Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-28
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

from 1esteTQayS STAR
1t took the Transatlantic Co.'S air.
ships a net 60 hours from New York to
London. but less heavily built machine
might do 1t in 50-odd. Adding on the
difference in time between the two
cities brought the time occupied to
about so, gross. That is to say, il an
Rtrship with a cruising speed of about
$50 ldlometers per hour had wanted to
be over London just after midnight on
the Friday, she would have had to leave
her base on the American continent not
later than midday the Wednesday.
But the chances were that, to escape OBJ
servation, the departure in actual case
had been made in the dark of the early
Wednesday morning.
The Louisville raid happened on the
Sunday night and Monday morning, and
it was likely that the airshp had made
her base either in the dark Of the Mon
day morning or on Monday night. Leav-
ing Louisville about after the raid, it
would be before she reached any likely
base in the Alleghenies and by that
time the farm folks would be about on
their morning chores. The vessel could
hardly escape being seen in the light
at 6 o'clock This brought us back to
the notion OF a base at least IL hours
flight from Louisville. and gave addi-
tional color to the theory of base over
the Canadian border. probably in some
undeveloped district back of Ontario.
To berth an airship on the Monday
evening and to have her fitted out again
for a raid across the Atlantic within
S0-odd hours was something of feat.
There was the unloading of the Louis
Vile haul, the refilling of the ballonets
with gas the returning of the engines
nd the general tightening up and over
hauling necessary for such an important
voyage. If the raiders were using only
one dirigible she was a wonder of ef-
ffciency.
It was quite within possibility that
they had two machines for their opera
tons, and the three OF us discuss
ing the situation in Lord Alnleric's
room were not inclined to dismiss
the idea idly, when we considered the
daring which could conceiss and carry
out raids on such wid- radius, and
the magnitude of the organization
behind the conception. Indeed, 1t
seemed not too far-fesched ar idea
that the organization operated from
bases in both the Old World and the
New, and that in imagining one soli-
tary lair in Ontario we We're serious
ly Understanding the power Of this
mysterious force.
There seemed to be neither rhyme
nor reason in the operations. OF
several millions OF pounds sterling in
gold lying in the Bank of England
the raiders had distracted merely
one, SO Lord Almeric told US. and all
the trouble that had been involved
in forcing the three Joint stock banks
had not yet been rewarded by the
finding of any gold; but in each Of
these banks there had been the same
insensate destruction by acid of
thousands of pounds worth OF bearer
securities. 1t looked like the work
of madmen. impish destructiveness
and senseless expenditure 10 energy.
Why trouble to force four banks
when there was sufficient loot in the
most important?
1T might have been l suggested,
that they broke open the Broad
Street Banks first, We're disappointed
of q haul from them, and destroyed
the securities out of spleen. then
came onto the Bank Of England only
TO find that there was more gold here
than they could get away with"
I'm afraid, Jimmy" said Lord Al
Eneric, that that explanation will
not serve. II is a matter of almost
daily news how much gold is depos-
tied in the bank here. 1t is also COM
mon knowledge that the Joint stock
banks since the war have kept no re
serve of gold. but have had work
ing arrangement with US"
binary sense" said Sir Thomas. The
distribution of the radium points to
that, the care that has been exercised
70 preserve life in the raids. There
is some idea, as you have said. Mr..
Boon. underlying 1t all, and the flu
ture will probably show what the idea
is. We may regard this raid as a
demonstration of power. an attempt
to bring chaos into the business
world to upset valueS-Some cranky
method of advertising an idea pres
emily to be revealed. If / may be
allowed to express what is merely an
intuition on my part, l do not be-
lieve that these raiders value even the
gold they have taken. They have
marvellous power-rriarvelous! But
the vulnerable point in any scheme
Of attack is It's weakest link. That
is in the air in this case. I cannot
believe that the scheme of the raid
ers can be carried out with a dirigi-
bic. We have proved the vulnera-
bility Of the airship time and again.
and it is on this point that we will
get them. l shall not concern my
self solely with looking for these
criminals or cranks on solid earth. /
viii keep after them in the air. and,
by God-get them, too.-if they are
on my side of the globe
Bully for you, general l couldn't
force. Il beg your pardon"
Not at ALL" said he. THE best
thing you can do is to get back to
America at your quickest speed, and
pitch into the authorities there. If
the raiders are operating from Can
ada, until measures are taken to stop
them the whole of your wealthy cities
round the Great Lakes are at their
inercy-Chicago, Buffalo. Detroit-and
the coastal cities, also-Boston, Phil
adelphia, Washington. Make them
See what you and ! see. that if this
menace is to be scotched. they will
ned airplanes, fighting airplanes that
can climb 5000 meters and more.
Make them understand that this is
not any parochial question, or ma
tlonal, but that ir Is for the world to
face and beat. For me, i shall
strongly represent to our Govern
ment that the Canadian authorities
be asked to go over their territory
with the minutest search they can.
And 1 will put the French police on
their guard-and the Germans-the
He broke off and eyed Lord Almeric
queerly.
NO, my dear Basildon' said Lord
Almeric II can believe much of tbr1n,
but that they would leave SO many mil
lions of the gold they so badly, want be-
Sind them-no"
"a blind?' r". .'
mot they. They are incapable Of the
sacrifice"
'Humph! Perhaps you're right-per-
haps you're right. Though, by George I!
they've got the ships-and you never
know but what they have the, gas! I'm
certain that they have never stopped
their research"
Think again, Basildon-think again.