The Himaru Hearld. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1933. “ENGLAND EXPECTS . . .

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19626, 21 October 1933, Page 8

The Himaru Hearld. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1933. “ENGLAND EXPECTS . . .

Not unnaturally the celebration of Nelson Day, held throughout the British Empire to-day, in commemoration of the victory of the English Fleet at Trafalgar, will turn attention to the memorable signal that inspired the Fleet in one of the most notable naval victories of all times. Right down the years since biographers have sought to speak of Nelson's life, some rather illuminating appreciations and depreciations of the leading figure in the victory at Trafalgar have been reduced to paper. Last month, Alyse Gregory, writing in The Outline, on the illogical assumption that death was the end of all, said:

“Is It to be wondered at that to every true Englishman Lord Nelson was so popular a figure? He had just that combination of sentiment and pluck guaranteed to win him a great popular following. Yet, in the end after all his adept manifestoes, his spectacular maritime commands, his great battles won, the solemn prayers to his partisan British God, the impassioned consummation of his love, those uplifted moments when for the first time he had looked down upon the features of his little girl—what remained?

Such a challenging question might have been asked of the life and death of all the great and the humble souls who have played a part in the creation and preservation of the British Empire. What remained? One biographer replies to this query by suggesting that all that remained of Nelson was “a little cripple preserved in a barrel of brandy to be sent home to his native land.” It has been said that Lord Nelson maintained to the end some characteristically sustaining and vital illusions. “I have not,” he writes to Lady Hamilton “a thought except you and the French fleet,” words which may be accepted as literally true. Before the battle of Trafalgar, Nelson penned his last letter, which was found in his desk after his death: “Victory,” October 19th, 1805. Noon—Cadiz E.S.E., 16 Leagues.

My dearest beloved Emma, the dear friend of my bosom, the signal has been made that the enemy’s combined fleet are coming out of Port. We have very little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing them before to-morrow. May the God of Britain crown my endeavours with success. At all events I will take care that my name shall ever be most dear to you and Horatia, both of whom I love as much as my own life, and as my last writing before the battle will be to you, so I hope in God that I shall live to finish my letter after the ....

Emma and his country; his country and Emma —these two absorbing preoccupations were wildly throbbing through his head and heart; indeed, it is admitted that whole-souled devotion to his country has enshrined the name of Nelson on the imperishable scroll of the nation's heroes. Returning at the age of 16 years from some trying service in foreign parts, he was invalided home, and in after years Nelson spoke of the depression under which he laboured during the return voyage, till "after a long and gloomy reverie, in which I almost wished myself overboard, a sudden glow of patriotism was kindled within me, and presented my king and my country as my patron. My mind exalted at the idea. ‘Well, then,’ I exclaimed, ‘I will be a hero, and confiding in Providence, I will brave any danger.’ ”

For years after Nelson, as he moved from success to success, delighted to speak to his friends of the “radiant orb,” which from that hour hung ever before him, and “urged him onward to renown.” Is it then, accurate to say that all that remained of one of the greatest naval heroes was “a little cripple preserved in a barrel of brandy to be sent home to his native land?” The Empirewide commemoration of Nelson Day, more than one hundred years after his death, furnishes an answer to that narrow estimate of the inspiration Nelson left behind him. It is said that his famous signal was to have been worded “Nelson confides that every man will do his duty,” and that his own name was replaced by that of England on the suggestion of one of his officers. The use of his name as an inspiration and an appeal would have been perfectly consistent with his tone at all times, but he agreed to the alteration with the indifference of a man to whom self and country were one at the hour. “Expects” replaced “confides that” in the historic message becouse the verb originally chosen must be spelt out letter by letter in a long string of flags. Of the death of Nelson, the historians paint this impressive picture: When the "Victory” had passed astern at the French “Bucentaure,” and was engaged with her and the ’’Redoubtable,’' Nelson walked up and down the quarter deck of his flagship by the side of his flag-captain T. M. Hardy, with the brisk short step customary with him. As they turned a musket shot from the top of the "Redoubtable” struck him on the upper breast and plunging down, broke his spine. "They have done for me at last' were the words .in which Nelson acknowledged the fatal stroke. He lingered for a very few hours of anguish in the fetid cockpit of the "Victory,'' amid the horrors of darkness relieved only by the dim light of lanterns and surrounded by men

groaning or raving with unbearable pain. Nelson’s last recorded words were of affection and of duty. He begged Hardy for a kiss, and he ended with the proud and yet humble claim, “I have done my duty, thank God for that.”

But if the storms of hostile criticism still beat upon the private life of Nelson, contemporary historians accept his memorable signal at Trafalgar as an inspiration to the nation to place service to country before personal interests, and although man cannot chose liis domestic and national responsibilities and obligations, the path of duty is still the road to glory.

WHY RAISE THE PRICE OF WHEAT?

Every citizen in New Zealand who regards with the least concern the return of economic and financial stability, ought to closely study the highly informative statement recently issued by one of the leading American grain experts, on the results of the World Wheat Conference so successfully concluded in London in August. Mr Murphy, who inspired the statement, declares that the raising of the price of wheat is the keystone upon which the future prosperity of the world depends. This arresting pronouncement ought to be closely studied by all, and particularly by those narrow-visioned people in New Zealand who seize upon every opportunity that presents itself, to attack the wheatgrower. It is reeoguised’of course that the hostility is prompted by selfish interests and a desire to profit at the expense of the producers. The world wheat agreement, however, which is the subject of the special article in the magazine section of this issue, may be regarded as a new Magna Charta for the producers. Commenting on the agreement The Times said: “More important than the actual terms of the bargain is the fact that in the case of the most of all primary commodities, it has been found possible to reach an agreement acceptable both to the exporting and to the importing countries. This has necessarily involved concessions on both sides, but during the negotiations the terms of the bargain have been examined closely from every angle, and those who have negotiated it and signed it, are confident that all the countries participating will stand to gain from it more than they are called upon to sacrifice.” It is just as well that the foes of the wheat grower should fully appreciate the aspect of the question that has been frequently stressed in these columns. The greatest gain in prospect is, of course as Mr Murphy points out in this issue, the revival of international trade in general—not merely the wheat trade —which can hardly fail to follow if wheat growing becomes once more a profitable occupation. And not merely international trade. The most conservative of the commentators in the Homeland, indeed, have been moved to say that there are few’ countries, the internal trade of which can be expected to recover until agriculture is prosperous enough to provide markets for the home manufacturers. This deduction ought to be patent even to the foes of the wheat grower in New Zealand. Obviously the benefits to be expected from the international wheat agreement are contingent, not merely upon its ratification by a sufficient number of Governments to enable it to be put into force, but also upon the effectiveness of the steps agreed upon to bring about a rise in the world price of wheat, and therefore, in the long run, contingent upon the way in which the importing countries interpret in practice the general undertakings which they have given to exporting countries, in return for the very definite steps which the latter have pledged themselves to take. Can we imagine the consternation such a statement would cause in the ranks of the Auckland attackers of reasonable protection being given the wheatgrowers of New Zealand! The undertakings embodied in the agreement, in spite of their vague and indefinite character, are to be welcomed as the first real indication on the part of the countries which have hitherto pursued a policy of external agrarian protection that they are prepared to consider some modifications of that policy in the .general interests, provided that the interests of their own producers are properly safeguarded, Mr Murphy suggests to us quite plainly, and his views are shared by the distinguished representatives who participated in the World Wheat Conference, that the future prosperity of the world reposes in the fortunes of the man on the land, and unless and until prosperity returns to agricultural and pastoral pursuits, there is not the remotest hope of recovery in the internal trade of any country.

A detachment from D (M. 0.) Company, Ist Canterbury Regiment, will leave Timaru this morning to take part in an “At Home." to be conducted by the Canterbury Regiment on the Addington Showgrounds this afternoon. A march past will take place at 2.30, followed by a sub-section alarm. Later there will be a signalling competition. driving competition. demonstration of battery signal establishing communication, tug-of-war on horse-back, wrestling on horseback, tent pitching competition, alarm race, and numerous other events.

LJOTEL Stonehurst, Auckland. "The Only Unlicensed Hot cl -dc- Luxe Manageress: Mrs L. Churton; 100 rooms. Inclusive tarif! from 10/- per day Telegraphic address; **Stonehurst."