BIG GUN PRACTICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16558, 23 May 1914, Page 2

BIG GUN PRACTICE.

TWENTY ROUNDS FIRED AT THE DEVON. GENERAL HAMILTON’S COMPLIMENT. [Pee Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 22.

To-day, in the presence of Sir lan Hamilton, an attempt was made to demolish tlie wreck of the Devon at Pencarrow Head by using her as a target for tho 6in guns on Fort Dorset. It was proposed to take some forty shots at it, but the programme was curtailed by about one-half, chiefly on account of the vile weather. There wero some twenty shots fired and these were of lyddite, an explosive which is calculated to have a most demoralising effect upon men near or about anything it hits, whether it be men aboard a man-of-war or in the field.

The New Zealand Royal Artillery, or Permanent Artillery as they are sometimes called, were first to fire. They found the range 3975yd5, with a deflection of 30seo to the right. The guns are situated 144 ft above mean sea level. Tho first shot went short of tho target, but the second hit it and penetrated tlie hull, bursting the side. The next shot burst on penetrating the hull. After the explosion of the gun there wa3 a second explosion on the vessel as the lyddite shell burst. Seen from the fort there was first an orangeooloured flash, followed by a groat sickly looking yellow cloud of smoke, which seemed to linger over tlie ship. Several shots apparently penetrated right through the vitals of the wreck, tho engines, and one or two of the explosions on board were quite black as though the shells had burst among the coal.

The ground having so far been cleared by the permanent men the Garrison Artillery of the Territorials followed. Eleven 6hots had already been fired at tho wreck but the damage done was invisible from the shore, although judging from the explosions on board it must have been most severe. The first shot by the Garrison Artillery went under the steamer’s funnel, the second over it. The third fell short and the fourth hit the wreck fairly and squarely amidships. There was again a wicked looking orange-red flame, then a dense cloud of yellow smoke and a terrific explosion. The seventh shot appeared .to penetrate right into the engine-room. The eighth was in doubt but the ninth and last must have tom away the sides of the deck immediately aft of tlie foremast. Still tho funnel stood and still the foremast remained stepped. Hail and rain frequently obscured the sea near tlie wreok and the waves in the vicinity were tremendous. There were no vessels in sight at sea from Fort Dorset.

When the twenty rounds had been fired General lan Hamilton proceeded to Forts Ballance and Kelburne. Before ho left he warmly congratulated the men upon their work. He would much sooner, he 6aid, be behind the gun team than on the ship. Tlie men could not have had a worse day for the purpose but it seemed to him that they had done remarkably well all the same.