The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-01-23
cHAprER vII.-continued.

successful. Japan announces intention to
attack seaports.
CHAPTER vlI.-continued.
One day, two days, and three. passed
before Japan felt anxiety, or the world
began it's discussion as to the cause
of the long delay. Then, when the
fleet was more than a week overdue
it became almost a certainty that
some disaster had overtaken it, al
though from no section of the sea had
there been a 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 war 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 magnificent
body of ships so effectually as to leave
none to bear the sad tidings to the
nearest port And then, as full reali-
cation of what must have happened
dawned upon the watching powers,
shudder of dread passed through them
all. II was plain that America had
some new and terrific naval strength.
some unheard of monster OF the deep,
that gave 1t the mastery of the seas.
The evolution of submarines had been
rapid; but no one had knowledge of
craft that could steam such a distance
as would have been necessary to in
tercept the Japanese before they
reached Honolulu. engage them and
either destroy them completely or cap
ture and convey them to an American
port.
II must have been total destruction,
the world argued, because In case of
capture 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
| e A. 600 ord hoxv ro1faorcalo civ
executed! All losses of life in previ
GUS naval engagements sank into in
significance when compared with this
sudden and swift obliteration OF 9
feet Of warships, transports and col
liers- 1t would be nearly impossible
to spare lives in such battle, and
it seemed a certainty that the grea
steel monsters that had sailed ava,
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 wa
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 wa
plunged as deeply in mourning a
only a few weeks before she had bee
exalted in glory. She pIaintively be
walled the barbarities of her enemy
and proudly pointed to her own hig
| state Of civilization, which made sue
! warfare impossible. She asserte
: that had she possessed such monster
} of destruction as were evidently owne
; by the United States, she would hav
: scorned to use them without motif.
) ing the whole world of her power.
4 was a country of desolation.
Q There was hardly prominent HON
9 in Japan which had not contribute
some member of it's family to tn;
splendid navy which had sailed s
: proudly away when early June VIZ
: spreading it's flowers over the empire
now there were sobs of bereavemel
and woe.
Across the ancient lands of II
|, Pharaohs and up through the pro
r. inces of kings there swept unar
RI nous desire for an explanation.
II could cone from only one source
N this land of mystery which had C
u itself off from all the world and sto'
y silent, guarding its secret, and So
ls denly grown ominous in its possibi
o ties and potentialities.