THE NAVAL PAGEANT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 564, 20 July 1909, Page 5

THE NAVAL PAGEANT.

HUGE CROWDS. FORTY MILES OF WARSHIPS. OBJECT LESSON AT LONDON'S DOOR. (By Telegraph.—Press Aaßoclatlon.-Copyrlßbt I London,: July 18. Public iflspe6tion of the fleet will be permitted during the naval display on tho Thames. ■ Thousands of visitors by i trains and steamers from all parts of the country are pouring into London. PRELIMINARIES. i THE GREAT EXCURSION TRAFFIC. (Reo. July 19, 11 p.m.) London, July 19. There is brilliant weather, and thore are ovor 100,000 spectators at Southend. Tho street leading to tho pier is almost impassable. Tho crowds at Victoria Embankment to seo tho submarines and torpedo-boats in ' the Thames recalled the Coronation. Thousands of those present had never soon a" battleship. , Steamers for viewing tho fleet are packed with excursionists. Tho bluejackets aro acting as guides to tho public inspeoting the warships. Cutters were to convey to and from the shore sailors .and marines to attend special Sunday church parades ashore. ,Tho smaller towns along tho riverside are arranging entertainments on a genorous scale. r THREE DAYS' CELEBRATION. "In' London, at Sonthend, and all along the forty miles of river bank between th« metropohs and tho Nbre, intense interest exists in the great naval pageant promised in July," wntos a London paper. 'After manoeuvres in the North Sea, the warships of the combined Atlantic and Home Fleets will steam to Southend, reaching there on Friday, July 16, and will then spread themsslves and como to anchor in a lin* extendin" between the Nore and Westminster Bridge-a unique spectacle which will compriso forty-two battleships, fifty-six oruisers, and flotillas of destroyers and submarines. "It will be a splendid thing for Londoners thus to see the fmight of the flecU-a sight mefrer to be forgotten. Instead of a review at Spithead, which they may only read about, the loyal peoplq of London will have the might 6f our naval pojver. brought 'literally to their door. ■ - , f i , "Either on July 21 or 22 400' or" 500 ' officers and 1000 ■ men will ,come by train to an East End station and march through tho streets of the city to 'the Guildhall-showing Londoners the manner of men who man their ships. At the Guildhall thev are to have luncheon at the. city's expense." According, to the provisional programme, the Lord Mayor will make h'is official visit to the Fleet_ at Sonthend to-day, July 20; on July 21 the visit of bluejackets and marines to London, mentioned'above, will take place; and on Jnly 22 300 officers of the Fleet, under Admiral Sir Wm. May, will visit the city and meet with the usual hospitality.