The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-07

structions had reached them and that
they were on their station. Before
evening We all assembled in the lee of
Sanda Island, in the Null OF Kintyre.
/ felt an admiral indeed when 1 cav
my FIVE w1lalebacJis all in a row.
Panza's report was excellent. They
had come round by the Pent1and
Firth and reached their cruising
ground on the fourth day. Already
they had destroyed twenty vessels
without any m.shap. l ordered the
Beta 10 divide her oil and torpedoes
among the other three. so that they
were in good condition TO continue
their cruise. Then the Beta and
nead cd for home, reaching our base
upon Sunday, April 25. or cape
Wrath picked up a paper from
small schooner.
Wheat, 81; maize. 60; barley. g.
What were battles and bombardments
compared 20 that!
The whole coast Of Norland was
closely blockaded by Gordon within
Gordon and every port. even tho
smallest, held by the British. But
why should they suspect my modest
confect,oner's villa more than any
other OF the 10000 houses that face
the sea? I WIS glad when | picked
up its homely white front in my
rcriscope. That night | landed and
found my stores intact. Before morn
ing the Beta reported itself, for we
had the windows lit as a guide.
II Is not for me to recount the mes
cages which I found waiting for me
at my humble headquarters. They
shall ever remain as the patents OF
nobility OF my family. Among others
was that never 70 he forgotten salu-
tation from my King lie desired me
to present myself at Hauptviile, but
for once l took 1t upon myeen TO
G.sobey his commands. II took me
two days-or rather two nights. for
we sank ourselves during the daylight
kours--to get ali our stores on board,
but my presence was neodful every
minute " the time. on the third
morning at o'clock the Beta lld my
own li-tle flagship were Mt sea once
more bound for our original station
Of the mouth of the Thames.
Z had no time to read our pagers
while I was ref,ting. bat | gathered
the news after We got under way.
TIC British occupied All our ports. hut
otherwise We h.l not suffered Mt all.
since We have excellent railway COM
mun!cations with Europe. Prices had
altered little and our industries con-
tinued as before. There was talk of
q British invasion. hut this | knew
10 lie absolute nonsense, for the Brit
an must have learned by this time
that It would he sheer murder to scad
transports full OF soldiers 20 sea IN
the face OF submarines When they
have n tunnel they can use their fine
evolutionary force upon the Conti-
neat, tut until then Il might Just as
well not exist so far as Europe 10
concerned. NY own country there
fore was in good case and had nothing
to fear.
GreHt Britain. however was already
feeling my grip upon her throat. IA
in normal times four-ffths of her food
Is imported prices were rising by leaps
and bounds. The supplies in the ooun-
try were beginning 10 show signs OF
depletion, while little was coming in
to replace them. The insurance at
Lloyds had risen to a figure which
made the price OF food prohibitive to
the mass OF the people by the time
II had reached tHo market Tho loaf
which under ordinary circumstances
stood at fivepence was already at one
and twopence. Beef was three shll-
lings and fourpence a pound and NUT
ton two shillinRs and ninepence.
Everything else was in proportion.
The Government had acted with
energy and offered big bounty for
corn to be planted AT once. 1t could
only be reaped FIVE months hence.
however, and long before then, as the
papers pointed out. half the island
would he dead from starvation.
Strong appeals had been made 10
the patriotism OF the people and they