A PHANTOM FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1164, 27 June 1911, Page 5

A PHANTOM FLEET.

NAVAL ILLUMINATIONS. ONE HOUR OF DAZZLING LIGHT AT SPITHEAD. VESSELS OUTLINED IN FIRE. (Rec. June 2C, 10.25 p.m.) London, June 26. After the naval review at Spithead on Saturday, a rocket was fired at ten o'clock at night, and the vast fleet of battleships and excursion steamers were instantaneously outlined in light as from a single switch. Tho illuminations made a dazzling spectacle nguinst tho dark background of sea and sky. Golden lights marked each waterline, and other lights the run of tho decks, the ■ curves of tho ships' bows, the funnels, bridges, and conning towers. Red lamps also outlined in crosses the Admiral's flags. Cunningly hidden searchlights on the United States battleship Delaware played on that vessel's fluttering flogs with beautiful effect. The groups of jewelled and coloured lights, together with tho numberless rockets which were tired off, wero mirrored in the sea, and added beauty to the spectacle. An hour later another rocket' was fired, and the phantom fleet of light disappeared. THE KING AT PORTSMOUTH, - A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE. London, June 25. King George, at the reception of the foreign flag officers at 'Portsmouth, exchanged greetings with several of them in their, own language, dispensing with interpreters. ' The King banqueted 200 British and foreign officers on board the loyal yacht. Their Majesties and their children afterwards witnessed : the illuminated fleets from a semaphore' tower, whence a magnificent panoramic view of the fleets in the Solent was obtained. The illuminated warships presented a superb spectacle. KING INSPECTS VETERANS. London, Juno 25. King George inspected a hundred and fifty naval and military veterans at Portsmouth, and spoke a few words to each. Nelson's ship, the Victory, premier flagship of the Navy, commenced the salute when the Royal Standard was hoisted on board the Koyal yacht, and the rest of tho fleet followed. CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON. SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICES. London, June 25. Special Coronation services and sermons were held in the churches throughout tho country to-day, attended by the Mayors, municipal authorities, and local Territorial forces. The Coronation illuminations in Fleet Street, the Strand, and tho West End were continued last night. The etreets were again crowded. •A' children's Coronation fete will be held at Alexandra Palace on Monday. Tho ages of 419 guests at tho Coronation dinner at Guildford, in Surrey, totalled 32,000 years. Tho Metropolitan Railway carried a million passengers, the District Railway 1>400.000, and the other tubes 1,950,000 during Thursday and .Friday. QUEEN ALEXANDRA. MESSAGE FROM CANADA. Ottawa, June 25. Queen Alexandra, in reply to a message, cabled to Earl Grey, Governor-Gen-eral of Canada, as follows:— "Deep-felt thanks for kind words and thoughts of me during the sacred ceremoDy for my dear son and daughter-in-law. Thank God all went off well." CLEMENCY AS A RIGHT. AN ADELAIDE DEMAND. Adelaide, Juno 26. Tho tramway employees havo asked the general manager that all employees in tho service who have been punished during the year should have their punishment rescinded in honour of tho Coronation of King George. They ground their request on the fact that a similar privilege has been estonded to prisoners.