New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-26
THE NAVAL REVIEW .

.Rritsnnia rules the waves" That is the key
note of to-day's Jubilee festivities. If on Tues
day in the streets of London there was made
pageant the world has never equalled. to-day the
waters of Spithead see another which the world
has not equalled and could not equal. To-day
the British flag is flying over powerful armadas
in the Atlantic. the Pacific, the Mediterranean
and all the Seven Seas There is not a point
in all the vast Empire which is not guarded by
British warships Ie; apart from all these, and
without Withdrawing or disturbing them, there
is assembled at Portsmouth fleet unrivalled
by that of any other Power or possible COM
bination of Powers. The troops tina; on Tues
day were massed on London streets We're we
are told the most numerous body modified I'M
der the British flag since Waterloo Yet the
captains of any of the great military States Of
tie Continent might have laughed these 10
scorn in comparison with their vast armies.
But in these ships is Britain's Roland for the
canscription Oliver. In this fleet is practical
display of what that Power must contend with
that would cross the narrow seas in wrath. 1t
nav well give the boldest pause before such
desperate endeavOr
For here. beyond all question is the most
powerful array Of fighting ships ever assembled
or many. There springs to mind memory Of
"lhat great fleet nvincible' which in the reign
of an earlier Queen threatened the English
coasts and the very existence Of the English
Kingdom The vessels Of the Armada were in
deed more numerous than these. But any one
Of score or more Of the ships now lying at
Spi,head could, single handed, in a day have
sent the whole Armada to the bottom of the
sc +hn laol, nod
A single one Of them could have turned the tide
at Trafalgar and have swept both victor and
vanquished from the sea. In the closing years
OF the Rebellion an unprecedented fotlla flew
the Stars and Stripes. Yet one of these could
have played havoc with ii, like tiger in a
sheepfold. Ship FOR ship, our own Navy can
match this one, as the superb specimen now
visiting those waters well attests. But there
are no less than twenty-one great battle ships
IN those long lines at Spithead beneath the Brit
ish flag fifteen OF them of the first class If
teen indiapas or Iowas. There is 10 finer
cruiser in the world than the Brooklyn. but at
Splthead there are a dozen Of, her rivals.
so 1t is with the five long lines: a warship
for every year of the record reign" without
recalling a single one from any foreign station.
Ii is such a sight as man has never seen be-
FORE and as the world may well hope never to
see again. except in profound peace. For, I'M
tried as are these engines Of destruction.
this much Is well assured. that 10 let them
loose in deadly conflict would mean results
Of unimagned terror. The devastatons OF
the Armada and of Trafalgar We're tremer-
dous But a third attempt 10 invade England.
repused by such a fleet as ihis-and It would
be repulsed no doubt of that-wCuld be as much
more awful in results as is this feet more mighty
than that OF Eiingham o. Nelson A deathlocl,
of two great Continental armies would be ter
rife But it could not surpass IL indeed i,
-iva!led. the tragic fury Of the scene there would
he If The whole might Of Britain We're put forth
10 defend her shores. This pageant at Spihead
may well iii every British heart with pride and
exulta.ion. 1t may well move all the world 70