SPANISH ARMADA DEFEATED.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 104, 5 November 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

SPANISH ARMADA DEFEATED.

On July 28, 1588, the Spanish Artfiuda, or armed fleet of ships, .styled ny the Spaniards the Invincible, or unconquerable, was dispersed by fireships, or ships tilled with combustibiles, to set an enemy's vessels on fire. Elizabeth was then Queen of England, and this attempt to take the Throne from her was planned by Philip 11., King of Spain, who had been husband oi her deceased half-sister and predecessor on the. Throne, Queen Mary. Next day, July 29, many vessels of this invading fleet were sunk or captured by the English, and the remainder, in order to return to Spain, retreated northwards up tho North Sea to get round the British hies, but suffered much by scr<?i© storms in August and September, losing altogether 35 ships and 13,000 men out of its 130 vessels, with 3,165 cannon*, 8,0-30 sailors, 1,088 soldiers, \,»<2 volunteers, including noblemen, gentlemen, and their attendants, 150 monks, and 20S8 galley-slaves, or those condemned for crime to work as oarsmen. They were defeated by SO English vessels under Lord Charles Howard, Sir Francis Drake, and Sir John Hawkins, whilst three armies were on land ready to serve if the Spaniards should set foot on the shore.

RINGING THE BELLS. Conversation in the smoke-room of the hotel had got round to haunted houses, and gruesome yarns of mysterious noises and unaccountable hellringing in a house in the immediate neighbourhood were being recounted. But there was a sceptic in the party who made himself heard. 'Come to that," he said, "I ougt+ 1o be pretty good in the haunting line. I reckon T could make a dozen heils ring in tin's very place without touching one of them " " Nonsense 1" was the universal chorus, and the young man never sa'd a word. Instead, lie opened a cnploaid near bv and turned off the gas. Tn less than two minat'X every bill in the homo was ringing, and b> the limo fresh light was shed on tli* f-nh-iect the old hands had U) admit tliaii tho "vnung 'un certainly knew something."