New-York tribune., 1907-10-06
THE VANISHING FLEETS
Corarsi 10m pg'I1
Cor;,r4si from ply' ID

change of communication Will be suspended
deem it wise To suggest that His Majesty hold
himself III readiness u make an OveTpowerlnS
naval demonstration in these or Canadian
waters ii need should arise. | am sending
this by my secretary, who can answer any
questions Of a more pertinent nature as well
a. | could
The letter. written in the Grabbed hand Of the
Ambassador. was slowly read aloud, those
present straining their hearing that no word
might be lost, and at its conclusion they sat
dumbfOundcd
You were there. l believe" said the Prime
Minister slowly swinging back and torth IN
his swivel chair. and addressing the secretary,
q" when the news Of the surrender OF the Philip
pines was received
Yes. Your Lortship
What excuse had the Government - make
for such Unwarrdutcl action
None whatever
"Do YOU mean I, say that they suffered
without protest or defense the Surrcui ier or
fort.tlc1tl0u which cost millions ~ pounds,
wa adequately equipped. and able % repel
successfully the attack %; su-h fleet as Japan
sent against It
Yes, they even accepted II c1mpaceatly
From round the room came muTnurs 81
arualemeut. while the rustic ~ newspapers
showed the auxictv of those present % CLEAN
what information thev could by perusal
Losing their phlcgmatIl arr of self possession
and casting official dignity % the winds. they
b)mb1rlei Hitler with questions, winch II
the main he wa7 unable u answer The VOICE
OF the stately Lord ot the Admiralty rose above
the Others IN a sudden, lnsl~tent petulanJ
question
d, YOU know anything else worth while. %
he asked
No" answered Hitler have NJ knowl-
edge other than that winch have gwen u
You, and which III iySci, Wa gathered else
seCrctiVr Government
The Prime Minister. a. II recognizing their
informant plight III a friendly tone oi Voice
sand Mr. Hitler. l presume YOU ara tired
before any further discussion ot this subject. !
would suggest that vpu . - Your chambers
and return here tomorrow
What sense /, there IN his returning,
same the angry question ot the L'Ti 3i tne me
Admiralty, as the secretary bowed himself
out Of the room. " He doesn't even know.
presume. that Japan II already sending every
available ship she has against the western
coast ot America a. fast IS steam WI. carry II
sending invading fleet against an ap-
pIrcutlv passive country III some part Oi which
Wa, the woman he lowed his thought re
ItcrItcI itself through truv mind as he passed
down the corridor and out INTO the din and
movement ot the street Where could she be
now. he wondered. and what ~ her father.
Insane. perhap- and incapable Of offering her
protection ot which she would stand SO sadly
III need III case OF japanese success The words
OF a letter which he carried II his pocket, and
" tlllN % MIN Htr more L.lil
dispatches ne had delivered, constantly re
CURED - him
1t Is always within the realms Of possibility,
when WAY = on a land. that friends may never
meet again. Il such should be our case. l
pray that You will remember this even up u
the li~t.-I loved You
In the dusk of early evening an army OF
countless men and women hurTyIug u the
trans the tubes and the buses, swept past
Hmm ignorant OF his misery What waS war %
them IN "a country thousands ~ miles across
a sea and IN which perhaps there va, none
bound To them by ties oi Affection The
United States might ISOLATE itself by sea and
iutrcuch itself behind c5rionS Of soldiers but
he would 60 back Nc,. he would find way
- pass all their barriers and gain the side OF
the woman who mcrltcd his protection through
her avowei love. and III this, her hour Of need,
seemed CRYING out u HIM across the utter
most spaces ot the world, besecchIng hiIn u
retUrn,-only u return
To b. -1r--,sI rsr SsrIlr