The Bottineau courant., 1909-02-19

on the deck the landing stage was
swung into the air and she proceeded
to get under way.
1t was plain to Hitler that no time
was to be lost in this transatlantic
Journey; for before the Norfolk had
passed out of the river she was work
ing under forced draught. He found
himself the only passenger, and that
instructions had been given placing
the destination of the ship under his
orders. That the government pur-
posed to spare no expense or effort
in assisting him to q successful con-
clusion Of his mission was evident. He
was tired of hearing of war, and felt
q secret sense of satisfaction as day
after day passed in respite from such
news.
Out of the North sea, sluggishly
rolling in the swells and floundering
through the waves, gathered a fleet
almost as powerful as that which had
been mobilized by Japan. Other
nearby stations sent in their quota of
cruisers, torpedo-boat destroyers and
swift-moving dispatch boats. Five of
the worlds greatest battle ships
formed the heart of this apparently in.
vincible gathering, which was to cross
the ocean to land of mystery, al
ways facing the possibility of de.
struction by terrible and unknown
engine of warfare.
The people Of England were much
divided in opinion as to the advisa-
bility of the governments move when
1t became public. A strong conserva.
tive element feared the danger of
Great Britain being involved in the
war through this action, while the lib.
eral 'partisans and jingoes asserted
that it was the only method of uphold.
ing the countrys dignity, demonstrat.
ing to America that England would
do her best and at the same time as.
suring 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.
SSsAAo AAu AA S0OlA pOooOo01OA u6duS
OF so easily overcoming a feet as i'm.
portant as that which Japan had lost,
there was almost certainty that she
could conquer any adversary sent
against her on the water. 1t was no
longer question of warfare on land;
for all the transports in the world
would be powerless against such sub.
marines as the nations now con.
ceded 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.
eAOA' ~ "oo AoCuCA WILL UlIc ulSs
givings that the public witnessed this
departure, which were to a certain
extent shared in by those aboard the
vessels; and 1t was fully realized that
the flower of England's navy might
never return from it's voyage into an
unknown danger.
The conservative press lent 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-
fice." This became the general pub
lie opinion within few days, as re-
ports from Canada continued gloomy
and showed no prospect of q 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 deserted ocean, the sen.
timent was one of acute expectancy.
The admiralty was advised of the
arrival without incident of Hitler, and
apprised 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.
tion. In the knowledge that a good and
efficient man was on the ground with
at least chance for success in his
endeavors.
This beati11c state of mind was dis
PEELED one bright afternoon, and Eng
land thrown into furore that scarce
ly could have been greater had one
Of the mvctoriOnc c,,hr, r;noo on