GUNNERY AT THE HEADS

Otago Witness, Issue 2802, 27 November 1907, Page 40

GUNNERY AT THE HEADS

SATURDAY'S "COMBINED PRACTICE." The Lady Roberto, defence 6tcamer, has (doubtless in her time carried many cargoes, but she probably never has had on Board such a representative assortment of passengers ac she took to the Heads on Saturday afternoon to take part in, and to watch, the combined manning of the vuns in the various batteries. She left Port Chalmers at half-past 3 with Colonel Robin, C.8., chief of general staff; Colonel Tuson, adjutant-general ; Lieutenant Sandle, R.N.Z.A. ; Lieutenant-colonel Allen, O.C- Red Force and fire commander ; Major Strong and Lieutenant Haggitt, v Q.ftL, of the divisional staff; Captain Gardner, R.N.Z.A., chief umpire; -. Captain Richardson, headquarters staff ; Captain Washer, representing the Wakari Bines; Captain Dempster, Highland Rifles; Captain Douglas, City Guards; Captain Wolstenholme, Cycle Corps; Lieutenant Willoughby, City" Guards; Lieutenant Allen, Dunedin Rifles; and Lieutenants Paterson and Shand, High School Cadets; Captain Fredrio, Surgeon-captain Newlands, Lieutenant* Doull, Cooke, White, and Phillips, No. 1 Company N.Z.G.A. ; Captain Dodds, Lieutenants Crawford and Braithwaite. No. 2 Company N.Z.G.A. ; Crs Wilson, Rutherford, Burnett, Fiddis, and Cole, representing the City Council ; Mr P. Barr, representing the' Chamber of Commerce; and Meesrs Weetwood (president) and Breen (secretary), representing the Trades and Labour Council. There were also a good many ladies present by invitation. Tto-jgfli tke w-ea-tlier was somewhat dull in an atmospherical sense, no rain fell, and, profiting by their experience of the previous Raturdav night, the men carried a stock of provisions in their haversacks. The steamer disembarked her passengers at the Harrington Point jetty, and the long procession of blue, khaki, broadcloth, ajid millinery wended its way towards the lighthouse, while the artillery detachments marched to their stations. A typewritten document embracing explanations and the general idea was handed to each visitor on arrival — a courtesy that was duly appreciated by all ; whose military education had been over- : looked. From thie it appeared that the foe scorned suoh a brae subterfuge as to reach Port Chalmers by night in a brace of sneaking destroyers, ana that two hostile cruisers were " approaching the batteries." The distance between the Hongkong targets when representing a cruiser -ie 100 f t; 30ft are allowed for freeboard and 60ft for beam. The red flag was hoisted at 5 p.m., and when the steamer with targets in tow loomed grey 'against grey 4425 yards distant, the great green snout of the 6-inch came peering up over tho pit edge till the whole length of her from narrow muzxlri to beautifully toLished breech was for an instant exposed, he swung slightly, located the objective, fired, and was gone. The -projectile used weighs 1001b, but on these occasions, out of consideration' for the feelings of the range party, they are filled with water instead of lyddite. The initial velocity it nearly 2000 ft per second, and visitors were informed that it was with this type of gun that the Spaniards kept the American fleet at its own end of Santiago Harbour. At the fourth shot from the 6-inch the hawser connecting the targets parted, and defenders and spectators had tea while repairs were being effected. Owing to this delay the 7-inch muzzle-loader did not get a chance at the enemy, but the gunners vent through the motions smartly and with credit, firing a shot out to sea, to show how she could throw a 1161b shell to a distance at the rate of 1561 ft a second. Perhaps the prettiest worK done during the afternoon was by the 6-pounder quickfiring gun on the Harrington Point battery, that flanks the entrance. The targets were towed inside the Heads to represent a torpedo attack. The snap of the breechblock, the explosion, and the clink of the ejected " empty" followed each other in vapid succession, while the 6-pounder shells shrieked after each other through the air to kick up columns of spray between the passing targets. This type of gun, visitors were informed, was most effective at the battle of Santiago, where the Spaniards wore demoralised by the pitiless hail of 3-pounder shells, and were unable to reply. This series was fired by two detachments with 20 rounds eaoh. After practice with the 6-potmder some interesting- experimental shooting took place with the 7-inch gun at Harrington Point, with canister or case. Each caniater contains 71 cast-iron shot weighing half a pound eaoh. The object of the experiment was to ascertain the effect on torpedo boats entering the harbour. These missiles have an effective range up to 700 yds, and, provided a torpedo flotilla can be induced to come within this distance, are fired with deadly effect. The shots naturally spread on leaving the muzzle, and plough up the water !o? a radius of many yards till that portion of the harbour looks as if it was being gone over with an enormous rake. Eventually orders were given to double-shot fcht gun. The gunners gorged it with powder and case till it looked as formidable M a young volcano, and the spectator! m'Toluntarily edged further away. Then it went off, and after a brief intepval of (iftaos the fairway was harrowed to foam. The heavens seemed to be raining halfpound shot as if Jove himself had taken a hand in annihilating the luckless flotilla. The results of the firing were as follows: Six-inch Signal Station Gun.— Lieutenant White, battery commander; six shots, five hl»s; figure of merit. 0.94*. <9z-inoh Nordenfeklt Q.F. (first aeries). — lieutenant Phillips, battery commander; 20 rnonds. 10 hits, in lmin 49sec; figure of <t»rf», 0.808. W»-inch Nordenfeldt Q.F. (second series). y^l^officer Crawford, battery commander; «8 rounds, 10 hits, in lmin 49sec; figure of m»rit, 0.666. The Lady Roberts having landed her Tort Chalmers passengers, proceeded with tLo remainder to Dunedin, where she anired at » quarter to 9.

Many ot the natives of the islands of th.3 Soath Seas are experts at shooting fish «tih a bow and arrow. The art is a <l:!ficu!t one, for the refraction of the water hat to be allowed for.

Hanri Falmount, a veteran soldier, committed «uioide in P*ri* because ft)« docrtor advised him to give up his pipe if Le w;*k«d to preserve hie health.

Kobsl'* Explosives Company, Gl*egovr, }.«3 >iit*r«d into an agreement with the j&tfi*h and Continental makers to raise %!;« f?w of exDloai-^s 20 ocr cent.