The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-05-25

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tide and lay to some miles west Of the
scene of battle. The fog shut them in
fairly we'll, but, fearful that torpedoes
might be sent out against them, they
showed no lights. There was little dan.
ger of collision with passing merchant.
men, for the English channel at present
was deserted 10y this class of vessels.
The next morning the repeller. preceded
by two crabs, bearing between them a
Submerged net similar to that used at the
Canadian port, appeared off the eastern
end Of the Isle Of Wight. The anchors
of the net were dropped, and behind it
the repeIler took her place, and shortly
attcrward she sent flag of truce boat TO
Portsmouth harbor. This boat carried a
note from The American war syndicate
to the British government,
In this note it was stated that it was
now the intention Of the syndicate to
utterly destroy, by means OF the instanta-
neous motor, u fortified post upon the
| British coast. AS this would he done
solely for the purpose Of demonstrating
the irresistible destructive power of the
motor bombs, it was immaterial to the
syndicate what fortified post should be
destroyed, provided it should answer the
requirements of the proposed demon
stration. Consequently the British gov
eminent was offered the opportunity of
naming the fortified place which should
be destroyed. If said government should
decline to do this or delay the selection
for twenty-four hours, the syndicate
would itself decide upon the place to be
operated upon.
Every one in every branch Of the
British government, and, in fact, nearly
every thinking person in the British
islands, had been racking his brains, or
her brains, that night, over the astomd-
ing situation; and the note of the syndi-
cate only added to the perturbation of the
government. There was strong feeling
in official circles that the insolent little
enemy must be crushed, if the whole
British navy should have to rush upon it,
and all sink together in common grave.
But there were cooler and more prudent
brains at the head of affairs; and these
had already decided that the contest be-
tween the old engines of war and the
new was entirely one sided. The in
stincts of good government dictated to
them that they should be extremely wary
and circumspect during the further con-
tinuance of this unexampled war. There
fore, when the note of the syndicate was
considered, it was agreed that the time
haI .f,tg
wise diplomacy would be more valuable
to the nation than torpedoes, armored
ships or heavy guns.
There was not the slightest doubt that
the country would disagree with the
government, but on the latter lay the re-
sponsibility of the countrys safety.
There was nothing, in the opinion of the
ablest naval officers, to prevent the syn
dictate IS fleet from coming up the Thames.
Instantaneous motor bombs could sweep
away all forts and citadels and explode
and destroy all torpedo defenses, and
London might lie under the guns of the
repeller.
In consequence of this view of the
state OF affairs an answer was sent to the |
syndicate's note asking that further time
be given for the consideration of the sit
uation, and suggesting that an exhibition |
Of the power of the motor bomb was not |
necessary, as sufficient proof of this had |
been given in the destruction of the Cana |
dian forts, the humiliation of the Crag- |
levin, and the extraordinary results of |
the discharge Of said bombs on the pre-
ceding day.
To this reply was sent from the Office
of the syndicate in New York by means
If cable boat from the French coast,
hat on no account could their purpose
be altered or their propositions modified.
Although the British government might
% convinced Of the power Of the syndi-
,ate's motor bombs, it was not the case
With the British people, for it was yet
disbelieved that motor bombs
existed. This disbelief the syndicate
vas determined to overcome, not only for
he furtherance Of its own purposes,
'ut to prevent the downfall of the present
British ministry, and a probable radical
'hange in the government That such
political revolution, as undesirable to the
indicate as to cool headed and sensible
was imminent, there could
Ne no doubt. The growing feeling of
almost amounting to dis
oyalty, not only in the opposition party,
'ut among those who had hitherto been
irm adherents of the government, was
mainly based upon the idea that the
resent British rulers had allowed them
elves to be frightened by mines and
orpodoes, artfully placed and exploded.
therefore the syndicate intended to set
light the public mind upon this subject.
he note concluded by earnestly urging
he designation, without loss of time, of
place OF operations.
This answer was received in London in
he evening, and all night it was the
ubject of earnest and anxious delibera-
ion in the government office. 1t was at
lSt decided, amid great opposition, ,