The Washington herald., 1914-09-09
Modern Warfare.
BY ALEXANDER BLUSIE.

We have seen how the tremendous advance in
the field of mechanical science, in the construction
of ngeniousIy destructive firearms, and the manu-
facture of powerful explosives, has nearly entirely
eliminated the personal element in modern warfare.
Men no longer battle with one another; their ma
chimes combat II has thus become of primary i'm
portance for the artillery of land and sea to be of
the highest possible efficiency regards destructive
ness of the shells and craftsmanship of the gunners
In the days of wooden sailing vessels, sea fights
were of necessity fought with the vessels in close
proximity. Hence once the battle began there was
no other consideration the part of the gun crews
than that of loading and firing with greatest possible
rapidity
But with the advent OF the fast, powerful Dread
noughts and the long range of their armament future
naval engagements will be fought with the contend
ing parties at distance of from four to five miles
apart and because of the tremendous power of the
guns, will be decided in the first few minutes OF
gunfre. 1t is thus manifest how important is the
rapidity and skill with which the great guns dis
charged
Imagine the inside of turret of one of our
great battleships during battle, with the enemy's
ship FIVE miles off. 1t takes approximately fifteen
seconds for projecte reach that target from the
moment it IS fired But during that length of time
so that were this projectie to be fred directly at
the target it would be wasted. 1t must therefore
be determined just at what point the target will be
at the instant shell be brought TO that precise
point This calculation is an exact science, known
as fire control.
| The great guns are accordingly trained upon the
object in azimuth and also to make allowance for
the drop in trajectory the proece will take during
its flight sght-setter stands beside the gun re.
ceiving orders from the fire control force in the
turrets, so that he set the telescopes to make
allowance for force of wind, DETECTION, speed OF
target, range, etc While this is being done, the gun
crew works at highest speed to keep the ffty-foot
rifed tube filled with powder and projectile.
Some conception of the rapdity with which these
different processes carried on may be gained
from the fact that twelve-inch gun, which throws
a shot weighing $50 pounds and requires 325 pound:
OF powder or that purpose recently struck moving
target FIVE miles distant six times in fty-eight
onds! A battleship discharged its broadside o
twelve twelve-inch guns simultaneously at moving
target like distance off At this distance the targe
is barely visible to the naked eye. The combined
weight OF the projectiles totaled than three
tons, and of this than two passed through
the target 1t thus be readily realized that nc
ship yet constructed could Withstand this tremendous
I OomOarQlent occurring every ten SECONDS
Even more wonderful and ingenious is the methoc
by which the guns of coast artillery defense
discharged so that they will strike target which
is invisible to the gunners This is accomplished
by of charts, ruled off into squares and angles
Men stationed in towers and by aid of powerful
telescopes sight vessels at sea which aye invisible
to the men at the guns.
! The entire expanse of sea territory is marked
eff on corresponding charts into geometric square
and the position of the target indicated by tn
sghters. The angle is then calculated and the in
formation communicated to the gunners. The gun
is then brought to bear at the given angle and at
signal discharged. target eight miles out sea
unseen by the gunners, struck seven out OF tel
times by means of this method
! 1t may thus be how extraordinarily sys
tematized armies and navies must be in orde
to accomplish their object Constant testing, prac
tce, and the installing of new equipment must be de
voted to this end; vessels, equipment and personne
kept in constant readiness and efficiency An ex
position OF the costs OF maintenance and construction
of the naval establishment of the United States an
foreign powers would prove illuminating.