VICTORY COMES ASHORE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3139, 16 October 1922, Page 2

VICTORY COMES ASHORE.

(liy Edgar Rowan.) Those who visit Soulhsoa this summer, or sail from Portsmouth for the Isle of W'ijibl. will miss an old friend from the historic harbor. .Nelson's old flagship has disappeared from those waters where she was for so long an object of interest and affection. Victory— it is contrary to all naval use and tradition to speak of any ship as "the So-and-So" Victory has come ashore. She will never know the salt seas again, or even have a glimpse of the waves, after more than lot) years afloat. Launched in 1765, she was already in old ship when Nelson fell dying on her deck in Trafalgar Bay. and for over a hundred years she has flown the (lag of the admiral of the port at the entrance to the last U.nglish hiarhor Nelson ever saw. If you are sailing from Portsmouth lor the Island, and turn to look back for a moment as you clear the narrow harbor mouth, you will see three tapering masts such as no battleship boasts to-day rising above the roofs of tin l old red buildings in the dockyard. One <'\' them will be (lying an admiral's (lag. for Victory i.-- still the (lagship of the port, and every man-o'-war that passes in or out of harbor pavs her compliment to I hat Hag. A little further up t lie harbor the buildings divide, so thai you have a glimpse of the familiar black and white bull. Every naval oflicer stands on deck facing the old craft, and salutes as Ins ship passes salutes ihr admiral's Hag. but raises his band with ;ni affection lor the gallant veter.-ni of Trafalgar which only the Navy can really feel or understand. She lies now in dry neck in I lie smallest and eldest of the docks, which was there when Nelson knew Portsmouth. And there -be must stay, for h''|- old limbers are 100 fragile and tol ten to dare again even I lie peaceful waters of the harbor. There are many schemes tor preservation. Either a shell cradle will be built to support the. venerable hull, or the dick will be Idled in so thai the old ship which knew the seas so long will rest ;it last in English soil. She is ;i pathetic figure as she lies there. Only Ikm- mastheads can peer towards Spithead. as'if she stood on tiploes lo sec once more the open waters. Hut she sees the ships of the modern Navy, passing in end (ait on their various missions. They salute her as they come and no. | ( »r their traditions are hers, and the officers who look at her with an affection which to the landmen seems i uriously sentimental draw from her some fresh inspiration for duty, and across the years keep contact with the Nelson Touch.