The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-29
NAVAL TEST
OF TURREI
FLORIDA RECEIVES IMPACT OF
HEAVIEST PEoJEcTlLE FROM
LARGEST GUN.
DAMAGE IS SLIGHT
Experiment Considered Victory for
Turret Construction in War Ships.
!, Alabama Shoots UP Her Sister Ship.
Mechanism UnlnJured-To Try e.
fects Of Torpedo Soon.

Onlnjureo-to Try Ell
fects Of Torpedo Soon.
Old Point Comfort, Va, May 27.-
The biggest naval gun, the heaviest
.projectile, and the highest explosive
known, combined with close range
and deadly aim, were today allowed
to work their full havoc on the turret
plate Of the monitor Florida. The
result Is declared to be a victory for
turret construction and this notwith-
standing the 11-inch hardened steel
plate was blackened, broke, the
seams Of. the turret sprung and the
rivets and screws loosened and twist
ed.
It was not five minutes after the
terrible impact that the finely bal
anced mechanism OF the turret was
being worked with perfect ease and
the Pinch gun on the left side was
trained at will. Inside the turret
where stand the gunners and gun
crew the havoc was much less appar-
emit than on the outside. Examina-
ton showed that Of the many deli
cately adjusted instruments for fire
control, sighting and operating the
turret few, If any, were out Of work
ing order.
II this had happened in battle the
Florida would be fighting yet" said
m Of the real admirals with enthu-
siasm.
Then followed the futile attempt to
destroy the newly designed fighting
mast on the stern OF the Florida. Al
ter five shots Of the guns had gone
through the mast stood firm.
Forty shots would not bring it
down and no enemy would waste am
munition and, time shooting at it,
was the expert comment.
Many on the Ship.
1t was predicted that all new ships
will be equipped with battle marts of
this design. The story Of the shoot
ing up Of the Florida by the Arkan-
sas, however, is not contained in this
technical statement Of results. It was
an event in which the keen edge OF
expectation was not dulled by the re
alization. Rear admirals and briga-
dier general together with their jun
Tors scurried under protected decks
and then hoped out again as quick.
ly to look for the damage done by the
boom and-roar they had felt and
heard. Every naval bureau was rep
resented and likewise the ordnance
and artillery OF the army.
The scene of the demonstration
was Hampton Roads, already made
famous by naval events, the last be
ing the departure Of the Atlantic bat
tleship feet on its long journey
around the world which was reviewed
by President Roosevelt.
Florida Lay Like Martyr.
The Florida, which has been in the
hands OF experts for some time, pre-
scented the appearance OF a resigned
martyr. She lay with her nose point
ing out through the Virginia capes
near Thimble Spot Tight and abou'
four miles from Old Point Comfort
Her steam was up and a large Amer
lean flag f1oated astern. Back of th*
bridges on the upper structure there
hung the weekly wash Of severa
jackies. But most striking in her ap
pearamce was the Cleaning tower OF
her stern, the woven pipe militar.
mart resembling a huge waste pape:
basket. On top Of it's 1875 feet 0
height was a broad platform wher'
two dummy sailors fashioned from
boards stood bravely looking down OF
two more dummies Of the same pal
tern on the turret forward. One o
the two big guns which protrude from
this turret had been removed and
Cripple gun occupied Its place.
Arkansas Was Cruelty Close.
Just 342 yards on the inside of tn
Florida lay her sister ship, the A,
kansas. The distance looked cruell
close to the guns on the latter shi
prepared to take unerring aim.
"This is such rs would never occu
in actual warfare" remarked q rea
admiral after the big party OF omcer
boarded the Arkansas. when tn
aim will be perfect; the distance is 9
close that the impact will be at II
FUN velocity and the part Of the Flo
ida to be hit is the weakest"
All Of these points presented then
selves to the party Of naval omcer
on the little cruiser Montgomery, q
the bright morning sun, aeecy whit
clouds and gentle breeze added tn
inspiration Of a perfect. day.
"A fleet Of naval tugs from the No
folk yard, the army torpedo plante
Ringgold with the army officers frol
Washington aboard and the tender .
Fort Monroe, 80 officers from the a
tillery; and 40 from the fort, beside
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