Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the great war syndicate >

µÚ10½Ú

the great war syndicate-µÚ10½Ú

С˵£º the great war syndicate ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




very¡¡much¡¡objected¡¡to¡¡undertaking¡¡the¡¡imprisonment¡¡and

sustenance¡¡of¡¡a¡¡large¡¡body¡¡of¡¡soldiers¡£¡¡¡¡Orders¡¡were

therefore¡¡given¡¡to¡¡the¡¡officer¡¡in¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡the

repeller¡¡not¡¡to¡¡molest¡¡the¡¡two¡¡transports£»¡¡but¡¡to

remove¡¡the¡¡rudders¡¡and¡¡extract¡¡the¡¡screws¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two

war¡­vessels£»¡¡leaving¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡towed¡¡into¡¡port¡¡by¡¡the

troop¡­ships¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

This¡¡duty¡¡was¡¡performed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡crabs£»¡¡while¡¡the

British¡¡vessels£»¡¡both¡¡rams£»¡¡were¡¡preparing¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a

united¡¡and¡¡vigorous¡¡onset¡¡on¡¡the¡¡repeller£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two

men¡­of¡­war¡¡were¡¡left¡¡hopelessly¡¡tossing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡waves¡£¡¡

One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡transports£»¡¡a¡¡very¡¡fast¡¡steamer£»¡¡had¡¡already

entered¡¡the¡¡straits£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡signalled£»¡¡but

the¡¡other¡¡one¡¡returned¡¡and¡¡took¡¡both¡¡the¡¡war¡­ships¡¡in

tow£»¡¡proceeding¡¡very¡¡slowly¡¡until£»¡¡after¡¡entering¡¡the

gulf£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡relieved¡¡by¡¡tugboats¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

Another¡¡event¡¡of¡¡a¡¡somewhat¡¡different¡¡character¡¡was

the¡¡occasion¡¡of¡¡much¡¡excited¡¡feeling¡¡and¡¡comment£»

particularly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡descent¡¡and

attack¡¡by¡¡British¡¡vessels¡¡on¡¡an¡¡Atlantic¡¡port¡¡was¡¡a

matter¡¡of¡¡popular¡¡expectation¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Syndicate¡¡had

repellers¡¡and¡¡crabs¡¡at¡¡the¡¡most¡¡important¡¡points£»¡¡but£»

in¡¡the¡¡minds¡¡of¡¡naval¡¡officers¡¡and¡¡a¡¡large¡¡portion¡¡of

the¡¡people£»¡¡little¡¡dependence¡¡for¡¡defence¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be

placed¡¡upon¡¡these¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ability¡¡of¡¡the¡¡War

Syndicate¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡invasion¡¡or¡¡attack¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of

its¡¡threats¡¡to¡¡bombard¡¡the¡¡blockaded¡¡Canadian¡¡port£»

very¡¡few¡¡believed¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡could

do¡¡any¡¡more¡¡damage¡¡in¡¡that¡¡quarter£»¡¡which¡¡was

improbable£»¡¡what¡¡was¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡British¡¡navy¡¡from

playing¡¡the¡¡same¡¡game£»¡¡and¡¡entering¡¡an¡¡American

seaport£»¡¡threaten¡¡to¡¡bombard¡¡the¡¡place¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Syndicate

did¡¡not¡¡immediately¡¡run¡¡all¡¡their¡¡queer¡¡vessels¡¡high

and¡¡dry¡¡on¡¡some¡¡convenient¡¡beach£¿

¡¡¡¡¡¡

A¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡indignation¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡had

existed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡navy¡¡from¡¡the¡¡time¡¡that¡¡the¡¡war¡¡contract

had¡¡been¡¡made£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡feeling¡¡increased¡¡daily¡£¡¡¡¡That

the¡¡officers¡¡and¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡navy¡¡should

be¡¡penned¡¡up¡¡in¡¡harbours£»¡¡ports£»¡¡and¡¡sounds£»¡¡while

British¡¡ships¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hulking¡¡mine¡­springers¡¡and

rudder¡­pinchers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡were¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡roam

the¡¡ocean¡¡at¡¡will£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡hard¡¡thing¡¡for¡¡brave

sailors¡¡to¡¡bear¡£¡¡¡¡Sometimes¡¡the¡¡resentment¡¡against¡¡this

state¡¡of¡¡affairs¡¡rose¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡revolt¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡great¡¡naval¡¡preparations¡¡of¡¡England¡¡were¡¡not

yet¡¡complete£»¡¡but¡¡single¡¡British¡¡men¡­of¡­war¡¡were¡¡now

frequently¡¡seen¡¡off¡¡the¡¡Atlantic¡¡coast¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United

States¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡American¡¡vessels¡¡had¡¡been¡¡captured¡¡by

these¡¡since¡¡the¡¡message¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡to¡¡the

Dominion¡¡of¡¡Canada¡¡and¡¡the¡¡British¡¡Government¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡one

good¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡very

difficult¡¡now¡¡to¡¡find¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Atlantic¡¡ocean¡¡a¡¡vessel

sailing¡¡under¡¡the¡¡American¡¡flag¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡far¡¡as¡¡possible

these¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡refuge¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own¡¡ports¡¡or¡¡in¡¡those

of¡¡neutral¡¡countries¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

At¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡Delaware¡¡Bay£»¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡great

Breakwater£»¡¡was¡¡now¡¡collected¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡coastwise

sailing¡­vessels¡¡and¡¡steamers¡¡of¡¡various¡¡classes¡¡and

sizes£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡protection¡¡of¡¡these¡¡maritime

refugees£»¡¡two¡¡vessels¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡navy¡¡were

stationed¡¡at¡¡this¡¡point¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡were¡¡the¡¡Lenox¡¡and

Stockbridge£»¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡cruisers¡¡in¡¡the

service£»¡¡and¡¡commanded¡¡by¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡restless¡¡and

bravest¡¡officers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡American¡¡navy¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡appearance£»¡¡early¡¡on¡¡a¡¡summer¡¡morning£»¡¡of¡¡a

large¡¡British¡¡cruiser¡¡off¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡harbour£»

filled¡¡those¡¡two¡¡commanders¡¡with¡¡uncontrollable

belligerency¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡in¡¡time¡¡of¡¡war¡¡a¡¡vessel¡¡of¡¡the

enemy¡¡should¡¡be¡¡allowed£»¡¡undisturbed£»¡¡to¡¡sail¡¡up¡¡and

down¡¡before¡¡an¡¡American¡¡harbour£»¡¡while¡¡an¡¡American

vessel¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡brave¡¡American¡¡sailors¡¡lay¡¡inside

like¡¡a¡¡cowed¡¡dog£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡thought¡¡which¡¡goaded¡¡the

soul¡¡of¡¡each¡¡of¡¡these¡¡commanders¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡certain

rivalry¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡ships£»¡¡and£»¡¡considering¡¡the

insult¡¡offered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡flaunting¡¡red¡¡cross¡¡in¡¡the

offing£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡humiliating¡¡restrictions¡¡imposed¡¡by¡¡the

Naval¡¡Department£»¡¡each¡¡commander¡¡thought¡¡only¡¡of¡¡his

own¡¡ship£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

It¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡that¡¡the¡¡commanders

of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡ships¡¡separately¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡conclusion¡¡that

the¡¡proper¡¡way¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡the¡¡fleet¡¡behind¡¡the

Breakwater¡¡was¡¡for¡¡his¡¡vessel¡¡to¡¡boldly¡¡steam¡¡out¡¡to

sea¡¡and¡¡attack¡¡the¡¡British¡¡cruiser¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡this¡¡vessel

carried¡¡a¡¡long¡­range¡¡gun£»¡¡what¡¡was¡¡to¡¡hinder¡¡her¡¡from

suddenly¡¡running¡¡in¡¡closer¡¡and¡¡sending¡¡a¡¡few¡¡shells

into¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡defenceless¡¡merchantmen£¿¡¡¡¡In

fact£»¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out¡¡and¡¡fight¡¡her¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡to

protect¡¡the¡¡lives¡¡and¡¡property¡¡in¡¡the¡¡harbour¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

It¡¡was¡¡true¡¡that¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡beastly¡¡repellers¡¡was

sneaking¡¡about¡¡off¡¡the¡¡cape£»¡¡accompanied£»¡¡probably£»¡¡by

an¡¡underwater¡¡tongs¡­boat¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡as¡¡neither¡¡of¡¡these¡¡had

done¡¡anything£»¡¡or¡¡seemed¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡do¡¡anything£»¡¡the

British¡¡cruiser¡¡should¡¡be¡¡attacked¡¡without¡¡loss¡¡of

time¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

When¡¡the¡¡commander¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lenox¡¡came¡¡to¡¡this

decision£»¡¡his¡¡ship¡¡was¡¡well¡¡abreast¡¡of¡¡Cape¡¡Henlopen£»

and¡¡he¡¡therefore¡¡proceeded¡¡directly¡¡out¡¡to¡¡sea¡£¡¡¡¡There

was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡fear¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡the¡¡English¡¡cruiser£»

which¡¡was¡¡now¡¡bearing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡­east£»¡¡might¡¡sail¡¡off

and¡¡get¡¡away¡¡from¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Stockbridge¡¡was¡¡detained

by¡¡the¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡a¡¡despatch¡¡boat¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡with¡¡a

message¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Naval¡¡Department¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡as¡¡this¡¡message

related¡¡only¡¡to¡¡the¡¡measurements¡¡of¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡deck¡¡gun£»

her¡¡commander¡¡intended£»¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡an¡¡answer¡¡could¡¡be

sent¡¡off£»¡¡to¡¡sail¡¡out¡¡and¡¡give¡¡battle¡¡to¡¡the¡¡British

vessel¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

Every¡¡soul¡¡on¡¡board¡¡the¡¡Lenox¡¡was¡¡now¡¡filled¡¡with

fiery¡¡ardour¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡ship¡¡was¡¡already¡¡in¡¡good¡¡fighting

trim£»¡¡but¡¡every¡¡possible¡¡preparation¡¡was¡¡made¡¡for¡¡a

contest¡¡which¡¡should¡¡show¡¡their¡¡country¡¡and¡¡the¡¡world

what¡¡American¡¡sailors¡¡were¡¡made¡¡of¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡Lenox¡¡had¡¡not¡¡proceeded¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡out

to¡¡sea£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡perceived¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡6¡¡coming¡¡toward

her¡¡from¡¡seaward£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡direction¡¡which¡¡indicated

that¡¡it¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡run¡¡across¡¡her¡¡course¡£¡¡¡¡The

Lenox£»¡¡however£»¡¡went¡¡straight¡¡on£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡short¡¡time

the¡¡two¡¡vessels¡¡were¡¡quite¡¡near¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡Upon

the¡¡deck¡¡of¡¡the¡¡repeller¡¡now¡¡appeared¡¡the¡¡director¡¡in

charge£»¡¡who£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡speaking¡­trumpet£»¡¡hailed¡¡the

Lenox¡¡and¡¡requested¡¡her¡¡to¡¡lay¡¡to£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had

something¡¡to¡¡communicate¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡commander¡¡of¡¡the

Lenox£»¡¡through¡¡his¡¡trumpet£»¡¡answered¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wanted

no¡¡communications£»¡¡and¡¡advised¡¡the¡¡other¡¡vessel¡¡to¡¡keep

out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡way¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡Lenox¡¡now¡¡put¡¡on¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡head¡¡of¡¡steam£»¡¡and

as¡¡she¡¡was¡¡in¡¡any¡¡case¡¡a¡¡much¡¡faster¡¡vessel¡¡than¡¡the

repeller£»¡¡she¡¡rapidly¡¡increased¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡between

herself¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Syndicate's¡¡vessel£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few

moments¡¡hailing¡¡was¡¡impossible¡£¡¡¡¡Quick¡¡signals¡¡now¡¡shot

up¡¡in¡¡jets¡¡of¡¡black¡¡smoke¡¡from¡¡the¡¡repeller£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a

very¡¡short¡¡time¡¡afterward¡¡the¡¡speed¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lenox

slackened¡¡so¡¡much¡¡that¡¡the¡¡repeller¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡come¡¡up

with¡¡her¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

When¡¡the¡¡two¡¡vessels¡¡were¡¡abreast¡¡of¡¡each¡¡other£»

and¡¡at¡¡a¡¡safe¡¡hailing¡¡distance¡¡apart£»¡¡another¡¡signal

went¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡repeller£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡both¡¡vessels¡¡almost

ceased¡¡to¡¡move¡¡through¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡although¡¡the¡¡engines

of¡¡the¡¡Lenox¡¡were¡¡working¡¡at¡¡high¡¡speed£»¡¡with¡¡her

propeller¡­blades¡¡stirring¡¡up¡¡a¡¡whirlpool¡¡at¡¡her¡¡stern¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

For¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡or¡¡two¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lenox

could¡¡not¡¡comprehend¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡first

supposed¡¡that¡¡by¡¡mistake¡¡the¡¡engines¡¡had¡¡been

slackened£»¡¡but¡¡almost¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was

found¡¡that¡¡this¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¡the¡¡discovery¡¡was

made¡¡that¡¡the¡¡crab¡¡accompanying¡¡the¡¡repeller¡¡had¡¡laid

hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stern¡­post¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lenox£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the

strength¡¡of¡¡her¡¡powerful¡¡engines¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡back¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

Now¡¡burst¡¡forth¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Lenox¡¡a¡¡storm¡¡of¡¡frenzied

rage£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡was¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡perhaps¡¡upon¡¡any¡¡vessel

since¡¡vessels¡¡were¡¡first¡¡built¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡commander¡¡to

the¡¡stokers¡¡every¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡fury¡¡at¡¡the

insult¡¡which¡¡was¡¡put¡¡upon¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡commander¡¡roared

through¡¡his¡¡trumpet¡¡that¡¡if¡¡that¡¡infernal¡¡sea¡­beetle

were¡¡not¡¡immediately¡¡loosed¡¡from¡¡his¡¡ship¡¡he¡¡would

first¡¡sink¡¡her¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡repeller¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

To¡¡these¡¡remarks¡¡the¡¡director¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate's

vessels¡¡paid¡¡no¡¡attention£»¡¡but¡¡proceeded¡¡to¡¡state¡¡as

briefly¡¡and¡¡forcibly¡¡as¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Lenox¡¡had

been¡¡detained¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡an

opportunity¡¡of¡¡speaking¡¡with¡¡her¡¡commander£»¡¡and¡¡of

informing¡¡him¡¡that¡¡his¡¡action¡¡in¡¡coming¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the

harbour¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡attacking¡¡a¡¡British

vessel¡¡was¡¡in¡¡direct¡¡violation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡contract¡¡between

the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡having¡¡charge¡¡of

the¡¡war£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡such¡¡action¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡allowed¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡commander¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lenox¡¡paid¡¡no¡¡more¡¡attention

to¡¡these¡¡words¡¡than¡¡the¡¡Syndicate's¡¡director¡¡had¡¡given

to¡¡those¡¡he¡¡had¡¡spoken£»¡¡but¡¡immediately¡¡commenced¡¡a

violent¡¡attack¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡crab¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to

bring¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡large¡¡guns¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡upon¡¡her£»¡¡for¡¡she

was¡¡almost¡¡under¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lenox£»¡¡but¡¡every

means¡¡of¡¡offence¡¡which¡¡infuriated¡¡ingenuity¡¡could

suggest¡¡was¡¡used¡¡against¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Machine¡¡guns¡¡were¡¡trained

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ