BRITAINS NAVAL MIGHT

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 439, 21 May 1937, Page 5

BRITAINS NAVAL MIGHT

PORTSMOUTH REVIEW MILLION SPECTATORS Greatest Assembly Since Pre-War Days Press Association—Copyright. (Received 10.45 a.m.) London, May 20. Spectators at the Naval Review to-day aggregated a million. The King’s command to put to sea was given, and two tugs plucked the Royal Yacht into the fairway, after which she proceeded under her own steam. The King, in full dress uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, stood on the bridge. The Queen and Princess Elizabeth were beside! him. Salvoes of 21 guns from each ship, punctuating the roar of cheers afloat and ashore, marked the Royal Yacht’s emergence fix)m the 'htrbour mouth, whil» the ships’ bands strudk up the Nat onal Anthem. Officers and men stood at attention on the upper decks, and thousands upon thousands of spectators stood bareheaded ashore.

Pennrnts and flags fluttered from every ship in gala dress making a festival array of an area eight miles long and five miles broad. The Royal yacht completed the tour in 100 minutes. It anchored at the head of the Fleet, while the aeroplanes of the Fleet Air Arm flew past in salute. . PORTSMOUTH CROWDED Navy Early Astir Press Association —Copyright. London, M'ay 20. A misty morning with patches of blue sky promised “King’s Weather" for the review to-day of the greatest assembly of naval might since prewar days. Portsmouth was crowded at daybreak. The Navy itself was early astir. Ship’s companies were busy with a final polish while officers.- closely inspected every detail. Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by a nurse, appeared on the deck of the Royal yacht before breakfast and gazed excitedly at the long grey lines of Britain’s naval might, while scarcely a cable’s length away was Lord/ Nelson'r Victory, gay with pennants His Majesty’s official day b-.gan at 10 30 a.m., when, following the example of his father at his jubilee, he received on board Admiralty and other naval officers. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Samuel Hoare, presented foreign naval representatives with His Majesty's Coronation medals. He then went ashore with the Queen, Princess El.zabeth, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent. They paid; a surprise visit to the Victory, amid cheering and excited crowds. The Royal party spent half an hour touring the ship, where they were given souvenir brooches. Prir,cess Elizabeth was also given a book describing the history of the Victory. The Royal party returned to the yacht ' through Itfae dockyards, where it was cheered by lines of workers, who agreed to forego lunch to see Their Majesties.