The King's Navy

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 106, 21 May 1937, Page 5

The King's Navy

- Press Assn.

SPITHEAD REVIEW His Majesty Views The Empire's Might FLEET NUMBERS 250

(By Telegfrapb-

— Copyrlgbt.)

(Received 21, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 20. By noon spectators for the Royal naval review aggregated a million people. Punetual to the minute the thud of a warning gnn cleared the arena ot sight-seeing eteamers and the Navy stopd still at tlieir stations to gireeti their sailor King on his first review. Evexy man remembered that at Jutland the King was a sub-lieuten-ant in the forward turret of the Collingwood. Meanwhile their Majesties and members of the Royal Family completed lunch ahoard the Yictoria and Albert, Princess Elizabeth joined the King and the Duke -of Glouoester on the main-^ deck to .watoh the preparations pending the King's connnand to put to sea. This was given and two tugs plucked the Royal yacht into the fairway, after which she proceeded under her own steam, the band of the Royal Marines gai% playing her out. The sea was smooth as the King, in the full dress uniform of an Admiral of the'Fleet, stood on the bridg^e. The Queen, who was wearing sun-glasses, and Princess Elizabeth were beside him. Salvoes of the Royal salnte of 21 guus from each ship, punctuating the roar of cheers afloat and ashore, marked the Royal yacht's emexgence from the harhour mouth, while hands on such ships as possessed them, struck up the National Anthem. Officers and men stood to attention on the upper decks and thousands upon thousands of spectators stood hareheaded ashore. Pennants and flags fluttered from every ship in gala dress, making a festival array of an area eight miles. long and five miles broad, As slowly the Royal yacht went down the lines of "might, majesty, dominion and power," one of the first to be. passed was the training-ship Iron Duke, formerly Loid Jellicoe's flagship at Jutland. Nearhy was the Hood. Among the reserves was the cruiser, Cardiff, which led the German High Seas Fleet to surrender at Scapa Flow. The Home Fleet was at full strength of six battleships, and 50 other types, but the Mediterranean Fleet, owing to the exigencies of the Spanish situation, was not fully represented. The central area was occupied by 135 ships, compared with 160 at the Jubilee review, but the reserves, the merc/antile marine and others brought the total to 250. Great ocean liners on the outskirts included the Aquitapia, Laurentie, Oroixtes and Rangitihi, which were crowded with spectators. Ten British and six foreign admirals flexv their flags, the latter being aboard the Greeian Averoff, the Ger-

man Graff Spee, the Soviet Marat, the Rumanian Regine Maria, the American New York, and the French Dunkerqne. The Royal yacht completed the tour in 100 minutes. It anchored at the head of the Fleet while aei'oplanes of the air arm flew past in salute.