BIG GUN PRACTICE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 27 May 1914, Page 7

BIG GUN PRACTICE.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE DEVON.

(BPEOIAL TO "THE PEESS.")

May 26

The wreck of the Devon was examined to-day and it was found that on the port side of the ship, which presented itself to the gunners at Fort Dorset, appeared four yawning'rents, the largest of which measured some 4ft by sft. Two of these were quite close to the water-line, which meant that had the Devon been steaming into the harbour, especially on such a day as Friday, she would (says tho "Post") have been sunk. The whole of these rents, none of which could have been patched up by the vessel's crew, wero caused by 'the bursting of the lyddite shells on impact. Spread along the hull could be seen another seven round holes, about the size of port holes, which marked where shells had penetrated the vessel and had spent themselves inside, doing great damage to the internal structure.

The superstructure had fared badly. The deckhouses forward were wrecked, while two great gaps in the woodwork slightly abaft the bridge marked where tho gunners had been quite as deadly in their laying. Perhaps the most curious sight was the mainmast, which had had a shell put clean through it at its base, and had been left standing. Rowing round to.the starboard side, the party got an excellent view 'of the interior of tho wrecked steamer. With her after part gone, tho whole of her vitals aro exposed, and a glanco into tho interior revealed a state of chaos brought about by tho bursting of the shells inside and the.giantic force of the waves. Judging by her appearance aft the remaining structure of the Devon should not have long to live, and, with the next southerly gale or two the funnel and other prominent portions of the superstructure should disappear. Upon tho starboard side the party was rather surprised to find that the vessel's plates remained unperforated or undamaged in any other way, which goes to show that none of Friday's shots went clean through her, as had been previously supposed. Upon the port side the funnel had been perforated by several splinters, hut otherwise remained intact. The decking also appeared to have been forced considerably.