The sun., 1918-10-26
j. s. NAVAL GUNS
BIGGEST IN WEST
Sixty-six Foot Monsters Hurl
1G Inch Shells Weighing
Ton Each.
Sptcidi Despdfch TO THE suN


WAsHINGroN, Oct. 25.-The announce
ment from France that American l6
inch naval guns had wrought havoc be-
hind the German lines reveals the fact
that Gen. Pershing's forces are using
the most powerful and the longest range
guns OF any army on the western front
Excepting for the freak German gun
that bombarded Paris at a range OF
seventy-four miles no gun yet In action
In the actual fighting is the equal OF
these naval weapona The German gun
fred only an insignificant charge
whereas the American weapons IRE high
explosive projectiles Weighing ton or
more.
Each Weighs 100 Tons.
The American guns are sixty-six fee:
long, OF so calibre and weigh approx
mately 100 tons without the carriage
-, They were originally intended for the
new battle cruisers, Secretary Daniels
to-day explained. but a change in the
available for other uses. Rear Admiral
Earle. chief OF the Navy Bureau OF
Ordnance. recommended that they he
placed on railway mountings for land
service with the armies in France.
1t was decided that the railway bat
terry must be made completely mobile
so that It might be operated without be-
ing based at any particular spot. For
this reason II was necessary to provide
| not only the railway cars mounting the
guns. but also locomotives and cars suf-
| fcient TO accommodate all the operating
personnel Of the expedition together with
the ammunition. repair shops, cranes
stores and miscellaneous material.
Secretary Daniels in commenting on
the work OF getting the guns ready for
! use said:
THE first gun mounted complete left
the Baldwin shops April IS. 1918. In
charge of Capt T. A. Kearney. assistant
chief of the bureau of ordnance, and
| Lieutenant Commander l.. X. Bye. also
i OF the bureau. for the army proving
! ground at Sandy Hook, where the tests
were made In the presence of officers of
| the army and navy These guns are all
manned and operated by officers and men
OF the United States navy, under the
command OF Rear Admiral Charles p.
Plunkett. formerly director Of the once
OF gunnery exercises and engineering
| performances
Men Mostly From Chicago.
| AS soon as the manufacture OF the
material was we'll under way the task OF
assembling and training personnel
for the expedition was begun. The on
| GERS were drawn both from the regular
navy and Naval Reserves. and the men
| for the most part were taken from the
Great Lakes Training Station, Chicago
THE men responsible for the work OF
! erection and operation of these mounts
in France were trained by employing
them as inspectors at the various plants
actually manufacturing the material for
the project, so they became thoroughly
familiar with every part and with this
method OF fabrication. The men serving
the guns in action were trained at the
naval proving grounds In the proper
method OF handling the heavy projectiles
and powder charges. as well as in the ac.
tual firing of the gun.
Others were given training at the
army proving ground at Sandy HooK In
the installation of the pit foundation
also In practical work in track laying
track repairing and other essentials oil
raiiroading that are necessary in the op.
erations OF the guns.
Went Into Action September 10.
THE first party of officers and mer
for this expeditionary force arrived ir
France June 8. The first shipment OF
material left the United States June 20
and The entire organisation was com
pleted and ready to move to tho battl.
front In France late in August
This battery was in action at tn,
front for the first time on September II
and has continued In active operate
s'nco that date"
ILs AeSOri0fsd Dy.xs