The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-07-06
THE INVASION OF ENGLAND.
THE LONDON TINES SERVES UP 4 BIT
OF FUTURE HISTORY.
The Battle of Dorking Answered In
Kind.

The Battle of Dork1ng Answered In
Kind.
Apparently to counteract the influence Oh
ssThe Battle of Dorking," which was calcula-
ted to excite the apprehensions of the English
respecting their ability at future day to re-
sist hostile invasion, the London Times OF
the 22d of June publishes "The Second Ar
mada, Chapter Of Future History" OF which
the following are extracts:
Shortly after the close OF the war between
France and Germany II 1871, the Engllsn
alarmists seemed unreasonable to an extent
that Yerged on foolishness. Never was there
period when, to all outward seeming, an IN
vasion Of England was less probable or teasl-
BILE. France was stricken down and disabled.
We had amicably arranged our differences
with the United States, aud the greatest mill
tary nation of the Continent had apparently
neither the disposition nor the power 70 oe-
come formidable assallant OF our lndepen-
dence. If ever there was q country whose m
terests and constitution pointed to pacific
policy, 1t was united Germany. She required
peace to consolidate her empire, and ane
could not make war without calling the mer-
camille man from his desk, the professional or
literary man from his study, the shopkeeper
from his counter, and the asriculturlst IRON
the plough Then, al-powertul on land, sue
was powerless on the seas. A contest be:
tween her and the maritime population of an
island must resemble contest between doS
and fish, in which neither could quit Its pro-
per element for aggressive purposes Wltnout
imminent risk Of discontinue or destruction.
Germany would no more think of sending an
armament across the North Sea to invade
England than England would think OF landing
an army at Hamburg to advance on Berlin.
Nor was the navy Of the United States sutl-
cently strong in sea-going iron-clads, Ike the
Minotaur or Monarch. to cross the Atlantic
and encounter the English in their own
waters. So thought and argued the wise men
of England in 1871. They thought and argued
well. but wise men, however we'll they argue,
will sometimes turn out; wrong, ana tney
turned out substantially wrong IN tnls lh-
stance-as wrong as the late lamented COD
den when he made the tour of Europe to an
nounce that, for all time to come, free trade
had rendered war moral imposslblity. Un-
luckily, mankind ore more swayed by their
passions, their prejudlces, their caprlces and
their vanity thap by their well-understood In
terests; and so 1t fell out that, IN the year
1874, the greatest Of the continental powers,
having taken umbrage at the tone ana att!.
tude OF England, In reference to sundry fresn
parcelings out of territory. league, including
the most powerful States, was formed for the
ayowed purpose ofreducing the British Isles 10
: the condition OF conquered provinces, to be
divided among the conquerors. The oest mooe
of ofinvading England had been so often the sub
ject Of competitive examination at the militia
~ schools that an eager desire to test theory
by practice was felt by every young omcer OF
promise; and saying of the greatest OF mod
dern strategists had got abroad to the effect
that the capture of London. as compared with
that of Paris, would be chids play (Rinder-
spiel.) The time was opportune; for the long
Pr Nf St1fQQ
. Great Britain, through series OF untoWard
accidents, was again kindlng into flame: Ac.
cordingly, all the shipping of the Battle, all
the naval resources of the league, were put
under requisition, and sufficient number Oh
vessels was built especially adapted TOR the
landing Of troops, including cavalry ana ar
It reel hardly be added that our diplomatic
agents were on the alert, so that an enormous
armament could not be got together IN any
quarter OF Europe without Creating an alarm.
In point Of fact, our government were oppor-
tunely advised that the Invasion was seriously
medltated, and that they must be slmultane--
; ously on their guard against an American
Essquadron which was to cooperate in Fenian
Sinsurrection of Ireland. The bulk of the Eng
kliSh navy was. as usual, scattered ABROAD, out
Sthe Channel feet, complete IN numbers ana
equipment, was in the Downs, and q number
of eunboats and other vessels had been
to those issued BY Nelson when Napoleon was
nneditating an invasion from BouloSne: "Do
not throw away your lives uselessly; retreat
toward your own shores before an oVerWheim-
ing force; but, If the enemy attempt ~ land,
dash among them at oil hazards. and light on
until you sink them or are sunk"
.It was on the evening of the 18th OF June,
I854rthat the Admiralty received intelligence
Lthat an American squadl On had been sighted
off Milford Haven on Its way to the Irish Sea,
and my Lords Immediately telegraphed to the
commander Of the channel fleet, Admiral Sir
Henry Keppel, to be on the lookout. Three
hours afterward arrived the news that the ar
mada hadbeen deserted, and, subsequent re-
ports coming in rapidly, LETT little doubt tina:
the Suffolk coast had been chosen Tor the land.
. ing. -
left no doubt Of the precise destination OF the
expedition, the telegraphs were set to work,
without delay. His Royal Hghness the COM
mauder-in-chief was present In person. but the
detailed arrangements were left to Lord Strath.
nairn and Lord Sandhurst, assisted by General
Wolseley and wellappointed staff: couple
ofhoura suficed to dig in the sand such ride-
pit8 Trenches as were still wanting; and
theSe ne manned with the Guards, the Rides,
q batJ( On of marines. and the Inns of Court
Volunteers. The rocky and uneven ground
behind the beach was occupied by strong
body of volunteers, under the direction Of Lord
Elc6o. Taking
advantage Of every inequality OF the ground,
he placed his men 80 as to be within easy range
of the boats when they should near the shore,
and under shelter from the covering fire of the
ships. A brigade, consisting Of three regi.
ments of the Line, the Sherwood Rangers and
two batteries of horse artillery, was kept In
reserve under Sir Richard Airey. The rest of
the artillery, with the exception of one mask
ed battery, was placed on mound or emil
nence commanding large portion Of the
beach, and the cavalry, including the Blues
and I'd Lin yards, under Lieutenant-Gene-
raj Sir James 3carlett, we're placed behind the
heights on the extreme left, where they could
easily reach the shore. In the contingency OF
the enemy effecting landing IN force,
the cavalry were to charge along the beach
Vand roll them up before they had time to form.
With them, at the head Of his Hussar regl-
Ihent, was the heir apparent to the throne, ir-
resistibly impelled by the hereditary courage
ofkis race to disobey royal order ISSUED
from Balmoral) not to leave the capital. Tor
pedoes were laid down by fotilla of gun
boats under Rear Admiral Sherard Osborn,
which withdrew when this duty was perform,
ed, prepared to operate on the flank of the
armada when the landing should commence.
IT. rvas q time of auitatiner SspensA tO the