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！
earth were instantaneously removed to a far greater distance。 The tube
which propelled the bomb was of a force graduated according to
circumstances； and it would carry a bomb to as great a distance as accurate
observation for purposes of aim could be made。 Its force was brought into
action while in the cannon by means of electricity while the same effect
was produced in the other tubes by the concussion of the steel head against
the object aimed at。
What gave the tubes their power was the jealously guarded secret。
The method of aiming was as novel as the bomb itself。 In this process
nothing depended on the eyesight of the gunner； the personal equation was
entirely eliminated。 The gun was so mounted that its direction was
accurately indicated by graduated scales； there was an instrument which
was acted upon by the dip； rise； or roll of the vessel； and which showed at
any moment the position of the gun with reference to the plane of the sea…
surface。
Before the discharge of the cannon an observation was taken by one of
the scientific men； which accurately determined the distance to the object
to be aimed at； and reference to a carefully prepared mathematical table
showed to what points on the graduated scales the gun should be adjusted；
and the instant that the that the muzzle of the cannon was in the position
that it was when the observation was taken； a button was touched and the
bomb was instantaneously placed on the spot aimed at。 The exactness with
which the propelling force of the bomb could be determined was an
important factor in this method of aiming。
As soon as three of the spring…armoured vessels and five 〃crabs〃 were
completed； the Syndicate felt itself ready to begin operations。 It was
indeed time。 The seas had been covered with American and British
merchantmen hastening homeward； or to friendly ports； before the actual
commencement of hostilities。 But all had not been fortunate enough to
reach safety within the limits of time allowed； and several American
merchantmen had been already captured by fast British cruisers。
11
… Page 12…
THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
The members of the Syndicate well understood that if a war was to be
carried on as they desired； they must strike the first real blow。
Comparatively speaking； a very short time had elapsed since the
declaration of war； and the opportunity to take the initiative was still open。
It was in order to take this initiative that； in the early hours of a July
morning； two of the Syndicate's armoured vessels； each accompanied by a
crab； steamed out of a New England port； and headed for the point on the
Canadian coast where it had been decided to open the campaign。
The vessels of the Syndicate had no individual names。 The spring…
armoured ships were termed 〃repellers；〃 and were numbered； and the
crabs were known by the letters of the alphabet。 Each repeller was in
charge of a Director of Naval Operations； and the whole naval force of the
Syndicate was under the command of a Director…in…chief。 On this
momentous occasion this officer was on board of Repeller No。 1； and
commanded the little fleet。
The repellers had never been vessels of great speed； and their present
armour of steel strips； the lower portion of which was frequently under
water； considerably retarded their progress； but each of them was taken in
tow by one of the swift and powerful crabs； and with this assistance they
made very good time； reaching their destination on the morning of the
second day。
It was on a breezy day； with a cloudy sky； and the sea moderately
smooth； that the little fleet of the Syndicate lay to off the harbour of one of
the principal Canadian seaports。 About five miles away the headlands on
either side of the mouth of the harbour could be plainly seen。 It had been
decided that Repeller No。 1 should begin operations。 Accordingly； that
vessel steamed about a mile nearer the harbour； accompanied by Crab A。
The other repeller and crab remained in their first position； ready to act in
case they should be needed。
The approach of two vessels； evidently men…of…war； and carrying the
American flag； was perceived from the forts and redoubts at the mouth of
the harbour； and the news quickly spread to the city and to the vessels in
port。 Intense excitement ensued on land and water； among the citizens of
the place as well as its defenders。 Every man who had a post of duty was
12
… Page 13…
THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
instantly at it； and in less than half an hour the British man…of…war
Scarabaeus； which had been lying at anchor a short distance outside the
harbour； came steaming out to meet the enemy。 There were other naval
vessels in port； but they required more time to be put in readiness for
action。
As soon as the approach of Scarabaeus was perceived by Repeller No。
1； a boat bearing a white flag was lowered from that vessel and was
rapidly rowed toward the British ship。 When the latter saw the boat
coming she lay to； and waited its arrival。 A note was delivered to the
captain of the Scarabaeus； in which it was stated that the Syndicate； which
had undertaken on the part of the United States the conduct of the war
between that country and Great Britain； was now prepared to demand the
surrender of this city with its forts and defences and all vessels within its
harbour； and； as a first step； the immediate surrender of the vessel to the
commander of which this note was delivered。
The overwhelming effrontery of this demand caused the commander
of the Scarabaeus to doubt whether he had to deal with a raving lunatic or
a blustering fool； but he informed the person in charge of the flag…of… truce
boat； that he would give him fifteen minutes in which to get back to his
vessel； and that he would then open fire upon that craft。
The men who rowed the little boat were not men…of… war's men； and
were unaccustomed to duties of this kind。 In eight minutes they had
reached their vessel； and were safe on board。
Just seven minutes afterward the first shot came from the Scarabaeus。
It passed over Repeller No。 1； and that vessel； instead of replying；
immediately steamed nearer her adversary。 The Director…in…chief desired
to determine the effect of an active cannonade upon the new armour； and
therefore ordered the vessel placed in such a position that the Englishman
might have the best opportunity for using it as a target。
The Scarabaeus lost no time in availing herself of the facilities offered。
She was a large and powerful ship； with a heavy armament； and； soon
getting the range of the Syndicate's vessel； she hurled ball after ball upon
her striped side。 Repeller No。 1 made no reply； but quietly submitted to the
terrible bombardment。 Some of the great shot jarred her from bow to stern；
13
… Page 14…
THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
but not one of them broke a steel spring； nor penetrated the heavy inside
plates。
After half an hour of this； work the Director…in… chief became satisfied
that the new armour had well acquitted itself in the severe trial to which it
had been subjected。 Some of the air…buffers had been disabled； probably
on account of faults in their construction； but these could readily be
replaced； and no further injury had been done the vessel。 It was not
necessary； therefore； to continue the experiment any longer； and besides；
there was danger that the Englishman； perceiving that his antagonist did
not appear to be affected by his fire； would approach closer and endeavour
to ram her。 This was to be avoided； for the Scarabaeus was a much larger
vessel than Repeller No。 1； and able to run into the latter and sink her by
mere preponderance of weight。
It was therefore decided to now test the powers