The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-10-19

A Million Dollars Uncle Sam Has In
after the girder was unloaded from the
ship and theA first two trains were
ready twenty-five days after erection
started.
No. 2 battery was the first to get
into action. On August 10 telegram
was received from the commanding
general, railway artillery reserve;
American expeditionary forces, .e-
questing that two guns be dispatched
at the earliest possible date for use
on an important special mission.
These guns were requested in order
to fire on the German long range gun
| which was at the time bombard.ng
Paris. The long range gun was NOV
I ed, however before the naval guns
icould get into position. The guns
We're moved forward and were in al
most constant use until the signing CT
the armistice.
General Pershing, in his report,
states in his description of the last
| phase Meuse-Argonne offensive, Our
large calibre guns had advanced and
were skiIlfully brought into position
to fire upon the important lines at
Montmedy, Longuyons and Confla ms.
The strategical goal which was our
highest hope was gained. We had
| cut the enemy's main line of .,om-
munications, and nothing but surren-
der or an armistice could save his
army from complete disaster.
4 Rear Admiral Plunkett began the
assembly and organization of the per-
sonnet in February 1918. The fleet, of
course, could not, in time of war be
drawn upon to furnish the personnel;
consequently most of the officers and
men were drawn from the naval re-
serve force, the officers being made
from the enlisted men. Twenty sea-
men gunners Were selected from the
/ seamen gunners school. A large num-
Der of the men were picked from the
various navy rifle ranges. The fol-
lowing letter is quoted to show the
calibre of men that were selected:
| Select detachment consisting of
the officer or petty officer Gin charge)
whose name appears in parenthesis
above and thirty other men, for most
important duty.
This detachment include only ex-
cellent men. 1t should include sew
eraI men who can do machinist work,
electrical work, radio work, concrete,
work, signalling, locomotive engineers
4
plumbers. blacksmiths, automobile men
and an assortment of men of various
| trades.
| TT is not intended that all men
should be men of trades: the majority
/ of them should be intelligent and ac-
tive young men, preferably those with
some education. 1t is not necessary
/ that the men have ratings indicative
| of their trades. Select excellent all
around men without regard to rating
Hold this detachment in readiness for
orders.
Submit to the director Of gunnery
exercises and engineering performan-
ces a list of men showing their rates
branch of service, small arms qualifi-
cations the place from which received
| the various duties each has performed
at your range and a brief statement
of his former occupation, education
and things he can do.
Hold this party as a separate de-
tachment. Have it begin an intensive
course of training, covering all the
navy small arms courses, including
daily firing for each man. Give plen-
ty of practice with pistols and revol-
Ivers. or both, and especially plenty Of
machine gun practice, each man with
Il
Ipractice with 600 and especially at l.
600 yards Every man must have g
Thorough knowledge of the mechanism
Iof the pistol, rifle, and each type OF
machine gun. Include no man who
is unable to qualify as sharpshootel
or higher Have daily instruction ir
signalling, including semaphore, blink
err buzzer and radio IL possible.
| Lieut. Commander J. w. Bunkley
who is attached to Admiral Plunkett's
Istaff on the Rochester, is one of ths
officers who was with the admiral or
the western front.
Every night Except Sunday have
instruction. Intensity the work ant
Ieleminate all men unable or not dis
tposed to undergo incessant work
Make daily report of range practict
land of the other instruction to the
ldirector of gunnery exercises and en-
igineering performances.