Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-19
CHAPTER xxvI.
The Yellow Danger.

detail, and explained the means emptoyeu
by Hardy in the winning of this great bat
tie. But the mass OF the British public.
not looking narrowly into means. looking
only at the astonishing result. hailed the
victory as perplexing miracle of genius.
That even one of the British ships should
return to harbor was marvellous. But that
three should return. having in tow two
Italian and one French ship, after Destroy
ing the overwhelming remainder of the IN
vading force, this seemed to approach the
incredible.
The three ships arrived at Portsmouth at
IL In the night. They were the Nile, the
Hero and a sloop. the Pelican. CThe Ben
bow the third of the ships kept by Hardy
in reserve, had been torpedoed at the last
moment) They had on board, beside their
own crews. Lord Charles Beresford. Hardy.
and a number of boatloads of British and
foreign sailors which they had picked up.
The three captured ships-the Sfax and two
Italian gunboats-all disabled, were lowed
to Newhaven and left. The three British,
almost intact the Hero had some central
battery guns unshippeO. proceeded to
Portsmouth.
At midnight there was sound OF jubilee
bells in London, in Liverpool and in every
considerable town in Britain Watch-night
professions, which showed no intention OF
going to bed, filled the street; and penn1less
Hodge at the door of the village aie-house
heard rumor, and was glad.
Better times would come now: hard Scar
city. dreary outlook would be no more; the
great war was over; and the True Blue
had won it.
But the real case was fearfully different.
The war just practically ended was a pre-
lminary: it was the first-piece comedietta
before the tragedy. and 1t was put upon the
stage by a great actor In order the hetter
to set off his own grandiose strutting and
storming. 1t was the streak of foam which
foreruns the tidal-waye.
If ever a man had day of strain and
toll it was John Hardy that day; with every
breath his chest wheezed in labor; when he
lanoed at Portsmouth at II, his hands hung
SO heavy that he could hardly stir them.
His voice was gone. The sound of thunder
still sang in his ears.
Yet, even while preparations were being
made for a train to conduct him to London,
he wrote, and had sent Off, telegram. 1t
was to the editor Of The Times. 1t said:
kindly reserve two columns for letter
from me for tomorrow. viii let you have
manuscript by am JOHN HARDY
At this message Printing House Square
rubbed its tickled hands, and was prone to
dance. The editorial head grew dizzy with
big anticipation. For copy at that moment
copy indeed-and gratis! 1t seemed too eX-
quisite a thing to be true.
But what can it be all about?" wondered
the editor.
"A thrilling description of the battle."
suggested an inspired SUBJ
Hardly that, perhaps doubted the
Chief
one of the staff waited in Cavendfsh
Square, which, till far into the morning,
was filled by an upper-class crowd. A lit
tie before 3 the Times man drove from Har-
dy's door 10th the precious copy written in
pencil; and not till then did Hardys head
drop asleep on the table where he sat; part
of the copy he had scrubbed in the train
with half-closed eyes.
The letter contained no thrilling descrip-
ton of the battle; though it was thrilling
enough and made the Times editor
rub his eyes in a somewhat unusual way.
Was the letter stupendous hoax? Or was
1t a letter the publication of which would
lift the Times to a greater pitch of glory
than was ever dreamed by human editor in
this world before.
The Times man was questioned narrowly.
From whom had he received the letter?
From Hardys old butler himself. There
could be no mistake
1t appeared next morning, side by side
with the detailed description of the battle.
And England rubbed its eyes, too, as the
Times editor had rubbed his
Hardy had spoken out clearly, careless,
in his belief In the British character,
whether he threw the nation into state of
panic not. He told what was coming;
he explained the motive with which the
European war had been brought about by
Yen How; he told of the massacre, of the
action of the Japanese fleet: he showed
how there was not even the least possible
chance for Europe; how England alone, for
a time at least, was sheltered by her sea:
and how this was the chance of England
to come forward and prove her patriarchai
heart, her imperial clemency, her mother
mood of the world. He gave his reasons
for thinking that the fulfilment of his
prophecy was near impending about to
happen. And he wound up with series
of numbered skeleton recommendations.
They were:
l. That the tiny remainder of the British
fleet be utilized to seize all the merchant
ships in European ports; and that these
ships, together with Ill the available ships
in the British mercantile marine, be en-
ployed, with or without the consent of for
eign governments or individual owners, in
bringing over to England, and in taking to
America and to Africa such of the inhab-
1tants of Europe as could and would seek
shelter in those countries.
2 That America be invited to a league
with Britain, having for it's object the sal
walton of the white races and the exter-
mination of the yellow.
g. That the armies of Britain be at once
recalled from the continent.
l. That the government at once begin to
make all possible provision for the huge in
crease of population in Britain which would
result on the appearance in Europe of the
yellow men,
Such We're the Times two columns, and
under the last was the name John Hardy.
OF the sensation which this letter caused
It is impossible to give a real idea, for
there Is nothing else to which to compare
it, BY noon copies of the paper were being
bought and sold for ten guineas
At this hour Thanksgiving hymns were
being sung; and the name of Hardy was
being made the text of a thousand SER
mons.
After the battle of Shoreham he had been
instlnctively adopted by the race as its
darling" the battle of the Channel made
him definitely its hero: his letter made him
its leader.
He was az once elected member Of the
permanent committee of national safety
Not that there was no searching of heart
no doubling, to this extraordinary let
ter. TO many people 1t seemed as wild as
possible. The proof which Hardy adduced
to show that the yellow wave was near Qf
1t was coming at AID was his contention
that Yen How, having destroyed Europe
by the European war, would not be suf-
fcently silly to wait for Europe to re-
cover herself before his invasion The ar
gument was sound. if the hypothesis was
sound. But where were the signs of his
coming? There was an 'if-"
On the whole however, the nation had
learnt TO trust him; and trusting him, it
stood aghast at his awful message.
At this time the people Of Britain If
they had never been so before, was
genuinely a nation. distinct from
a mob They had suffered keenly together,
resolved and acted nobly together; and they
had been welded in the furnace heat. BY a
nation we mean multifold man. 1t was