Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-12-19
CHAPTER vII.-Continued.

before Japan felt anxiety, or the world
began its discussion as to the cause
of the long delay. Then, when the
feet was more than a week overdue
1t became almost a certainty that
some disaster had overtaken it, al
though from no section Of the sea had
there been typhoon reported or any
thing but excellent barometric cOndi-
lions. Ten days passed in this same
way, and on the last the report from
Honolulu was identical with that
which had been made on all those
previous: Nothing in sight, and moth
ing arrived"
Once more the world stood in eX.
pectancy, and vainly sought the So
luton for the latest enigma. Storms
were eliminated; for no tempest could
have wiped out such a magnificent
body of ships so effectually as to leave
none to bear the sad tidings to the
nearest port And then, as full reali-
zation of what must have happened
dawned upon the Watching powers,
shudder of dread passed through them
all. 1t was plain that America had
some new and terrific naval strength,
some unheard Of monster Of the deep,
that gave it the mastery of the seas.
The evolution of submarines had been
rapid; but no one had knowledge of
craft that could steam such distance
as would have been necessary to in
tercept the Japanese before they
nd
either destroy them completely or cap
ture and convey them to an American
port.
1t must have been total destruction,
the world argued, because in case Of
,apture great battle ships themselves
would scarcely have been able to
make the complete trip to Pacific
coast on the supply of coal they car
ried In their bunkers. Forced drafts
required great expenditure of fuel,
and never at any time had there been
any other intention than of replenisn-
ing at Hawaii. 1t seemed impossible
that a civilized nation should have
chosen deliberately to exterminate its
enemies by wholesale; and yet there
was no other conclusion tenable.
How terrific must have been that
onslaught, coming up out of the wa
ters Of the sea, and how remorselessly
executed! All losses Of life in previ-
Gus naval engagements sank into in
Significance when compared with this
sudden and swift obliteration Of a
fleet of warships, transports and col
Tiers. 1t would be nearly impossible
to spare lives in such battle, and
It seemed certainty that the great
steel monsters that had sailed away
to easy conquest had become mere
metal collins for those who manned
them, and were now resting some
/ where on the floor Of the needless Pa
! cific. II such was the case, it was
time the United States ceased to eX-
LIST as a nation when peopled by in
human monsters who calmly slew
their adversaries when threatened.
Japan was left a helpless little is
/ land in the sea- without ships to as
! sail an enemy or to defend herself.
Shorn of power and pride, she was
plunged as deeply in mourning as
only few weeks before she had been
exalted in glory. She plaintively be-
walled the barbarities of her enemy,
and proudly pointed to her own high
state of civilization, which made such
warfare impossible. She asserted
that had she possessed such monsters
of destruction as were evidently owned
! by the United States, she would have
scorned to use them without notify
ing the whole world of her power. 1t
was country of desolation.
There was hardly prominent home
In Japan which had not contributed
some member of its family to that
splendid navy which had sailed sc
proudly away when early June was
spreading it's flowers over the empire;
now there were sobs of bereavement
and woe.
Across the ancient lands of the
Pharaohs and up through the prov
inces of kings there swept unani
NOUS desire for an explanation. II
could come from only one source
this land of mystery which had cut
itself of from all the world and stood
<sI,ent, guarding its secret. and sud
knly grown ominous in its POSSIBLE
ufIas and. yotootfaiffioo