The Barr and Stroud range-finder is used in all Japanese ships, and
acted excellently at the bombardments of Port Arthur in February, 1904.
The Barr and Stroud transmitters are also fitted to all first-class
warships. By means of these the range, projectile, and so forth is
telegraphed from the conning-tower to a dial in each turret and
casement. Without some such device a range-finder is of no particular
service, as by the time the range is passed down it will have altered.
The Grenfell system of transmission is also understood to be under
experiment. This differs in details from the Barr and Stroud, but in
general principle is much the same thing.
The theoretical objection to the Barr and Stroud is that the electric
leads may be cut by a hostile shot. They might be, but as the wires
are carried in duplicate under the armour deck the chances of failure
are about one in a million! Throughout the war with Russia all these
instruments have worked perfectly, and proved particularly serviceable
in the bombardments of Port Arthur.
[Illustration: CANET 27-CM. (10.6-IN.) JAPANESE COAST GUN OF 36
CALIBRES.]