THE NELSON TOUCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 250, 21 October 1926, Page 6

THE NELSON TOUCH.

TRAFALGAR DAY'S SIGNAL "VICTORY" IN THE THICK OF FIGHT.

MOST DECISIVE NAVAL BATTLE

One hundred and twenty-one years ago, on October 21, 1805, Admiral Lord the-most popular of Britain's naval heroes, won his final and most memorable victory when he defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets otl the coast of Spain.

Napoleon Buonaparte had assembled a mighty army on the shores of I'lance in readiness lor the invasion of England, but he soon realised that le liad not the slightest hope of transporting his soldiers aud guns across the Channel until he had disposed of the ever-watch-ful British navy. He therefore djcid<:d to r.take everything on the chances of a naval battle, and lor the first time gave orders that his ships should deliberately su°k an engagement with the dreaded enemy. The combined tleets of France and Spain, which were under the comir-ind of Admiral Villeneuve, had been anchored for several weeks in the security of the harbour at Cadiz, but. on October 19 they sailed out tp sea. News of their movement was conveyed to Kelson, who had been lying in wait for them since x he end of September, and he sailed towards Gibraltar to prevent their escape into the Mediterranean. The two fleets sighted each ither early on the morning of October 21, in the vicinity of Cape Trafalgar, and Nelson at once ordered his ships to bear down upon the enemy. Villeneuve had the advantage in numerical strength, for his fleet numbered 33 battleships and 1 frigates, and carried 2,626 guns, while Nelson's squadron consisted of 27 battleships and 5 frigates, with 2148 guns. The British ships advanced in two lines, one led by Nelson on board the "Victory," and the other headed by the "Royal Sovereign," under the command of Lord Collingwood. Just before the commencement, of the battle, which started at mid-day, Nelson ordered his last signal to be hoisted from the "Victory," and repeated through the fleet, and the famous message, "England expects that every man will do his duty," was greeted with deafeninp cheers from every shin in turn along the two lines.

The "Royal Sovereign" was first in action, but the "Victory" was soon in the thickest of the fight, and at one time was surrounded by four of the enemy's most powerful ships, all of which were put out of action. TMe -engagement had proceeded for about an hour and a half when Nelson received his death wound, being shot through his breast and back-bone by a musket baT*. from the mizzen top of the French ship "Redoubtable," where a number of picked marksmen had been stationed.

The dying hero was carried below to his cabin, where he lingered until half past four in the afternoon, when he passed away with the words, "Thank God, I've done my duty," on his lips, but he had the great consolation and triumph of knowing that the victory, which he had so gloriously begun, was complete. The battle, which lasted just under five hours, was one of the most decisive fights in the annalg of the British navy, for Admiral Villeneuve was taken prisoner and twenty of his ships were captured, sunk or burned.

In Great Britain the intense grief occasioned by the news of Nelson's death almost neutralised the outburst of national rejoicin? over the memorable victory, which not onto put an end to Buonanarte's long-cherished dream of '"nvadinsr England, but firmly established Britain in her proud position as Mistress of the Seas.