AMERICEN GUNNERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 318, 8 January 1909, Page 4

AMERICEN GUNNERY.

Some astonishing figures relative to the shooting of the I'nileU Stales fleet in the Spanish war. and as late as 1002, are given in an article, in the "McCluiv's Magazine." As a result of the victories of Manilla and Santiago the Amciican Navy achieved world-wide fame, but as a matter of fact, the shooting was about as bad as it could be. At Manilla JMi per cent, of the .shots missed at ranges from 4.000 to 0.000 yards. AL Santiago !)S per cent, missed. The da)* was clear, the sea smooth, the targets large, and the average range only 2,800 yards. In I!j01 Lieutenant Sims, an American officer, became acquainted on the China station, with Sir Percy Scott, of H.M.S. Terrible, who had developed a new system of gunnery. Lieutenant Sims was greatly impressed with the value of the scheme, which was trebling the ellicieney of the British gunnery, and strongly urged its adoption by the American authorities. Rv estimated that the >hips which i:.«d Captain siiol ten times Navy. But it

HPW»possible to convince the Navy 'Department. H proved to its own satisfaction. theoretically and pratieally. that it was impossible for guns to he fired according to Captain Scott's method! Then President Roosevelt intervened. and ordered a real gunnery to be held. An old lightship, with -ails yet. wa> fired at by the live bat-il'-drii- ol tile North Atlantic squadron for five minutes at a range of 2.500 \ank More than 200 slmi-T were fired. I but onlv two hit th" mark. Then the | squadron was set to lire al a canvas target onlv liiN) yards away. Only I,*> uer cent, of the shots hit the target. There was nothing more to be said. President Roosevelt, taking the matter in'o his own hands, appointed LieuteaSinis Director of Target Practice. \~ow U is claimed that the American Navy leads tlie world in accuracy and rapidit v of shooting, which may or may not l-e tme. At any rate the gunnery of the Xavv has vastly improved, thanks to T/eutenant Sims. President Roosevelt. and Captahi Seott.

d on, visible *.hc ,iuk\i ,m 0 sold; price? unchanged, unchanged. the .-pot .CM 18s Ud, three months CtU lis lid. Tin.—Ou the spot CRR 155,. three months £133 2s (id. Lead. .Cltf Us 3d. Silver, *£l%d.