The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1905. THE EFFECTS OF TRAFALGAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8452, 21 October 1905, Page 4

The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1905. THE EFFECTS OF TRAFALGAR.

It was inevitable that the ceie'ibrafion of the Trafalgar centenary should have reopened the controversy as to whether or not Nelson's last victory saved England from invasion. Contemporary writers, especially on the French side, inclined to the opinion that Napoleon never seriously entertained the idea of crossing the Channel. Bourienue, his private secretary, in his Memoirs, made no secret of his belief that the Boulogne camp ,was a huge piece of bluff, and that the destination, of the Grand Army, always was the Danube, never London. His view, it is true, is not shared by later historians, many of whom advance very conclusive evidence to show that Napoleon really did meditate an attack on England, and that it was Trafalgar which turned him from this object and sent his legions across Europe, ultimately to find graves in the Russian steppes. The weak point in that theory of course lies in the fact that the Boulogne camp broke up in August, two months before Trafalgar. . The moment the Grand Army was wheeled against Austria the danger of an immediate invasion of England was over. What probably was muoh more effective than Trafalgar in averting invasion at that time was the unflagging zeal with which the British Navy blockaded the ports of France. If Napoleon ever seriously contemplated , landing an army in England he abandoned the design because of the vigilance of the • British cruisers prior to the destruction of his fleet. Nevertheless, it may justly be said that Trafalgar finally banished the danger which British naval vigilance had averted. Not till the Continent was subdued could the landing in Kent become practicable. . Two years later, when Europe was at his feet, Napoleon was free to turn his attention tc England. But his opportunity had slipped by. Trafalgar had annihilated the French Navy, and with it the Emperor's only means of disputing with Britain the command of the sea. All he could do was to enforce the Continental system and make an ineffective attempt to ruin his adversary through her commerce. As far as England herself was, concerned the benefits of Trafalgar were prospective. But for the British Empire they were immediate. Every French, Dutch and Spanish colony that then fell into our hands was, in a great measure the fruit of Nelson's victory. It was the cannonade of Trafalgar which heralded. the second and vaster stage of Imperial growth. Thenceforward England's greatest rival ,was chained to Europe, while Britain ■was at liberty to pursue, her policy of expansion unfettered by naval opposiution of any kind.