The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-09-26

I1c pldIc Vi Tic III"
draw
The Californian sat down. The Sec
rotary to the president, who had en-
tered the room the moment before.
advanced to the head of the council
table and laid a report before the
president and above it telegram in
code with the translation of the code
words written in pencil below the
message. The president read the teie-
gram, jerked back, and then, con-
trolling himself. looked along the ia
BILE.
1.-THE question as to whether we are
to send our feet to the Pacific or keep
1t In the Atlantic has been removed
from the field of our discussion, gen
graphed that the Gatum dam was de-
stroyed an hour ago by a series of
charges of high explosives. For six
months at least the Panama canal Is
closedr'
''Then the feet must go around the
Horn to the Pacif1cr'
1--WE must offer battle at once In the
Atlanticr'
1--WE must
For a few moments, as he read over
the brief report brought him by his
secretary, the president permitted the
storm Of debate to rage about him.
Then he silenced 1t gravely and said:
Gentlemen, the disposition Of the
enemy's forces as just now brought to
me makes it imperative that whatever
action we take should, be ordered
without moments further delay, and
In this emergency must agree with
| the secretary Of the navy and as SO,
1t seems, with the majority of you. ]
| order the feet to sea to battle with
the enemy at the earliest possible mo-
ment and under the most favorable
| conditions for the defense Of our coun-
try"
A gun was going ''Thunn! Thumb"
1t ceased and opened again, firing
more quickly. "Thunn! Thunn" And
now, farther away, echoed different
detonations, "'Lamm! Lamm!"
That's not saluting."
"Saluting? l should say not. MOI
practice either"
'Then what is itf'
"Anti-air craft, should say"
The special from Chicago. now run
ming on the Chesapeake and Ohio
tracks, pulled into the station at New
port News, and as the officers led the
bluejackets from the cars the firing or
the river became more distinct.
Bob Wendell, not having charge Of Q
detail, went from the station with the
officers who were similarly unattached
and hurried down to the water front
The estuary of the James river, where
1t widens to Hampton Roads. lay
cleaning under the warm Afternoon
sun. wind from the ocean wal
whipping up white spray in the roads
and the launches and little boats II
the James rolled and splashed on theil
errands to and from the grim, gra!
battleships lying away toward Nor
folk.
; "Anti-air craft, all rightv
A gun was aimed almost directly mp
ward from the forward deck Of de
!, stroyer in the middle of the river.
haze of powder gas pulled from its
muzzle, for the gun was firing as rapid
" as the gunners could handle the am
munition. ''ThunnI Thunn!' the de-
t0nation Of the discharge thudded
across the water, and from high over
head echoed the bursting of the shells
Big blobs of white smoke spotted the
sky where the shells were breaking.
There were more white blobs up there
than one gun could fire. Another rife
must have come into action. Wendell
listening, heard the noise of a second
gun from down the river, and yet for a
moment more he failed to discern the
target
1t was only a streak when he saw ii
Ia delicate blue line barely discover
able against the azure Of the sky. On
both sides Of the streak there was
something upon which the sunlight
glinted now and then, but which was
itself invisible. These were the wings
of the aeroplane, he knew, composed
Of the transparent cellulose substance
used In Europe. The streak, painted
to match. the sky. was the body Of the
plane, armored, undoubtedly, and
freighted with bombs. The height al
which the machine was flying indicat
ed at first that the pilots purpose was
reconnaissance; he was well above the
smoke of the shells, but as Wendell
watched, the plane suddenly swooped
i. downward, circled and dropped again
Other guns-ten or a score Of them
! some in ships and others on the shore
-awoke and notified the sky about
: the plane with bursting shells. The
machine dashed through them and
swooped still lower, and, turning and
coming with the wind, few at the
navy yard with marvellous speed.
"Mr. Wendell" voice inquired. "Mr
Fulton and Mr.. RossT
Wendell and his companions were In
uniform, having made the change or
the train; their orders, telegraphed tt
the train, were to report at once aboard
the Arizona A boy, I'm ensign's uni
form, was addressing them. 1--WE come
for you,'' he explained. I'm from the
Arizona; the launch Is right here, sir.
The three men from the train fol
lowed the boy down to the boat anG
preceded him on board. The ensign
his name was Wayne-steered the
. launch swiftly across the water to
ward Norfolk All about the anti
air craft guns were going necessarily
Wendelrs pulses quickened with the
nearness of the firing. but for Il few
| moments no silently studied the sill