The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-05
THE CONQUEST OF ENGLAND.


The account we print to-day of the invasion
of England by Prussia in the year 1875, and
the subsequent destruction of the British
Empire, has created an unexampled excite
ment in Europe, and is pronounced the most
remarkable magazine article of this genera
ton. The author is said to be Colonel Ham
ley, of the British army. Assuming to be
speaking in the year 1925, the writer tells his
grandchildren the nomentous story of the
invasion, conquest, and annihilation of Eng
land fifty years before. The writer begins by
describing the peaceful and happy condition
of his country in the year 1871. England was
then the market-house and the workshop of
the world, and her prosperity was unexampled.
But soon commenced the mistaken policy
which resulted in her overthrow. Her deli
berate self f-deprivation of allies, caused by her
treatment of France in the war with Prussia,
the mismanagement of her colonies, and the
miserable system of army and navy redrc-
tion insisted upon by the ministry inpower,-
these, and many other causes, combined to
weaken the lately powerful empire to pitt
able degree. Finally Great Britain con-
ceives the mad folly of annexing
Holland. Prussia protests, and John
Bull, with proverbial obstinacy
and inconsistency, declares war. Events then
succeed each other rapidly. An English feet,
sailing from London, is met by Prussian
armada days sail from the coast. The Eng
lish feet to a ship is destroyed by some
newly fashioned torpedo, the Admiralty having
been warned of the device, but failing to
profit by the information. The victorious
Prussians land on the shores of England.
The British army, such as it was at the best,
was scattered all over the world, some of it
in India, some in Australia, some in America.
There was nothing to oppose the German
veterans but mob of hastily recruited voun-
teers and militia. These are described as
being entirely destitute of a commissariat,
and with officers who were brave but incom-
petsnt. The result was not to be doubted.
Marching inland, the Prussians met the Eng
lish at the town of Dorking twenty one miles
from London. battle ensued in which the
English were all but annihilated. After this,
of course, the occupation of the metropolis,
and all of the great cities and towns. The
German myriads overran the little island like
ants. Englands commerce was utterly de-
stroyed, her colonial possessions were wrestet
from her, and she was saddled with fright
full war indemnity before the victors woul
, leave the soil. When they did so depart, it wa
to leave Great Britain with no pretense to b'
; ranked in the galaxy of nations. Such is th'
substance of this remarkable article. Fierce
and yet more quiet satire has Leen rarel.
penned. 1t draws blood at every touch, anC
yet so keen is the weapon that for the SECOND
the victim. does not know how badly he i
/ hurt. AS mere piece of storytelling it ha
} been seldom equaled. The verisimilitude i
complete The supposed intimate relation o
. the writer with the scenes he describes has
3 most convincing effect, and the illusion is t
+ the close wonderfully sustained