WHY WE RESTORED THE VICTORY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1928, Page 1

WHY WE RESTORED THE VICTORY

(By H. W. WILSON, Author of “Battleships in Action” and “The War Guilt,” in Daily Mail).

The King's visit to the Victory, now that she has been restored to tlio rig which she carried in Nelson’s time and at the crowning battle of Trafalgar, must recall attention to those far-off days of 1805 and their immortal events. The battle was fought by tho FraneoSpanish fleet because the French com-mander-in-chief, Admiral Villeneuvc, knew that he was about to be superseded. Another officer was on the way, sent by Napoleon, to take his place and order film home for trial and disgrace. A council of war held in the Franco-Spanish fleet decided unanimously against fighting. The French ships were badly manned, supplies were short, the crews lacked practice in gunnery at sea. But when the Emperor Napoleon’s instructions to fight were made known, all bowed their heads. The orders were issued for battle. Outside Cadiz, Nelson waited with a British fleet which had only 27 ships of the line to tho French and Spanish 33. But in efficiency the British force has never since been surpassed. At its head was the greatest admiral in history, Nelson, an officer whose very name was an inspiration, and who was beloved hy all ranks from highest to lowest. What Napoleon was on land, that Nelson was at sea. He had no secrets from his subordinates. Ono and all they knew what be wanted and intended. His plan of Battle bad been for days in their hands, and such was his extraordinary force that when he discussed it with his captains their admiration for it drew tears

from them. It sounds incredible, and yet it is true. As Napoleon yearned on land for the perfect victory, so, did Nelson strive to achieve it at sea. One Of his watchwords in tho momentous clays before be died was, “not victory but annihilation.” Ono of bis instruction's to liis captains was that no captain would go far wrong who placed himself alongside his enemy in battle. For at this dafe the British gunners firedtwice or thrice as fast as their an-

tagonists. Tho British got off three broadsides a minute in close action; the enemy got off one. A British ship which closed would therefore, barring accidents, shoot her adversary to bits. There was nothing wild or hotheaded about Nelson’s orders. They were the fruit of long study and reflection, and to-day as in the past

they ought always to be borne iffmind. He cared nothing for maintaining strict and severe order ih- his lino of battle as ho bore' down to engage. The British were reported by their adversaries to be approaching in great confusion. Nelsorf was- ready to take the risk of receiving; their fire as he neared them. He was iff great personal peril, but lie' refused tkr ahloid it, ns ho might easily Rave dbffe' by permitting Eliab Harvey in the Temoraire, a magnificent figMin'g officer, in a magnificent ship, to lead. When Collingwood at the head of j one British line ,and .Nelson at the bead of another, struck the Franco-: Spanish fleets there were several min- j utes of the most desperate fighting, after which as the fruit of superior gunnery and much superior strategy tho British rapidly established their ascendancy. About an hour after Nelson and^the Victory lmd entered the battle Nelson received his mortal wound. As ho lay dying he was told that fifteen of the enemy’s ships had struck, but he refused to be content, and said he must have twenty. As

consciousness began to fail, his mind still clung to that ideal which was supreme in his life and his naval career, “not victory but annihilation,” an ideal which since his day has only been fulfilled in One case at sea and by one commander—by Togo at Tsushima, the historio battle which resulted in the destruction of the Russian fleet in 1905. For Nelson, as he said himself, “counted nothing done while aught remained to do.”

It, is this splendid spirit of devotion, this, extraordinary capacity in leadership which the King honours when he pays his visit to the Victory. For still we can say in the words of Swlnbarne:

There is none other and there shall be none: When England finds again as great a son, Hd can bnt follows fame where Nelson led. There is none other and there shall he none.