The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-05-29
CHAPTER xx.-continued.

CHAF En- NN-SouhtheSSs
admiral, do you think there is any
gunnery that can hurt us, anything
that can overtake us. or that If we
wish to we may not master the
world?" he asked in voice Of ex-
IRENE quiet
Fields shrugged his shoulders hope
lessly, made grimace. and looked at
his fellows. Gentlemen" he said in
a dry tone, at seems to me that we
should without any delay accept the
hospitality which the United States
has extended so courteously."
( The others appreciated the grim
humor of the situation. and in Ike
vein acquiesced The surprise which
they had undergone was nothing
compared to that with which. as the
day waned, they witnessed the lifting
of their craft from the waters. With
the utmost care the task was accom-
plished, and everything made ready
for the westward journey. Only one
mishap occurred beyond the necessary
damage to the ships, and that was not
discovered until the following day. A
sailor of the Dreadnought. maddened
by the spectacle he had witnessed,
had unleashed a life raft unobserved
and thrown himself and 1t into the
water by the use of its tackle at some
hour of darkness when the vessels
were travelling at slow speed and
close 10 the surface of the waves. Bev-
ins grieved more over this incident
than any other; for he had set his
heart upon bloodless victory.
Thus it was that on the following
day there rested in the Chesapeake a
feet whose fires we're banked, whose
men were prohibited from shore
leave and whose chief officers were
guests in the principal hotels of New
York and Washington under pledge OF
secrecy. But in this they might take
heart; although some slight damage
had been inflicted on the vessels. In nc
instance did the flag come down. and
from each staff foated the union jack
unsullied. Communication between
ships and shores was interdicted; sc
even the inhabitants of the border!
could do no more than look and guess
as to how the feet had sailed in with
out attracting attention or meeting
with rebuff.
Another report came from Chin;
that the feet of the dragon was still
under waiting orders; hence there wa
nothing for the administration to d.
but mark time, which 1t did with poo
grace. Within a few days. however
a more disturbing report came from
Europe by way of Canada, the usua
source Of communication. 1t was Z
the effect that the kaiser. learning @
the disappearance of the British fee
and believing it destroyed, was show
ing quick signs of aggression. vainl
the administration hoped that hi
belligerent intentions might be ovel
estimated; but the passage of day
proved that he might be a menace
the general plan.
1t was hourly expected that the pre-,
ence of the radioplanes would be n
quired in the west to meet the Chines'
In view of this necessity, it was d
cided to dispatch Brockton and Jel
kins to Berlin on mission of dipl,
macy. They were ordered to visit tn
kaiser at night. landing. at time an
place where they could escape obse
walton. induce the emperor and h
chancellor to get aboard the radi
plane, and then. after 1t had bee
demonstrated that Germany would /
powerless in the event of war. to d
liver messages announcing that tn
United States purposed to gain WIKI
support she could for a worlds peat
voluntarily, but would compel it
need be.
jenkins was familiar with the &c
man capital, having been naval a
tache there for a number of years.
was he who evolved the details. tt
American ambassador was unaware
his country's defense until informt
on the night of the arrival. and WI
speedily enlisted in the enterpris
Through him the kaiser granted Il
interview. which led to his visitir
the radioplane which had been brougl
10 rest beyond the outskirts Of Il
es:--