God's help, done greater things for us
or better sustained its old glories and the chivalry of the sea. With
full and grateful hearts the peoples of the British Empire salute the
White, the Red, and the Blue Ensigns, and those who have given their
lives for the Flag. I am proud to have served in the Navy. I am prouder
still to be its Head upon this memorable Day.

GEORGE, R.I.

[Illustration: H.M. KING GEORGE V.]

(The "women" to whom the King referred were the famous "Wrens," so called
because the initials of the Women's Royal Naval Service--W.R.N.S.--can
easily be turned into "Wrens." Everything that women could do they did;
and did it well.)

(The White Ensign is the flag of the Navy: white, divided into four by
the red St. George's Cross, and with the Union Jack in the upper inside
quarter. The Red Ensign is for the Mercantile Marine. The Blue Ensign
is for any Government service except the Navy. The Red and Blue Ensigns
have the Union Jack in their upper inside quarters, but no St. George's
Cross.)

The Mercantile Marine lost nearly fifteen thousand men killed; we ought
to say murdered; for while a blockader can take ships and cargoes that
try to run contraband (that is, whatever the blockader can rightfully
proclaim to be forbidden) he must not kill the crews. The British
merchant seamen fought; and the Germans said that was why they had to
kill them. But it was the Germans who forced them to fight in
self-defence. And that makes all the difference. When our enemies,
Germans or others, can prove one case of such murder against the British
Navy we shall punish the murderer ourselves. But they have not found
that one case yet, while we have found close on fifteen thousand, not
counting soldiers, passengers, women, or children. The Germans aimed at
scaring off the sea those merchant seamen whom they could not kill,
disable, or make prisoners. But not a man refused to go to sea again,
even when his last ship had been torpedoed and his chums been killed.
That is the first glory of the Mercantile Marine. But there are many
more. And not the least is the pluck with which the British, who did
most and lost most, started the race for oversea trade again, though at
an enormous disadvantage compared with those who did least and gained
most.

All kinds of British sea-power did magnificent work in the war, whether
building ships, sailing them with passengers and cargoes, or fighting
them. The Navy