the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of steel。 These vessels were fitted with electric engines of extraordinary
power； and were capable of great speed。 At their bows； fully protected by
the overhanging deck； was the machinery by which their peculiar work
was to be accomplished。 The Syndicate intended to confine itself to
marine operations； and for the present it was contented with these two
classes of vessels。 The armament for each of the large vessels； as has been
said before； consisted of a single gun of long range； and the ammunition
was confined entirely to a new style of projectile； which had never yet
been used in warfare。 The material and construction of this projectile were
known only to three members of the Syndicate； who had invented and
perfected it； and it was on account of their possession of this secret that
they had been invited to join that body。
This projectile was not； in the ordinary sense of the word； an explosive；
and was named by its inventors； 〃The Instantaneous Motor。〃 It was
discharged from an ordinary cannon； but no gunpowder or other explosive
compound was used to propel it。 The bomb possessed； in itself the
necessary power of propulsion； and the gun was used merely to give it the
proper direction。
These bombs were cylindrical in form； and pointed at the outer end。
They were filled with hundreds of small tubes； each radiating outward
from a central line。 Those in the middle third of the bomb pointed directly
outward； while those in its front portion were inclined forward at a slight
angle； and those in the rear portion backward at the same angle。 One tube
at the end of the bomb； and pointing directly backward； furnished the
motive power。
Each of these tubes could exert a force sufficient to move an ordinary
train of passenger cars one mile； and this power could be exerted
instantaneously； so that the difference in time in the starting of a train at
one end of the mile and its arrival at the other would not be appreciable。
The difference in concussionary force between a train moving at the rate
of a mile in two minutes； or even one minute； and another train which
moves a mile in an instant； can easily be imagined。
In these bombs； those tubes which might direct their powers
10
… Page 11…
THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
downward or laterally upon the earth were capable of instantaneously
propelling every portion of solid ground or rock to a distance of two or
three hundred yards； while the particles of objects on the surface of the
earth were instantaneously removed to a far greater distance。 The tube
which propelled the bomb was of a force graduated according to
circumstances； and it would carry a bomb to as great a distance as accurate
observation for purposes of aim could be made。 Its force was brought into
action while in the cannon by means of electricity while the same effect
was produced in the other tubes by the concussion of the steel head against
the object aimed at。
What gave the tubes their power was the jealously guarded secret。
The method of aiming was as novel as the bomb itself。 In this process
nothing depended on the eyesight of the gunner； the personal equation was
entirely eliminated。 The gun was so mounted that its direction was
accurately indicated by graduated scales； there was an instrument which
was acted upon by the dip； rise； or roll of the vessel； and which showed at
any moment the position of the gun with reference to the plane of the sea…
surface。
Before the discharge of the cannon an observation was taken by one of
the scientific men； which accurately determined the distance to the object
to be aimed at； and reference to a carefully prepared mathematical table
showed to what points on the graduated scales the gun should be adjusted；
and the instant that the that the muzzle of the cannon was in the position
that it was when the observation was taken； a button was touched and the
bomb was instantaneously placed on the spot aimed at。 The exactness with
which the propelling force of the bomb could be determined was an
important factor in this method of aiming。
As soon as three of the spring…armoured vessels and five 〃crabs〃 were
completed； the Syndicate felt itself ready to begin operations。 It was
indeed time。 The seas had been covered with American and British
merchantmen hastening homeward； or to friendly ports； before the actual
commencement of hostilities。 But all had not been fortunate enough to
reach safety within the limits of time allowed； and several American
merchantmen had been already captured by fast British cruisers。
11
… Page 12…
THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
The members of the Syndicate well understood that if a war was to be
carried on as they desired； they must strike the first real blow。
Comparatively speaking； a very short time had elapsed since the
declaration of war； and the opportunity to take the initiative was still open。
It was in order to take this initiative that； in the early hours of a July
morning； two of the Syndicate's armoured vessels； each accompanied by a
crab； steamed out of a New England port； and headed for the point on the
Canadian coast where it had been decided to open the campaign。
The vessels of the Syndicate had no individual names。 The spring…
armoured ships were termed 〃repellers；〃 and were numbered； and the
crabs were known by the letters of the alphabet。 Each repeller was in
charge of a Director of Naval Operations； and the whole naval force of the
Syndicate was under the command of a Director…in…chief。 On this
momentous occasion this officer was on board of Repeller No。 1； and
commanded the little fleet。
The repellers had never been vessels of great speed； and their present
armour of steel strips； the lower portion of which was frequently under
water； considerably retarded their progress； but each of them was taken in
tow by one of the swift and powerful crabs； and with this assistance they
made very good time； reaching their destination on the morning of the
second day。
It was on a breezy day； with a cloudy sky； and the sea moderately
smooth； that the little fleet of the Syndicate lay to off the harbour of one of
the principal Canadian seaports。 About five miles away the headlands on
either side of the mouth of the harbour could be plainly seen。 It had been
decided that Repeller No。 1 should begin operations。 Accordingly； that
vessel steamed about a mile nearer the harbour； accompanied by Crab A。
The other repeller and crab remained in their first position； ready to act in
case they should be needed。
The approach of two vessels； evidently men…of…war； and carrying the
American flag； was perceived from the forts and redoubts at the mouth of
the harbour； and the news quickly spread to the city and to the vessels in
port。 Intense excitement ensued on land and water； among the citizens
