New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-01
DEVICE DOUBLES
GUNS'RANGE
Battleships to Test Secret
Invention-Finds Targets
20 Miles Away

Six battleships Of the United States
Navy will sail out Of the Brooklyn
NAVY Yard one week from to-day
equipped with a secret device which
will render them by far the most en-
cient fighters aAost, according to state
ments made yesterday by officers who
are in the secret. The range Of the
main batteries of 14-inch guns will be
increased to nearly 10000 yards in
stead of 10000, if the belief of the
navy officers is borne out by results
Vast improvements also have been
made in the fire control system, al
ready considered as good as the best.
Ever since the Pennsylvania, Wyo-
ming. Arkansas, New York, Texas and
Arizona dropped in 20 spend the holi-
days mechanics, working under the di-
raction of Lieutenant Rensselaer, Wes-
ton Clark. have been mysteriously oc-
cupied on board. Lieutenant Clark, as
usual. was not 70 be seen last night,
but with the day Of sailing only
week away other officers could not con-
ceal their jubilation.
I've may not have the biggest navy
aaoat." said one, "but for once we've
got the jump on every one of them, so
far as we know"
Pick Up Targets 20 Miles, on
From what little could be CLEANED
from the close-lipped but exuberant
staff he was right Two attributes OF
the marvellous device we're stated with
an emphasis that left little doubt Of the
speakers faith.
A range finder had been developed
which would overcome the curvature
of the earth and permit the big guns
to pick up their target twenty miles
or more away. A modification Of the
fire control system had been made so
that, in case cs necessity, one man in
any turret, having oeen informed auto
maticalIy that every breech block was
closed. could fire proadside from the
main battery.
Some enthusiasts hinted that although
tests mad proved the practically Of the
invention its ultimate possibilities
might be still more surprising. II was
said that the range of the guns might
be limited only by their elevation, and
that the range finder would indicate
the target as far as the shell would
carry. Through a recent adjustment
of the main battery guns on the Ne
vada, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Okla
homa the elevation was increased and
a theoretical range OF 10000 yards es-
tablished, but the effectiveness OF FIRE
at such a distance was doubted, as the
curvature Of the earth would inter
yene.
Beats Range Of British
The Importance of such a shipboard
range finder can be gauged by the in
read OF the Dogger Bank action, where
the British battle-cruisers began firing
at the range Of $1,000 yards.
Never has a rule Of the navy yard
been so strict as the regulations which
hedge the invention. The rule. which
prohibits visitors from inspecting sub
marines has been cons idered one Of the
most important, but an oficer declared
that a violation of IL would be consid-
cred a petty offence beside hint
which might give away the new secret.
II IL suspected that the device is
simple because OF the short time neees-
sary to install II, and that II Is the in
vention of a naval officer, because no
prior hint of its existence had escaped.
IL also was suspected that the fighting
tops were the site OF at least one part
OF il, and this suspicion was revealed
20 an officer.
Nobody outside OF those concerned
with the installation knows" he said.
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