按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Syndicate to conduct a war as successfully as they had conducted other
7
… Page 8…
THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
gigantic enterprises。 Therefore； although predictions of disaster came from
many quarters； the American public appeared willing to wait with but
moderate impatience for the result of this novel undertaking。 The
Government now proceeded to mass troops at important points on the
northern frontier； forts were supplied with men and armaments； all coast
defences were put in the best possible condition； the navy was stationed at
important ports； and work at the ship… yards went on。 But without
reference to all this； the work of the Syndicate immediately began。 This
body of men were of various politics and of various pursuits in life。 But
politics were no more regarded in the work they had undertaken than they
would have been in the purchase of land or of railroad iron。 No
manifestoes of motives and intentions were issued to the public。 The
Syndicate simply went to work。 There could be no doubt that early success
would be a direct profit to it； but there could also be no doubt that its
success would be a vast benefit and profit； not only to the business
enterprises in which these men were severally engaged； but to the business
of the whole country。 To save the United States from a dragging war； and
to save themselves from the effects of it； were the prompting motives for
the formation of the Syndicate。
Without hesitation； the Syndicate determined that the war in which it
was about to engage should be one of defence by means of offence。 Such a
war must necessarily be quick and effective； and with all the force of their
fortunes； their minds； and their bodies； its members went to work to wage
this war quickly and effectively。
All known inventions and improvements in the art of war had been
thoroughly considered by the Syndicate； and by the eminent specialists
whom it had enlisted in its service。 Certain recently perfected engines of
war； novel in nature； were the exclusive property of the Syndicate。 It was
known； or surmised； in certain quarters that the Syndicate had secured
possession of important warlike inventions； but what they were and how
they acted was a secret carefully guarded and protected。
The first step of the Syndicate was to purchase from the United States
Government ten war…vessels。 These were of medium size and in good
condition； but they were of an old…fashioned type； and it had not been
8
… Page 9…
THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
considered expedient to put them in commission。 This action caused
surprise and disappointment in many quarters。 It had been supposed that
the Syndicate； through its agents scattered all over the world； would
immediately acquire； by purchase or lease； a fleet of fine ironclads culled
from various maritime powers。 But the Syndicate having no intention of
involving； or attempting to involve； other countries in this quarrel； paid no
attention to public opinion； and went to work in its own way。
Its vessels； eight of which were on the Atlantic coast and two on the
Pacific； were rapidly prepared for the peculiar service in which they were
to be engaged。 The resources of the Syndicate were great； and in a very
short time several of their vessels； already heavily plated with steel； were
furnished with an additional outside armour； formed of strips of elastic
steel； each reaching from the gunwales nearly to the surface of the water。
These strips； about a foot wide； and placed an inch or two apart； were each
backed by several powerful air…buffers； so that a ball striking one or more
of them would be deprived of much of its momentum。 The experiments
upon the steel spring and buffers adopted by the Syndicate showed that the
force of the heaviest cannonading was almost deadened by the powerful
elasticity of this armour。
The armament of each vessel consisted of but one gun； of large calibre；
placed on the forward deck； and protected by a bomb…proof covering。
Each vessel was manned by a captain and crew from the merchant service；
from whom no warlike duties were expected。 The fighting operations were
in charge of a small body of men； composed of two or three scientific
specialists； and some practical gunners and their assistants。 A few bomb…
proof canopies and a curved steel deck completed the defences of the
vessel。 Besides equipping this little navy； the Syndicate set about the
construction of certain sea…going vessels of an extraordinary kind。 So great
were the facilities at its command； and so thorough and complete its
methods； that ten or a dozen ship…yards and foundries were set to work
simultaneously to build one of these ships。 In a marvellously short time
the Syndicate possessed several of them ready for action。
These vessels became technically known as 〃crabs。〃 They were not
large； and the only part of them which projected above the water was the
9
… Page 10…
THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
middle of an elliptical deck； slightly convex； and heavily mailed with ribs
of steel。 These vessels were fitted with electric engines of extraordinary
power； and were capable of great speed。 At their bows； fully protected by
the overhanging deck； was the machinery by which their peculiar work
was to be accomplished。 The Syndicate intended to confine itself to
marine operations； and for the present it was contented with these two
classes of vessels。 The armament for each of the large vessels； as has been
said before； consisted of a single gun of long range； and the ammunition
was confined entirely to a new style of projectile； which had never yet
been used in warfare。 The material and construction of this projectile were
known only to three members of the Syndicate； who had invented and
perfected it； and it was on account of their possession of this secret that
they had been invited to join that body。
This projectile was not； in the ordinary sense of the word； an explosive；
and was named by its inventors； 〃The Instantaneous Motor。〃 It was
discharged from an ordinary cannon； but no gunpowder or other explosive
compound was used to propel it。 The bomb possessed； in itself the
necessary power of propulsion； and the gun was used merely to give it the
proper direction。
These bombs were cylindrical in form； and pointed at the outer end。
They were filled with hundreds of small tubes； each radiating outward
from a central line。 Those in the middle third of the bomb pointed directly
outward； while those in its front portion were inclined forward at a slight
angle； and those in the rear portion backward at the same angle。 One tube
at the end of the bomb； and pointing directly backward； furnished the
motive power。
Each of these tubes could exert a force sufficient to move an ordinary
train of passenger cars one mile； and this power could be exerted
instantaneously； so that the difference in time in the starting of a train at
one end of the mile and its arrival at the other would not be appreciable。
The difference in concussionary force between a train moving at the rate
of a mile in two minutes； or even one minute； and another train which
moves a mile in an instant； can easily be imagined。
In these bombs； those tubes which might direct their powers
10
… Page 11…
THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
downward or laterally upon the earth were capable of instantaneously
propelling every portion of solid ground or rock to a distance of two or
three hundred yards； while the particles of objects on the surface of the
earth were instantaneously removed