MAT "NELSONTOUCH."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1888, 24 October 1913, Page 8

MAT "NELSONTOUCH."

WHAT WAS IT? [By G'mo.] The Admiralty Committee has published plans and other evidence relating to Lord Nelson's "touch" at the Battle oi' Trafalgar. The plans largely confirm Mr, J. Thursiuitd's articles on the subject in "Tho Times" in 1805.—'Wednesday's cables. The "Nelson touch" at Trafalgar— What was it? Nobody knows. History was written in yery slap-dash fashion in tho early part of tho century. Ail the actual witnesses of Trafalgar havo long since vanished from tho scene. The logs of tho ships engaged and other records have been largelv lost. Those that remain are tantaXisingly incomplete. The fact that it is now impossible to reconstruct the "Nelson touoh" on paper did not dawn on historians till about 1894. Since then a battle royal has been raging, and everyone has been busy refighting Trafalgar on paper. Mr. J. B. Thursfield seems to hold tlie honours so far as tftey go. It can only be said that his view is not very convincing. What Nelson meani to do is clear from his memorandum to his captains 1-1 days before the battle. What he aotualit did do is another question— the question which remains unanswered. The memorandum makes it apparent that the "Nelson touch" was designed to make his own 27 ships far superior to the enemy's thirty-three at the point whore he ran into them. How was this rather Wonderful thing to be done? How could 27 ships be made, even momentarily, to outnumber 33 P / Nelson's solution was to edit straight in to the centre of the French and Spanish line,' fasten on \ them ship by ship, and inflict such punishment with his artillery that, bewre the leading French or Spanish ships could tack or wear to com© back to the assistance of their friends, the issue would have been decided by-tho first-half hour's cannonade. It has to be remembered that these old "wooden walls" Bailed badly and slowly, and often steered worse. On the day of battle the wind was light; a, heavy ground swell was running; the ships were bobbing about like corks. To make it certain that the fullest ef* feet should bo given to the "Nelson touch," and that his fleet would be ready to apply it at a moment's liotico whenever the enemy was sighted, the Admiral's memorandum laid it down that "tho order of sailing was to bo the order of battle," and that the fleet were to "bear tip together." The fleet therefore cruised in search of their antagonists in two lines, Nelson leading what was permanently the weather line.' Collingwood led the lee line.

... N'dw, the battle'began about noon, a lid the-last clear indication which wa bare as to how the ships were formed is certain entries in tns ship's logs made about <3 a.m., when the presence of the enemy was discerned. The sketch above shows the position. Hero we have the order of sailing* which (according to the memorandum) was also to be the order of battle. Tim British fleet is steering about N.N.E. in two lines. Villeneuve's fleet is on ' the starboard tack, in single line ahead, and steering south-west. How did Nelson turn to approach the enemy? The older historians made him do it this way y

4 . This sketch allows the two British lilies "butting in" oil the enemy's centre in two divisions in single line ahead. A slight study of it will show that it would nave been ono of the most stupid approaches that any' naval commander could have made. The leading British ships would have been shot out of action long before the firo of their other ships astern of them could have been brought into play. The late Admiral Columb; who first raised this point, states that, if Nelson adopted such an approach, he must not only have forgotten about his memorandum to his captains, but must have "completely parted with his wits." The last sketch shows how Admiral ; Columb thinks Nelson did approach. : The separate identity of the two lines— : Nelson and Collingwood—is maintained, but the British ships are not sailing in . line ahead. The formation adopted is that known as "bow and quarter" style —the bow of each ship on the quarter of tho ship in front. i

Referring all this, back to the first diagram, we reach tile whole problem. At 6 a.m., when the British ships wore steering N.N.E., how did they make the turn to east which brought* them into action? Did thoy turn in succession, and bring on tho approach shown in the second sketch? Or did they "bear np altogether," and approach as in; Diagram 3? ' It is a question which will probably i . msver be solved. ' 1