NELSON AT COPENHAGEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5861, 1 May 1897, Page 7

NELSON AT COPENHAGEN.

April 2 was the ninety-sixth anniversary of one of those daring feats of arms which have been very aptly styled " Deeds that Won the Empire." Compared with such I great naval battles as the Nile and Trafalgar, the battle of Copenhagen was of only second-rate importance, but, nevertheless, it was a glorious achievement on the part of a comparatively small band of those daring " sea dogs '" whose pluck and determination did so much to lay the foundation of England's maritime supremacy. It is the fashion with a certain class of modern critics to hint that the Eoyal Navy of today lives far too much on its ancestral reputation ; be that as it may, Englishmen all the world over are proud of the doings of their by-gone heroes, and one is never weary of reading of their glorious achievements. Therefore a brief account of the battle of Copenhagen cannot fail to be interesting in spite of the fact that the events are ninety-six years old. About the year 1801 England, flushed by a long train of naval victories, began to enforce conditions on the vessels of other nations of somewhat questionable wisdom, and in December, 1800, Russia, Prussia, Denmark and Sweden, exasperated at her claim to the right to search vessels of neutral Powers for goods belonging to enemies, entered into a confederacy having for jits object such a limitation of that right as would practically render it inoperative. Early in the new year Spain and Portugal, and shortly afterwards France — then the mightiest of Continental Powers, with a Napoleon at the helm — joined the Alliance. Thus England found the world arrayed against her; and, with that promptness characteristic of him, Pitt, her great Prime Minister, at once accepted the formation of the confederacy as a declaration of war, laid an embargo on all vessels of the nations that were parties to it, and fitted out a fleet to put his "ideas" into practical shape. Sir Hyde Parker was chosen as the admiral of the fleet, with Nelson second in com- ! inand. The action of the authorities in overlooking Nelson's undoubted claims to the premier post was condemned by both public and professional opinion. The fleet sailed from Yarmouth Eoads on March 12, with a regiment of infantry, some riflemen and artillerymen on board in addition to the ordinary complement. On March 21 anchors were dropped close to the entrance to the Sound. It was soon found that the Danish Government and people were bitterly hostile, and the English Minister at the Danish Court at once withdrew. Nelson, who, it is hinted, lacked confidence in his superior officer, made an offer to the Admiral to conduct the attack with ten sail of the line. The offer was gladly accepted. Nelson transferred his flag from the St George to the Elephant, and at once set about maturing his plans. This proved to be no easy matter, for, in addition to the enemy's ships and the formidable shore..

batteries, the daring sailor had to conti&tid with the difficult navigation of Eh© shallow waters leading to the town. This last difficulty was considerably increased bythe action of the Danes in removing the buoys from the Channel, and daring Match 30 and 31 the fleet was ocoupied in sounding a large portion of the waters and re-laying . buoys. In spite of the fact that Nelson was suffering from ill-health, he spent the . whole of the second night in a boat, personally superintending the soundings. On the morning of -April 1 the fleet proceeded to within tsix miles of the capital, close to whioh was moored the Danish fleet.' After spending a short time in reconnoitr- : ing the def enoes, Nelson hoißted the signal on board the Elephant to weigh anchor. The daring admiral/with his invading fleet, left Sir Hyde Parker with a portion of the " squadron astern. The signal, the historian tells ub " was received with cheers by the ■ seamen of the fleet" just as the sight of the enemy's sail at the Nile, and the appearance of that historic signal " England expects that every man will do his duty," at Trafalgar, were cheered by the . brave fellows, many of whom were going to their death. An early start was made on the morning of April 2, the previous : evening having been spent by Nelson and his captains in completing their plan of attack, but the gallant admiral was Borely tried by the ignorance and hesitation displayed by the pilots who had been engaged to assist in navigating the unknown waters . of the channel leading to the fleet and batteries. When a Btart was made,.the4wx> • . leading ships grounded and their services were lost to the fleet, but Nelson, in direct opposition to the direction of his pilots, ' saved his vessel from a similar fate, and a compact line was formed in front of. ( the Danish fleet. The battle began at 10 a.m., and here we find Nelson and his brave fellows engaged in a conflict totally different from any of their great ' victories. Here they had no opportunities of disphsdflg that seamanship whioh . played no" umlsgprtant part in many of . their other engagements. Huddled to- . gether in shallow waters, with anchors down, and opposed to a much stronger fleet and formidable shore batteries, the odds would appear to have been " a guinea to gooseberry" against the success of Nelson's daring plan. For'three-hours the • engagement continued; and "notwithstanding the deadly precision and celerity of Nelson's gunners no impression appeared to have been made on the Danes, who fought with Scandinavian stubbornness." - About this time Sir Hyde Parker, seeing the oddf? were against Nelson, and knowing the indomitable resolution of the man, ordered the signal for discontinuing the aotion to be hoisted. Nelson's ship at that moment was hotly engaged with the Danish flagship/ and Nelson, as usual, -was pacing the deck fall of amlnation and in high spirits. When h&nvos/told of the admiral's signal there was enacted that historic scene so ably described by Southey in his biography. He says "Lord Nelson now paced the deck, moving the stump of his right arm in a manner which airways indicated- great emotion. 'Do you. know/ said he to Mr Fergusson, ' what is shown onboard the commandeMn-cbief P ' 'No. 39.' 'What does that meanP* 'To leave off aotion." Shrugging up his shoulders he repeated the word 'Leave off action ! No, d — — me if I dp. You know, Foley/ turning to his captain. 'I have only one eye, and I have a right to be blind sometimes,' and putting his glass to his blind eye, in that mood which sports with bitterness he exclaimed, "I really do not see the signal.' Presently he exclaimed 'Keep my signal for close action flying. That is the way I answer such signals. Nail mine to the mast:''" The engagement was continued, and at 1.30 p.m. the effect of the superior resolution of the English was made manifest by the very perceptible slackening of the Danish fire, and before 2 p.m. it ceased on neatly the whole fleet, but, contrary to all rules of war, none of the ships would allow the British to take possession, and the boats as they approached were fired at. This act rather nonplussed Nelson, but he resolved to try the -effect of negotiations, and immediately wrote. the following letter to the Crown Prince of Denmark: — "VioeAdmiral Lord Nelson, has been commanded to spare Denmark, when no longer resisting. The line of defence which covered her shores lias struck to the British flag; but if the firing is continued on the part of Denmark ha must set on fire all the prizes he has taken without having the power of saving the men who have so nobly defended them. The brave Danes are the brothers and should never be the enemias of England." This letter wan sent ashore with a flag of truce; and, after a conference, hostilities were stayed, all the prizes being surrendered to the English. The aotion, if Bhort, had been most deadly, for the English loss amounted to 225 killed and 088 wounded ; while the Danish loss was estimated at between 1600 and 1800 killed and wounded. We need ntffc concern ourselves with the future negotiations and tho conclusion of the armistice between Denmark and England, nor the further acts which completely broke up the great Northern confederacy from the formation of which -Napoleon had hoped for so much. The glorious viotory of that • second of April ninety-six years ago ib, as every British schoolboy should know, immortalised in Campbell's noble and spirit* stirring |poem, "The Battle of the Baltic."