The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-05-02


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 CT good government dictated to
them that they should besextremely wary |
and circumspect during tho further con-
tinuance of this unexampled war. There
fore, when the note of the syndicate was
considered, it was agreed that the time
had como when good craftsmanship and
wise diplomacy would r 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 Oh the latter lay the re-
sponsibility OF the country's safety
There was nothing, in the opinion Of the
ablest naval officers, to prevent the syn
dicate's feet 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
syndicatos note asking that further time
be given fos. the consideration Of the sit
uation, and suggesting that an exhibition
OF the power Of tho motor bomb was not
necessary, as sufficient proof Of this had
been given il the destruction Of the Cana
dian forts, the annihilation Of the Crag-
levin, and the extraordinary results Of
the discharge Of said bombs on the pre-
ceding day.
To this a reply was sent from the Office
of the syndicate in New York iy means
Of Il cable boat from the French coast,
that On 10 account could their purpose
be altered or their propositions modified.
Although the British government might
be convinced Of the power Of the syndi-
Gates motor bombs, it was not the case
with tho British people, for it was yet
popularity disbelieved that motor bombs
existed. This disbelief the syndicate
was determined to overcome, not only for
the furtherance CT It's own purposes,
! but TO prevent the downfall Of the present
British ministry, and probable radical
change il the government. That such
political revolution, as undesirable to the
syndicate as to cool headed and sensible
( Englisilnacn, was imminent, there could
! be no doubt. The growing feeling of
. Gisa1fectioD, almost amounting to dis
loyalty, nos only il the opposition party,
/ but among those who had hitherto been
; firm 2dhercnts OF the government, was
mainly based upon the idea that the
! present British rulers had allowed them
selves to bc frightened by mines and
; torpoIoos, artfully placed ard exploded.
4; Therefore the syndicate intended to set
right the public mind upon this subject.
The note concluded by earnestly urging
: the designation, without loss OF time, Of
! place of o,selations.
This ;:lswcr N;a5 received il London in
the evening. and all night it was the
subject of earnest and anxious; delibera-
tion il the government Office. It was ut
last decided, amid great opposition,
; that the syn.licate's alternative must be
/ accepted, for Is would be the height Of
! folly to allow the repeller to lombard
; any port she should choose. When this
conclusion had been reached, the work
Of selecting q place for the proposed
! demonstration OF the American syndicate
occupied but little time. The task was
-ut difficult Nowhere in Great Britain
las there q fortified spot Of SO little i'm
! ~-ortaDce as Caerdaf, Oh the west coast
! { Wales.
! / Caerdatf consisted Of q large fort on d
! '1nontory and an immense castellated
: .,lcture on the other side Of g small
! =, with q lit;lc fishing village at the
head of said bay. The castellated struct-
Hrc was rather old, the fortress some
what less SO; and both had long been
considered useless, as there was no prob
ability that an enemy would land at this
point on the coast.
/ Caardaff was therefore selected as the
spot to be operated upon. No one could
for a moment imagine that the syndicate
had mined this place, and if it should be
destroyed by motor bombs it would prove
+ to the country that the government had
not been frightened by the tricks of a
| crafty enemy.
An hour after the receipt Of the note
! in which il was stated that Caerdaff had
! been selected, the syndicates fleet start
ed for that place. The crabs were ele-
waited to cruising height, the repeller
taken in tow, and by the afternoon OF
the next day the feet was lying off Caer-
daft. A note was sent on shore to the
officer in command, stating that the
bombardment would begin at 10 o'clock
in the morning Of the next day but one
and requesting that information of the
hour appointed be instantly transmitted
90 London. When this had been done
| the fleet steamed six or seven miles of
shore, where it lay to or cruised about
for two nights and a day.
As soon as the government had Sc
lected Caerdaf for bombard1nent imne
diate measures were taken to remove The
small garrisons and the inhabitants oi
the fishing village from possible danger
When the syndicate's note was received
b. the colanandant of the fort he wa:
already in receipt Of orders from the wal
Office to evacuate the Notifications anC
to superintend the removal of the fisher
men and their families to Il point O
safety farther up the coast.
C2erdaff was place difficult OF acces:
by land, the nearest railroad stations be
ing fifteen or twenty miles away, but OF
the day after the arrival of the syndi
Gates fleet in the offing thousands o.
people made their way to this part of tht
country. anxious TO soe-if pcrchanc;
they might End an opportunity to safely
see-wi,at might happen at 10 o'clocl
:, the next morning. Officers of the army
and navy, government officials, pres