The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-05-28
BIG GUNS DID :"
NOT DISABLE
MONITOR FLORIDA wirHsTANDs
THE TERRIFIC IMPACT OF
HUGE PRoJEcr,LEs.
FIRED AT VERY SHORT RANCE
Navy Test at Hampton Roads Proves
Resisting Powers Of Armor--
officials Highly Pleased
With Results.

Old Point Comfort, Va, May 2S.-
The biggest naval gun, the heaviest
projectile and the highest explosive
known, combined with close range and
deadly aim, were. allowed to work
their full havoc on the turret plate Of
the monitor Florida In Hampton
Roads on Wednesday. The result lie
declared to be victory for turret
construction and this Notwithstanding
the 11.inch hardened steel plate was
blackened, broken, the seams Of the
turret sprung and the rivets and
screws loosened and twisted.
It was not five minutes after the
terrible impact that the finely bal.
anced mechanism of the turret was
being worked with ease and the IL.
inch gun on the left side was trained
at will Inside the turret where stand
the gunners and gun crew the havoc
was much less apparent than from the
outside. Examination showed that OF
the many delicately adjusted instru'
ments for fire control, sighting and
operating the turret. few II any were
out OF working order.
III this had happened in battle the
Florida would be fighting yet said
one OF the rear admirals with enthu'
siasm.
Then followed a futile attempt to
destroy the newly designed fighting
mast erected on the stern OF the Flor
ida. After Ave shots from the Arkan
sas' guns had ripping through It, the
mast still stood Arm.
Forty shots would not bring II
down and no enemy would waste am
munition and time shooting at It," was
the comment. II was predicted that
all new ships will be equipped with
battle masts Of this design.
The Florida had been In the hands
OF experts for some time. Striking
in her appearance was the leaning
tower" on her stern, the woven pipe
military mast, resembling huge
waste paper basket. On top OF It's 12I
feet Of height was broad platform.
Just 342 yards from the Florida la,
her sister ship, the Arkansas.
This is such test asywould nevel
occur in actual warfare" remarked ;
rear admiral, as the big party OF Off
GERS boarded the Arkansas. "The ain
will be perfect, the distance is so clos,
that the impact will be at It's full
velocity and the part of the Florida t
be hit is the weakest"
The turret of the Florida was swuni
around so that her guns and those o
the Arkansas looked squarely at eacl
other. More than an hour OF guI
training followed before 12-incl
projectile was fired.
II broke through the turret plat
from the gun port to the edge jus
above and Just below where the shel
struck. The broken piece was driver
into the turret several inches, but no
the thickness of the plate, so that n,
hole was actually made.
officers entered the turret at ono,
and its mechanism was operated, tn
turret being swung completely aroun,
each way. and the left hand gul
trained. But the turret bore the evl
dence OF fight. The paint along tn
seams had disappeared. many OF tn
seams were sprung, bolts were loos
ened. and slivers OF the plate la.
around. A board dummy on the insid
was intact and the opinion of officer
was that even with the terrific In
pact the gunners in the turret woul
not have been Injured
The fighting mast was subjected 4
fire from four-inch and 12-inch guns
but still stood firm, That the mas
might be put to the greatest strain
four tons OF weight had been place
ut its top. The advantage Of the mas
is declared to have. been fully demon
strated. Its points are that II Is pra,
| tically indestructible by shot or She
and has the still further advantage q
weighing less than half as much a
the solid mast now In use.
The Florida will be fitted with
specially built bulkhead into which
Whitehead torpedo is to be fired will
| In ten days. to demonstrate whethe
or not bulkheads OF the new type ma
not profitably be used to protect tn
hull OF the ship.
Il
1