The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-27

Quinby, Lieut. Josepa Taussig and
twenty men. the comp en- ent OF the big
coast defense monitor Tlprida, remained
aboard that craft as the I2-inch guns OF
the giant monitor Arkansas began ham
mering her with their huge shells.
Although not I'm the turrets when the
firing was in progress, the members OF
the observation crew were Immediately
behind them, and the force Of the heavy
shells was felt plainly. Their pres
.ence there was due TO sud
de. change sa plans OF the depart
meut experts. who decided that the
danger was not great enough 70 warrant
abandoning the ship 10 her fate with no
one on board
With the right front Of her turret
STAYED I'm. and several Of the spiral
tubes of her new model military mast
shot away the monitor Florida this ar
tern0ou put back 10 the Norfolk navy
yard The tests were officially con
Cluded al I o'clock. They proved emi-
nentIy successful The Florida Is not
iu anyway seriously injured. seven
shots In all were fred al the monitor.
All OF them were good hits and highly
successful.
Two sound principles Of construction
were demonstrated. First, that the
new military mast Is almost impervious
can Withstand successfully heavy nr-
In. None of the turret mechanism in
the Florida was injured.
Go Into Position.
The Florida steamed into position i'm
medtateIy following the arrival OF the
Arkansas and her tender. and was an
chored fore and aft. of Thimble shOaL
her bearings south by east. The Ar
kansas tnen anchored 300 yards of. her
bearings east by south, and her broad
side bearing on the Florida.
The Arkansas was commanded by
Commander Harry NJ. Donbaugh, and
on her bridge were the ranking army
and naval officers who had been de-
tailed 10 watch the test
II was exactly s;l5 O'Clock when Com
lender Bonbaugh signaled Lieut. Wal
| - III F'alcOner in the forward tuFret
| CF ne Arkansas, to Commence ftrlng.
Tho first shot was 10 be q rahse-AIlulHe
| eFFort and was aimed at the screen TAR
gst raised above the main turTeJ or the
| Eiorida II sped true, piercing the exact
center of the target.
AZ that time the crew or the tloFlda
- talsen shelter behind the big LuITeta
~ the side OF the vessel away from
the Arkansas, and coulu not DC seen
/ from the latter vessel
r,,.,r, then on the shells were fred
according TO program, but the effect
-. ,o- assemble to any but the ex-
-. on the Arkansas, and they de
| r1i,,a5 ~ talk. After the first few shots
~ been fred at the turrets of the
TTIori5a. the gulners on the Arkansas
| .,,,-a1 their attehtiOn to riddling the big
| s--,,arirnent mast, erected on the Florida.
T,.,g rose to a height OF 125 feet, ten
/ go so,,sre at the top md thirty feet
| square at the base.
~ he ton were two dummy men, half
~ down were others, ana IN eacn OF
/ - t,,Y-rets and on the bridge were dunn
mics so arranged that the erect OF Ihe
/ irIITa''ct Of the shells on them would De
/ t5ielcaTniIIe 10 those on board, but be-
/ hind shelter.
NOT Badly Damaged.
Although doing considerable surface
! 5sr,sge the Florida was not seriosuly
| - i,,red but the tests demonstrated the
| -. NJ modern naval ordnance and
/ ~ endurance OF modern battleship con-
/ s+-,,ction as embodied in the Florida.
/ NJ. 6rst shot. a sand-loaded I2-inch
sl,all was fred at a canvas target six
~ +hree feet. hung above the forward
! t,,rra+ al exactly $40 o'clock this morn
;D1 II hit the target squarely In the
ra,,+sr The shot was for the purpose
% testing accuracy before beginning the
! rssI shooting, and to perfect the fire
o.v+rol on the short range of $40 yards,
| fr,r,, which all the shots were fired.
/ Tbe. second shot, a high explosive 12-
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