Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-10-11

magazines of a fort or battleship
1t any distance up to five miles,
and hat he believed the perfec-
ton of the invention would greatly
increase it's range. This new prin-
ciple,. which worked in conjunc-
ton with the ordinary wireless,
was something which there was no
way to guard, since it penetrated
both wood and metal. Every ship,
every army, every fort was at the
mercy of the man controlling it.
If a single nation controlled it,
that nation would become mistress
of the world; if it was common to
all nations, war, as we know it,
would be impossible.
Mr.. Ward went on to say that
1t was not his purpose to make this
discovery the property of a single
nation. His purpose was to rem
der var so impossible that all na
tons would consent to universal
disarmament, and enter into an
agreement for universal peace. He
had come to Germany first, he
said, because she was the greatest
OF the armed nations, and if she
agreed to his proposal, the ev-
ample would be very great. His
proposal was that he would prove
that he was able to do everything
he claimed, in any way that Ger
many might prescribe; in the
event of his success, Germany was
to sign an agreement to disarm,
was to secure the signature of
Russia and such other nations as
she could Influence, and this ALI
ance was then to force the agree
ment of all other nations; the
navles and coast d~efenses of such
nations as would not agree to be
blown to pieces and their consent
compelled"
Pachmann paused for a moment
and wiped his ~glistening forehead.
Gam l stating your proposal
correctly, Mr.. Vard?" he asked,
The inventor nodded, without
lowering his eyes from the ceiling.
Il need not say with what as
tonishment we listened to this ex-
traordinary proposal" Pachmann
continued. "It seemed impossible
that any merely human brain
should have been able To work ont
the details of a plan so stu
pendous. But it impressed the en-
pcror; it impressed all of us. VIZ
held other conferences, and it was
finally agreed that, before we
went further, Mr.. Ward should
give us the proof he had sug-
gested. The test to which he fin
ally consented was to be a conclu-
slve one. He was to blow up a
French b%attleship in Toulon har-
Dor. AS his funds we're limited, we
agreed to bear the expense Of the
experiment and to reimburse him
for the apparatus which he would
have to leave behind. If he sue
ceeded, we would be ready to
treat definitely with him; two
commissioners, with full power
from the emperor, would accom-
pany him to America, where such
treaty as might finally be agreed
upon would be signed. Am I
right so far, Mr.. Vard?"
The inventor had lowered his
eyes and was looking at the speak
er keenly.
eyes" he said, Except that
you should add that it was dis
tinctly understood that the treaty
was to be one for universal dis
armament, and that Germany was
to do everything in her power to
secure the consent of all other ma
TONS"
"You are right" agreed Pach-
mann, readily. "That was to be
the general purpose of the treaty.
1t was only its details we we're to
discuss-the exact manner in
which this end could best be ac-,
complished."
The prince had been listening
lntently, and at the words, his
eyes and Pachmann's met. Ward
was again gazing at the ceiling.
"On the goth of this month";"
Pachmann continued, "Admiral
Won Tirpitz received from Mr..
Ward, in a code agreed upon, a
telegram stating hat the test
would occur at daylight on-Mon-
day the 25th.' He paused for "a
moment, then went on more slow,
~. "At that hour, a companion
and myself were on the harbor
front of Toulon; and at that hour
La Liberte was indeed Destroyed"
He stopped, his eyes on the in
ventor's lace. Ward met his glance
without flinching.