158 Book of Steamships 



There is a story told of the Turbinia and 

 how she brought herself and her engines 

 to the notice of the Admiralty. A splendid 

 naval pageant was staged at Spithead in 

 the early years of the present century. 

 The Turbinia, built on the Tyne, was sent 

 down to Portsmouth and when the lines 

 of warships were in review order the tiny 

 craft stole out and saucily began the patrol 

 of the outer line. Then she turned and 

 began to speed along in forbidden waters 

 between the two lines of ships. She was 

 signalled to return, but when no notice 

 was taken of the messages a couple of de- 

 stroyers were sent to chase her. The 

 Turbinia so the story goes, almost allowed 

 the fastest craft then afloat to catch her; 

 then suddenly she opened out and left the 

 t.b.ds. far behind standing, one sailor 

 put it. 



The result could be foreseen the 

 Admiralty did want to know something 

 about the mysterious craft and within a 

 very short time destroyers were in service 



