Evening star., 1940-10-02
Recalls Career Of
Sir Francis Drake
Rise Of Britoin as Greet
Sea Power Traced
To His Exploits
BY Walter Davidson

clS Drake, the English sea dog OF four
centuries ago. Now that England is
again threatened with q military in
vasion and It's naval supremacy is being
challenged 1t will be recalled that Drake
once saved = divided country from an
Inhalation, broke the Imperialism of
Spain and made Great Britain the first
naval and mercantile power in the
world
In the young manhood days OF Francis
Drake the Spanish Empire was at its
peak. Philip II ruled over two-thirds of
the universe, q domination Of intoler-
able despotism in commerce. politics and
religion. aided by the notorious Inqui-
sition.
Clipper ships carried gold and silver
wealth Of the Indies-from Panama to
the ports OF Spain. At that time, and
for nearly 80 years. Spaniards engaged
In system Of burning British seamen
whenever they could lay hands on them.
England was SPANS principal rival.
Its Protestant Queen was beset, how
ever, by intrigues from abroad and dis
traught by divided counsel on religious
and political issues ut home. The long
arm Of Philip reached into the court of
Elizabeth, where fifth columnists threat
ened the life of the sovereign and her
leading citizens.
Such arrogance and interference, as
in the case Of Hitler today, served only
to weld the British people into q solid
nation. 1t developed 4 race Of giants.
who looked contemptuously upon Spain's
vaunted naval supremacy as colossus
stuffed with clouts," or in today's ver-
nacular. "a stuffed shirt"
Pre-eminent among this breed was
Francis Drake. born about 1540. eldest
of IL sons of a Protestant freeman, who
in Bloody Mary's reign was driven from
his home near Tavistock. in Devonshire,
to seek refuge in the dockyard at Plym-
outh. There in q discarded houseboat,
or hulk. the boys grew up. absorbing
the spirit of their passionate and un-
compromising parent and learning the
lore Of the sea
ences at sea along with his noted rela-
tive, William Hawkins. made Drake an
irresistible crusader against Spanish
regimentation. He swore to smash the
world power of Catholic Spain and to
revenge its ravages against British sea-
men. Further. he aimed to outstrip all
competitors and make England mis-
tress Of the seas"
The superior strength OF Drake, the
prototype Of sea rovers, explorers, COM
modores and ordinary seamen, lay not
in frail wind-blown ships, but in stout
heart and a purposeful determination.
1t has been said that the great sailors
of the Elizsbethan era believed them
selves to be the ambassadors of God;
they did everything in His name, wheth-
er it was the seizing of Spanish treasure
or the annexing Of new worlds by fair
means or foul.
Unlike many men. Drake never lost
his way, either as to his lifels purpose
or his physical destination. Seven times
he sailed westward across the Atlantic,
using imperfect navigating instruments.
but guided by an instructive sense OF
direction as we'll as an undertaking OBJ
jective.
These expeditions, secretly approved
by Queen Elizabeth. but mostly financed
privately were of a privateering nature.
The cargo ships of the Spaniards were
Intercepted and the contents seized. On
one occasion the San Filippe, the mer-
chantman of Philip himself, was cap
tured. On board were found papers re-
lating to the wealth Of the Indian trade,
4 revelation to English commerce, re-
sulting in the stimulation OF the Great
East India Co. and the foundation OF
the Indian Empire.
In carrying out daring raids OF re-
prisal against those who had victimized
his countrymen or treacherously treated
his associates, Drake ransacked many
communities from the Cape Verde
Islands to the coast of Central America.
Santo Domingo was leveled to the ground.
nothing being left standing except the
church in which Columbus lies buried.
st. Augustine, Fla, was also visited on
one Of his most comprehensive privateer-
ing missions, all valuables and wealth
of the Spanish residents Of that Oldest
American city being carried OF to
England.
First Of all Englishmen, Drake looked
out upon the Pacific Ocean, from an
elevation in Panama. Before him spread
the unmeasured mystery of this sea, un-
explored except by Ferdinand Magellan.
who in 1890, some. 60 years earlier, had
entered 1t by. the straits that bear his
name. Adventurer that Drake was, he
prayed God Ito give him life and leave
to sail once in an English ship on that
sea-"
In due course, Drake was the first OF
his countrymen to circumnavigate the
globe. His voyage on the Golden Hind
was noted for its dif1culties, not only
from recurring storms, but by treachery
an the part of Thomas Doughty, brakes
closest friend, involving his lynchlike
trial and execution on the bleak shores
of Patagonia. Significant to Americans
IL this voyage because Drake sought the
shelter of a cove near the Golden Gate
before setting his compass across the
Pacific, and claimed the land on whicn
he set foot as New Albion.
Among the greatest of brakes con-
tributions to posterity was his action IN
checking and finally frustrating the
invasion of English shores by Philip OF
Spain. Drake urged plan of attack
that the strength Of the heralded ar
mada might be broken at its source. He
had searched for his country's enemies