The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1918. NELSON'S DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10107, 22 October 1918, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1918. NELSON'S DAY

Yesterday, in the celebration of "Nelson's Day," there were many French flags in the customary bunting, and there was no mention of Trafalgar, excepting, perchance, incidentally. It is emphatic proof that the national sentiment has found the true perspective about sea power. As Trafalgar merely recorded the high-water mark of efficiency as reached under the greatest of all Admirals, it is right that its record anniversary should be named after that Admiral. The new name of "Nelson's Day" implies, of course, that all the great qualities" which make for efficiency of the sea service were embodied in the great Admiral. The commemoration of him is really tho commemoration of the whole series of sea exploits in British history, and by converse, is a reminder of tho consequences of the neglect of attention to sea power. The two are interwoven in the historic fabric. In the earliest times we see the consequence of the neglect in the Danish conquest. The next episode is the fine record of King Alfred's fleet, which maintained the Saxon revival. Harold's neglect of sea power opened the way for tho Norman Conquest. In tho day of Edward 111. attention to tho affairs of the sea resulted in the great sea victory at Sluyß, on the boast of the region where the Allies have driven 15,000 German troops over the border into internment. Later times witnessed the respect paid universally to Cromwell's government by the maritime victories of Blake, and later came the great struggle with the Dutch, which gave us the command of the sea, though it was not held without a vast warfare of tho sea, which finally settled the Trident in our hands. Since then the British nation has been mindful of the value of sea power. In tho long interval of peace between the Napoleonic wars and the present far greater and more calamitous conflict, this determination was disturbed by occasional political waverings. Happily, the good sense of the nation, aided by the strenuous efforts of men of conspicuous ability—the late W. T. Stead contributed strongly with his "Truth About the Navy"—aided by the rapid growth of the German Navy, prevailed. Consequently the war found the British Navy tho strongest and best afloat. It proved its efficiency on the very first day of the war, and its wonderful services during the war have pnved beyond question that its personnel possesses, undiminished, all the great qualities requisite for the efficiency of which the high-water mark was reached by the great Admiral whose memory we celebrate on the day of tho great victory which was due to that distinguished chief, seconded by officers and men worthy of their noble service. No need to detail the vast services of the Navy in this war. Enough that it carried the fortunes of tho Entente Alliance with a success which secured time for tho preparation required by the great British and American nations for decisive victory. Three things stand out in the great record. They are : (1) The clearance of the seas and the maintenance of the armies abroad; (2) the battlo of Jutland, which after testing tho splendid efficiency of all ranks of tho service, was deprived by misfortune of the fruits of its great victory; (3) the courage and skill by which the Navy saved us from defeat in tho submarine campaign; In tho last tho whole seafaring population of the British Islos showed its hardihood, its skill, and its patriotic devotion, while the seamen of the Mercantile Marine exhibited a brave sense of duty, not only amazing, but. almost incredible. According to a report recently published, the commander of tho Grand Fleet, Sir David Beatty. is of opinion that the onemv's fleet must come out to strike a last blow for tho victory of Germany. It is an opinion worthy of respect, being tho opinion of a shrewd seaman* of tho traditional typo that made few mistakes r>id of ono who is . in possession of information of tho enemy's preparedness for fighting, not within popular roach. It certainly does) seem to bo rathor late for tho enemy to striko at sea. now that he is being driven out of Belgium at a rate of rapidity almost -unexampled in war. But !

tho German Admiralty knoWB as well as any other, authority that it is better late than never- If the High Sea Fleet does not strike very soon it may be too late for any victory it may attain to save the German armies in the occu. piod territories from disaster. If these armies escape over the border, there will be time for the enemy's fleet to try and paralyse the communications of the invading armies. In such case victory would be a case of better late than never. Defeat, at the same time, would b«> better than surrender according to terms enforced bv the victorious invaders, who certainly would seize the High Sea Fleet as lawful spoil of war. Than such a fate even the destruction of every German ship in fair fight would be more honourable. It is difficult to see that in any case the High Sea Fleet could have any hope of influencing tho course of the war in favour of Germany. The Grand Fleet is stronger and moro efficient than it was when it steamed out to do its war work, and the great ships of America are with it efficient, formidable and numerous, manned by a very vigorous, brave and skilful personnel. What strength the German builders have added to the High Sea Fleet few men outside of Germany know. Admiral Beatty's opinion that the fleet will come out, implies that ho knows, and rates the addition at a value high enough to justify the German Admiral s determination to try his fortune in battle. If he is right we can only await the result with full confidence in the efficiency of the Grand Fleet and its Alließ-