TRAFALGAR DAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2580, 30 September 1915, Page 9

TRAFALGAR DAY

SHOULD IT BE CELEBRATED? By Telegraph—Press Association. Chrlstchurch, September 28. The City Council last evening decided that no celebration of Trafalgar Day would bo held tliis year, the Mayorremarking that the Battle of Trafalgar was fought between Britain and France, and as both Powers were loyal allies at fcJie present time it was a delicate question as to wliether the day should be celebrated any longer.

A MISAPPREHENSION. Apropos of the opinion expressed by the Christohufoh City. Council that Trafalgar Day should not be celebrated this year, the Jocal hon. secretary of the Navy League (Mr. Palmer) points out that the Cathedral City authorities are under a misapprehension. _ The anniversary is by no means a jingoistio crowing over our former adversaries. Tile main idea is to keep alive the memory of "the greatest sailor since the world began," and to impress upon the minds of the growing generation the "Nelson spirit" of self-denial and devotion to duty, quite apart' from the far-reaching results of the great naval victory; which en sural the safety of our nation and the peace and freedom of the seas. Britons in no way-resent the perpetuation of the memory of Joan of Arc by tlie French (nor the United States celebration of Independence Day), and the French would be the last-people to begrudgo the honour annually paid to tho memory of Britain's naval hero. In a circular letter, the London authorities of the Navy League make special reference to the fact that conspicuously displayed on the Nelson Coliimu are to be appropriate floral tributes to our chivalrous enemies of a former time, as well as wreaths to the memory of officers and men of each of the ffi'wteb Mid British ship# test la the