BERESFORD’S FAREWELL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9442, 12 May 1909, Page 3

BERESFORD’S FAREWELL.

Admiral Sir Arthur Wiison may he the finest living naval strategist, but there ia not the smallest doubt aa to -what Admiral stands highest in the affections of the British public. Lord Ohailos Beresford's reception by the public on vacating his command of the’Ohannel Fleet was quite unprecedented. An Admiral’s farewell to his fleet is an extreme!? impressive ceremony and nowhere could it be more so than with the great fleet lhr*t is England’s first line of naval defence. The King Edward YIL, with Lord Charles Bereaford’s flag flying for the last time, steamed majestically between two lines of leviathans, “battleships and cruisers | constituting the fleet. All the crews manned ship, and flags fluttered up and down in sad farewell to the retiring Admiral on the bridge of the great battleship. Then the ship was moored at the jetty, and the whole crew mustered on dock to say good-bye to their beloved commander. When he came at last he was In mufti, “a [thiok-set, merry-looking, white-haired gentleman, in a silk hat and a heavy coat,” very unlike the Beresford of the illustrated papers. He shook hands with the officers, and then walked down the gangway, while the crew stood at the salute—silent, at his own request. The scene recalled to a London correspondent a story of Lord Methuen he heard an Australian tell after the South African war. Lord Methuen made no secret of hia love for the Anstralians, and when this particular lot were leaving his command for home he attempted to address them. His voice faltered; he gave up the effort, and started down the long line, shaking hands with each in turn. Then, breaking down altogether, he turned abruptly and left them. The public of Portsmouth, however, were under no orders to keep quiet, and as soon as Lord Charles reached the dock gates, cheering broke out. The streets were thickly crowded "all the way to the station by a wildly enthusiastic crowd, and the station platform was packed by admirers, who demanded a speech, and got one. At Waterloo station, London, the enthusiasm was tremendous. The retiring Admiral represented to the public the party that.is fighting for an . overwhelmingly strong Navy, and people were determined to show him that they sympathised with him in hia retirement before his time and at the height of hie ability. In his public utterances he maintained a proper reticence, but it is said that at the gave behind looked doors to his captains before he hanled down his flag, some- of the speeches were extremely vigorous and blunt.