TRAFALGAR DAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 October 1931, Page 7

TRAFALGAR DAY

A GLORIOUS VICTORY

BRITAIN’S NAVAL SUPREMACY

For 126 years Britons everywhere have thrilled with pride at the story of Nelson's glorious victory over the French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar. The anniversary fell again to-day. Tbo French Admiral Villeneuve had put into Cadiz for safety, but. at a hint from Napoleon of disgrace, lie made up his mind at, any risk to fight. Nelson was off Cadiz with a powerful fleet, but lie actually weakened bis force by four sail-of-llie-line in order to lure his adversary out.

Ou 20tli October, 1805, the allied fleet was in the open sea. It had been declared at a council of war that a lost battle was almost certain, so bad was the condition of many of the crews, but Villeneuve was bent on challenging falo and almost courted defeat in his despair. On the morning of 21st October the allied fleet of 33 warships and a number of frigates was off Cape Trafalgar, making for the Straits. Nelson advanced slowly against his doomed enemy with 27 ships and their attendant frigates. The famous signal floated from bis mast —‘‘England expects that very mail will do his duty”—and at about noon Collingwood pierced Villeneuve’s centre, nearly destroying the Santa Anna with a single broadside. Ere long Nelson had broken Villeneuve’s line with the Victory, causing frightful destruction; and as other British ships came up by degrees they relieved the leading ships from the pressure of their foes and completed the ruin already begun.

At about one o’clock Nelson met bis death-wound, struck by a shot from tile tops of the Redoubtable. Pierced through and through the shattered allied centre was soon a collection of captured wrecks. Only 11 ships out of 33 escaped, and the burning Achilla added to the grandeur and horrors of an appalling scene. Villeneuve, who had fought most honourably in the Buceiitaure, was compelled to strike his flag before the death of Nelson. The van of the allies that had lied was soon afterwards captured by a British squadron.

Although dearly bought by the death of Nelson the victory blotted Franco out as a great power on the ocean. Napoleon never tried afterwards to meet England ul sea. although bis wonderful successes on land enabled him to refer to the defeat as "the loss of a few ships at sea.”