18 MAY 1912, Page 17

THE REVERBERATION OF THE 'ORION'S' GUNS. [To THE EDITOR OF

THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—My house is on a high bill near Godalming, and as I sat reading the other afternoon I heard, or rather felt, a long vibrating boom several times repeated. I thought it must be a motor van manoeuvring behind the house, but found nothing there. Then I guessed what it might be, and forthwith wrote to the chief gunnery officer of H.M.S. ' Orion' to make sure. Through the very kind courtesy of this gentleman, I am able to state for certain that the discharge of the ' Orion's' guns was distinctly audible ninety-seven statute miles from the ship, the sound taking somewhere about eleven minutes to travel the distance.—I am, Sir, &c.,

Hambledon, Godalming.

PHILIP T. KEN WAY,