TRAFALGAR DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 138, 7 December 1907, Page 12

TRAFALGAR DAY.

VARIOUS CELEBRATIONS. NAVY LEAGUE DINNER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 25th October. Monday last was Trafalgar Day, and large crowds visited the Column in Tra-falgar-square. Tho decorations were practically completed on Saturday night, but tho number of visitors on Sunday was below the average of former years, owing to tho boisterous weather. Monday's delightful autumn sunshine, however, tempted thousands of pas&sfs-by to linger rountt iho monument and examino tho various wreaths and decorations. Tho stream oE visitors began! before 10 o'clock, and lasted throughout tho day. Special interest was shown in the huge anchor which was sent from 21 descendants of officers who fought in the- battle. Photographers wero busy, and there were at least a hundred hawkers selling souvenirs and portraits oi Nelson. The Union Jack was" flown front a large number of clubs and public buildings. In the. museum of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, tho Nelson Room was decorated in honour of tho day by Lieutenant Pratt, K.N., the curator, and there wero many visitors. Tho largo model of the battle of Trafalgar, which occupies the centre of tho room, was wreathed with vari-coloured chrysanthemums and . evergreens, a huge wreath of jvhite chrysa.nthcmir.ns was suspended over its centie, and a shotriddled spar that had helped to carry the victory into action had a cross of white immortelles, enclosed in a wreath of laurel. A wreath of bays was also placed on tho pedestal of tho bust of Nelson, which stands in tho college grounds. Tho boys of the Royal Hospital Schools were drawn up ou parado in tho morning, and stood at the salute as tho band played "Tho Death of Nelson," and the flaps composing his sigual to iho Fleet at Trafalgar wero hoisted on the Fame, the training ship which is built on the parade. Subsequently the- boys were addressed by tho superintendent of tho school, Captain Cooper Key, R.N., on fho lesson of the signal. The flagsnip Victory at Portsmouth was decorated with bunting, and the famous signal was flown from tho rigging. Tho Victory's old anchor on Southsea beach was decorated cith laurels. Tho Navy Lpi.juio dinner was held m the evening, at the Trocadero Restaurant, the Marquis of Graham being m tho chair. Tho guests included : Tho Marchionoss of Graham, Lord Brassey, Captain Sojiro Tochinai (Naval Attache at tho Japanese Embassy), Sir Frederick and Lady Pollock, Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane and Lady Deano, Mr. and ilrs. "Alan Burgoync, Captain W. V. Anson, R.N., Colonel Mitchell Smith, Mr. Herbert Neild, M.P., Mr. J. G. Jenkins (Agent-General for. South Australia), Dr. and -.irs. Ginsburg, Fleet Paymaster Pollock (Commonwealth (Navy), Commander and Mrs. Crutchlcy. The New Zealand guests included Mr. and Mrs. George Beotham and Mr. John Gell. Lord Brassey proposed "Tho Imperial i Forces," and said that tho memory of Lord Nelson, the greatest sailor since j the world began, was imperishable-. It i was the proudest heritage of tho nation, [ and a perpetual inspiration to the Navy of our own and of succeeding generations. The state of the Navy was at the present time satisfactory. For tho current year Germany had appropriated j. fourteen millions sterling to the Navy, I and England more than tnirty-ono mili lions. The men who were responsible to the country for naval administration were- men of ability in. whom every con- ! fidenco could be placed. Viewed broadi ly, the Navy stood well, and the Navy League had' had some part in bringing about that stale of affairs. Captain Anson replied for tho Navy, and Colonel Mitchell Smith for tho i Army. In proposing "Tho Immortal Memory of Nelson," the chairman said that it was almost impossible for the averageBritish person to forget the personality |bf Nelson. It was from the year of Trafalgar. 1305, that England dated her marvellous prosperity, and her freedom from war in England. Pcoplo spoke of the decadence of tho British race, yet who could deny that Britain was to be reckoned with in every International Conference-? In the present day rush there was danger that tho country might ho lulled into a feeling of security, and forget the great importance 1 ot sea power. If preparation wero made in time for a repetition of Trafalgar, there would be a definite rosuit. If the goodwill of other nations wpro trusted to then they were dealing with an unknown quantity ■ The toast was honoured in silence, all | present standing. i ' The other toasts included "The United Empire," proposed by Mr. Herbert Nield, M.P., and acknowledged by Mr. J. G. Jenkins; "The Navy League," which was given by .Mr. E" P. Moon, and responded for by Sir Frederick Pollock; and "Tho Chairman, " proposed by Mr. Justice Bivrgravo Deanc.