was a clatter of
horses hoofs on the pavement of the
Fort I.eavenworth road and column of
mounted khaki-clad soldiers wheeled
into the plot of plowed ground at a
brisk trot- Sharp, staccato commands
and four cannon were whirled into po-
sition with what appeared to be un-
seemly haste.
A pause, the adjustment Of field
telescope on a tripod, some observa-
tions by a trim looking soldier. some
calculations with curious metal box
containing mirrors. called range |
finder; q momentary conversation over
a field telephone and a straight, su-
perior looking man stepped into position
behind the first cannon and gave the
command to load.
simultaneously four long, slender car
tridges, brass jacketed, were whisked
milton wagons and slipped silently into !
waiting openings, click and the breech
is closed. The commander raises his
right hand. gives two shap commands
as to range and detection and the guns
are sighted. Fire. he says calmly, |
and there are roar and burst of
binding flame and the shrill screech of |
a shell as 1t flashes to the target, two |
miles away. z-....
Three. four. five seconds pass. and |
there is a puff Of smoke near a clump |
Of trees, representing infantry. When |
the shell explodes 252 bullets the size of |
gooseberries fly go yards in all direc- |
tions with as much force as IL fired |
from the cannon direct, capable, say, of |
killing hundred of the enemy. Four |
cannon are thus fired in quick success |
sion and then there is volley firing, |
with four guns discharging the deadly |
prolecties at the rate OF twenty-five a |
minute.
All Of this happens in much less time |
than il takes to tell IL, and gives an i'm |
preston, vivid as the flame that darts |
from the breeches of the rapid-fire guns,
Of the terrific destruction lying latent |
in modern device of war.
There are 10 men in this battery |
manning the four rapid-fire guns-of-
ficers, drivers, orderlies, cannoneers-
thirty-five of these in case of accident, |
you know.
The projectile the gun fires weighs |
fifteen pounds, and it is propelled by |
twenty-eight ounces of powder, and the |
shell contains 252 pieces of shrapnel |
The cost of each projectile is SIS, and /
sixty shells were fired on this particular l
morning, making the cost to the Gov /
ernment for a mornin's practice 5000 Il
Cheaper, however, than to have all the II
good marksmen among the Mex-that II
is, the enemy.
Accuracy In Shooting.
This is mere child's play for these s.
inch rapid-fire guns at that. This two
mile long target range is little cramp-
ed for these destructive greyhounds of
the artillery, for when they have el-
bow room, the range OF their fire is $500
yards, or nearly four miles. This morn
ing the range of the target has been
only from 1900 to $500 yards, a mere
mile and a half, or, perhaps two miles.
So accurate are the guns that the can
noneers can drop a shell within yard II
or two Of any given point four miles
away. Each shell is equipped with a
time fuse. and the cannoneer is able to
set this fuse mathemau ucaily so that the II
shell will explode at will in the air, or
after IL strikes the ground or at any II
desired point between the mouth of the Il
gun and destination. The shells are ca
pable of being put to a double purpose, 4
gun or exploded at any point up to /
four miles distant Il
The guns are sighted, not at the OBJ
Ject fired at, but in this case aimed at |
a wireless tower, perhaps a mile from |
the imaginary infantry which 81 Was the Il