the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第27章
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racking his brains； or her brains； that night； over the astounding situation；
and the note of the Syndicate only added to the perturbation of the
Government。 There was a strong feeling in official circles that the insolent
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little enemy must be crushed； if the whole British navy should have to rush
upon it； and all sink together in a common grave。 But there were cooler
and more prudent brains at the head of affairs； and these had already
decided that the contest between the old engines of war and the new ones
was entirely one…sided。 The instincts of good government dictated to them
that they should be extremely wary and circumspect during the further
continuance of this unexampled war。 Therefore； when the note of the
Syndicate was considered； it was agreed that the time had come when
good statesmanship and wise diplomacy would be more valuable to the
nation than torpedoes； armoured ships； or heavy guns。 There was not the
slightest doubt that the country would disagree with the Government； but
on the latter lay the responsibility of the country's safety。 There was
nothing； in the opinion of the ablest naval officers； to prevent the
Syndicate's fleet from coming up the Thames。 Instantaneous motor…bombs
could sweep away all forts and citadels； and explode and destroy all
torpedo defences； and London might lie under the guns of the repeller。 In
consequence of this view of the state of affairs； an answer was sent to the
Syndicate's note； asking that further time be given for the consideration of
the situation； and suggesting that an exhibition of the power of the motor…
bomb was not necessary； as sufficient proof of this had been given in the
destruction of the Canadian forts； the annihilation of the Craglevin； and
the extraordinary results of the discharge of said bombs on the preceding
day。 To this a reply was sent from the office of the Syndicate in New York；
by means of a cable boat from the French coast； that on no account could
their purpose be altered or their propositions modified。 Although the
British Government might be convinced of the power of the Syndicate's
motor…bombs； it was not the case with the British people； for it was yet
popularly disbelieved that motor…bombs existed。 This disbelief the
Syndicate was determined to overcome； not only for the furtherance of its
own purposes； but to prevent the downfall of the present British Ministry；
and a probable radical change in the Government。 That such a political
revolution； as undesirable to the Syndicate as to cool…headed and sensible
Englishmen； was imminent； there could be no doubt。 The growing feeling
of disaffection； almost amounting to disloyalty； not only in the opposition
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party； but among those who had hitherto been firm adherents of the
Government； was mainly based upon the idea that the present British
rulers had allowed themselves to be frightened by mines and torpedoes；
artfully placed and exploded。 Therefore the Syndicate intended to set right
the public mind upon this subject。 The note concluded by earnestly urging
the designation； without loss of time； of a place of operations。 This answer
was received in London in the evening； and all night it was the subject of
earnest and anxious deliberation in the Government offices。 It was at last
decided； amid great opposition； that the Syndicate's alternative must be
accepted； for it would be the height of folly to allow the repeller to
bombard any port she should choose。 When this conclusion had been
reached； the work of selecting a place for the proposed demonstration of
the American Syndicate occupied but little time。 The task was not difficult。
Nowhere in Great Britain was there a fortified spot of so little importance
as Caerdaff； on the west coast of Wales。 Caerdaff consisted of a large fort
on a promontory； and an immense castellated structure on the other side of
a small bay； with a little fishing village at the head of said bay。 The
castellated structure was rather old； the fortress somewhat less so； and
both had long been considered useless； as there was no probability that an
enemy would land at this point on the coast。 Caerdaff was therefore
selected as the spot to be operated upon。 No one could for a moment
imagine that the Syndicate had mined this place； and if it should be
destroyed by motor…bombs； it would prove to the country that the
Government had not been frightened by the tricks of a crafty enemy。
An hour after the receipt of the note in which it was stated that
Caerdaff had been selected； the Syndicate's fleet started for that place。 The
crabs were elevated to cruising height； the repeller taken in tow； and by the
afternoon of the next day the fleet was lying off Caerdaff。 A note was sent
on shore to the officer in command； stating that the bombardment would
begin at ten o'clock in the morning of the next day but one； and requesting
that information of the hour appointed be instantly transmitted to London。
When this had been done； the fleet steamed six or seven miles off shore；
where it lay to or cruised about for two nights and a day。
As soon as the Government had selected Caerdaff for bombardment；
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immediate measures were taken to remove the small garrisons and the
inhabitants of the fishing village from possible danger。 When the
Syndicate's note was received by the commandant of the fort； he was
already in receipt of orders from the War Office to evacuate the
fortifications； and to superintend the removal of the fishermen and their
families to a point of safety farther up the coast。 Caerdaff was a place
difficult of access by land； the nearest railroad stations being fifteen or
twenty miles away； but on the day after the arrival of the Syndicate's fleet
in the offing； thousands of people made their way to this part of the
country； anxious to seeif perchance they might find an opportunity to
safely seewhat might happen at ten o'clock the next morning。 Officers of
the army and navy； Government officials； press correspondents； in great
numbers； and curious and anxious observers of all classes； hastened to the
Welsh coast。 The little towns where the visitors left the trains were
crowded to overflowing； and every possible conveyance； by which the
mountains lying back of Caerdaff could be reached； was eagerly secured；
many persons； however； being obliged to depend upon their own legs。
Soon after sunrise of the appointed day the forts； the village； and the
surrounding lower country were entirely deserted； and every point of
vantage on the mount
