Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-19

1t later was said that the number OF
hits made was most satisfactory.
Needed Bigger Targets.
Discussing the tests In his annual
report, Admiral Bloch said: "One o!
the great difficulties encountered in
anti-aircraft gunnery and training has
been the lack of proper target. The
towed target hitherto used has been
too small to give a proper point OF
aim at high attitudes and too small
to give q target large enough to
register hits. Utilizing the Naval
Aircraft Factory. the bureau has been
developing a target Of large size to
be towed by heavier-than-air craft and
a target of much greater size to be
towed by lighter than-air ships. singly
or in tandem. If a number of targets
can be towed by a lishter-than,air
ship It Will be practicable to simulate
squadron attack and defense.
The u. S. S. Texas and Shenandoah
operated together during the week
ending July "a, 1925. These operations
were solely to test such targets. their
towing gear and their handling. They
were in no sense gunnery exercises.
nor were they intended to be such.
Although the Texas did fire a number
of rounds with her antiaircraft guns
at these new and larger targets with
very good results, this was incidental
to the test of the targets and target
gear. From a material point Of view
the tests were satisfactory, and 1t ap-
pears that the expectations of the
service for larger and better targets
will be realized"
Admiral Bloch declared that con
trary to the reflected opinions Of Ger.
tain portions of the press. the bureau
Is of the firm opinion that our Navy
afioat is In a highly efficient condition
and that much progress has been
made during the past fiscal year in
gunnery."
Against Separate Air Service.
This is not to say" he added. that
greater efficiency can not be obtained
by the construction of certain types
Of new ships permitted under the
treaty for the Limitation of arma-
ments. and by the substitution of new
and improved material for the older
material which is now on board many
of the older ships"
The report took the position that
feet aircraft should be in and of the
Navy and not a separate service"
I'm the development and supply of
offensive and defensive apparatus" 1t
said, mot only for surface and sub
surface craft but also for aircraft,
these arms have been found to be so
tnterrelated that the best results are
only obtainable by close coordinate ton
and cooperation between the various
types of naval craft.
1T has been clearly determined that
to increase the effective range and in
crease the accuracy of fire of ina jor-
caliber guns the airplane is essen.
tial to combatant ships. Thus the
airplane has become a part of the
long range flre-control system, and is
as much SO as the directorscope or the
range finder and their personnel. AS
such, without considering their other
uses. airplanes must be on ships of
the fleet. This alone justifies and re-
quires that the personnel and material
belonging to such fleet aircraft, should
be in and of the Navy and not a sep
arate service.
Development Of Bombs.
The development Of weapons for
the plane, such as bombs, fuses. bomb
sights, guns. torpedoes, etc, has pro-
ceeded regularly and progress has
been made. Defensive weapons and
apparatus have also been improved
and 1 am optimistic enough to hope
and expect that notable advances will
be made within the next few years.
AT the close of the World War
the Navy was just being equipped
with It's first anti-aircraft weapons.
These being the first ever produced
duced in the stress Of war, naturally
were susceptible to many improve
ments. However, this material was
on hand. 1t was expensive and was
capable Of enduring many years, SO,
therefore, no changes OF unproven
value were recommended. Research,
study. experimentation, and develop
ment were proceeded with. and until
1t was certain that material advances
could be made no request for funds
were made.
The director Of the budget and the
last two Congresses have assisted the
bureau, and soon it will be possible
to install for trial afloat a limited
of new improved, and efficient
While the present anti
aircraft guns are by no means modern.
they are not negligible. The records
Of the Navy Department indicate that
during the past year IS battleships
and two light cruisers held AZ prac-
tees against aircraft targets towed by
airplanes. In 20 Of these practices
hits were made on the targets.
While these practices were held under
favorable conditions. nevertheless they
represent the best production of actual
that could be obtained. 1t
Is to be hoped that even this very
creditable performance will be much
improved by recent developments.
with the development Of automatic
ton recording devices it will
be possible to locate the point Of
burst Of anti-aircraft projectiles, thus
enabling careful analyses to be made
which will assist in gunnery training
and technique"
WISH DRAB CHRISTMAS.