The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-01-30

earths source of great mystery and fees
murmuring: The gods save Nippon
down just as journey to get awful news
10 Japan seems successful Japan an
nounces intention to attack seaports.
TOXIC learns of missing Japanese fleet
and whole world becomes convinced that
United States has some powerful war
agency. England decides to send a fleet
| 10 american waters as a Canadian pro-
| lection against what the British suppose
Is terrible submarine fiotilla. Hitler Il,
siso sent 70 Canada to attempt to force
his way through American lines with a
| message to the president In order that
protection for the fleet may be assured
CHAPTER vIII.-continued.
The people of England were much
divided in opinion as to the adyisa-
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 1t 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 fleet 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 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
never return from its voyage into an
unknown danger.
The conservative press lent funere-
al attitude to the occasion in its treat
ment OF the situation, one journal de-
claring that England is sending to
martyrdom men who had
better have been retained at home for
their country's good" Another paper
characterized it as useless sacri-
dce." This became the general pub
lie opinion within few days, as re-
ports from Canada continued gloomy
and showed no prospect of rift with
n the clouds.
The music halls, always an index
o the popular view, found their great
'st hits in topical songs which were
of the tenor that the great
,rand, glorious and gorgeous British
ar had sailed away to do or die
With the accent on the die" A gen. c
raj air of melancholy prevailed over I
ii England, and as the days went on c
nd the fleet itself got beyond reach I
4 the wireless telegraph stations and
ar out on deserted ocean, the SEN t
iment was one of acute expectancy. n
The admiralty was advised of the S
rival without incident of Hitler, and L
pprised of the fact that he had de- O
ided to make his attempt to cross s
nto the forbidden land uuaided.
here was certain sense of satisfac. e
ION in the knowledge that a good and b
mcient man was on the ground with p
least chance for success In his
ndeavors. a
This beatific state of mind was dis F
elled one bright afternoon, and Eng 81
md thrown into a furore that scarce Il
could have been greater had one b.
the mysterious submarines APP a,
cared off its shores and begun bonn fl
arding the nearest city. 1t was like c,
n intimation Of disaster delivered in tf
1vance of more terrible news. W
The black hull of South American e,
amp steamer hove into sight beyond 10