The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-25
WIND AND TIDE
 INTERFERE WITH. BIC GUN PRACTICE
Bridgeport Tars Leave Tangier
 Bay for Maine Coast.
Big Battleship Kentucky Is Like
 a City In Itself.
Special to The Farmer.)

ES Tangier Bay, Md, On Board U. s. s. Kentucky. Aug. 24.-Target practice bis over after several days of strenu- Ious work upon the part of boats crews from the Kentucky to keep the big hattle-target in position for the fire of the Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine divisions of the naval mill- Etia-
 The exceIIency of the shots will not
 be disclosed by the official board of
 unnpires for some weeks, but it is be- lieved Connecticut hits will not be as great as during the cruise of the pre- cedfng year when smaller guns were
 in use. It is also general opinion that the gunners were somewhat dis concerted by the delays incident to the placing of the target, though this factor will not be allowed to count in the final results.
 A batt1eship target is said to have been used for the first time within the
 memory of naval nnilitian1en for this practice. It is constructed of solid wood heavily weighted in a fin keel, with an average depth below the wa ter line of 25 or more feet. The SUI Iperstfucture is braced forward and aft with longitudinal and lateral sup ports bringing it several feet above the water-line. This sllperstructure holds platforms and mosts for bend E ing the large sail targets in which the white squares are lined It is ninety feet or more in length and the pres sure against wind and tide, was so EseVere that one day it could not be placed and several times later tore away from it's anchorage. It required the use of a 1,40Os pound anchor to hold it in position.
 As the last shots were fired to-day, al calm sea with intense heat from a Southern sun made the picture one of beauty as the great projectiies splash ed high beyond the targets. strummed through the air and raised nill1-white gevsers of foam and spray far to- wards the horizon line.
 At noon the last shot had been fired land with the closing of the maga- zines, arrival of the repair and un- pire parties who had been afioat in jthe smaller boats, all was in nsreadiness to depart
 The Kearsages is expected to steam to the practice range this afternoon and unless the Kentucky delays her sailing to. furnish umpires for her sis ter-ships firing. the Connecticut naval militia expect to be at sea Portland bound, tonight.
 The battIeship Tennessee. recently in the Philadelphia navy yard steam ed up Tangier sound to-day, passing the naval militia fleet. Her destina- ton is undisclosed but presumably for Baltimore.
 Many persons on land believe that the sailors life is one of ease. This conception should not prevail and the rnilitiamen on board the Kentuclxy are no exception to the rule for strict service regulations obtain. and from the lower compartm ents of the ves- sels 2A feet below the waterline to the top of the basket-masts, action is the watchword from early morning until taps sound lights out at night. A Far nler reporter permitted to visit the lower recesses of the ship found Bridgeport boys manning the coal bunkers in the very bottom, officers from Bridgeport in the engine room and local men in all sections of the upper decks. They were hard atswork and apparently enthusiastic over their life at sea
 The routine on shfpbeard begins at a. m. and does not end until after nine. when special watches still re- main posted throughout the ship. The days routine follows:
 5 A M, all hands Cat sea- call idlers) 5:3a. turn too, 6carry out morning orders); 6, all hands (Sun- days and holidays); '. time and uni form signals; 7:15 mess gear; 7:30 breakfast; 7:55, first call; 8, colors; SIS turn to, bright work. clear up deck for quarters; S:3O, sick call; 9:15. quarters; 9:30, drilV calls; 10, signal, absentees, cases for hospital; 11:3O re- treat from drill; 11:45,s mess gear; 11:55 officers call and mess call.
 Noon 12, Dinner, officers lunch; signal, coal on hand, coal expended; at sea, latitude and longitude.
 1 D. m.. turn too, pipe down cloth ing. etc; 1s15, drill call, drills and instruction for enlisted men; 3:15 re- treat from drill and pipe sweepers; A. general drills; 4:30, officers school; s5:3o. retreat from officers. school; 5:45, mess gear; 5:55, officers call and mess gear5 6, supper and officers dinner; 6;sd turn too; 7:s0. hamrE ocks; 8. signals, officers school, at sea. signal. latitude and longitude; S:55, retreat from officers school; g, tattoo; g :o5, taps.
 While the average eye, upon a bat tleship is accustomed to see only the the big guns pointing fore and aft, those brist1ing from the sides, and the white jacketed sailors leaning over the rail or sitting on the turrets, there is. far more tnpor- tant features located beneath the wa ter line of the ship which the visitors eye seldom sees.
 While the magazines, fore and aft, that carry hundreds of pounds of de- Sfv- F1o ole