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the great war syndicate-µÚ22½Ú

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£¡




repeller£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡bombarding£»¡¡should¡¡send¡¡men¡¡in

boats¡¡to¡¡take¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evacuated

fortifications£»¡¡or¡¡should¡¡attempt¡¡any¡¡mining

operations¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡gunners¡¡for¡¡this¡¡battery¡¡were

stationed¡¡at¡¡a¡¡safe¡¡place¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rear£»¡¡whence¡¡they

could¡¡readily¡¡reach¡¡their¡¡guns¡¡if¡¡necessary¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡next¡¡day¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡supreme¡¡importance¡¡to¡¡the

Syndicate¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡this¡¡day¡¡it¡¡must¡¡make¡¡plain¡¡to¡¡the

world£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡what¡¡the¡¡motor¡­bomb¡¡could¡¡do£»¡¡but¡¡that

the¡¡motor¡­bomb¡¡did¡¡what¡¡was¡¡done¡£¡¡¡¡Before¡¡leaving¡¡the

English¡¡Channel¡¡the¡¡director¡¡of¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡11¡¡had

received¡¡telegraphic¡¡advices¡¡from¡¡both¡¡Europe¡¡and

America£»¡¡indicating¡¡the¡¡general¡¡drift¡¡of¡¡public¡¡opinion

in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡the¡¡recent¡¡sea¡­fight£»¡¡and£»¡¡besides¡¡these£»

many¡¡English¡¡and¡¡continental¡¡papers¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡to

him¡¡from¡¡the¡¡French¡¡coast¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

From¡¡all¡¡these¡¡the¡¡director¡¡perceived¡¡that¡¡the

cause¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡had¡¡in¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡way¡¡suffered

from¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡channel¡¡had

been¡¡conducted¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡newspaper¡¡urged¡¡that¡¡if¡¡the

repeller¡¡carried¡¡guns¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡throwing¡¡the¡¡bombs

which¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡professed¡¡to¡¡use£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no

reason¡¡why¡¡every¡¡ship¡¡in¡¡the¡¡British¡¡fleet¡¡should

not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡destroyed¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡as¡¡the¡¡repeller¡¡had¡¡not

fired¡¡a¡¡single¡¡shot¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fleet£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡had

been¡¡fought¡¡entirely¡¡by¡¡the¡¡crabs£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡every

reason¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡if¡¡there¡¡were¡¡such¡¡things¡¡as

motor¡­guns£»¡¡their¡¡range¡¡was¡¡very¡¡short£»¡¡not¡¡as¡¡great¡¡as

that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡dynamite¡¡cannon¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡great¡¡risk

run¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡disable¡¡a¡¡dynamite

gun¡­boat¡¡seemed¡¡an¡¡additional¡¡proof¡¡of¡¡this¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

It¡¡was¡¡urged¡¡that¡¡the¡¡explosions¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water¡¡might

have¡¡been¡¡produced¡¡by¡¡torpedoes£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡torpedo¡­boat

which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡destroyed¡¡was¡¡so¡¡near¡¡the¡¡repeller¡¡that

an¡¡ordinary¡¡shell¡¡was¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡accomplish¡¡the

damage¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡done¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

To¡¡gainsay¡¡these¡¡assumptions¡¡was¡¡imperative¡¡on¡¡the

Syndicate's¡¡forces¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡firmly¡¡establish¡¡the¡¡prestige

of¡¡the¡¡instantaneous¡¡motor¡¡was¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡the¡¡war¡£¡¡

Crabs¡¡were¡¡of¡¡but¡¡temporary¡¡service¡£¡¡¡¡Any¡¡nation¡¡could

build¡¡vessels¡¡like¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡many¡¡means¡¡of

destroying¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡spring¡¡armour¡¡was¡¡a¡¡complete

defence¡¡against¡¡ordinary¡¡artillery£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a

defence¡¡against¡¡submarine¡¡torpedoes¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡claims

of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡could¡¡be¡¡firmly¡¡based¡¡on¡¡nothing¡¡but

the¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡absolute¡¡annihilation¡¡possessed¡¡by¡¡the

instantaneous¡¡motor¡­bomb¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

About¡¡nine¡¡o'clock¡¡on¡¡the¡¡appointed¡¡morning£»

Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡11£»¡¡much¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surprise¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spectators

on¡¡the¡¡high¡¡grounds¡¡with¡¡field¡­glasses¡¡and¡¡telescopes£»

steamed¡¡away¡¡from¡¡Caerdaff¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡this¡¡meant¡¡nobody

knew£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡naval¡¡military¡¡observers¡¡immediately

suspected¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Syndicate's¡¡vessel¡¡had¡¡concentrated

attention¡¡upon¡¡Caerdaff¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡go¡¡over¡¡to¡¡Ireland

to¡¡do¡¡some¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡mischief¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡presumed

that¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡accompanied¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡now¡¡at

their¡¡fighting¡¡depth¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡see¡¡them¡¡at

so¡¡great¡¡a¡¡distance¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡soon¡¡perceived¡¡that¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡11¡¡had

no¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡running¡¡away£»¡¡nor¡¡of¡¡going¡¡over¡¡to

Ireland¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡slowly¡¡cruising¡¡about¡¡four¡¡or¡¡five¡¡miles

off¡¡shore£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡steamed¡¡westward¡¡until¡¡she¡¡had

reached¡¡a¡¡point¡¡which£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡calculations¡¡of

her¡¡scientific¡¡corps£»¡¡was¡¡nine¡¡marine¡¡miles¡¡from

Caerdaff¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡she¡¡lay¡¡to¡¡against¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡breeze

from¡¡the¡¡east¡£



It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡ten¡¡o'clock¡¡when¡¡the¡¡officer¡¡in

charge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡starboard¡¡gun¡¡remarked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡director

that¡¡he¡¡suppose¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡give

the¡¡smoke¡¡signals£»¡¡as¡¡had¡¡been¡¡done¡¡in¡¡the¡¡channel£»¡¡as

now¡¡all¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡were¡¡lying¡¡near¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡director

reflected¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡ordered¡¡that¡¡the¡¡signals

should¡¡be¡¡given¡¡at¡¡every¡¡discharge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gun£»¡¡and¡¡that

the¡¡columns¡¡of¡¡black¡¡smoke¡¡should¡¡be¡¡shot¡¡up¡¡to¡¡their

greatest¡¡height¡£



At¡¡precisely¡¡ten¡¡o'clock£»¡¡up¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£

11¡¡two¡¡tall¡¡jets¡¡of¡¡black¡¡smoke¡£¡¡¡¡Up¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡the

promontory¡¡of¡¡Caerdaff£»¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡gray¡¡cloud£»¡¡like¡¡an

immense¡¡balloon£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡people¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hill¡­tops

and¡¡highlands¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡shock¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡and

rocks¡¡beneath¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡a¡¡terrible

but¡¡momentary¡¡grinding¡¡crush¡£



As¡¡the¡¡cloud¡¡began¡¡to¡¡settle£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡borne¡¡out¡¡to

sea¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wind£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡it¡¡was¡¡revealed¡¡that¡¡the

fortifications¡¡of¡¡Caerdaff¡¡had¡¡disappeared¡£



In¡¡ten¡¡minutes¡¡there¡¡was¡¡another¡¡smoke¡¡signal£»¡¡and

a¡¡great¡¡cloud¡¡over¡¡the¡¡castellated¡¡structure¡¡on¡¡the

other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bay¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡cloud¡¡passed¡¡away£»¡¡leaving

a¡¡vacant¡¡space¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bay¡£



The¡¡second¡¡shock¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡panic¡¡through¡¡the¡¡crowd¡¡of

spectators¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡next¡¡earthquake¡¡bomb¡¡might¡¡strike

among¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Down¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡slopes¡¡ran¡¡hundreds¡¡of

them£»¡¡leaving¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bravest¡¡civilians£»¡¡the

reporters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡press£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡naval¡¡and¡¡military¡¡men¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡next¡¡motor¡­bomb¡¡descended¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fishing

village£»¡¡the¡¡comminuted¡¡particles¡¡of¡¡which£»¡¡being

mostly¡¡of¡¡light¡¡material£»¡¡floated¡¡far¡¡out¡¡to¡¡sea¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡detachment¡¡of¡¡artillerists¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡deputed

to¡¡man¡¡the¡¡guns¡¡on¡¡the¡¡heights¡¡which¡¡commanded¡¡the¡¡bay

had¡¡been¡¡ordered¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡as¡¡soon

as¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡intention¡¡of

the¡¡repeller¡¡to¡¡send¡¡boats¡¡on¡¡shore¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡most

courageous¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spectators¡¡trembled¡¡a¡¡little¡¡when¡¡the

fourth¡¡bomb¡¡was¡¡discharged£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡came¡¡farther¡¡inland£»

and¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡height¡¡on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡battery¡¡had¡¡been

placed£»¡¡removing¡¡all¡¡vestiges¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guns£»¡¡caissons£»

and¡¡the¡¡ledge¡¡of¡¡rock¡¡on¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡stood¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡motor¡­bombs¡¡which¡¡the¡¡repeller¡¡was¡¡now

discharging¡¡were¡¡of¡¡the¡¡largest¡¡size¡¡and¡¡greatest

power£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡more¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡discharged¡¡at

intervals¡¡of¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡promontory¡¡on¡¡which

the¡¡fortifications¡¡had¡¡stood¡¡was¡¡annihilated£»¡¡and

the¡¡waters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bay¡¡swept¡¡over¡¡its¡¡foundations¡£¡¡¡¡Soon

afterward¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bay¡¡seemed¡¡madly¡¡rushing¡¡out

to¡¡sea£»¡¡but¡¡quickly¡¡surged¡¡back¡¡to¡¡fill¡¡the¡¡chasm¡¡which

yawned¡¡at¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡the¡¡village¡¡had¡¡been¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

The¡¡dense¡¡clouds¡¡were¡¡now¡¡upheaved¡¡at¡¡such¡¡short

intervals¡¡that¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡devastation¡¡was¡¡completely

shut¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡observers¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hills£»¡¡but¡¡every¡¡few

minutes¡¡they¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡sickening¡¡shock£»¡¡and¡¡heard¡¡a

momentary¡¡and¡¡horrible¡¡crash¡¡and¡¡hiss¡¡which¡¡seemed¡¡to

fill¡¡all¡¡the¡¡air¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡instantaneous¡¡motor¡­bombs¡¡were

tearing¡¡up¡¡the¡¡sea¡­board£»¡¡and¡¡grinding¡¡it¡¡to¡¡atoms¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡noon¡¡when¡¡the¡¡bombardment¡¡ceased¡£¡¡

No¡¡more¡¡puffs¡¡of¡¡black¡¡smoke¡¡came¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡distant

repeller£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡spreading¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡clouds¡¡moved

seaward£»¡¡dropping¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡St¡£¡¡George's¡¡Channel¡¡in¡¡a

rain¡¡of¡¡stone¡¡dust¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡repeller¡¡steamed

shoreward£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡she¡¡was¡¡within¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡miles

of¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡she¡¡ran¡¡up¡¡a¡¡large¡¡white¡¡flag¡¡in¡¡token

that¡¡her¡¡task¡¡was¡¡ended¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

This¡¡sign¡¡that¡¡the¡¡bombardment¡¡had¡¡ceased¡¡was

accepted¡¡in¡¡good¡¡faith£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡military¡¡and

naval¡¡men¡¡had¡¡carefully¡¡noted¡¡that¡¡each¡¡puff¡¡from

the¡¡repeller¡¡was¡¡accompanied¡¡by¡¡a¡¡shock£»¡¡it¡¡was

considered¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡all¡¡the¡¡bombs¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been

discharged¡¡had¡¡acted£»¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡consequently£»¡¡no

further¡¡danger¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡apprehended¡¡from¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡In

spite¡¡of¡¡this¡¡announcement¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spectators¡¡would

not¡¡leave¡¡their¡¡position¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hills£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡or¡¡more¡¡of

curious¡¡and¡¡courageous¡¡men¡¡ventured¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡plain¡£



That¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡­coast¡¡where¡¡Caerdaff¡¡had¡¡been

was¡¡a¡¡new¡¡country£»¡¡about¡¡which¡¡men¡¡wandered¡¡slowly¡¡and

cautiously¡¡with¡¡sudden¡¡exclamations£»¡¡of¡¡amazement¡¡and

awe¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡promontories¡¡jutting¡¡out

into¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡hillocks¡¡and¡¡rocky¡¡terraces

rising¡¡inland¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡plain£»¡¡shaven¡¡and¡¡shorn¡¡down

to¡¡a¡¡common¡¡level¡¡of¡¡scarred¡¡and¡¡pallid¡¡rock£»

there¡¡lay¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡chasm¡¡two¡¡miles¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡long£»

half¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡wide£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡deep¡¡that¡¡shuddering¡¡men¡¡could

stand¡¡and¡¡look¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡rent¡¡and¡¡riven¡¡rocks¡¡upon

which¡¡had¡¡rested¡¡that¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Welsh¡¡coast¡¡which

had¡¡now¡¡blown¡¡out¡¡to¡¡sea¡£



An¡¡officer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Royal¡¡Engineers¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡the

seaward¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡this¡¡yawning¡¡abyss£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡over

to¡¡the¡¡almost¡¡circular¡¡body¡¡of¡¡water¡¡which¡¡occupied¡¡the

place¡¡where¡¡the¡¡fishing¡¡village¡¡had¡¡been£»¡¡and¡¡into

which¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bay¡¡had¡¡flowed¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡this

officer¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡London¡¡he¡¡wrote¡¡a¡¡report¡¡to¡¡the

effect¡¡that¡¡a¡¡ship¡¡canal£»¡¡less¡¡than¡¡an¡¡eighth¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mile

long£»¡¡leading¡¡from¡¡the¡¡newly¡¡formed¡¡lake¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of

the¡¡bay£»¡¡would¡¡make¡¡of¡¡this¡¡chasm£»¡¡when¡¡filled¡¡by¡¡the

sea£»¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡and¡¡most¡¡thoroughly¡¡protected¡¡inland

basin¡¡for¡¡ships¡¡of¡¡all¡¡sizes¡¡on¡¡the¡¡British¡¡coast¡£¡¡¡¡But

before¡¡this¡¡report¡¡received¡¡due¡¡official¡¡consideration

the¡¡idea¡¡had¡¡been¡¡suggested¡¡and¡¡elaborated¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dozen

newspapers¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡

Accounts¡¡and¡¡reports¡¡of¡¡all¡¡kinds¡¡describing¡¡the

destruction¡¡of¡¡Caerdaff£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡¡in¡¡which¡¡it

had¡¡stood£»¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡newspapers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡Photo¡­

graphs¡¡and¡¡pictures¡¡of¡¡Caerdaff¡¡as¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡and

as¡¡it¡¡then¡¡was¡¡were¡¡produ

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