BIG GUN PRACTICE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2159, 27 May 1914, Page 8

BIG GUN PRACTICE

HOW THE DEVON FARRD DtJIING 'J'HE BOJIBARDMENT, A risit of atspei'tion to the Devoft was matte \yj tko Defaice aiitheriiJes yesterdny mornitig for the imrposo β-f a-soertniuißji tlie extent of tho tJarflago fiai-io l",y the- shooting; t'rom Fort Dorset on Friifay. lajst. The stca-mer Jaiiie SedtWtt teft for the scenic- of the wreck at i), 3.0 fl'clofik, nftd. s after calling at Fort Ballmwe and another bay on 'route, .wived off the Devon shortly before 11 o'clock.

A boat was tlioii lawereil, and tlie Bivcetoi' of Onlnance (Lieutenant* Cotonel 6. N. Jolutston)' and jwrty rowed round the battcTGd. ycinams- of tliA liner. In lief exposed nositieu the Devon has suffered severely from the me-xovufelo seas, and her JjulJ htis boftn jiriorcod in immerotis jjlaces by tha rccfiut bombii-i'cl-rae'irt from the fort. Altogether 'lie* plating showed etev-eft ii-oles, and it seems tliat, llnd sl!« been steaming in deep .Jv'aW,' Aii4iig''ili.«'. sliootmg mi 'Friday, she ttiigli-t ooiioejii'alily ' -hare Lefl-ii' sunk rcry t (jH-ickly. 'fbe.'tesult of tte gnn pfrtctice is. therefor© quits satis-' factory, - ■

In addifckn to furiinfi the pfetee easy to pe-rfofate, tlie slidls pla-yctl havoc with the supei'Stmetnre. ! decktwases forvi-arsl *«ro wrecked, owl ifasro were two great gaps .in tlio ivoodivofli: near- the bridge. Q'flc shtJ'l lind Jlittdc a eleaai.hole.at .tlie base ef tlie mainmast, yet, st'i-aiigcfy enougli, tfe Jiias-t liad been irft standing, Nttno of fhfl shots xrent right through t-lio vessel, as fl.n exaniinatlon. sfemv-cd tliat. <ai the far sicfo (starboard) tile plates had .noi been perforated. A wire rope, wlunli was prwionsly tisffel by tlwso getting oa beard the sfciKURW, : liad been put away hy a shell, and the iasfreetiiig p-ai'ty found that, it Wiis th&refofe inipassiblo t« Isonrd t-lw vessel and n-sewmin tlie txaet dawasjo k> tic mucluHefy. Th* affcof part of tJie v«ss«l being gone, however, t3w interior was cxiwscil, and, while raovisig round, tike occupants of the boat ivoro able to seo tliafe tlio ship's inside l-iarl ten reduced to olsaos. Gcncr■nll.f speaking it was jilam that tte ■mo-lintasijOHs sons diiriftf!: IJio j?««ait southerly gale and tkft l.ydtitto shells d-lrcstcd at. t-S& vnssol ln's-t wcrtil; ]iad been flisastroHS iii tltcir effects.