the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第27节
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fancied he saw； an American vessel； but to notify all crabs； repellers； and
any other vile invention of the enemy that may have been recently put
forth to blemish the sacred surface of the sea； that the Adamant still floated；
with the heaviest coat of mail and the finest and most complete armament
in the world； ready to sink anything hostile which came near enoughbut
not too near。 When the commander found that he was bound for the
Bermudas； he did not understand it； unless； indeed； those islands had been
captured by the enemy。 But he did not stop firing。 Indeed； should he find
the Bermudas under the American flag； he would fire at that flag and
whatever carried it； as long as a shot or a shell or a charge of powder
remained to him。 But when he reached British waters； and slowly entering
St。 George's harbour； saw around him the British flag floating as proudly
as it floated above his own great ship； he confessed himself utterly
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bewildered； but he ordered the men at every gun to stand by their piece
until he was boarded by a boat from the fort； and informed of the true state
of affairs。 But even then； when weary Crab C raised herself from her
fighting depth； and steamed to a dock； the commander of the Adamant
could scarcely refrain from sending a couple of tons of iron into the
beastly sea… devil which had had the impertinence to tow him about
against his will。 No time was lost by the respective Governments of Great
Britain and the United States in ratifying the peace made through the
Syndicate； and in concluding a military and naval alliance； the basis of
which should be the use by these two nations； and by no other nations； of
the instantaneous motor。 The treaty was made and adopted with much
more despatch than generally accompanies such agreements between
nations； for both Governments felt the importance of placing themselves；
without delay； in that position from which； by means of their united
control of paramount methods of warfare； they might become the arbiters
of peace。 The desire to evolve that power which should render opposition
useless had long led men from one warlike invention to another。 Every one
who had constructed a new kind of gun； a new kind of armour； or a new
explosive； thought that he had solved the problem； or was on his way to do
so。 The inventor of the instantaneous motor had done it。 The treaty
provided that all subjects concerning hostilities between either or both of
the contracting powers and other nations should be referred to a Joint High
Commission； appointed by the two powers； and if war should be
considered necessary； it should be prosecuted and conducted by the Anglo…
American War Syndicate； within limitations prescribed by the High
Commission。 The contract made with the new Syndicate was of the most
stringent order； and contained every provision that ingenuity or foresight
of man could invent or suggest to make it impossible for the Syndicate to
transfer to any other nation the use of the instantaneous motor。 Throughout
all classes in sympathy with the Administrative parties of Great Britain
and the United States there was a feeling of jubilant elation on account of
the alliance and the adoption by the two nations of the means of
prohibitive warfare。 This public sentiment acted even upon the opposition；
and the majority of army and navy officers in the two countries felt bound
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to admit that the arts of war in which they had been educated were things
of the past。 Of course there were members of the army and navy in both
countries who deprecated the new state of things。 But there were also men；
still living； who deprecated the abolition of the old wooden seventy…four
gun ship。 A British artillery officer conversing with a member of the
American Syndicate at a London club； said to him： 〃Do you know that
you made a great mistake in the beginning of your operations with the
motor…guns？ If you had contrived an attachment to the motor which
should have made an infernal thunder…clap and a storm of smoke at the
moment of discharge it would have saved you a lot of money and time and
trouble。 The work of the motor on the Canadian coast was terrible enough；
but people could see no connection between that and the guns on your
vessels。 If you could have sooner shown that connection you might have
saved yourselves the trouble of crossing the Atlantic。 And； to prove this；
one of the most satisfactory points connected with your work on the Welsh
coast was the jet of smoke which came from the repeller every time she
discharged a motor。 If it had not been for those jets； I believe there would
be people now in the opposition who would swear that Caerdaff had been
mined； and that the Ministry were a party to it。〃 〃Your point is well taken；〃
said the American； 〃and should it ever be necessary to discharge any more
bombs；which I hope it may not be；we shall take care to show a visible
and audible connection between cause and effect。〃 〃The devil take it； sir！〃
cried an old captain of an English ship…of…the…line； who was sitting near by。
〃What you are talking about is not war！ We might as well send out a
Codfish Trust to settle national disputes。 In the next sea…fight we'll save
ourselves the trouble of gnawing and crunching at the sterns of the enemy。
We'll simply send a note aboard requesting the foreigner to be so good as
to send us his rudder by bearer； which； if properly marked and numbered；
will be returned to him on the conclusion of peace。 This would do just as
well as twisting it off； and save expense。 No； sir； I will not join you in a
julep！ _I_ have made no alliance over new…fangled inventions！ Waiter；
fetch me some rum and hot water！〃 In the midst of the profound
satisfaction with which the members of the American War Syndicate
regarded the success of their labours；labours alike profitable to
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themselves and to the recently contending nations；and in the gratified
pride with which they received the popular and official congratulations
which were showered upon them； there was but one little cloud； one regret。
In the course of the great Syndicate War a life had been lost。 Thomas
Hutchins； while assisting in the loading of coal on one of the repellers；
was accidentally killed by the falling of a derrick。 The Syndicate gave a
generous sum to the family of the unfortunate man； and throughout the
United States the occurrence occasioned a deep feeling of sympathetic
regret。 A popular subscription was started to build a monument to the
memory of Hutchins； and contributions came； not only from all parts of
the United States； but from many persons in Great Britain who wished to
assist in the erection of this tribute to the man who had fallen in the
contest which had been of as much benefit to their country as to his own。
Some weeks after the conclusion of the treaty； a public question was raised；
which at first threatened to annoy the American Government； but it proved
to be of little moment。 An anti…Administration paper in Peakville；
Arkansas； asserted that in the whole of the published treaty there was not
one word in regard to the fisheries question； the complications arising
from which had been the cause of the war。 Other papers took up the matter；
and the Government then discovered that in drawing up the treaty the
fisheries business had been entirely overlooked。 There was a good deal of
surprise in official circles when this discovery was announced； but as it
was considered that the fisheries question was one which would take care
