The Washington herald., 1916-09-19
AND NAVY NEWS
Best Service Column In city.

The huge fourtesn-inch guns Of the
new super-Dreadnought Pennsylvania,
cannot be fred simultaneously. This
fact was revealed during the recent tar
get practice engaged in during the gov
eminent acceptance tests.
The Pennsylvsnia and her sister ship,
the Arizona-Just completed in the
Brooklyn Navy Yard-are the first
Dreadnoughts to have all their big guns
installed, three to a turret. The super
Dreadnoughts Oklahoma and Nevada
nave two Of their turrets containing
three guns, but the remaining two tur-
rets contain only two guns each.
The trouble discovered on the Pennsyl-
Vania also exists in the three-gun tur-
rets OF the Oklahoma, It was learned q
few days ago. When the three guns in
the turret are fired simultaneously the
middle gun becomes considerably defect
ed and cannot be controlled.
After experimenting, It was found that
the center gun was fired one-twen-
ueth Of q second after the outside guns
had been discharged this detection
could be overcome.
The control apparatus aboard the Penn
sylvania accordingly was altered, for
this difference in time could be con-
trolled electrically and the three guns
hred with the time interval. After this
had been done, the Pennsylvania estab-
llshed an envtable score.
One Of the paramount hazards OF avia-
ton, the bursting Of aerial propellers,
has been eliminated. Experts working
under the direction Of the War Depart
ment through patient research, solved
this problem within the last ten days.
Under the new $4,000, 900 Congress
sional appropriation, the foremost
minds Of the land are now combin-
ing to make seroplanes as nearly per-
feet as can be done and to place
this countrys air fleets on a foot
ing with those of European nations,
The executive committee OF the new
ly-apponited advisory committee for
aeronautics Is in charge OF the eI-
perimentation. This committee con-
suits with the best engineering tall
ent the country provides. as well as
with experts from the Bureau of
Standards.
The chairman is DR.. W. STRAIT
ton. director OF the Bureau Of Stand
ards. The other members are Prof
J. S. Ames. OF Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity: Prof Charles c. Marvin. chief
OF the Weather Bureau; Prof c. D.
Walcott, secretary Of the Smithsonisn n
Institution; LeUt-Col George o.
Squire, L. S. A. and Commander Mark
L. Bristol. and Lieut. Commander
James o. Richardson. both naval Of
ficers
The appropriation became avsilab BILE
August IS. Since then contracts have
been let for fifty aeroplanes
The new super-dreAdnought Penn
sylvania is to be made ready for ser
vice as the flagship OF the North At
lantic fleet Admiral Mayo. it is said,
will transfer his nag from the Wyo-
ming to the Pennsylvania, about the
middle OF October
How important was the achieve
ment Of the Pennsylvania, when, dur
ing the recent target practice, II
scored FIVE hits out Of possible
twelve at a distance OF 10000 yards.
approximately eleven miles, can be
appreciated when II Is recalled that
only a few months ago naval experts
were startled by the feat OF British
battleships in scoring hits against
German cruisers at q range Of 1900
yards Ordnance officers in this Coun-
try held that the range was so greaS
that It was Improbable TO develop
l6-inch guns for American battleships
with the idea of getting effective hre
at such distances. The recommends =
tion Of the Navy General Board in
favor of the 16-inch guns, however,
prevailed.