PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 10

PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

NELSON. When Nelson was bom in 1758 the naval affairs of the Empire were at a very low ebb. War abroad and factions at home had pretty well done their worst for a country ruled by jobbery and corruption. Through the war against the revolted provinces of America, which resulted in their independence, it seemed as though the Empire were at the end of its resources. As though to mark, the period Lord Hawke, who 20 years before had raised oiir naval power to its greatest height, died in 1781. When Horace Walpole wrote, “ Lord Hawke is dead, and does not seem to have bequeathed his mantle to anybody,” no one would have been more surprised than himself had he been told that Hawke’s mantle had fallen on a little insignificant-looking and badly dressed cousin of his own—a young captain, for whom family interest had procured early promotion, but who was still absolutely unknown, even in the navy, except by a few commanding officers who had troubled themselves to think of the abilities of a subordinate. Many years were indeed to pass before it was revealed to the w r orld that Hawke’s brightest attributes had descended to Nelson, and that the pupil of Locker, Hawke’s lieutenant, was to raise the renown of the British Navy to still greater heights by a victory transcending even that of Quiberon Bay. Nelson was, on his father’s side, the descendant of a family of parsons. On his mother’s side the descent was more promising, for his uncle Maurice served in the navy with some distinction, especially when the Dreadnought took part in a gallant little action Which made some noise at the time. Of Nelson’s childhood very little is known. He himself has said that he was ecfucated at a Norwich school, and afterwards at a school at North YValsham. As to the stories told of him—that he told his grandmother that he was afraid of nothing; that he stole the pears from his schoolmaster’s garden—they may be true enough; but nearly every boy-has done or said similar things. The first important fact chronicled about him is that he was entered as a midshipman on H.M.S. Raisonnable under his uncle, Captain Suckling, who had obtained the post for him. January 1, 1771, then, was the date on which our hero’s career began. His next ship was tl»e Carcass, to which he was appointed in 1773. The Carcass, with the Racehorse, was equipped for a voyage of Arctic discovery. In this Nelson took part, and the training he went through in facing Arctic trials and hardship improved his seamanship and helped to form the man within him. Returning in the same year he was appointed to the Triumph, and afterwards to the Seahorse, which was fitting out for service in the East Indies. In this ship he visited nearly every port between Bengal and Bassorali, but the heat of the tropics was too much for him, and he was invalided home. In succession he was appointed lieutenant to the Worcester and then the Lowestoft. In the latter ship lie had the good fortune to be under

! Captain Locker, who was regarded by Hawke as one of his very best officers, and what Locker knew was passed on to Nelson. No doubt these was behind this rapid promotion the influence of his uncle, who now held the position of Comptroller of the Navy, and whose advice to Nelson was of a particularly solid nature. Nelson, however, by his attention to duty, his ability as a seaman, and by other traits, secured the good opinion of liis superiors; so he was specially chosen by Admiral Parker to serve on his flagship, the Bristol. He was shortly afterwards promoted to be the commander of the Badger and then to be captain of the Hinchinbroke, a frigate-built French prize, which was sent to the West Indies. Here he showed great zeal and energy in his work, but falling ill again, was ordered home. After recuperating, he w 7 as appointed to the Albermarle, a 28gun frigate, which proceeded to North America, where he joined up with the fleet commanded by Lord Hood, and where he was introduced to Prince William, afterwards King William IV. Lord Hood said of Nelson: “There was something irrestistibly pleasing in his address and conversation, and an enthusiasm when speaking on professional subjects that showed he was no ordinary being.” Nelson as a commander took constant care of the interests of those who served him. They were as a part of his family, and throughout his whole career to have served with him was a certain claim to his good offices. Lieutenant, master, seaman, he interested himself in them all. His was a brotherhood of arms; no policy, however, could have been more successful. As he loved his officers and men, they loved him, and the feeling spread through the whole navy. Nelson afterwards commanded the Boreas, which 'proceeded to the Leeward Islands. There, in 1787, he was married to a widow, Mrs Nisbet, and shortly afterwards sailed for England, Mrs Nelson following in a merchant vessel. After a prolonged stay at home, he was appointed to the Agamemnon. When war broke out between France and Britain he was ordered to the Mediterranean, where he saw a great variety of service—blockading the French fleet lying in Toulon harbour, bombarding and capturing Bastia Corsica, clearing the French fleet from ttfe seas off Italy, and later serving in turn under Lord Hood, Admiral Hotham, and Lord Jervis. Under Lord Jervis, Nelson hoisted the broad pennant as commodore, and later, after taking part in minor operations, lie joined Lord Jervis, who intercepted the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, which was attempting to join the French fleet at Brest. “A victory ii very essential to England at this moment,” Jervis said, as he saw the advancing fleet, and, although his fleet was numerically smaller, he engaged in battle. Nelson, the captain, seeing some of the ships of the enemy straggling from the main body of the fleetT disobeyed his admiral’s order and attacked them, although among them was the great Santissima Trinidad, the largest ship then afloat. Shattered by her fire, the captain then tackled the San Nicolas and San Josef, and as they lay helpless under firs from Collingwood in the

Excellent, he ordered his men to board her. First the one ship and then the other was taken. In the meantime the other Spanish ships fled, after losing some of their number. Nelson’s reputation as a man of decision, courage, and ability was now well established, and his action on this day proved him a man no less quick to discern than prompt to act. The news of the victory was- acclaimed in England, and votes to Jervis and all his men were carried by acclamation in the House of Commons. When it was known that Nelson, captain of a 74, had carried by boarding first an 80 and then a 112-gun ship, and that his coxswain had collected under his arm the swords of the Spanish officers as though ‘ he were making up a faggot,” he became the popular hero of the day. Rewards and promotions were showered on the victors. Nelson received the freedom of the city of London in a gold casket, and a sword of honour. By the King he was made a Knight of the Bath, and he was elevated to the rank of Rear-admiral. After this battle he was engaged in many minor operations, the most important being the attack on Santa Cruz. This attack failed, and in the fighting Nelson was wounded so severely in the right arm that it had to be amputated. He had previously lost the sight of an eye in the attack on Caliv, in Corsica. After a short stay in England he was placed in command of the Vanguard, a ship of 74 guns, :.rd sailed to join Lord Jervis off the coast of Spain. The Commander-in-chief learned that the French were making great preparations* in ships and men at Toulon, and Nelson was sent to investigate and report. These preparations were on jo huge* a scale that Nelson’s fleet vas strengthened, and with the determination to bring the French fleet to action, he searched the Mediterranean everywhere for it, proceeding as far as Alexandria without success. On his retuyi he must have passed the French fleet in the night time, for, unsuccessful again, he turned lack, and again reached Alexandria, where he found the French fleet anchored in Aboukir Bay, and protected on the land side. Nelson immediately flew the signal for attack, and as his officers had been informed of the plan of attack the ships sailed in. None of the English ships had more than 74 guns while the French, greater in number, had one ship of 120 guns—L’ Orient. Nevertheless, the battle resulted in a glorious victory, and the French fleet was practically "annihilated, the French Army, which it had brought, being thus hopelessly isolated in Egypt. Afterwards it surrendered to General Abercrombie. Nelson was created “Baron Nelson of the Nile," was voted £2OOO a year for life, and besides received from other countries handsome and costly presents of plate and diamonds. The East India Company presented him with £IO,OOO. After further service in the Mediterranean, Nelson was attaohed to the Baltic squadron, under Admiral Parker ? who was instructed to break up the Baltic Confederation. In order to do this it was necessary to attack the Danish fleet, and bombard Copenhagen. This duty was assigned to Nelson, who by masterly seamanship took hie fleet into the harbour, and after prolonged battle so shattered the Danish fleet that an armistice was arranged. Consequently the Northern Federation was broken up, and Nelson returned to England.. When it was known that Bonaparte intended to make an attempt to invade Eng-

land, the services of Nelson were again requisitioned. Service in home waters was followed by a command in the Mediterranean, where he blockaded the porta in the south of France for over two years. This division of the fleet having escaped, and sailed away with the object of joining the rest of the French fleet on the west of France, Nelson followed. The French fleet, under Villeneuve, sailed for the West Indies, with the view of drawing Nelson away from home waters. Nelson went in pursuit. The French fleet, returning with Nelson close on its heels, was able to join up with the Spanish fleet. The opposing fleets met at Trafalgar, where the combined enemy fleet was not only defeated, but also practically annihilated. Our hero, however, fell in the battle, and the greatest naval genius of all time ended his career. NELSON AS A SAILOR. From the date of his appointment as a midshipman Nelson served in every kind of naval craft then in existence—in every capacity from midshipman to admiral, and in every sea where fighting was taking place at that time—viz., West Indies, Mediterranean, Baltic, Atlantic, and home waters. After a year on board as midshipman Nelson was wont to say: “I am now a practical seaman.” “Aft, the most honour; forward, the better man,” was another of his sayings; but it was early days vet for him to prove such statements. Meantime, he was set to study navigation, and given charge of the ship’s longboat; thus, he became used to handling a boat, and the knowledge of rocks and shoals be found and located made him an extra good pilot in dangerous seas. His voyage to the Arctic regions proved a training in trial and hardship, in seamanship and in ready expedients. Perhaps the best training as a sailor and fighter, too, was received by him when lie served under Captain Locker, on the Lowestoft. Locker had been one of Hawke’s best men, and learned all he coukl from the famous old admiral. All he knew was passed on to Nelson, who, keen to learn, profited by his advice and experience and matured much of the professional knowledge he had previously received. Nelson showed a thirst for knowledge, a zeal for service, and a restless energy, which won Locker’s heart, and led him to treat his junior with an affectionate freedom. One incident during his service in the Lowestoft shqws the intrepidity of his character. In a heavy gale of wind, with very heavy sea running, the frigate captured an American barque. The first lieutenant was ordered to board her, but would not do so. Nelson, however, promptly offered to go in his place, which he did. This feature of his character was again and again revealed in his career. For instance, his orders to lie alongside the enemy’s ship and board her were exemplified in the Bay of St. Vincent. “Wherever one ship can find room to anchor, there is room for another ship to sail in and attack.” His plans of attack at the Battle of the Nile and at Copenhagen followed the lines laid down.

That Nelson was one of the most popular captains who ever commanded a ship is well known. He did not pander to his men, but gave careful attention to their comfort and their rights. He won the love of his officers not by tolerating neglect of duty, but by starting with the belief that his men were just as anxious to do their duty as he was. He took the utmost care of their health, and by giving them food of the most suitable kind, was able to keep them healthy, free from scurvy, and full of enthusiasm. Before the .Battle of the Nile was fought, each of his captains was made aware of his plans, which werr followed out to the letter during the battle. The more closely Nelson’s actions are studied, it will be seen that it was not just “going at them,” but the most advantageous way of doing it. The dash and the impetuosity were guided by genius and controlled by prudence and foresight.

Before the Battle of Trafalgar every officer in command of a ship knew precisely what to expect and what to do. The plan, prepared days beforehand, was for the fleet to sail in tw r o divisions—one (Collingwood’s) to attack the rear of the enemy; the other (Nelson’s) to over-awe the van and attack the enemy’s centre. These tactics were carried out to the letter. Lessons learnt from Nelson’s career are many, but the most important are, of course, the need for a long and arduous time of practical trainiig as a seaman —the training necessary to bring out the latent ability for the life of a sailor, and to prove that he is the possessor of all the qualities required by a fighter. Of course, Nelson’s principle “to lie alongside the enemy and board her” cannot be well carried out to-day, for, as a matter of fact, it may be necessary to turn away to avoid a submarine attack or to escape running into an enemy minefield. The study of position, the tactics of attack employed, the -provisions to be made fpr conditions after the battle lias been fought, are still to be follow’ed. Nelson’s last order at Trafalgar to “anchor the fleet” was not carried out by Collingwood. By night a gale was blowing, and as a consequence most of the prizes won in the battle w'ent down, and only four old and worthless ships were taken to Gibraltar as trophies of the victory. To the practical knowledge of the sailor came the natural desire of the fighter, and each of these was controlled and regulated by the unparalleled genius which rendered the name of Nelson ipunortaj* —********