Show SUBMARINE GUNNERY successful test of a iun un ferea under water nt at at a target the experiment of firing a gun under water has been made in the harbor of portsmouth england and was attended by an apparent complete success says the new york herald A pound gun was used at low water the gun and its carriage were lowered beneath the surface and a diver son sent t down to place it in ili position on a solid plank platform laid it at the bottom the platform was weighted with large blocks of granite to keep it steady and the gun and carriage were then placed lit in position for the first test a target composed of oak beams and planks twenty one inches thick was lowered and set in position beneath t the h e water at a distance of seventy five feet from the muzzle of 0 the gun behind this target the hull of an old vessel was towed into position directly in line of the fire from the gun in order to make the test the more severe sheets of boiler plate three indies inches in thickness were riveted to the hull of the craft at the point where the shell from the gun would strike if it was not deflected by the water and succeeded in passing through the target something which the majority of army and navy experts present lid did not anticipate having made all these preparations the diver came to the sin face and alid taking the shell with which the experiment was to be made again went nent below the surface and carefully loaded the gun which was then aimed at the target and the hull of the tha vessel beyond A wire connecting with the firing mechanism of the gun led to the shore some distance away where it connected with an elec electric battery in charge of the firing party the test was made at high tide when all the condit conditions 10 ns were right the word was given and the current sent from the battery brough the wire to the submerged gun there wai was a 1 slight disturbance of the water over the place where the gun was sunk stink and the vessel anchored b beyond the target was spen sen to rock and sway and then gradually settle in the water and sink |