Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-06
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The officers, looking at one another, settled
into their seats and in almost instant the silence
in the had grown painful The Governor
still holding his papers before him, slowly con-
tinued:
Fearing trckery on the part of prospective
enemy l doubted the authenticity of my instruc-
tons / used a secret code which has never gone
beyond the hands of the most confidential men IN
my department, and to my surprise received abso-
lutte confirmation. To you of the army | will say
that before this verifcation received, your
General and here he turned to his white haired
confrere, had been the recipient OF command from
the Secretary of War of the United States COuChed
in almost the terms.
AT the conclusion of his speech, this fine old
man sank back into his chair with bowed head as II
the disgrace of his country was his own there
was more or less dignifed discussion participated
in by the older officers present; but interrupted
now and then by of the younger men, who
favored totally ignoring the orders and defending
the islands to the death. The cooler heads among
them prevailed, and at last it was recognized that
there alternative absolute and unqua1-
fed surrender
Before the meeting could be officially dispersed
the sullen boom of gun came heavily from the
sea, reVerberat1ng through the room l he men
Sprang to their feet and rushed toward the exit,
knowing that upon them, but that their
hands tied as hopelessly as though bound with
manacles of steel.
There within range of their heavier guns,
foated formidable fleet from Japan. Even while
their conference was IN progress cruiser alter cruiser
and floating forts of steel had Crept up over the
horizon. The Japanese gunners were testing their
range; but damage had been done. saw a
procession of crestfaen men, going as II to funeral
their fortress gates and silently gather round
the great flagstaff, from which foated a hitherto
unsullied banner. A grim old man grown gray IN
and SCARED with the marks OF many battles
walked to the hayards, gave them pull, and
brought 1utterng to the ground the flag under
which he had fought valantly. Colonel OF
his staff took from the hands of an orderly cloth
of white the emblem the world over of defeat with
or without honor fastened it into the idle loops, and
pulled it aloft.
The General, a warrior no longer, but a heart
broken old man, turned away from his colleagues,
walked the parade, and the door OF his quar-
tiers closed upon him. Several other members of
his staff did likewise and still Others stood silent
on the ramparts, watching the outcome of this
event The ships ceased firing, and, as II perpleXed
by this unwarranted outcome, seemed to be COM
1nunicatng with each other, dexterously wigwagging
signal after signal torpedo boat destroyer slowly
separated itself from the otia and came suspclousy
nosing its way toward the land, winding in and out
as if fearing floating mines or sunken engines OF
destruction.
AS it neared the shore it was seen that its
black deck stood the Admiral of the fleet, together
deputation of officers both civil and military, who
escorted them to the fort. No depict the
expressions, half surprise and half inquiry, which
overspread the Countenances of this insignificant
invading force. A party of less than ten men with
out actually accomplishing the most re-
1narkable conquest in all history
At the entrance to this city of masonry and steel
equipped with silent monsters of warfare embody
ing all the latest and most formidable instruments
of ofense and Defense built to withstand the on
slaught of the combined navies and armies of the
world stood the sullen, sharneaced officers of the
vanqushed garrison, the gilt of their full dress
uniforms untarnished by powder smoke, and
shining garishly in a midday There, drawn up
in line were men who would have fought to death
and gone exultantly out into another world rather
than face the disgrace which had now been heaped
upon them by an unworthy clique of superiors in
Office.
The Japanese Admiral advanced to the sacr-
feed but not defeated General and extended his
+ta Of +ba