THE NAVAL REVIEW.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 26 June 1911, Page 5

THE NAVAL REVIEW.

MAJESTIC SCENE AT PORTSMOUTH. 25 MILES OF WARSHIPS. LONDON, Sunday. The King and Queens and the visiting Royalties left London x this mbrniiig for Portsmouth, wliere the King reviewed the Navy . They reached Portsmouth at 12.30, the journey being made in a strong wind, with occasional showers and fitful gleams of sunshine. The British and foreign ships participating in the review were gaily 'dressed! Twenty special tirams conveyed the guests, including the Imperial Conference delegates, oversea Premiers, -and Parliamentarians. Thirty additional trams were filled' with, sightseers.

Admiral Sir A. W. Moore was in supreme command of the fleet, wliich. consisted of 32 battleships, 25 armoured and nine .protected! cruisers, twelve; depot ships, and 89 torpedo craft, as - <rregatinp r 1,121,410 tons, costing £100,000,000. The vessels were manned by 60,000 officers and men. It was the largest fleet ever assembled'. Besides these there were ■eighteen foreign warships, each' country sending one excepting Japp-ii, whioh was represetffted by two. The (review area covered eighteen square miles, the fleet being arranged in five long main lines, with smaller linies filled with destroyers, submarines, and torpiedoers, and a sixth line formed ,by the foreign ships. 1 The shore of the Isle of Wight was crowded with vessels belonging to various steamship lines, filled with sightseers. The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert steamed out to the accompaniment of vociferous cheering from the multitude lining tho shores, the whole forming a.n impressive, spectacle. Upon the yacht entering the lines of the combined fleets a Royal Salute from three thousand cannon , thunderously acclaimed the sailor King. Unibroken sunshine prevailed at Portsmouth later in the afternoon. Their Majesties inspected the twenty-five miles ■lines of warship®, sta t ndiing on 'the &irebridge of the Royal yacht. As they passed' the saliors lustily cheered. and the hands played.the National Anthem.

Two hundred thousand' spectators assembled on> thp. sea. front at South port and Cos port. The King's reception of the foreign Hag-officers lasted 1 until 5.30. When their Majesties left the fle£t a, thunderous final sajute was fired.