The Dominion. SATUEDAY, OCTOBER 20,1917. TRAFALGAR AND THE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 22, 20 October 1917, Page 8

The Dominion. SATUEDAY, OCTOBER 20,1917. TRAFALGAR AND THE NAVY

Trafalgar has long been a magic name in British cars, but it is safe to say that \tho traditions which centre in tho great and decisive naval battle have never been commemorated, with a richer and keener ap-preciation-of all that they mean, and imply .than, in .-.this fourth year, of the'world-war. The reason is plain. The traditions: which- centre iri Trafalgar, are honoured and , appreciated precisely iir the degree in which--they are. effectively .perpetuated, and in..moi'c than three years of war it hasbecn.demonstrated that the spirit which prevailed at Trafalgar -is far more than a glorious memory. It is to-day the- animat.ing spirit of the mighty Navywhich is-holding Germany in' strangling bonds and affording .a sure shield and buckler to the Allied .nations and their armies in thoficld.- The commemoration; of Trafalgar has, indeed, quite as much to do with tho present as with tho past. In honouring the 'memory of its searhorocs of a bygone time, the British nation cannob withhold a tribute' from the heart lo the lineal descendants o[ these'heroes—the - men who are to-day maintaining that dominion of the seas which the victory, of Trafalgar established ~on a suro foundation. Grateful recognition, of what we, owe to the Navy is -fortunately not wanting in any British' country. On tho contrary it has a place inspopular regard .which even. the. revolutionary changes introduced by, the present war, including the creation of a British Army on the Continental scale, have clone nothing to endanger. An immediate explanation, of course,, appears in the fact that under the searching test of the war the Navy has magnificently, sustained and uphold the traditions of which it is tho custodian. But simple gratitude for fcho essential service it is rendering in this war, and has rendorod in past epochs, will not in itself account for the regard in which the British people hold thoir Navy. ; In no slignt degree that regard is based upon deep admiration and respect, untouched by any ulterior consideration, for .the-noble of- enduring, and se-lf-denying devotion -in, which tho Navy has never been found wanting.

Throughout..its history, to which notable chapters have been added in this war, the Navy and its work have ■nfforded rare scope for the development and exercise of tho best qualities of tho nation it exists to serve and protect. This fact no doubt oxplams tho powerful bonds o£ sympathy that unite the Navy and "tho nation. Though it has many brilliant victories- to its credit, the spirit of the Navy has not been shaped only in battle aiul in tho light, of battle traditions. If it were only tho splendid machine it is often and rightly called it might be ill-fitted to bear the onerous and exacting responsibilities cast upon it in this war. But the British Navy, schooled by stern experience, has developed a far wider range of qualities than are implied in the term fighting .machine. ...

' It is a paradox of history and a penalty..of greatness although tho cardinal aim of the British Navy has-always been to seok out and'destroy tho enemy's fleets, that aim has never been completely realised. The present war is from this point nf view by no means peculiar.. Even Trafalgar.left Britain's enemies of that day with great fighting fleets still in being, and with hosts of raiders and privateers scouring tho seas and preying on. British commerce. Then, as now, the Navy was denied .that .final conflict with the enemy which would have made victory absolute, and was faced by a task which made unlimited demands upon other qualities than headlong valour. .It is possible that this war, like others, may end without the Navy being afforded an opportunity of annihilating tho enemy's fleet in battle, but the unsparing selfsacrifice and steadfast devotion to duty which are the distinguishing characteristics of the officers and men of our fighting ships have not been displayed in vain. It is wholly duo to the Navy that Britain and the Dominions have been enabled to transport and assemble their land forces and to maintain their vital sea commerce. These things have been made possible by the most effective use of sea power known to history. The trend of tho submarine campaign suggests that the Navy : has by no means reached the limit of its achievements in the domain of commerce protection, and there are evident possibilities, also, that the offensive measures -which have hitherto been found practicable may be materially extended before the war terminates. But even if what tho Navy has already accomplished marked its maximum achievement in tho present war wo should still be bound to say that it has nobly' maintained tho standards which were set in the days of Nelson and Colungwood.