Show I TUBE MASTS ARE ill APPROVED New Shell Resisting Spiral Steel Spars Will Be Stepped on Battleships Washington Naval experts havo mast style military approved the now practical test In which was given a Hampton Roads several months ago mast was erect experimental when nn ed on the stern deck of the monitor Florida and was shot at several times Arkansas at close by the monitor Similar masts will bo erected on range the battleships Idaho and Missis at tho after end of the superstructure super-structure slppl The work will be done at the League Island navy yard The masts will be 90 feet high from tho deck and 120 feet from the water foe will be 28 the base they At and will taper to ten feet square which will be fitted the top square on for the fire control with a platform officer of the vessel These masts it Is said will be on several additional battle placed within the next few months ships has yet been reached nd decision but n as to whether they will l be Installed the now 20000 ton battleships I on military mast Is an Inno his style This Tho vation in tho American navy i mast tested on the Florida was In I cllned at an angle of about ten degrees de-grees but those to bo placed on the Idaho and Mississippi will be upright The new mast is constructed of spl rial tubes the effect being to Intease tho masts resisting power under Ibmbardracnt At the time of the recent tests la Hampton Hoads several shots wet fired at the Floridas mast and none of them did severe damage One shell passed entirely through an opening between the tubes The other shots severed various tubes at different points without causing material dam ago |