The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-14

warships will thunder the royal salute.
 Then the Victoria and Albert, preceded by a Trinity House pilot boat and followed by the admiral ty launch carrying the kings nin- isters and sea lords, will steam slowly down the lane.
 Later, plans of the fleet air arm will road by the royal yacht, lip ping in salute. And, after His Majesty has completed his review, liners, channel steamers, excursion steamers and private yachts will carry some 10000 spectators be- tween the long lines of fighting ships.
 If the day is clear, tens of thousands of other spectators will shore a few miles distant.
 An impressive part of the show will be that night, when every light aboard the warships will be burning and every searchlight will i be criSs-crossing the sky. Dinners and dances probably will be given aboard for guests of the naval officers.
 The next morning, according to present plans, the home and Medi- terranean fleets will steam away | for exercises in home waters, with King George aboard the senior flagship, the battleship Nelson, most powerful afloat.
 1 At the coronation of Edward VII and George V, there were a few more warships present than will attend for George VI, but war ships in those days were almost toys compared with the sea mon- sters of today. The size of mod ern warships, and the limited berthing at Spithead, was the req son Britain invited foreign powers to send only one warship each. And, even in 1911 whe nthe pres ent kings father was crowned, there were no naval planes. Ships to Form Grandstands Commercial steamers with a combined tonnage of 220,0OO tons will serve as floating grand stands" for spectators. Among others, the Aquitania will be used for this purpose.
 The royal yacht Victoria and Albert, to be used by King George, has carried more crowned heads, and royal personages than any other craft in the world. It was built in 1897 for Queen Victoria.
 Recently the W and A" as it I is known to naval men, was re- fitted in Portsmouth drydock for new duties. Sleeping accommo- dationS were rearranged, provision being made for the King and Queen, the Duke and Duchess s.of Gloucester an d the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Otherwise little has been changed since the days of Victoria.
 Unusual Accident Recalled
 The keel was laid on Dec. 15, 1897, and the yacht launched on May g, 1899. Eight months later, as the ship was being taken out of drydock on Jan. 3, 1900, it heeled over, the list reaching "A de- grees.
 The damage was not serious, put the story OI the aCClQenC spread afar. Official records de- clare that the incident was due to an excess of weight of hull and equipment, not to error in the general design. To remedy this. some 26O tons were removed and 250 tons of iron ballast were added to the double bottom. Sea trials were carried out and she proved" herself one of the safest vessels afloat and for her tonnage, one of the most comfortable"
 But the question is stin argued by seamen, notoriously superstittious, and the incident has been con- nected with the ship since it oc- cured.
 The yacht cost approximately $2500,00O to build and carries a creWd of 367. Service aboard the vessed is a navy plum" and usu- ally is gievn to men with long for eign service shortly before they are due to retire. Discipline is of high order. There is no punishment aboard, but if man proves unsatisfactory, he leaves the yacht at once in disgrace.