The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-04-19
The Great War Syndicate.
By FRANK R. STOCKTON.

bright" "The bee Man OF orn." "The
Christmas Wreck" "Thc Lady or the
Tiger" "The Late Mrs. Null" .'rhe
Hundredth Man." "The Casting Away
OF Mrs. Lecks and Mrs.. Aieshine," "The
Dusantes," etc.
Copyrighted by r. f. Collier, of Golfers Once
a Week, and published by special arrangement
with him through the American Press Assoca-
ton. All rights reserved
The most important opIec5 was ~ -
vide defense against the scro7.- co.
tracing and rudder breaking crabs; and
to this end the Adamant had been fitted
with what was termed q "stern jacket"
This was great cage Of heavy steel
bars, which was attached to the stern of
the vessel in such a way that it could
be raised high above the water, SO as to
offer no impeachment while under way,
and which, in time of action, could be
let down.so Us to surround and protect
the rudder and screw propellers, Of
which the Adamant had two.
This was considered an adequate de-
Tense against the nippers of q syndicate
crab; but as q means of offense against
these almost submerged vessels novel
continuance had been adopted. From
great boom projecting over tho stern, q
large ships cannon was suspended per-
pendicularly, muzzle downward This
gun could be swung around to the deck,
hoisted into u horizontal position, loaded
with n heavy charge, q wooden plug
keeping the load in position when the
gun hung perpendicularly.
If q crab should come under the stern
this cannon could be fired directly down
ward upon her back, and it was not be-
lieved that any vessel of the kind could
stand many such tremendous shocks. It
was not known exactly how ventilation
was supplied to the submarine vessels Of
the syndicate, nor how tho occupants
were enabled to make the necessary OBJ
servations during action. When under
way the crabs sailed somewhat elevated
above the water, but when engaged with
an enemy only small portion of their
covering armor could be seen.
twas surmised that under end be-
tween some of the scales Of this arnor
there was some arrangement Of thick
glasses, through which the necessary OBJ
6ervation could bo made; and it was be-
ieved that, even if the heavy perpen-
dicular shots did not crush in tho roof of
q crab, these glasses would be shattered
by conclusion. Although this might ap-
pear matter Of slight Importance, it
was thought among naval officers it
would necessitate tho withdrawal of q
crab from action.
In consequence of the idea that the
crabs were vulnerable between tlltfr
overlapping plates, some of tho Ada
mant's boats were fitted out with Cat
ling and machine guns, by which
shower of balls might be sent under the
scales, through the glasses and into the
body of the crab. In addition to their
guns, these boats would be supplied with
other means of attack upon the crab.
OF course it would DO impossible to
destroy these submerged enemies by
means of dynamite or torpedoes; for
with two vessels in close proximity, the
explosion of o torpedo would be as dam
gerous to the hull of one as to the other.
The British admiralty would not allow
even the Adamant to explode torpedoes
or dynamite bombs under her own stern.
With regard to repeller, or spring
armored vessel, the Adamtnt would rely
upon her exceptionally powerful arma-
ment and upon her great weight and
speed. She was fitted with twin screws
and engines of the highest power, and
it was believed that she would be able to
overhaul, ram and crush the largest
vessel, armored or unarmored, which
the syndicate would be able to bring
against her. Some Of her guns were of
immense caliber, firing shot weighing
nearly 1000, pounds and requiring half
ton Of powder for each charge. Be-
sides these she carried an unusually
large number of large cannon and two
dynamite guns. She was SO heavily
plated and armored as to be proof
against any known artillery in the
world.
She was floating fortress, with men
enough to make up the population Of
town, and with stores, ammunition and
coal sufficient to last for n long term Of
active service. Such was the mighty
English battle ship which had come for
ward to raise the siege of the Canadian
port.
The officers of the syndicate were well
aware of the character of the Adamant,
her armament and her defenses, and had
been informed by cable of her time of
sailing and probable destination. They
sent out Repeller No. z, with Crabs j
and X, to meet her off the Banks of
Newfoundland.
This repeller was the largest and
strongest vessel that the syndicate had
ready for service. In addition to the
spring armor with which these vessels
were supplied, this one was furnished
with a second coat of armor outside the
first, the elastic steel ribs of which ran
longitudinally and at right angles to
those Of the inner set. Both coats were
furnished with great number of i'm
proved air buffers, and the arrangement
of spring armor extended five or six feet
beyond the massive steel plates with
which the vessel was originally armored.
She carried one motor cannon of large
size.