The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-03-25
TEXAS IS SUNK
Old BattIeShip Goes Down
in Naval Test.
SHELLS PASS THROUGH HER
Naval Experts Closely Watched the
Effect Of Broadsides Fired by
the New Hampshire at
Long Range.
SHELLS PASS THROUGH HER

On board the torpedoboat String
ham, lower Chesapeake Bay, March
Shattered by a veritable storm OF
shell. the old battleship Texas, recent
IN rechristened the San Marcos, rests
on the mud OF Tangler sound. Tho
=, eteran OF the United States navy
sank under the spectacular marksman'
ship OF her newer sisters.
Gaping holes in her port side and
two Jagged openings in her forward
armor. where shells passed complete
ly through her. showed how she sue
cumbed. Part OF both her fighting
Inasts were shot away and her deck
was a clutter OF wreckage.
These craftsmanship experiments.
testing on the one side the modern big
guns and projectiles and on the other
the armament needs Of the navy, al
though the armor of the San Marcos
Is OF an old type, were conducted with
almost uncanny secrecy. No one was
permitted to approach the San Mar
COS. except the official observers and
one or two naval officers and officials
The broadsides delivered by the bat
tleship New Hampshire at varying
distances Of from six 10 seven and
onehalf miles we're considered re-
markable by ordance officers. More
than one-third Of all the shots we're
said to have gone true. although no
Oaicial statement was given out.
After the seventh broadside the
Texas was plainly in distress. The
two naval tugs that lay alongside the
monitor Tallahassee. on which were
stationed the naval observers, raced
to her assistance. Secretary Meyer
ordered out his launch.
The shells apparently had set the
vessel afire. for hose was run over the
side and the engines were set to work
pumping. The San Marcos also had
been driven out of broadside range by
the force of the New Hampshire's
shells. and the tugs Strengthened out
for her further ordeal Twice after
ward shells set the hulk ahre.
These are some of the things that
Secretary Meyer saw when he board
ed the San Marcos between volleys.
The dummies representing sailors in
the fighting top of the ship unscathed.
in spite of the great number Of vol
leys fired at the ship. This was a
tribute to the excellence OF the gun
pointers work, as they we're ordered
to confne their fire to the hull and
turrets
A raging fire inside the ship caused
by the explosive shells which pene-
trated her sides made it impossible
for the observers TO go below the
main deck TO ascertain the damage.
A she'll somewhat broken inside Of
the coming tower. whose 9-inch steel
wall II had pierced on one side. This
was not an explosive shell.
a number Of holes clear through
the hull from one side to the other
the greatest damage being done on the
farthest side Of the ship. None Of
these holes, however, were through
the l1-inch armor belt
Some dead animals and chickens
killed by the interior explosions. Some
OF the animals. however. were I'M
harmed.
A cat walked quietly out Of one Of
the turrets. whose base had been
smashed by a 12-inch shell
The further experiments to be made
with the ship will be confined to at
tacks on the armor belt and turrets.
No effort will be made to raise the
San Marcos. It would cost several
hundred thousand dollars to float the
ship and restore her to her original
condition and she is not worth IT,