The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-05-22

bility Of the governments move when
1t became public. A strong conserva-
tive element feared the danger of
war through this action, while the lib
eral partisans and jingoes asserted
that it was the only method of uphold
ing the country's dignity, demonstrate
ing to America that England would
do her best, and at the same time as
surfing Canada that the mother coun-
try intended to support her in case of
attack along her border line. That
Britannia still ruled the waves was
generally doubted; for If the Ameri-
cans had in their possession means
of SO easily overcoming a fleet as i'm
portant as that which Japan had lost,
there was almost a certainty that she
could conquer any adversary sent
against her on the water. 1t was no
longer a question of warfare on land;
for all the transports in the world
would be powerless against such sub
marines as the nations now con-
coded the United States must pos
seSs.
Before sailing, the fleet commanders
had been called into a council and
given positive instructions that they
were not to permit themselves to be
drawn into action in any event before
reaching Canada. On their arrival
they were at once to cooperate with
the dominion government in whatever
way seemed advisable at that time,
and follow such orders as might be
given from London.
The clearance, however, unlike the
sailing Of that fleet from Japan, was not
accompanied by any gala demonstra-
ton. 1t was rather with dire mis-
givings that the public witnessed this
departure, which were to a certain
extent shared in by those aboard the
vessels; and it was fully realized that
the flower of England's navy might
return from it's voyage into an
unknown danger.
The conservative press lent a funere-
al attitude to the occasion in it's treat
ment of the situation, one journal de-
claring that England is sending to
magnificent martyrdom men who had
better have been retained at home for
their country's good" Another paper
characterized it as a useless sacri-
fee" This became the general pub
lie opinion within a few days, as re-
ports from Canada continued gloomy
and showed no prospect of a rift with
in the clouds.
= The music halls, always an index
to the popular view, found their great
est hits in topical songs which were
generally Of the tenor that the great,
grand, glorious and gorgeous British
tar had sailed away to do or die
with the accent on the die" A gen.
eral air of melancholy prevailed over
all England, and as the days went on
and the fleet itself got beyond reach
of the wireless telegraph stations and
far out on a deserted ocean, the sen.
timent was n of acute expectancy.
The admiralty was advised of the
arrival without incident of Hitler, and
appraised of the fact that he had de.
cided to make his attempt to cross
into the forbidden land unaided.
There was a certain sense of satisfac-
ton in the knowledge that a good and
efficient man was on the ground with
at least a chance for success in his
endeavors.
This beatific state of mind was dis
PEELED one bright afternoon, and Eng
land thrown into a furore that scarce
ly could have been greater had one
of the mysterious submarines ap.
peared off its shores and begun bonn
harding the nearest city. 1t was like
an intimation of disaster delivered in
advance of more terrible news.
The black hull of a South American
tramp steamer hove into sight beyond
Fastnet, and instituted a rapid inter.
change of signals. The men on shore,
as these advanced, looked at each
other with blank dismay, and then,
fearing that there had been a misun-
Outstanding, and failing to grasp sud-
denly a significance so terrible in its
import, requested that the signals be
repeated. There could be no doubt Of
their correct Interpretation. In one
hour all England knew beyond cavil
that her fleet had met the same fate
as that which had overtaken Japan's.
The message in brief was that the Es-
peranta had picked up in mid ocean.
floating OF a life raft torn from it's
mornings, a sailor wearing the uni
form of the Dreadnought. The man
was almost dead from exposure, and
had not yet recovered sufficiently to
give a coherent account of What had
taken place.
No ship ever sailed into Southamp-
ton that attracted the attention given
70 the Esperanto. Trainload after
trainload of e~xcursionists, farmers
within a days drive. and pedestrians
from near by swarmed to Southamp.
ton, forming an excited and almost un'
controllable gathering. Tugboats
fastened out to meet the incoming
steamer, which carried the only living
link between reality and the terrible
unknown. and long lines Of constables
strove to hold back the excited crowd,
the noise of whose mutterings filled
the air with an ominous drone.s
Between these ranks Of blue-clad