The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-12-19

what his planet was capable OF, and we
did not. He had seen, on the asteroid,
the extent of our power, and while it's
display served to intimidate him there,
yet now that he and we together were
facing the world of his birth, his fear
had evidently fallen from him, and he
had the manner of one who feels that
the shield of an all powerful protector
has been extended over him.
But it could not be long now before
we should ascertain, by the irrevocable
test of actual experience, whether the
Martians possessed the power to ami
hilate us or not
How shall describe our feelings as
we gazed at the scene spread beneath
us? They were not quite the same as
those of the disooverer Of new lands
upon the earth. This was whole new
world that we had discovered, and it
was filled, as we could see, with inhab-
itants.
But that was not all. We had not
come with peaceful intentions.
We were to make war on this new
world.
Deduoting our losses, we had not more
than $40 men left. With these we were
to undertake the conquest of world
containing we could not say how many
millions
Our enemies, instead of being below
us in the scale of intelligence were, we
had every reason to believe, greatly our
superiors. They had proved that they
possessed a command over the powers of
nature such as we, up to the time when
Mr.. Edison made his inventions, had
not even dreamed that it was possible
for us to obtain.
1t was true that at present we ap-
peared to have the advantage, both in
our electrical ships and in our means of
offense. The disintegrator was at least
as powerful an engine of destruction as
any that the Martians had yet shown
that they possessed. 1t did not seem
that in that respect they could posi- bly,
excel us.
During the brief war with the Mar
tians upon the earth it had been gun
powder against mysterious force as
much stronger than gunpowder as the
latter was superior to the bows and ar
rows that preceded it.
There had been no comparison what
ever between the offensive means en-
ployed by the two parties in the strug-
gle on the earth.
But the genius of one man had sud-
denly put us on the level of our enemies
in regard to fighting capacity.
Then, too, our electrical ships were
far more effective for their purpose than
the projectile cars used by the Martians.
In fact, the principle upon which they
were based was at bottom SO simple
that it seemed astonishing the Martians
had not hit upon it,
Mr.. Edison himself was never tired
of saying with reference to this matter:
II cannot understand why the Mar
tians did not invent these things They
have given ample proof that they I'M
derstand electricity better than we do.
Why should they have resorted to the
comparatively awkward and bungling
means Of getting from one planet to an
other that they have employed when
they might have ridden through the
solar system in such conveyances az
ours with perfect ease?
"And besides,' Mr.. Edison would
add, II cannot understand why they
did not employ the principle Of har-
monio vibrations in the construction of
their engines Of war. The lightninglike
strokes that they deal from their ma
chimes are no doubt equally powerful,
bat think the range Of destruction
covered by the disintegrators is greater. "
However, these questions must re.
main open until we could effect land.
ing on Mars and learn something of this
condition of things there.
The thing that gave us the most un-
easiness was the fact that we did not
yet know what powers the Martians
might have in reserve. It was but nat
ural to suppose that here. on their OWL
ground, they would possess means Of
defense even more effective than the
offensive engines they had employed in
attacking enemies 30 many millions OF
miles from home.
It was important that we should
waste no time, and it was equally i'm.
portant that we should select the most
vulnerable point for attack. 1t was self
evident, therefore, that our first duty
would be to reconnoiter the surface OF
the planet and determine Its weakest
point Of defense.
At first Mr.. Edison contemplated
sending the various ships In different
directions around the planet in order
that the work Of exploration might be
quickly accomplished. But upon second
thought 1t seemed wiser to keep the
squadron together, thus diminishing the
chance Of disaster.
Besides the commander wished to see
with his own eyes the exact situation
Of the various parts Of the planet, where
it might appear advisable for US to be.
gin our assault.
Thus far we had remained suspended
at so great height above the planet
that we had hardly entered into the per-
ceptible limits Of its atmosphere, and
there was no evidence that we had been
seen by the inhabitants of Mars, bit be-
fore starting on our voyage Of explora-
ton it was determined to drop down