TRAFALGAR DAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2598, 21 October 1915, Page 3

TRAFALGAR DAY

BEING CELEBRATED IN LONDON

LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS Some objection has been taken, in some parts of New Zealand to observing a Trafalgar Day this year oil the score that it may give offence to one of our Allies. That .such feeling does not' obtain in London is proved by correspondence received by Mr. C. W. Palmer, secretary of the local branch of the Navy League, from headquarters stating that the general plan for the observance of Trafalgar Day on October 21, had been approved, and that it would be carried out generally in the same way as last' year. "Tho commemoration of the heroic deeds of Nelson and his gallant comrades will no doubt be present in the mind of every patriotic citizen of the Empire, but in the oircumstances of the time, states the letter, "the occasion will be devoted to doing honour to the officers and men of the British Fleet and the officers and men of the fleets of our gallant Allies, who are fighting side by side with us upon the seas in the cause of civilisation and liberty. . "Tho arrangements for the celebration of Trafalgar Day in Loudon will include the placing of wreaths at the base of the Nelson Column; a patriotic concert and demonstration at the London Opora House on Thursday afternoon (to-day), at which Queen Alexandra will bo present; a special Trafalgar Day • service at St. Martin's-in-luelds at 11 a.nj., with a'sermon ap. propriato to the occasion by the Archbishop of York; the Hying of the flags of the Allies; addresses to school children, etc." The letter also says:—"The British Red Cross. Society and the -Order of St. John are celebrating this great anniversary by making a special appeal throughput the Empire for their splendid work at the front among the sick ana wounded, and the Navy Leaguo feels that no more patriotic act associated with the celebration of Trafalgar Day than the support of this appeal can bo commended to tho public spirit of the British race. The result of this special appeal is to be applied actually in the transport of the wounded in Franco and the Dardanelles. "It is submitted for the consideration of your committee that possibly in oiio way or another tho celebration of Trafalgar Day may be carried out in your country on the lines indicated in this letter." It is a matter of some regret to the local committee that this cannot be done. The arrangements were in train for the usual demonstration at the Town Hail, but through representations made by the Mayor, the hall was given up for the purposes of to-night's patriotic meeting, which one and all hope will be productive of the greatest good. FOR THE RED CROSS. TO-DAY'S ARRANGEMENTS. In Wellington, Trafalgar Day has practically merged int«o- lied Cross Day, it- uer tho call made through His Ilixcellcncy the Governor. The money that is needed could scarcely bo expended on a better cause than tho succouring of the sick and wounded on active service, and the Mayor (Mr. J. I. Luke) and the executive of the.St. John Amb'ulanco Association, who are making all tho necessary arrange■ments, anticipate a big field day with corresponding financial results." All day yesterday ladies visited tho Town tlall, and tfere. allotted a station and given a collecting-box. No box is valid unless it has tho Red Cross'and an official stamp on it, so that anyone being sceptical has only to be shown these credentials to be satisfied tnat every penny is to bo forwarded for expenditure on legitimate Red Cross work. There will be a monster patriotic meeting at the Town Hall in the evening., when speeches of an appropriate character will be _ delivered by Dr. Hatts-Millsj Captain Simson (who was shot through the cheek at Gallipoli), Messrs. A. R. Atkinson, J. P. J'irth John Hutcheson, Alfred Jolly, A. H ttmdmarsh, M.P., and H. F. Von Haast.- The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) will preside, and Mr. Bernard Page will play selections on the grand organ } art of_ the ground floor of the big t-'i! s ?' T n ®. resen 'ed for the members ot the National Reserve,' whilst tho members of the Women's National Reserve will be accommodated in the cnoir seats. The gallery and what rensains ot the ground floor accommodation will be. available for the public. CIRCULAR TO HEADMASTERS. ' . The following is an extract from the circular to headmasters of schools issued by the local branch of tho Navv League:— ''in- doing honour to the memory of Nelson, on October 21, it is desired that tiie children .should realise: (I) What we, as a nation, owe to tho greatest of heroes in having saved tho Motherland from invasion, and ensured the peace and freedom of the seas of tho world. (2) That the security and prosperity that we, in New Zealand, nave for eo many ygars enjoyed, under Hie protection of the Union Jack, is directly traceable to tile"self-denial and devotion to duty shown by Lord Nelson and oui- forefathers, which spirit still pervades mir 'Silent Navy' in its vigilant patrol—-night and! day—and its contmuous blockade of tho enemy in the North Sea and elsewhere. (3) That each of us individually—men, women, and children—must. for all time cultivato this'same spirit of self-denial'and support our Navy, not only for our own protection, but also as a means of protecting the weaker nations from agcres. sion. (4) That over a 100 veaTs ago, Britain fought not against France.as a people, but against the ambition of Napoleon, 'her temporarv ruler. To-day Britons are fighting anew the old battles against despotism, but this time, as Allies of valiant France, and' as comrades-in-arms against a most infamous onslaught on popular liberties. Tho French now pay tribute to the memory of Nelson. They are generous enough to admit that but for tho efficiency ot the British Navy (largely due to the Nelson' spirit) Germany would, ere this, have secured the mastery of Europe. The French and' British would thou have suffered as tho Belgians have."-.