The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, 1923. THE BRITISH NAVY.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, 1923. THE BRITISH NAVY.

TnEßfc is to ho a lecture combined with a picture display at the Princess theatre to-nit:lit under the auspices of the Canterbury brancli of the Navy League, which should serve to concentrate attention, on Imperial defence questions. -All parts of the Empire can afford to take an interest in the matter, for the safety and security ot the sea highways in particular are the lirst matter for consideration, governing the life of the overseas Dominions. It is the insurance, r.s it were, guaranteeing trade and industry, national progress and prosperity, and is the very foundation of the nation's greatness. The late war brought aerial defence prominently under notice, and to-night's leeturo will deal, wo understand, specially with that suoject. All can remember the terrifying events of the war when England was attacked from the air. The air raids upon London and other parts of the Motherland, wore among the most arresting of the stirring events in those darkdays. No doubt a great deal will be heard and seen of this aspect to-night. But, wßha). it is the British Navy

as the first lino of defence for the Empire that most folk are specially interested in. II the average man were asked when the British Navy was first blooded, he would probably reply that it was in the battle of Sltiys in the reign ol Edward Til. He might even, w ith hazy i(s olici t ions ( ,f fij s school days, associate* Alfred the Great with important developments in the navy -s a matter of fact, as Mr 11. B. I'. Wheeler shows, in his resent publication. ‘The Story of the British Navy,” ii had proved its met tic eve;, before that. The galleys of the Romans during their occupation ol Biitnin. can hardly be called a British licet. But early in the 9th. Century the Hanes began to raid the English coast. At first the English contented themselves with military resistance. Tn 851. however. Aothclstan. King of Kent, according to tin* ‘Chronicle’ of Hildas the monk, ‘‘brought II ships and slew a great force tit Sandwich, and took nine ships and put the others to flight.'’ I'tifoiftimitidy he did not follow up his success, and next yeai three hundred and fifty ships came and sacked London. Still, although Alfred, who organised the navy on an efficient basis, is generally regarded as the founder of the British Navy, the* Credit seems actually to belong to King Aothelstan. The first really important naval victory was won in the reign ol King John. John is not a popular monarch, but at any into lie was sound on the question, of naval defciuo. and the licet was considerably streiigthenoJ by him. In 1213 Philip Augustus of Frame had prepared a mighty armada for the invasion of England. It consisted, we arc told, of .1/00 vessels, hut the number is probably exaggerated. William of tlie l.olig Sword, Kail of Salisbury, commanded the English force. William laid down the tradition which has since governed English naval .strategy, lit* held that the trip, frontier of England is the coast of the enemy, and that only a fool "ill tight, at home when it is possible for them to light abroad. The sailor's business is to s**e*l< out tin- enemy’s fleet and destroy him wherever be may lie. Accordingly with 500 ships. William swooped down on Philip’s huge llotdla on tin* Belgian coast, eapuir ed 300 vessels, sunk and burned malty more, inllieted great losses on the enemy and retired in triumph. Philip had still a formidable fleet, but he was so disgusted at what had hap|iened that out of sheer chagrin h,- ordered the remaining ships to he sot on fire which seems to have been rat Iter a childish I proceeding! At any rate, it put an (■ltd to the plan of invasion. Henceforward Mr Wheeler is on mure familiar ground, hut he has unearthed n great deal of owt-nf-tlic-w ay information, and his bock is thoroughly readable, and maintains one's interest and pride in the performance of the great Uii I i'll Navy our -11 /-* ■ chichi of defence.