THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 10 December 1914, Page 8

THE BRITISH NAVY.

MAGNFIFICENT AND STUPENDOUS. London, November 1. Everybody is more than ever in love with the British Navy. Now more than ever is it true that "All the nice girls love a sailor." The work the Navy has done since this war began has been magnificent and stupendous. • They started by being instantly ready for action when the bell rang. That prevented any Port Arthur coups on which the Germans may have been reckoning complacently. They have kept open the great highways of the ocean for the indispensable food and industrial supplies of this country, and our losses by the roving German buccaneers have been trifling compared with what happened in Nelson's day. In every square standup fight they have beaten the Germans to a frizzle. In the Heligoland battle, in all the sea duels that have yet taken place, and in the fight with the destroyers our navy has evinced its old supremacy. And now, with special monitor vessels intended for Brazil, but purchased by 'the Admiralty at the beginning of the war, the navy is taking a hand in the land fighting round Ostend. These new vessels are of very high draft for river purposes, but carry six-inch guns. The Germans had the surprise of their lives the morning these ships opened fire on them just as they were pressing to the attack against the Aliies. In one day the naval gunners killed and wounded nearly two thousand German troops, put six batteries of artillery absolutely hors de combat and out of. action, and bagged with one shot each a Zeppelin and a Taube. Not a bad,day's sport by any means. How typical of the British Navy were the messages received by wireless when the captain of the Undaunted, the same officer who was formerly jn the Aniphion, caught sight of the four German destroyers. The first message was: "Am pursuing four German destroyers." The next, an hour later, was the succinct news: "Sunk, the lot." It was the true Nelson touch again. And talking about Nelson reminds one that Trafalgar Day was a unique celebration this week. Never has it been less advertised, and never were there such huge crowds in the Square t6 pay their tribute to the little admiral with the empty sleeve who keeps watch and ward "over 'London from the mizzen top of his famous column. The base of the column was decorated with magnificent wreaths and naval emblems, including models in flowers of all the ships lost "in this war, and the immortal Nelson signal, "England expects that every man this way will do his duty," emblazoned in huge letters on the plinth, seemed to have a new vitality. It was a great occasion, full of a thrilling enthusiasm and the Royal Fusiliers' Reservo Battalion queued up to file past the crouchiiifr lions and look at the decorations. In the queue was a cheerful bluejacket, with his arm still in a sling, who fought in the, Heligoland battle on board the saucy Arethusa. He was pressed to give his experiences. "Oh, great fun 1 ," he replied; "I am rejoining in a day or two."