The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-15
FTGHTINGIN THE .
MILITARY MAST
How the Rapid Fire Guns in the Tops
are Operated.

are oISfdtCu.
Fighting in the military masts of the
big battleShips in our navy will probably
be the most dangerous duty our seamen
will he called upon to perform in the
war with Spain.
Exposed to the full fury OF the enemy's
fire, with scarcely any protection, and
with the possibility of having the entire
mast shot away, the man on duty in the
mast is in a position perhaps the most
dangerous in all modern naval warfare
The steel barbettes OF the present time,
save in certain battleships, where an
overhead shield is carried, give protec-
ton more apparent than real, more pic
turesque than practical. And while the
military top crews have the advantage OF
seeing something OF the scrimmage. yet
they present too inviting mark to the
enemy, and have stations which in
battle are pretty sure to be untenable
from the heat and smoke.
The small arms men have frequent
practice aboard ship, and considering
the difficulties of the environment, are
good marksmen. 1t is no easy task to
fire from a platform placed at the fob
end of a pendulum, swinging irreguarly
and the results attained testify to the
value OF the drill and to the physique of
the individual.
On the larger battleships the military
masts are hollow, and access to the
fighting tops is gained through the in
terror The ammunition is also passed
up inside. In the smoke and griml of
battle one can well realize what u hell
these places would be.
Another thing that must be considered
is the fact that this will be the United
States navy's first practical test of the
modern war ship. The last ten years
have brought about greater and more
sudden change in the outward appear
ance of mnn-of-war than has ever been
recorded in the history OF naval affairs.
This is in the main due to the almost
complete banishment OF sails, yards and
the more or less intricate rigging neces
STATED by their use, in favor OF military
masts, or, in some cases, mere sigma
poles.
The military mast OF to day is con-
structed primarily to carry guns, and
secondarily for signaling purposes, for ii
must be remembered that IN all cases in
which ships have been equipped witt
fighting tops since their very first incep
ton, the primary duty OF the mas1
which upheld it was to carry sail for the
propulsion of the ship.
Some Of the masts are supplied witt
an upper top for the electric hght, pc
! vi -, 81 InI l,I,
three quick firing guns to be discharged
right ahead, and species Of connin!
tower below, from which the captain
can overlook the smoke clouds and SC
see to direct his ship in action. The
later types are all constructed with mucI
the same IDEAS.
Some have a lookout. or coming tower
others have not, but all have three or sly
FOUNDER quick firing guns and. electric
light projectors, and one or tN" lighte
machine guns in addition.
, The small caibrc rapid. fire and ma
chine guns employed in tops are SUI
ported by ritlcmen. and in every tigl!
their work Of clearing the guns, sweep
ing the d, ckH and Supcrstructurcs an,
oi picking off the officers and leading
men is. to say the least, hazardous. Il
, the galley days the military tops ger
, fairly well protected. but during he sal
era the topnen handling the Swivp
pieces and deck rak"rs, and forming
special corps Of mu-ketecrs, had no pro
=, lection, except what was given by Il net
work OF mattress filed lAmlnocks.
= 1t would take Il big proiectlle to brin
mast down, but then, if it did, grea
would be the fall thereof. And think c
the poor devils that would come crasi
ing down with it. And think Of thel
! even if the mast doesn't come dowl
: perched up there, living targets for she
g and shell. The chin plating is OF no ava
d, against anything larger than a riff
i bullet, and small shell might pas
l. har1nlcssIy over the heads OF the me
\ in an open top which in closed on
o would have been burst BY the iro
l.; sides, and scatter death and destructio
i within.