the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第6节
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to take the risks and do this； if possible； for the destruction of the repeller
was obviously the first duty in hand。 As the two men…of…war rapidly
approached Repeller No。 1； they kept up a steady fire upon her； for if in
this way they could damage her； the easier would be their task。 With a firm
reliance upon the efficacy of the steel…spring armour； the Director…in…chief
felt no fear of the enemy's shot and shell； but he was not at all willing that
his vessel should be rammed； for the consequences would probably be
disastrous。 Accordingly he did not wait for the approach of the two vessels；
but steering seaward； he signalled for the other crab。 When Crab B made
its appearance； puffing its little black jets of smoke； as it answered the
signals of the Director…in…chief； the commanders of the two British vessels
were surprised。 They had imagined that there was only one of these
strange and terrible enemies； and had supposed that she would be afraid to
make her peculiar attack upon one of them； because while doing so she
would expose herself to the danger of being run down by the other。 But the
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THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
presence of two of these almost submerged engines of destruction entirely
changed the situation。 But the commanders of the British ships were brave
men。 They had started to run down the strangely armoured American craft；
and run her down they would； if they could。 They put on more steam； and
went ahead at greater speed。 In such a furious onslaught the crabs might
not dare to attack them。 But they did not understand the nature nor the
powers of these enemies。 In less than twenty minutes Crab A had laid hold
of one of the men…of…war； and Crab B of the other。 The rudders of both
were shattered and torn away； and while the blades of one propeller were
crushed to pieces； the other； with nearly half its shaft； was drawn out and
dropped into the ocean。 Helplessly the two men…of…war rose and fell upon
the waves。 In obedience to orders from the repeller； each crab took hold of
one of the disabled vessels； and towed it near the mouth of the harbour；
where it was left。 The city was now in a state of feverish excitement；
which was intensified by the fact that a majority of the people did not
understand what had happened； while those to whom this had been made
plain could not comprehend why such a thing should have been allowed to
happen。 Three of Her Majesty's ships of war； equipped and ready for
action； had sailed out of the harbour； and an apparently insignificant
enemy； without firing a gun； had put them into such a condition that they
were utterly unfit for service； and must be towed into a dry dock。 How
could the Government； the municipality； the army； or the navy explain this？
The anxiety； the excitement； the nervous desire to know what had
happened； and what might be expected next； spread that evening to every
part of the Dominion reached by telegraph。 The military authorities in
charge of the defences of the city were as much disturbed and amazed by
what had happened as any civilian could possibly be； but they had no fears
for the safety of the place； for the enemy's vessels could not possibly enter；
nor even approach； the harbour。 The fortifications on the heights mounted
guns much heavier than those on the men…of…war； and shots from these
fired from an elevation might sink even those 〃underwater devils。〃 But；
more than on the forts； they relied upon their admirable system of
torpedoes and submarine batteries。 With these in position and ready for
action； as they now were； it was impossible for an enemy's vessel； floating
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on the water or under it； to enter the harbour without certain destruction。
Bulletins to this effect were posted in the city； and somewhat allayed the
popular anxiety； although many people； who were fearful of what might
happen next； left by the evening trains for the interior。 That night the news
of this extraordinary affair was cabled to Europe； and thence back to the
United States； and all over the world。 In many quarters the account was
disbelieved； and in no quarter was it thoroughly understood； for it must be
borne in mind that the methods of operation employed by the crabs were
not evident to those on board the disabled vessels。 But everywhere there
was the greatest desire to know what would be done next。 It was the
general opinion that the two armoured vessels were merely tenders to the
submerged machines which had done the mischief。 Having fired no guns；
nor taken any active part in the combat； there was every reason to believe
that they were intended merely as bomb…proof store…ships for their
formidable consorts。 As these submerged vessels could not attack a town；
nor reduce fortifications； but could exercise their power only against
vessels afloat； it was plain enough to see that the object of the American
Syndicate was to blockade the port。 That they would be able to maintain
the blockade when the full power of the British navy should be brought to
bear upon them was generally doubted； though it was conceded in the
most wrathful circles that； until the situation should be altered； it would be
unwise to risk valuable war vessels in encounters with the diabolical sea…
monsters now lying off the port。 In the New York office of the Syndicate
there was great satisfaction。 The news received was incorrect and
imperfect； but it was evident that； so far； everything had gone well。 About
nine o'clock the next morning； Repeller No。 1； with her consort half a mile
astern； and preceded by the two crabs； one on either bow； approached to
within two miles of the harbour mouth。 The crabs； a quarter of a mile
ahead of the repeller； moved slowly； for between them they bore an
immense net； three or four hundred feet long； and thirty feet deep；
composed of jointed steel rods。 Along the upper edge of this net was a
series of air…floats； which were so graduated that they were sunk by the
weight of the net a few feet below the surface of the water； from which
position they held the net suspended vertically。
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This net； which was intended to protect the repeller against the
approach of submarine torpedoes； which might be directed from the shore；
was anchored at each end； two very small buoys indicating its position。
The crabs then falling astern； Repeller No。 1 lay to； with the sunken net
between her and the shore； and prepared to project the first instantaneous
motor…bomb ever used in warfare。
The great gun in the bow of the vessel was loaded with one of the
largest and most powerful motor…bombs； and the spot to be aimed at was
selected。 This was a point in the water just inside of the mouth of the
harbour； and nearly a mile from the land on either side。 The distance of
this point from the vessel being calculated； the cannon was adjusted at the
angle called for by the scale of distances and levels； and the instrument
indicating rise； fall； and direction was then put in connection with it。 Now
the Director…in…chief stepped forward to the button； by pressing which the
power of the motor was developed。 The chief of the scientific corps then
showed him the exact point upon the scale which would be indicated when
the gun was in its proper position； and the piece was then moved upon its
bearings so as to approximate as nearly as possible this direction。 The bow
of the vessel now rose upon the swell of the sea； and the instant that the
index upon the scale reached the desired point； the Director…in…chief
touched the button。 There was no report； no smoke； no visible sign that the
motor had left the cannon； but at that instant there appeared； to those who
were on the lookout； from a fort about a mile away； a vast aperture in the
waters of
