The Jasper news., 1908-01-07
CHAPTER VII.
The MISSING Fleet.

Hiy VI uST navy, Cast doluO tuO TiOah
OF secrecy and boldly announced hei
intention to attack the Eeaport cities
of the western coast of America. No
wosd had come from Seigo to bid her
pause, The most formidable armada
that ever sailed the seas, attended by
lighters that were to provide coal, and
accompanied by transports conveying
an army of men, steamed away to the
land Of easy conquest. In the hope OF
striking terror into the hearts of those
they would subdue. the Japanese an
nounced their purpose, and gave a
somewhat exaggerated account of the
forces being sent. The newspapers
of the world teemed with stories OF
the sailing of this monster ieey. told
how all Japan had shouted "BanZai!'
described the flower garlanded maids
who sang gay songs, and pictured the
remarkable modesty and valor Of the
admirals in command.
In some quarters Of the globe great
sympathy was expressed for the
United States, which apparently had
no chance whatever in such an un.
equal contest, and was foredoomed to
calamity and dissolution. The wise
acres of European powers rose as a
unit and told how for more than so
years it had been repeatedly pointed
out that the oversee colossus was
facing destruction through neglect of
her navy. Monarchical adherents saw
deeper into the cause of a nations
obliteration, asserting that the proof
had again been given to the world
that republican form Of government
was one which, by its very lack of
cohesion and unwieldiness, could not
exist.
Other advanced thinkers, who
looked far into the future, began dis.
cusson as to the final outcome, what
partition would be made of the con-
quered territory, and whether Japan
would hold 1t as a colony for her own
surplus population under regulation
colonial subernation. English writer's
expressed grave doubts as TO Japan's
ability to conduct colonies successful
ly, and were rather of the opinion that
the country should be given to Grea'
Britain, whose remarkable success in
fountainhead in this branch of gov
eminent. New maps of the world were
published in the most progressive
periodicals, and souvenir buttons were
sold in the streets of Tokyo depicting
very valiant little Japanese soldier
kicking Uncle Sam into the sea and
taking possession of his land. All the
world bowed down to do honor to the
Grave little. brown men," and many
aggressive powers regretted that they
had not been the first to think of
taking possession of the United States,
| which their statesmen sometimes
| spoke of as being nice little country
and capable under reasonable rule OF
becoming quite a place.
The nation under discussion re.
manned in the same astounding condi
tion of silence and inaction. At first
| 1t had seemed that a clash along the
| Canadian border was inevitable. The
massing of such great bodies of troops
in such position appeared almost q
| threat, and Great Britain in the first
instance began hurriedly concentrat
ing forces at points where they would
be available. in case of attack; but
as day after day passed with no for
ward move and no action save that Of
preventing the passage of any person
or the transmission of any communi
cation alarm gave way to bewilder
ment. Canadian secret service meI
| who succeeded in entering the camp!
of the soldiers soon returned to repor
that apparently the troops knew NJ
| more of the reason for their being sta
toned there than did .the world a
large.
In the meantime there gathered int
the sounds, bays and harbors. of for
eign ports American vessels of war
which came to anchor and remained
On board these ships were the mos
disconsolate body of officers and mel
that were ever collected in hulls. TIL,
last orders any of them had receives
had been made so positive, SO plail
and unequiyocal, that they had n,
choice other. than to obey. They ha'
been commanded to gain these neutra
berths. and under no circumstances t
leave them. They were not even pei
mitted to assume the slate color whicl
Il betokens war on the waters, an
therefore retained their dress of i'm
maculate white. They; too, seeme
under tho ban, land, like war dogs Il
leash, strained impotently for actor
Nor was there an of2cer' in all thes
idle. and scattered ships who did NO
wish himself on the waves of the Pa
j. TIA ao,a.a xubfah fha a.,