Sir Charles Parsons demonstrated the effectiveness of his steam turbine for marine propulsion on the experimental yacht 'Turbinia' at the Spithead Naval Review in England. The 'Turbinia' traveled at over 34 knots, astonishing the onlookers and proving the superiority of turbine engines for high-speed naval vessels. This event marked the beginning of the end for the reciprocating steam engine in ship propulsion.

The 'Turbinia's' dramatic performance is a testament to the power of human innovation, a theme that resonated with the poets of the Edwardian era. The image of a ship slicing through the water at previously unimaginable speeds captured the spirit of the age, a time of rapid change and technological optimism, often reflected in the literature of the period.