"Sir William Bulldog"

"The favorite dress of King George is that of Admiral of the Fleet." his valet Hewlett has said, mournfully adding, "But the dress in which His Majesty most frequently appears is that of Field Marshal."

Last week Hewlett and the King-Emperor were happy. In his favorite dress George V stood on the bridge of the Royal yacht Victoria & Albert, leading out to sea from Weymouth some 60 warboats and 17,000 bluejackets, the entire British Home Fleet. Purpose: sham battle.

The Nelson, the Rodney, the Hood and the Renown (together the most powerful fighting unit in the world) escorted the Royal Yacht which flew the Royal Standard (embellished with seven lions and a harp). At a signal from the King Emperor destroyers led the attack on an imaginary foe. "Enemy" destroyers fired dummy torpedoes against the Hood and the Renown, near enough for His Majesty to see. Finally the battleships Warspite, Malaya and Valiant opened up with real broadsides, fired salvo after salvo from their 15-in. guns at a target ten miles away, made so much noise that they were heard 120 mi. away in London.

With His Majesty on the Victoria & Albert were Edward of Wales and Prince George. During four days of inspection and naval pageantry climaxed by the "battle." human interest was supplied by "Bill." a slavering, snoring bulldog mascot of the Nelson. Because the King patted Bill on the head while inspecting the Nelson, British newsfolk reported with elaborate jocularity that "the crew feel their Bill has been knighted and now call him 'Sir William Bulldog.' "

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.