NAVY IN PAGEANT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1930, Page 5

NAVY IN PAGEANT

'260 YEARS OF HISTORY. . ■ . ..... : . ■ 1 ■ .Jv . Two hundred and sixty .veirs of Britain’s naval history—made up in vivid chapters of timber and steel—will be told at tlie three famous dockyards, l Portsmouth, < Devonport and , Chatham, during Navy Week, which begins simultaneously in the three ports on August 2. It is the Navy’s annual “At Home” when the sailors of to-day seize their chance ie tell the world—and Britain in particular—how this little island came to rule the waves. One of the chief attractions in a week of pageantry will be a wonderful 42 ft. model of Nelson’s flagship Victory, which is now being completed in Portsmouth dockyard. The model will show the ship as she was when first commissioned in 1767. The real Victory will also be on view, and while the “ancient” (sailors' drink their grog on the wooden decks visitors may enjoy tea and ices in the shadow of the gun turrets." Viritors will also be able to inspect the spot where Nelson, fell or .watch a motor-launch , dashing about) the great basin at Portsmouth, her movements entirely controlled by wireless. Officers and men of the Atlantic Fleet are now rehearsing pngOantr.v which will thrill every visitoryto the dockyards. There will he the largest battleships in the world, great castles of steel, bristling with powerful gun?; there will be battle cruisers and destroyers whose names will always be associated with Jutland; tliere will be formidable submarines and gallant little- 4 minelayers. ~\t, all three dockyards ships’ crews will give gymnastic displays, exhibitions of gunnery drill, and “stunts’ which are l>eing, kept secret, by the organisers of this nautical “tattoo.’