The Portland daily press., 1898-04-04

DGOn uSl6ep HOt ~ nave fsIf5il bil0 OONSIA-
ment warning of the plans of Russia long
ago. A declaration OF war against a
power like England is not made without
very careful deliberation.''
'tBut can we be invaded?'' I queried.
"No doubt" Beck replied promptly.
:sThe opinions of our greatest strate-
gists are unanimous that under certain
conditions France and Russia combined
could invade our island. 1t is all very
we'll for people to talk about England S
maritime power; but is it what we be-
lieve it to e? ! think not"
Having made deep study of this very
question, l was, although loyal and
patriotic Englishman, compelled to agree
with him in certain measure. Once.
not SO very long ago, it was generally be-
1ieved, even by our greatest military and
naval experts that should England be-
come engaged with q first rate foreign
Power, single handed, in a week she
could close every one OF her enemy's ports
and have fleet ready to reduce at its
leisure everything he held beyond the
seas. Indeed, some authorities went so
far as to declare that with almost any
two Powers against her, she could do as
much; and it was that recognition of
this power abroad that gave England, in
spite of her military weakness, so conf
manding q pc ition in Europe. But
since the Franco-Russian Alliance the
increase IN UQ6 Ho6US OIL Uue IOWeTS ndu
been SO rapid that we had utterly failed
to keep pace with them. We built huge
unwieldy battleships while our enemies
constructed the fastest cruisers and tOrpe-
do boat destroyers adoat, here by sweep
ng away our hitherto undisputed mastery
of the sea.
"The great danger that appears to me,
Beck said presently, after we had been
discussing the serious outlook at consid-
cradle length, lis that we may be block
AIDED by these two hostile powers so as
to reduce us near starvation, and compel
us TO surrender.
'But not before we have engaged the
enemy at sea and given them a taste of
the lion S paw l said.
"Of course. First, we must expect
great naval battle or battles, followed by
dash upon our territory and the landing
of the hostile armies. II England received
one serious reverse at sea, she could never
recover from it. The loss of her maritime
powerwould paralyse her."
ST know said. 'That argument is
trite enough. But nevertheless believe
that England is still, and will be for
many centuries to come, Queen OF the
Sea-
"Oh! yes.'' he said, rather contemptu-
ously. "The cheap clap-trap patriotism
of the pot-house and the music-can is all
very we'll, but we, in the House of Com
IuOllS, 6uI6TUdla d very Q1AOIOne Op1lllOl1s
The belief in Engla1d's greatness held
by the lower classes is admirable, and,
of course, ought to be carefully fostered,
because it leads men to enlist in the SER
vices. But you know, as well as do.
that in the Government Departments our
naval strength is regarded as oyer-esti-
mated in comparison with the power of
some other European nations, and our
military strength utterly inadequate. If
it is really true that Russia has declared
war against us, fear the awakening of
those confident Of our insular security
will be terrible one.
"Terrible no doubt it will be, on &C.
count of the fearful loss of life and prop
erty such q war must entail, but antici-
pate that when the struggle comes every
Englishman will bear arms for the de-
fence of his home and loved ones, and
that the foreign invader will meet with
reception tn warmth of which ne never
expected"
"Geotfrey is patriot exclaimed Ella
laughing, $50 am I. 1 don't believe
Russia and France will ever dare to land
soldiers on our coasts.
'Well spoken" exclaimed. 81 do
not share the fears of these so-called ex-
perts. ;"
II do Beck went on excitedly eff
hostilities occur our defences will soou
be found weak ana utterly unreliable.
That's my opinion.
"Then you declare that England is
great no longer, observed with smile.
'tNo, I don't go SO far as that; but l
contend, as I did in my speech in the
House a fortnight ago, that those charged
with maintaining our defences in a
proper state of efficiency have for years
been culpably negligent. The power OF
Eng Gland today, is still the same 1t has
been-on paper. But, in ascertaining it.
xro al cInso w1lfHlIV tn the
true fact that other nations have awak-
ened during the past ten years, and have
now actually overtaken US.
81 don't think that, [ answered.
"Until our country is actually invested
shall still believe in it's strength.
But Beck, greatly to the amusement of
Ella, was logged in his opinions, and,
when I argued with him, commenced to
quote statistics with glibness that told
how carefully he had studied the speech
he recently delivered before the House,
q speech which, by the way, had been
dismissed in one line by all the news
papers. Ella, standing beside me in her
pale cream dress girdled with
band of mauve silk, looked charming,
and supported me in all my views, exhib-
iting knowledge of politics and of the
Continental outlook that l had not in the
least suspected Indeed, she now and
then attacked the arguments OF the mem
Der for West Rutlandshirs with vehe-
mence that surprised me, for more than
once she completely upset his declarations
by citing some fact he had overlooked.
Even while we discussed these things
we knew how wildly excited must be the
seething world of London. The news, al
though alas! not fresh to me, had no
doubt fallen that night upon the metropo-
lis like a thunderbolt. Mrs. Lafng, who
presently entered the room, was shown
the paper by Ella, and WAS utterly I'M
nerved by the startling intelligence. 1
had noticed that she had never since been
the same stately composed woman as be
fore the discovery Of Dudley. The tragic
affair at the Nook seemed to have upset
her, and in her face there were now traces
OF extreme nervousness and excitability.
"Surely the paper has printed an I'M
warrantable untruth, Mir. Heck, she ex-
claimed, after reading thu statement by
the aid of her glasses. ~ really can't
believe it,
~ scarcely think we ought to credit 1t
before we receive some confirmation,
the burly legislator replied. sit may, of
course, be a mere idle rumor set afioat for
Stock Exchange purposes.
AT that moment they exchanged swift
glances that somehow APP