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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 20, 28 July 1887, Page 2

“ Puff ” on Ironclads.—Brilliant naval engagement 1 Grand set-to between the Ajax and Devastation 1 Which got the best of it ? Oh, the Ajax devastated the Devastation! Gave her particular fits I She’s so bad damaged that she’s had to be docked for repairs 1 Doesn’t that seem a little wasteful ? What’s about the value of the Devastation as she stands? About a million or so! They run into money, these patent, double-bar-relled, eleotro-plated, cheek action, breechloading, compensation - balance ironclads, jewelled in four holes, and warranted to kill at twenty yards 1 Kill whom ? Kill tha men on board, of course 1 I see the first Lord of the Admiralty says there’s been a saving in the Naval estimates of £BOO,OOO 1 But what’s the good of that if they go ramming their best ships together, and smashing them up as if they were old iron ? Oh, but they must show off a little, to encourage the foreigners, don’t you know 1 It’s as much as to say, ” Lookee here, you parleyvoo, spit-a-brick-bat, soup-sucking Frenchies, just see what a jolly squelching the Ajax has given the Devastation, for a lark 1 You mind your eye, else you’ll get ditto, only real earnest 1” Hum—well 1 Great is the power of bounce! But it seems to me it would be better to build a few bogus ironclads out of kerosene cans to play that sort of game with 1