A REAL FLEET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14103, 6 January 1908, Page 8

A REAL FLEET

On'o of the, most ■ extraordinary, features of our modern: navy is'the enthusiasm' for gunnery displayed by officers' and- men alike, and it is u .fact which augurs .well 1 for our maritime supremacy in tho future. This individual zeal ' is equalled by the ■ rivalry : whiclji exists between the various vessels of the fleet,' and almost every (lay we "hear of new', rfecords\beang made and broken. 1: ■.. ■' This nay be put down, in tho first plaoe, to * W with,' to g, gxeat extent, ; the old' timo 6crub and polish navy, and promoting officers as well as men on their abilities' as seamen and gunners, and not as housemaids and paint work cleaners. Not -so .very many years ago an oncer's ■ promotion'depended greatly upon the cleanliness of his ship, ml the more time and I 1 ® expended ; upon paintings holystoning,' and burnishing the better were his prospects of - ascending the ladder of fame. ' this objecfcin view,he has : been", known .to throw bis edQowanee of practice ammunition .'overboard rather than ess® th®, paintwork might suflfer thereby, or a drop of oil ftncl arresting plswupon,' the snow-white r deolt. But this is all done away with now, and the' battleship of to-day, - be she ever' bo clean, ,is no battleship without a! gunnery reoord., Every encouragement is now given to tho gun orews. to. keep up ' their, efficiency in ghnnery.by, increases of pay,, prize money, and ; promotions, as well as medals being granted to the gunlayer-who does the best shooting in his ship, and as this medal is worn on tho right of all toOftS oy toder of the Kmgy tho. competition for tho covetod decoration is very - keen.