The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21. TRAFALGAR DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 165, 21 October 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21. TRAFALGAR DAY.

"The Almighty God Whose arm is strength, having of His great mercy been pleased to crown his Majesty's ileet with success, in giving them a complete victory over their enemies on the 21st of this month, and that all praise and thanksgiving may be offered up to the Throne of Grace, for the great benefits to our country and mankind. I have thought proper that a day should be appointed of general humiliation before God and thanksgiving for this, His merciful goodness, imploring forgiveness of sins, a continuation of His divine mercy and His constant aid to us in defence of our country's liberties and laws, without which the utmost efforts of men are nought; and direct, therefore, that a day be appointed for this holy purpose.—C. Collingwood, Vice-Admiral."

Thus ran the general order to the British fleet on October 22, 1805. Does everybody know the story of Trafalgar ? It is the story of the fight that made it possible for the people of Taranaki to be where they are to-day and which definitely decided the status of the British Empire. It is remembered (or perhaps it is not remembered) that Bonaparte, the bogey of Europe, in his efforts to subdue the whole civilised world, had also to subdue Britain, that he had already his army of invasion under canvas on the shores of France, and that the medals for his troops who were to sack London, had already been struck. Can it be forgotten (and perhaps it can!) that the British squadrons under Sir i Robert Galder had mdt the combined fleets of France and Spain off Cape Finistere during July ,had fought an indecisive battle, with great loss on both sides, and that the foreign fleets had run into Cadiz to refit? And then the Admiralty's summons to the little bent man with the one eye and the one arm and the great heart, the frail Admiral who in; his sublime audacity and absolute devotion to duty typified all that is or ever has been finest in the character of the British tar. Nelson's faith in himself and in the navy had not yet entirely recast history iwas shown when he was asked to choose his officers for the task of crushing the sea-power of France and Spain, for he replied that it was impossible to choose the wrong men and the Admiralty might choose whom j they would. Nelson, ever superstitious, as are sailors to this day, saw that the coffin given to him by Captain Hallowell was already stored before he left London, for it is clear from the reading of his many historical utterances that he believed he would never return alive. And so September 2io, 1805, saw Nelson off Cadiz with a fleet of thirty-three sail, the Victory in the van. The combined enemy was "safe" under the batteries of Cadiz, and Nelson, it is said, feared that the enemy, if they knew the British strength, ■ might -hesitate -to come out and engage his fleet. So Nelson kept out of sight of land, stowed his colors in the lockers, and sent a message to Gibraltar that no details of his fleet were to be published or mentioned by word of mouth. Admiral Villeneuve was ordered to sea, and he wasn't quite sure that there was necessity to hurry, believing that Nelson was still in London, ill and broken up with hard fighting. Nelson, to be definite, was snug and trim at Cape Mary on the 19th. Nelson was told by a scout ship that Villeneuve had left Cadiz. His orders had nothing to do with telegraphs to the engine-room, torpedoes and 13-inch guns. In fact, he said that if his signals could not be seen, every captain had his permission to sail full tilt into one of the enemy's ships and get on board to ■fight it out with cutlasses. Nelson's plan could not be carried out nowadays. There were 3!) French and Spanish ships under command of "Admirals Villeneuve, Don Ignacio Maria D'Aliva, and Don Baltazar Hildago Cisternas, hanging in the wind, merely waiting, intending by force of men, metal and timber (the combined fleets had ilo,ooo> soldiers on board) to crush this foolish Nelson, whose boats were moving as fast towards the enemy i and Cape Trafalgar as a light westerly breeze would allow, sailing in two lines, ' with an advanced squadron of ei.<rht of the fastest ships abreast. When Nelson had his fleet sailing fairly for the enemy, he went below to write letters, put on his full uniform, and to hang an ivory miniature of Lady Hamilton next his heart. When he went on deck' he sent the famous signal. He felt that to tell the men of the fleet to do their duty was unnecessary and the signal was merely a lightsome interlude. One historic picture of tlie "England expects every man this day to do his duty" incident shows the men of the Victory receiving it with uncontrollable hilarity. There is less need now than ever to detail the terrible fight, for it is impossible that its like will be ever seen again. Of how the "Victory," leading the port line, ran full butt into the great French ship, the Redoubtable, and how soon thereafter British timber see-sawed against French and Spanish and the gun- of three great nations belched muzzle to muzzle, their gunners unseeing, choked with smoke, blinded with powder, 'and oblivious of anything two feet away. How. in the simplicity of old naval fighting the gunners fired as long as possible, ami then clambered aboard the enemy's ships, cutlass in hand, and how Nelson when he saw the "Redoubtable" in sore straits, gave orders to "cease fire" and to "give her a chance." How it was that

of the smoke', saw th& greatest of all admirals, his spare form attired in full uniform and the breast of his frock ablaze with orders, and how Nelson (lied. There is, too, the story of the peaceful Tyrol shepherd who, years afterwards, regaled his cronies of the wine-shop with the story of how lie, Pierre, had fired the bullet that let out the life of this English pig—this Nelson. It matters not to-day whether the life of a peasant paid for the life of our admiral. But this matters: Trafalgar saved the Empire. Trafalgar was possible only to a genius. Nelson was that genius. The story of his great deeds will never die. They are as imperishable as Egmont, as undying as the spliynx, as unforgettable as our own triumphs and our own sorrows. Nelson is to-day the inspiration of the greatest navy that has ever existed. Nelson's victory is an inspiration to the strong to go in and win and for the whiner to shut up and do something. From the battered vessels of the fleet that our great admiral moved to victory has sprung the navy on which we are absolutely and entirely dependent. In that navy are men who, inspired by the great life and the glorious death of the transcendant sea-lord, may still when duty calls steam as calmly to the fray as ever Nelson sailed with a westerly wind on that far-off October 21, 1805—Trafalgar Day.