Show SUBMARINE GUNNERY successful aft 0 a gun fired unda testa W water ate at a target the the experiment of siring firing a gun under water has been made in the harbor ot of portsmouth england and was attended by an apparent complete success says the new york herald A pound gun was waa used at low water the gun and its carriage were lowered beneath the surface and a diver sent town down to place it in position on a solid plank platform laid at the bottom the platform plat torm was weighted with largo large blocks of granite to keep it steady and the gun and carriage were then placed in position forthe first test a target composed of oak beams and planks twenty one inches thick was lowered and set in position benah beneath the water at a distance ot of seventy five feet from the muzzle of 0 the gun behind this 3 target the hull of an old vessel was towed into position directly in line ot of the fire from the gun in order to make the test the more severe sheets of 0 boiler plate three inches in thickness were riveted to the hull ot of the cratt craft at the point where the shell from the gun would strike it if it was not deflected by the water and succeeded in passing through the target something which the mal majority brity ot of army and navy experts present did not anticipate having made all these preparations the diver came to the surface and taking the shell chell with which the experiment was to be made again went below the surface and carefully loaded the gun which was then aimed at the target and the hull of the vessel beyond A wire connecting with the firing mechanism of the gun led to the shore some distance away where it connected with an electric battery in charge ot of the firing party the test was made at high tide when all the conditions were right the word was given and the current sent from the battery brough the wire to the submerged gun there was a slight disturbance of the water over the place where the gun was sunk and the vessel anchored beyond I 1 the target was seen to rock and sway and then gradually settle in the water and sink |