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diff --git a/36155-h/36155-h.htm b/36155-h/36155-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f617c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/36155-h/36155-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13956 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Invasion, by William Le Queux</title> +<style type="text/css"> +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.tnote { + border: dashed 1px; + margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; +} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Invasion, by William Le Queux</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Invasion</p> +<p>Author: William Le Queux</p> +<p>Release Date: May 18, 2011 [eBook #36155]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INVASION***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Moti Ben-Ari<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>THE INVASION</h1> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#PREFACE"><b>PREFACE.</b></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#BOOK_I"><b>BOOK I.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#BOOK_II"><b>BOOK II.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I_II"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II_II"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III_II"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV_II"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V_II"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI_II"><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII_II"><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII_II"><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX_II"><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#BOOK_III"><b>BOOK III.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I_III"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II_III"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III_III"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV_III"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V_III"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> +<a href="images/i001-hi.png"><img src="images/i001.png" width="388" height="600" alt="THE GREAT FIGHT." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE GREAT FIGHT.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>THE INVASION</h1> + +<h2>WM. LE QUEUX</h2> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="center">LONDON: GEORGE NEWNES, LTD.</div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 409px;"> +<a href="images/i002-hi.png"><img src="images/i002.png" width="409" height="600" alt="The title page." title="" /></a> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</a></h2> + +<p>"I sometimes despair of the country ever becoming +alive to the danger of the unpreparedness of our present +position until too late to prevent some fatal catastrophe."</p> + +<p>This was the keynote of a solemn warning made in +the House of Lords by Earl Roberts. His lordship, +whilst drawing attention to our present inadequate forces, +strongly urged that action should be taken in accordance +with the recommendations of the Elgin Commission that +"no military system could be considered satisfactory +which did not contain powers of expansion outside the +limit of the regular forces of the Crown."</p> + +<p>"The lessons of the late war appear to have been +forgotten. The one prevailing idea seems to be," said +Earl Roberts, "to cut down our military expenditure +without reference to our increased responsibilities and +our largely augmented revenue. History tells us in the +plainest terms that an Empire which cannot defend its +own possessions must inevitably perish." And with this +view both Lord Milner and the Marquis of Lansdowne +concurred. But surely this is not enough. If we are +to retain our position as the first nation of the world +we must be prepared to defend any raid made upon our +shores.</p> + +<p>The object of this book is to illustrate our utter unpreparedness +for war from a military standpoint; to show +how, under certain conditions which may easily occur, +England can be successfully invaded by Germany; and +to present a picture of the ruin which must inevitably +fall upon us on the evening of that not far-distant day.</p> + +<p>Ever since Lord Roberts formulated his plans for the +establishment of rifle-clubs I have been deeply interested +in the movement: and after a conversation with that +distinguished soldier the idea occurred to me to write a +forecast, based upon all the available military knowledge—which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>would bring home to the British public +vividly and forcibly what really would occur were an +enemy suddenly to appear in our midst. At the outset +it was declared by the strategists I consulted to be +impossible. No such book could ever be written, for, +according to them, the mass of technical detail was far too +great to digest and present in an intelligible manner +to the public.</p> + +<p>Lord Roberts, however, gave me encouragement. The +skeleton scheme of the manner in which England could +be invaded by Germany was submitted to a number of +the highest authorities on strategy, whose names, however, +I am not permitted to divulge, and after many consultations, +much criticism, and considerable difference +of opinion, the "general idea," with amendment after +amendment, was finally adopted.</p> + +<p>That, however, was only a mere preliminary. Upon +questions of tactics each tactician consulted held a different +view, and each criticised adversely the other's +suggestions.</p> + +<p>One way alone remained open—namely, to take the +facts exactly as they stood, add the additional strength +of the opposing nations as they at present are, and then +draw logical conclusions. This, aided by experts, was +done: and after many days of argument with the various +authorities, we succeeded in getting them in accord as +to the general practicability of an invasion.</p> + +<p>Before putting pen to paper it was necessary to reconnoitre +carefully the whole of England from the Thames to +the Tyne. This I did by means of a motor-car, travelling +10,000 miles of all kinds of roads, and making a tour extending +over four months. Each town, all the points of +vantage, military positions, all the available landing +places on the coast, all railway connections, and telephone +and telegraph communications, were carefully +noted for future reference. With the assistance of certain +well-known military experts, the battlefields were carefully +gone over and the positions marked upon the +Ordnance map. Thus, through four months we pushed +on day by day collecting information and material, sometimes +in the big cities, sometimes in the quietest and +remotest hamlets, all of which was carefully tabulated +for use.</p> + +<p>Whatever critics may say, and however their opinions +may differ, it can only be pointed out, first, that the +"general idea" of the scheme is in accordance with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +expressed and published opinions of the first strategists +of to-day, and that, as far as the forecast of events is +concerned, it has been written from a first-hand knowledge +of the local colour of each of the scenes described. +The enemy's Proclamations reproduced are practically +copies of those issued by the Germans during the war +of 1870.</p> + +<p>That the experts and myself will probably be condemned +as alarmists and denounced for revealing information +likely to be of assistance to an enemy goes +without saying. Indeed, an attempt was made in the +House of Commons to suppress its publication altogether. +Mr. R. C. Lehmann, who asked a question of +the Prime Minister, declared that it was "calculated to +prejudice our relations with the other Powers," while +the late Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, in a subsequent +letter apologising to me for condemning in the House +a work he had not read, repeated that it was likely to +"produce irritation abroad and might conceivably alarm +the more ignorant public at home."</p> + +<p>Such a reflection, cast by the late Prime Minister upon +the British nation was, to say the least, curious, yet +it only confirmed the truth that the Government are +strenuously seeking to conceal from our people the +appalling military weakness and the consequent danger +to which the country is constantly open.</p> + +<p>To be weak is to invite war: to be strong is to prevent +it.</p> + +<p>To arouse our country to a sense of its own lamentable +insecurity is the object of this volume, which is somewhat +compressed from the form in which it originally +appeared, and that other nations besides ourselves are +interested in England's grave peril is proved by the fact +that it has already been published in the German, +French, Spanish, Danish, Russian, Italian, and even +Japanese languages.</p> + +<div class="right">WILLIAM LE QUEUX.</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<p>Speaking in the House of Lords on +the 10th July 1905, I said:—"It is to the +people of the country I appeal to take up the +question of the Army in a sensible +practical manner. For the sake of all +they hold dear, let them bring home to +themselves what would be the condition of +Great Britain if it were to lose its +wealth, its power, its position." The +catastrophe that may happen if we +still remain in our present state of +unpreparedness is visibly and forcibly +illustrated in Mr. Le Queux's new book +which I recommend to the perusal of +every one who has the welfare of the +British Empire at heart.</p> + +<div class="right">Roberts, FM</div> + +<p>29. Nov. 1905</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 423px;"> +<a href="images/i007-hi.png"><img src="images/i007.png" width="423" height="600" alt="" title="" /></a> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE INVASION.</h2> + +<h2><a name="BOOK_I" id="BOOK_I"></a>BOOK I.</h2> + +<h3>THE ATTACK.</h3> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE SURPRISE.</h3> + + +<p>Two of the myriad of London's nightworkers were walking +down Fleet Street together soon after dawn on +Sunday morning, 2nd September.</p> + +<p>The sun had not yet risen. That main artery of +London traffic, with its irregular rows of closed shops +and newspaper offices, was quiet and pleasant in the +calm, mystic light before the falling of the smoke-pall.</p> + +<p>Only at early morning does the dear old City look its +best; in that one quiet, sweet hour when the night's toil +has ended and the day's has not yet begun. Only in +that brief interval at the birth of day, when the rose +tints of the sky glow slowly into gold, does the giant +metropolis repose—at least, as far as its business streets +are concerned—for at five o'clock the toiling millions +begin to again pour in from all points of the compass, +and the stress and storm of London at once recommences.</p> + +<p>And in that hour of silent charm the two grey-bearded +sub-editors, though engaged in offices of rival newspapers +were making their way homeward to Dulwich to +spend Sunday in a well-earned rest, and were chatting +"shop," as Press men do.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you had the same trouble to get that +Yarmouth story through?" asked Fergusson, the news-editor +of the "Dispatch," as they crossed Whitefriars +Street. "We got about half a column, and then the +wire shut down."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Telegraph or telephone?" inquired Baines, who was +four or five years younger than his friend.</p> + +<p>"We were using both—to make sure."</p> + +<p>"So were we. It was a rattling good story—the robbery +was mysterious, to say the least—but we didn't get +more than half of it. Something's wrong with the line, +evidently," Baines said. "If it were not such a perfect +autumn morning, I should be inclined to think there'd +been a storm somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Yes—funny, wasn't it?" remarked the other. "A +shame we haven't the whole story, for it was a first-class +one, and we wanted something. Did you put it on the +contents-bill?"</p> + +<p>"No, because we couldn't get the finish. I tried in +every way—rang up the Central News, P.A., Exchange +Telegraph Company, tried to get through to Yarmouth on +the trunk, and spent half an hour or so pottering about, +but the reply from all the agencies, from everywhere, in +fact, was the same—the line was interrupted."</p> + +<p>"Just our case. I telephoned to the Post Office, but +the reply came back that the lines were evidently down."</p> + +<p>"Well, it certainly looks as though there'd been a +storm, but——" and Baines glanced at the bright, clear +sky overhead, just flushed by the bursting sun—"there +are certainly no traces of it."</p> + +<p>"There's often a storm on the coast when it's quite +still in London, my dear fellow," remarked his friend +wisely.</p> + +<p>"That's all very well. But when all communication +with a big place like Yarmouth is suddenly cut off, as +it has been, I can't help suspecting that something has +happened which we ought to know."</p> + +<p>"You're perhaps right, after all," Fergusson said. "I +wonder if anything has happened. We don't want to be +called back to the office, either of us. My assistant, +Henderson, whom I've left in charge, rings me up over +any mare's nest. The trunk telephones all come into +the Post Office Exchange up in Carter Lane. Why not +look in there before we go home? It won't take us a +quarter of an hour, and we have several trains home +from Ludgate Hill."</p> + +<p>Baines looked at his watch. Like his companion, he +had no desire to be called back to his office after getting +out to Dulwich, and yet he was in no mood to go making +reporter's inquiries.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't think I'll go. It's sure to be nothing, my +dear fellow," he said. "Besides, I have a beastly headache. +I had a heavy night's work. One of my men is +away ill."</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate, I think I'll go," Fergusson said. +"Don't blame me if you get called back for a special +edition with a terrible storm, great loss of life, and all +that sort of thing. So long." And, smiling, he waved +his hand and parted from his friend in the booking +office of Ludgate Hill Station.</p> + +<p>Quickening his pace, he hurried through the office, and, +passing out by the back, ascended the steep, narrow +street until he reached the Post Office Telephone Exchange +in Carter Lane, where, presenting his card, he +asked to see the superintendent-in-charge.</p> + +<p>Without much delay he was shown upstairs into a +small private office, into which came a short, dapper, fair-moustached +man with the bustle of a man in a great +hurry.</p> + +<p>"I've called," the sub-editor explained, "to know +whether you can tell me anything regarding the cause +of the interruption of the line to Yarmouth a short +time ago. We had some important news coming through, +but were cut off just in the midst of it, and then we +received information that all the telephone and telegraph +lines to Yarmouth were interrupted."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's just the very point which is puzzling us +at this moment," was the night-superintendent's reply. +"It is quite unaccountable. Our trunk going to Yarmouth +seems to be down, as well as the telegraphs. Yarmouth, +Lowestoft, and beyond Beccles seem all to have +been suddenly cut off. About eighteen minutes to four +the operators noticed something wrong, switched the +trunks through to the testers, and the latter reported to +me in due course."</p> + +<p>"That's strange! Did they all break down together?"</p> + +<p>"No. The first that failed was the one that runs +through Chelmsford, Colchester, and Ipswich up to +Lowestoft and Yarmouth. The operator found that he +could get through to Ipswich and Beccles. Ipswich +knew nothing, except that something was wrong. They +could still ring up Beccles, but not beyond."</p> + +<p>As they were speaking, there was a tap at the door, +and the assistant night-superintendent entered, saying:</p> + +<p>"The Norwich line through Scole and Long Stratton<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +has now failed, sir. About half-past four Norwich reported +a fault somewhere north, between there and +Cromer. But the operator now says that the line is +apparently broken, and so are all the telegraphs from +there to Cromer, Sheringham, and Holt."</p> + +<p>"Another line has gone, then!" exclaimed the superintendent-in-charge, +utterly astounded. "Have you tried +to get on to Cromer by the other routes—through Nottingham +and King's Lynn, or through Cambridge?"</p> + +<p>"The testers have tried every route, but there's no +response."</p> + +<p>"You could get through to some of the places—Yarmouth, +for instance—by telegraphing to the Continent, I +suppose?" asked Fergusson.</p> + +<p>"We are already trying," responded the assistant superintendent.</p> + +<p>"What cables run out from the east coast in that +neighbourhood?" inquired the sub-editor quickly.</p> + +<p>"There are five between Southwold and Cromer—three +run to Germany, and two to Holland," replied the assistant. +"There's the cable from Yarmouth to Barkum, in +the Frisian Islands; from Happisburg, near Mundesley, +to Barkum; from Yarmouth to Emden; from Lowestoft +to Haarlem, and from Kessingland, near Southwold, to +Zandyport."</p> + +<p>"And you are trying all the routes?" asked his +superior.</p> + +<p>"I spoke to Paris myself an hour ago and asked them +to cable by all five routes to Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Kessingland, +and Happisburg," was the assistant's reply. +"I also asked Liverpool Street Station and King's Cross +to wire down to some of their stations on the coast, but +the reply was that they were in the same predicament as +ourselves—their lines were down north of Beccles, +Wymondham, East Dereham, and also south of Lynn. +I'll just run along and see if there's any reply from +Paris. They ought to be through by this time, as it's +Sunday morning, and no traffic." And he went out +hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"There's certainly something very peculiar," remarked +the superintendent-in-charge to the sub-editor. "If +there's been an earthquake or an electrical disturbance, +then it is a most extraordinary one. Every single line +reaching to the coast seems interrupted."</p> + +<p>"Yes. It's uncommonly funny," Fergusson remarked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +"I wonder what could have happened. You've never had +a complete breakdown like this before?"</p> + +<p>"Never. But I think——"</p> + +<p>The sentence remained unfinished, for his assistant +returned with a slip of paper in his hand, saying:</p> + +<p>"This message has just come in from Paris, I'll read +it. 'Superintendent Telephones, Paris, to Superintendent +Telephones, London.—Have obtained direct telegraphic +communication with operators of all five cables +to England. Haarlem, Zandyport, Barkum, and Emden +all report that cables are interrupted. They can get no +reply from England, and tests show that cables are +damaged somewhere near English shore.'"</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" asked Fergusson.</p> + +<p>"That's all. Paris knows no more than we do," was +the assistant's response.</p> + +<p>"Then the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts are completely +isolated—cut off from post office, railways, telephones, +and cables!" exclaimed the superintendent. "It's +mysterious—most mysterious!" And, taking up the instrument +upon his table, he placed a plug in one of +the holes down the front of the table itself, and a +moment later was in conversation with the official in +charge of the traffic at Liverpool Street, repeating the +report from Paris, and urging him to send light engines +north from Wymondham or Beccles into the zone of the +mystery.</p> + +<p>The reply came back that he had already done so, but +a telegram had reached him from Wymondham to the +effect that the road-bridges between Kimberley and +Hardingham had apparently fallen in, and the line was +blocked by débris. Interruption was also reported beyond +Swaffham, at a place called Little Dunham.</p> + +<p>"Then even the railways themselves are broken!" cried +Fergusson. "Is it possible that there has been a great +earthquake?"</p> + +<p>"An earthquake couldn't very well destroy all five +cables from the Continent," remarked the superintendent +gravely.</p> + +<p>The latter had scarcely placed the receiver upon the +hook when a third man entered—an operator who, +addressing him, said:</p> + +<p>"Will you please come to the switchboard, sir? There's +a man in the Ipswich call office who has just told me +a most extraordinary story. He says that he started in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +his motor-car alone from Lowestoft to London at half-past +three this morning, and just as it was getting light +he was passing along the edge of Henham Park, between +Wangford village and Blythburgh, when he saw three +men apparently repairing the telegraph wires. One was up +the pole, and the other two were standing below. As he +passed he saw a flash, for, to his surprise, one of the +men fired point-blank at him with a revolver. Fortunately, +the shot went wide, and he at once put on a +move and got down into Blythburgh village, even though +one of his tyres went down. It had probably been +pierced by the bullet fired at him, as the puncture was +unlike any he had ever had before. At Blythburgh he +informed the police of the outrage, and the constable, in +turn, woke up the postmaster, who tried to telegraph +back to the police at Wrentham, but found that the line +was interrupted. Was it possible that the men were +cutting the wires, instead of repairing them? He says +that after repairing the puncture he took the village +constable and three other men on his car and went +back to the spot, where, although the trio had escaped, +they saw that wholesale havoc had been wrought with +the telegraphs. The lines had been severed in four or +five places, and whole lengths tangled up into great +masses. A number of poles had been sawn down, and +were lying about the roadside. Seeing that nothing +could be done, the gentleman remounted his car, came +on to Ipswich, and reported the damage at our call +office."</p> + +<p>"And is he still there?" exclaimed the superintendent +quickly, amazed at the motorist's statement.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I asked him to wait for a few moments in +order to speak to you, sir."</p> + +<p>"Good. I'll go at once. Perhaps you'd like to come +also, Mr. Fergusson?"</p> + +<p>And all three ran up to the gallery, where the huge +switchboards were ranged around, and where the night +operators, with the receivers attached to one ear, were +still at work.</p> + +<p>In a moment the superintendent had taken the operator's +seat, adjusted the ear-piece, and was in conversation +with Ipswich. A second later he was speaking with +the man who had actually witnessed the cutting of the +trunk line.</p> + +<p>While he was thus engaged an operator at the farther<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +end of the switchboard suddenly gave vent to a cry of +surprise and disbelief.</p> + +<p>"What do you say, Beccles? Repeat it," he asked excitedly.</p> + +<p>Then a moment later he shouted aloud:</p> + +<p>"Beccles says that German soldiers—hundreds of them—are +pouring into the place! The Germans have landed +at Lowestoft, they think."</p> + +<p>All who heard those ominous words sprang up dumbfounded, +staring at each other.</p> + +<p>The assistant-superintendent dashed to the operator's +side and seized his apparatus.</p> + +<p>"Halloa—halloa, Beccles! Halloa—halloa—halloa!"</p> + +<p>The response was some gruff words in German, and +the sound of scuffling could distinctly be heard. Then +all was silent.</p> + +<p>Time after time he rang up the small Suffolk town, +but in vain. Then he switched through to the testers, +and quickly the truth was plain.</p> + +<p>The second trunk line to Norwich, running from +Ipswich by Harleston and Beccles, had been cut farther +towards London.</p> + +<p>But what held everyone breathless in the trunk telephone +headquarters was that the Germans had actually +effected the surprise landing that had so often in recent +years been predicted by military critics; that England +on that quiet September Sunday morning had been +attacked. England was actually invaded. It was +incredible!</p> + +<p>Yet London's millions in their Sunday morning +lethargy were in utter ignorance of the grim disaster +that had suddenly fallen upon the land.</p> + +<p>Fergusson was for rushing at once back to the "Dispatch" +office to get out an extraordinary edition, but +the superintendent, who was still in conversation with +the motorist, urged judicious forethought.</p> + +<p>"For the present, let us wait. Don't let us alarm the +public unnecessarily. We want corroboration. Let us +have the motorist up here," he suggested.</p> + +<p>"Yes," cried the sub-editor. "Let me speak to him."</p> + +<p>Over the wire Fergusson begged the stranger to come +at once to London and give his story, declaring that the +military authorities would require it. Then, just as the +man who had been shot at by German advance spies—for +such they had undoubtedly been—in order to prevent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +the truth leaking out, gave his promise to come to town +at once, there came over the line from the coastguard +at Southwold a vague, incoherent telephone message regarding +strange ships having been seen to the northward, +and asking for connection with Harwich; while +King's Cross and Liverpool Street Stations both rang +up almost simultaneously, reporting the receipt of extraordinary +messages from King's Lynn, Diss, Harleston, +Halesworth, and other places. All declared that German +soldiers were swarming over the north, that Lowestoft +and Beccles had been seized, and that Yarmouth and +Cromer were isolated.</p> + +<p>Various stationmasters reported that the enemy had +blown up bridges, taken up rails, and effectually blocked +all communication with the coast. Certain important +junctions were already held by the enemy's outposts.</p> + +<p>Such was the amazing news received in that high-up +room in Carter Lane, City, on that sweet, sunny morning +when all the great world of London was at peace, either +still slumbering or week-ending.</p> + +<p>Fergusson remained for a full hour and a half at the +Telephone Exchange, anxiously awaiting any further +corroboration. Many wild stories came over the wires +telling how panic-stricken people were fleeing inland +away from the enemy's outposts. Then he took a hansom +to the "Dispatch" office, and proceeded to prepare +a special edition of his paper—an edition containing +surely the most amazing news that had ever startled +London.</p> + +<p>Fearing to create undue panic, he decided not to go to +press until the arrival of the motorist from Ipswich. +He wanted the story of the man who had actually seen +the cutting of the wires. He paced his room excitedly, +wondering what effect the news would have upon the +world. In the rival newspaper offices the report was, +as yet, unknown. With journalistic forethought he had +arranged that at present the bewildering truth should +not leak out to his rivals, either from the railway termini +or from the telephone exchange. His only fear was +that some local correspondent might telegraph from some +village or town nearer the metropolis which was still in +communication with the central office.</p> + +<p>Time passed very slowly. Each moment increased his +anxiety. He had sent out the one reporter who remained +on duty to the house of Colonel Sir James Taylor, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +Permanent Under-Secretary for War. Halting before +the open window, he looked up and down the street +for the arriving motor-car. But all was quiet.</p> + +<p>Eight o'clock had just boomed from Big Ben, and +London still remained in her Sunday morning peace. +The street, bright in the warm sunshine, was quite +empty, save for a couple of motor-omnibuses and a +sprinkling of gaily dressed holiday-makers on their way +to the day excursion trains.</p> + +<p>In that centre of London—the hub of the world—all +was comparatively silent, the welcome rest after the +busy turmoil that through six days in the week is unceasing, +that fevered throbbing of the heart of the world's +great capital.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden, however, came the whirr-r of an approaching +car, as a thin-faced, travel-stained man tore along +from the direction of the Strand and pulled up before +the office. The fine car, a six-cylinder "Napier," was +grey with the mud of country roads, while the motorist +himself was smothered until his goggles had been almost +entirely covered.</p> + +<p>Fergusson rushed out to him, and a few moments later +the pair were in the upstairs room, the sub-editor swiftly +taking down the motorist's story, which differed very +little from what he had already spoken over the telephone.</p> + +<p>Then, just as Big Ben chimed the half-hour, the echoes +of the half-deserted Strand were suddenly awakened by +the loud, strident voices of the newsboys shouting:</p> + +<p>"'Dispatch,' spe-shall! Invasion of England this +morning! Germans in Suffolk! Terrible panic! Spe-shall! +'Dispatch,' Spe-shall!"</p> + +<p>As soon as the paper had gone to press Fergusson +urged the motorist—whose name was Horton, and who +lived at Richmond—to go with him to the War Office +and report. Therefore, both men entered the car, and +as they did so a man jumped from a hansom in breathless +haste. He was the reporter whom Fergusson had +sent out to Sir James Taylor's house in Cleveland Square, +Hyde Park.</p> + +<p>"They thought Sir James spent the night with his +brother up at Hampstead," he exclaimed. "I've been +there, but find that he's away for the week-end at Chilham +Hall, near Buckden."</p> + +<p>"Buckden! That's on the Great North Road!" cried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +Horton, "We'll go at once and find him. Sixty miles +from London. We can be there under two hours!"</p> + +<p>And a few minutes later the pair were tearing due +north, turning at last into the handsome lodge-gates of +Chilham Park, and running up the great elm avenue, +drew up before the main door of the ancient hall, a +quaint many-gabled old place of grey stone.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the breathless journalist faced +the Permanent Under-Secretary with the news that England +was invaded—that the Germans had actually +effected a surprise landing on the east coast.</p> + +<p>Sir James and his host stood speechless. Like others, +they at first believed the pale-faced, bearded sub-editor +to be a lunatic, but a few moments later, when Horton +briefly repeated the story, they saw that, whatever might +have occurred, the two men were at least in deadly +earnest.</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" cried Sir James. "We should surely +have heard something of it if such were actually the +case. The coastguard would have telephoned the news +instantly. Besides, where is our fleet?"</p> + +<p>"The Germans evidently laid their plans with great +cleverness. Their spies, already in England, cut the wires +at a pre-arranged hour last night," declared Fergusson. +"They sought to prevent this gentleman from giving the +alarm by shooting him. All the railways to London are +already either cut or held by the enemy. One thing, +however, is clear—fleet or no fleet, the east coast is +entirely at their mercy."</p> + +<p>Host and guest exchanged dark glances.</p> + +<p>"Well, if what you say is the actual truth," exclaimed +Sir James, "to-day is surely the blackest day that England +has ever known."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they should have listened to Lord Roberts," +snapped his lordship. "I suppose you'll go at once, +Taylor, and make inquiries?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," responded the Permanent Secretary. And +a quarter of an hour later, accepting Horton's offer, +he was sitting in the car as it headed back towards +London.</p> + +<p>Could the journalist's story be true? As he sat there, +with his head bent against the wind and the mud splashing +into his face, Sir James recollected too well the repeated +warnings of the past five years, serious warnings +by men who knew our shortcomings, but to which no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +attention had been paid. Both the Government and +the public had remained apathetic, the idea of peril had +been laughed to scorn, and the country had, ostrich-like, +buried its head in the sand, and allowed Continental +nations to supersede us in business, in armaments, +in everything.</p> + +<p>The danger of invasion had always been ridiculed as +a mere alarmist's fiction; those responsible for the defence +of the country had smiled, the Navy had been +reduced, and the Army had remained in contented +inefficiency.</p> + +<p>If the blow had really been struck by Germany? If +she had risked three or four, out of her twenty-three, +army corps, and had aimed at the heart of the British +Empire? What then? Ay! what then?</p> + +<p>As the car glided down Regent Street into Pall Mall +and towards Whitehall, Sir James saw on every side +crowds discussing the vague but astounding reports now +published in special editions of all the Sunday papers, +and shouted wildly everywhere.</p> + +<p>Boys bearing sheets fresh from the Fleet Street presses +were seized, and bundles torn from them by excited +Londoners eager to learn the latest intelligence.</p> + +<p>Around both War Office and Admiralty great surging +crowds were clamouring loudly for the truth. Was it +the truth, or was it only a hoax? Half London disbelieved +it. Yet from every quarter, from the north and +from across the bridges, thousands were pouring in to +ascertain what had really occurred, and the police had +the greatest difficulty in keeping order.</p> + +<p>In Trafalgar Square, where the fountains were plashing +so calmly in the autumn sunlight, a shock-headed +man mounted the back of one of the lions and harangued +the crowd with much gesticulation, denouncing the +Government in the most violent terms; but the orator +was ruthlessly pulled down by the police in the midst +of his fierce attack.</p> + +<p>It was half-past two o'clock in the afternoon. The +Germans had already been on English soil ten hours, yet +London was in ignorance of where they had actually +landed, and utterly helpless.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>EFFECT IN THE CITY.</h3> + + +<p>Monday, 3rd September, 1910, was indeed Black Monday +for London.</p> + +<p>By midnight on Sunday the appalling news had spread +everywhere. Though the full details of the terrible +naval disasters were not yet to hand, yet it was vaguely +known that our ships had been defeated in the North +Sea, and many of them sunk.</p> + +<p>Before 7 a.m. on Monday, however, telegrams reaching +London by the subterranean lines from the north gave +thrilling stories of frightful disasters we had, while all +unconscious, suffered at the hands of the German +fleet.</p> + +<p>With London, the great cities of the north, Liverpool, +Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham, awoke utterly +dazed. It seemed incredible. And yet the enemy had, +by his sudden and stealthy blow, secured command of +the sea and actually landed.</p> + +<p>The public wondered why a formal declaration of war +had not previously been made, ignorant of the fact that +the declaration preceding the Franco-German War was +the first made by any civilised nation prior to the commencement +of hostilities for one hundred and seventy +years. The peril of the nation was now recognised on +every hand.</p> + +<p>Eager millions poured into the City by every train +from the suburbs and towns in the vicinity of the +Metropolis, anxious to ascertain the truth for themselves, +pale with terror, wild with excitement, indignant +that our land forces were not already mobilised and +ready to move eastward to meet the invader.</p> + +<p>As soon as the banks were opened there was a run on +them, but by noon the Bank of England had suspended +all specie payments. The other banks, being thus unable +to meet their engagements, simply closed the doors, +bringing business to an abrupt standstill. Consols stood +at 90 on Saturday, but by noon on Monday were down +to 42—lower even than they were in 1798, when they +stood at 47¼. Numbers of foreigners tried to speculate +heavily, but were unable to do so, for banking being +suspended they could not obtain transfers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the Stock Exchange the panic in the afternoon +was indescribable. Securities of every sort went entirely +to pieces, and there were no buyers. Financiers were +surprised that no warning in London had betrayed the +position of affairs, London being the money centre of the +world. Prior to 1870 Paris shared with London the +honour of being the pivot of the money market, but on +the suspension of cash payments by the Bank of France +during the Franco-German War, Paris lost that position. +Had it not been that the milliards comprising the +French War indemnity were intact in golden louis in +the fortress of Spandau, Germany could never have hoped +to wage sudden war with Great Britain before she had +made Berlin independent of London in a money sense, +or, at any rate, to accumulate sufficient gold to carry +on the war for at least twelve months. The only way +in which she could have done this was to raise her rate +so as to offer better terms than London. Yet directly +the Bank of England discovered the rate of exchange +going against her, and her stock of gold diminishing, +she would have responded by raising the English bank-rate +in order to check the flow. Thus competition would +have gone on until the rates became so high that all +business would be checked, and people would have +realised their securities to obtain the necessary money +to carry on their affairs. Thus, no doubt, the coming +war would have been forecasted had it not been for Germany's +already prepared war-chest, which the majority +of persons have nowadays overlooked. Its possession +had enabled Germany to strike her sudden blow, and +now the Bank of England, which is the final reserve of +gold in the United Kingdom, found that as notes were +cashed so the stock of gold diminished until it was in a +few hours compelled to obtain from the Government +suspension of the Bank charter. This enabled the Bank +to suspend cash payment, and issue notes without a +corresponding deposit of the equivalent in gold.</p> + +<p>The suspension, contrary to increasing the panic, had, +curiously enough the immediate effect of somewhat allaying +it. Plenty of people in the City were confident that +the blow aimed could not prove an effective one, and +that the Germans, however many might have landed, +would quickly be sent back again. Thus many level-headed +business men regarded the position calmly, believing +that when our command of the sea was again<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +re-established, as it must be in a day or two, the enemy +would soon be non-existent.</p> + +<p>Business outside the money market was, of course, +utterly demoralised. The buying of necessities was now +uppermost in everyone's mind. Excited crowds in the +streets caused most of the shops in the City and West +End to close, while around the Admiralty were great +crowds of eager men and women of all classes, tearful +wives of bluejackets jostling with officers' ladies from +Mayfair and Belgravia, demanding news of their loved +ones—inquiries which, alas! the casualty office were +unable to satisfy. The scene of grief, terror, and suspense +was heartrending. Certain ships were known to +have been sunk with all on board after making a gallant +fight, and those who had husbands, brothers, lovers, or +fathers on board wept loudly, calling upon the Government +to avenge the ruthless murder of their loved +ones.</p> + +<p>In Manchester, in Liverpool, indeed, all through the +great manufacturing centres of the north, the excitement +of London was reflected.</p> + +<p>In Manchester there was a panic "on 'Change," and +the crowd in Deansgate coming into collision with a force +of mounted police, some rioting occurred, and a number +of shop windows broken, while several agitators who +attempted to speak in front of the infirmary were at +once arrested.</p> + +<p>Liverpool was the scene of intense anxiety and excitement, +when a report was spread that German cruisers +were about the estuary of the Mersey. It was known +that the coal staithes, cranes, and petroleum tanks at +Penarth, Cardiff, Barry, and Llanelly had been destroyed; +that Aberdeen had been bombarded; and there +were rumours that, notwithstanding the mines and defences +of the Mersey, the city of Liverpool, with all +its crowd of valuable shipping, was to share the same +fate.</p> + +<p>The whole place was in a ferment. By eleven o'clock +the stations were crowded by women and children sent +by the men away into the country—anywhere from the +doomed and defenceless city. The Lord Mayor vainly +endeavoured to inspire confidence, but telegrams from +London, announcing the complete financial collapse, +only increased the panic.</p> + +<p>In London all through the morning, amid the chaos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +of business in the City, the excitement had been steadily +growing, until shortly after three o'clock the "Daily +Mail" issued a special edition containing a copy of a +German proclamation which, it was said, was now posted +everywhere in East Norfolk, East Suffolk, and in Maldon +in Essex, already occupied by the enemy.</p> + +<p>The original proclamation had been found pasted by +some unknown hand upon a barn door near the town of +Billericay, and had been detached and brought to London +in a motor-car by a correspondent.</p> + +<p>It showed plainly the German intention was to deal +a hard and crushing blow, and it struck terror into the +heart of London, for it read as will be seen on next +page.</p> + +<p>Upon the walls of the Mansion House, the Guildhall, +outside the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange, upon +the various public buildings within the city wards, and +westward beyond Temple Bar, proclamations were being +posted. Indeed, upon all the hoardings in Greater London +appeared various broadsheets side by side. One by +the Chief Commissioner of Police, regulating the traffic +in the streets, and appealing to the public to assist in +the preservation of order; and a Royal Proclamation, +brief but noble, urging every Briton to do his duty, to +take his part in the defence of King and country, and +to unfurl the banner of the British Empire that had +hitherto carried peace and civilisation in every quarter +of the world. Germany, whose independence had been +respected, had attacked us without provocation; therefore +hostilities were, alas, inevitable.</p> + +<p>When the great poster printed in big capitals and +headed by the Royal Arms made its appearance it was +greeted with wild cheering.</p> + +<p>It was a message of love from King to people—a message +to the highest and to the lowest. Posted in Whitechapel +at the same hour as in Whitehall, the throngs +crowded eagerly about it and sang "God Save our Gracious +King," for if they had but little confidence in the War +Office and Admiralty, they placed their trust in their +Sovereign, the first diplomat in Europe. Therefore the +loyalty was spontaneous, as it always is. They read the +royal message, and cheered and cheered again.</p> + +<p>As evening closed in yet another poster made its appearance +in every city, town, and village in the country, +a poster issued by military and police officers, and +naval officers in charge of dockyards—the order for +mobilisation.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> +<h2>PROCLAMATION.</h2> +<h3>WE, GENERAL COMMANDING THE 3rd GERMAN ARMY,</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>HAVING SEEN the proclamation of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor William, +King of Prussia, Chief of the Army, which authorises the generals commanding the +different German Army Corps to establish special measures against all municipalities +and persons acting in contradiction to the usages of war, and to take what steps they +consider necessary for the well-being of the troops.</p> + +<p> +HEREBY GIVE PUBLIC NOTICE:<br /> +</p> + +<p>(1) THE MILITARY JURISDICTION is hereby established. It applies to all +territory of Great Britain occupied by the German Army, and to every action endangering +the security of the troops by rendering assistance to the enemy. The Military Jurisdiction +will be announced and placed vigorously in force in every parish by the issue of +this present proclamation.</p> + +<p>(2) ANY PERSON OR PERSONS NOT BEING BRITISH SOLDIERS, +or not showing by their dress that they are soldiers:</p> + +<p>(a) SERVING THE ENEMY as spies;</p> + +<p>(b) MISLEADING THE GERMAN TROOPS when charged to serve as guides;</p> + +<p>(c) SHOOTING, INJURING, OR ROBBING any person belonging to the German +Army, or forming part of its personnel;</p> + +<p>(d) DESTROYING BRIDGES OR CANALS, damaging telegraphs, telephones, +electric light wires, gasometers, or railways, interfering with roads, setting fire to +munitions of war, provisions, or quarters established by German troops;</p> + +<p>(e) TAKING ARMS against the German troops,</p> + +<h3>WILL BE PUNISHED BY DEATH.</h3> + +<p>IN EACH CASE the officer presiding at the Council of War will be charged with +the trial, and pronounce judgment. Councils of War may not pronounce ANY OTHER +CONDEMNATION SAVE THAT OF DEATH.</p> + +<p>THE JUDGMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED.</p> + +<p>(3) TOWNS OR VILLAGES in the territory in which the contravention takes place +will be compelled to pay indemnity equal to one year's revenue.</p> + +<p>(4) THE INHABITANTS MUST FURNISH necessaries for the German troops +daily as follows:—</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">1 lb. 10 oz. bread. </td><td align="left">1 oz. tea.</td><td align="left">1½ pints beer, or 1 wine-</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">13 oz. meat.</td><td align="left">1½ oz. tobacco or 5 cigars. </td><td align="left">glassful of brandy or</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">3 lb. potatoes.</td><td align="left">½ pint wine.</td><td align="left">whisky.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">The ration for each horse:—</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">13 lb. oats.</td><td align="left">3 lb. 6 oz. hay.</td><td align="left">3 lb. 6 oz. straw.</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>(ALL PERSONS WHO PREFER to pay an indemnity in money may do so at the +rate of 2s. per day per man.)</p> + +<p>(5) COMMANDERS OF DETACHED corps have the right to requisition all that +they consider necessary for the well-being of their men, and will deliver to the inhabitants +official receipts for goods so supplied.</p> + +<p>WE HOPE IN CONSEQUENCE that the inhabitants of Great Britain will make no +difficulty in furnishing all that may be considered necessary.</p> + +<p>(6) AS REGARDS the individual transactions between the troops and the inhabitants, +we give notice that one German mark shall be considered the equivalent to one English +shilling.</p> + +<div class="right"> +<b>The General Commanding the Ninth German Army Corps,<br /> +VON KRONHELM.</b> +</div> + +<p>Beccles, <i>September the Third, 1910</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 403px;"> +<a href="images/i023-hi.png"><img src="images/i023.png" width="403" height="600" alt="THE ENEMY'S FAMOUS PROCLAMATION." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE ENEMY'S FAMOUS PROCLAMATION.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> public, however, little dreamed of the hopeless +confusion in the War Office, in the various regimental +depôts throughout the country, at headquarters everywhere, +and in every barracks in the kingdom. The +armed forces of England were passing from a peace to a +war footing; but the mobilisation of the various units—namely, +its completion in men, horses, and material—was +utterly impossible in the face of the extraordinary +regulations which, kept a strict secret by the Council +of Defence until this moment, revealed a hopeless state +of things.</p> + +<p>The disorder was frightful. Not a regiment was found +fully equipped and ready to march. There was a dearth +of officers, equipment, horses, provisions—of, indeed, +everything. Men had guns without ammunition; cavalry +and artillery were without horses; engineers only half +equipped; volunteers with no transport whatever; +balloon sections without balloons, and searchlight units +vainly trying to obtain the necessary instruments.</p> + +<p>Horses were being requisitioned everywhere. The few +horses that, in the age of motor-cars, now remained on +the roads in London were quickly taken for draught, +and all horses fit to ride were commandeered for the +cavalry.</p> + +<p>During the turmoil daring German spies were actively +at work south of London. The Southampton line of +the London and South-Western Railway was destroyed—with +explosives placed by unknown hands—by the +bridge over the Wey, near Weybridge, being blown up; +and again that over the Mole, between Walton and +Esher, while the Reading line was cut by the great +bridge over the Thames at Staines being destroyed. +The line, too, between Guildford and Waterloo, was +also rendered impassable by the wreck of the midnight +train, which was blown up half-way between Wansborough +and Guildford, while in several other places +nearer London bridges were rendered unstable by dynamite, +the favourite method apparently being to blow the +crown out of an arch.</p> + +<p>The well-laid plans of the enemy were thus quickly +revealed. Among the thousands of Germans working in +London, the hundred or so spies, all trusted soldiers, +had passed unnoticed but, working in unison, each little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +group of two or three had been allotted its task, and +had previously thoroughly reconnoitred the position and +studied the most rapid or effective means.</p> + +<p>The railways to the east and north-east coasts all reported +wholesale damage done on Sunday night by the +advance agents of the enemy, and now this was continued +on the night of Monday in the south, the objective +being to hinder troops from moving north from +Aldershot. This was, indeed, effectual, for only by a +long <i>détour</i> could the troops be moved to the northern +defences of London, and while many were on Tuesday +entrained, others were conveyed to London by the motor +omnibuses sent down for that purpose.</p> + +<p>Everywhere through London and its vicinity, as well +as Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Coventry, Leeds, +and Liverpool, motor-cars and motor-omnibuses from +dealers and private owners were being requisitioned by +the military authorities, for they would, it was believed, +replace cavalry to a very large extent.</p> + +<p>Wild and extraordinary reports were circulated regarding +the disasters in the north. Hull, Newcastle, +Gateshead, and Tynemouth had, it was believed, been +bombarded and sacked. The shipping in the Tyne was +burning, and the Elswick works were held by the enemy. +Details were, however, very vague, as the Germans were +taking every precaution to prevent information reaching +London.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>NEWS OF THE ENEMY.</h3> + + +<p>Terror and excitement reigned everywhere. The wildest +rumours were hourly afloat. London was a seething +stream of breathless multitudes of every class.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning the newspapers throughout the +kingdom had devoted greater part of their space to the +extraordinary intelligence from Norfolk and Suffolk, and +Essex, and other places. Only the slow, old-fashioned +"Globe" remained asleep, or pretended to know nothing +of what was in progress.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>That we were actually invaded was plain, but most of +the newspapers happily preserved a calm, dignified tone, +and made no attempt at sensationalism. The situation +was far too serious.</p> + +<p>Like the public, however, the Press had been taken +entirely by surprise. The blow had been so sudden and +so staggering that half the alarming reports were discredited.</p> + +<p>In addition to the details of the enemy's operations, +as far as could as yet be ascertained, the "Morning +Post" on Monday contained an account of a mysterious +occurrence at Chatham, which read as follows:</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Chatham</span>, <i>Sept. 1</i> (11.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>).<br /> +</div> + +<p>"An extraordinary accident took place on the Medway +about eight o'clock this evening. The steamer 'Pole +Star,' 1,200 tons register, with a cargo of cement from +Frindsbury, was leaving for Hamburg, and came into +collision with the 'Frauenlob,' of Bremen, a somewhat +larger boat, which was inward bound, in a narrow +part of the channel about half-way between Chatham +and Sheerness. Various accounts of the mishap are +current, but whichever of the vessels was responsible +for the bad steering or neglect of the ordinary rules of +the road, it is certain that the 'Frauenlob' was cut +into by the stem of the 'Pole Star' on her port bow, +and sank almost across the channel. The 'Pole Star' +swung alongside her after the collision, and very soon +afterwards sank in an almost parallel position. Tugs +and steamboats carrying a number of naval officers and +the port authorities are about to proceed to the scene of +the accident, and if, as seems probable, there is no +chance of raising the vessels, steps will be at once taken +to blow them up. In the present state of our foreign +relations such an obstruction directly across the entrance +to one of our principal war-ports is a national +danger, and will not be allowed to remain a moment +longer than can be helped."</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<i>Sept. 2.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p>"An extraordinary <i>dénouement</i> has followed the collision +in the Medway reported in my telegram of last night, +which renders it impossible to draw any other conclusion +than that the affair is anything but an accident. +Everything now goes to prove that the whole business +was premeditated and was the result of an organised +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>plot with the object of 'bottling up' the numerous men-of-war +that are now being hurriedly equipped for service +in Chatham Dockyard. In the words of Scripture, +'An enemy hath done this,' and there can be very little +doubt as to the quarter from which the outrage was +engineered. It is nothing less than an outrage to perpetrate +what is in reality an overt act of hostility in a +time of profound peace, however much the political +horizon may be darkened by lowering war-clouds. We +are living under a Government whose leader lost no time +in announcing that no fear of being sneered at as a +'Little Englander' would deter him from seeking peace +and ensuring it by a reduction of our naval and military +armaments, even at that time known to be inadequate +to the demands likely to be made upon them if our +Empire is to be maintained. We trust, however, that +even this parochially-minded statesman will lose no time +in probing the conspiracy to its depths, and in seeking +instant satisfaction from those personages, however +highly placed and powerful, who have committed this +outrage on the laws of civilisation.</p> + +<p>"As soon as the news of the collision reached the +dockyard the senior officer at Kethole Reach was ordered +by wire to take steps to prevent any vessel from going +up the river, and he at once despatched several picket-boats +to the entrance to warn in-coming ships of the +blocking of the channel, while a couple of other boats +were sent up to within a short distance of the obstruction +to make assurance doubly sure. The harbour signals +ordering 'suspension of all movings' were also +hoisted at Garrison Point.</p> + +<p>"Among other ships which were stopped in consequence +of these measures was the 'Van Gysen,' a big +steamer hailing from Rotterdam, laden, it was stated, +with steel rails for the London, Chatham, and Dover +Railway, which were to be landed at Port Victoria. She +was accordingly allowed to proceed, and anchored, or +appeared to anchor, just off the railway pier at that +place. Ten minutes later the officer of the watch on +board H.M.S. 'Medici' reported that he thought she +was getting under way again. It was then pretty dark. +An electric searchlight being switched on, the 'Van +Gysen' was discovered steaming up the river at a considerable +speed. The 'Medici' flashed the news to the +flagship, which at once fired a gun, hoisted the recall +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>and the 'Van Gysen's' number in the international +code, and despatched her steam pinnace, with orders to +overhaul the Dutchman and stop him at whatever cost. +A number of the marines on guard were sent in her with +their rifles.</p> + +<p>"The 'Van Gysen' seemed well acquainted with the +channel, and continually increased her speed as she +went up the river, so that she was within half a mile +of the scene of the accident before the steamboat came +up with her. The officer in charge called to the skipper +through the megaphone to stop his engines and to throw +him a rope, as he wanted to come on board. After pretending +for some time not to understand him, the skipper +slowed his engines and said, 'Ver vel, come 'longside +gangway.' As the pinnace hooked on at the gangway, a +heavy iron cylinder cover was dropped into her from +the height of the 'Van Gysen's' deck. It knocked the +bowman overboard and crashed into the fore part of +the boat, knocking a big hole in the port side forward. +She swung off at an angle and stopped to pick up the +man overboard. Her crew succeeded in rescuing him, +but she was making water fast, and there was nothing +for it but to run her into the bank. The lieutenant in +charge ordered a rifle to be fired at the 'Van Gysen' to +bring her to, but she paid not the smallest attention, as +might have been expected, and went on her way with +gathering speed.</p> + +<p>"The report, however, served to attract the attention +of the two picket-boats which were patrolling up the +river. As she turned a bend in the stream they both +shot up alongside out of the darkness, and ordered +her peremptorily to stop. But the only answer they received +was the sudden extinction of all lights in the +steamer. They kept alongside, or rather one of them +did, but they were quite helpless to stay the progress of +the big wall-sided steamer. The faster of the picket-boats +shot ahead with the object of warning those who +were busy examining the wrecks. But the 'Van Gysen,' +going all she knew, was close behind, an indistinguishable +black blur in the darkness, and hardly had the +officer in the picket-boat delivered his warning before +she was heard close at hand. Within a couple of hundred +yards of the two wrecks she slowed down, for fear +of running right over them. On she came, inevitable as +Fate. There was a crash as she came into collision with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>the central deckhouses of the 'Frauenlob' and as her +bows scraped past the funnel of the 'Pole Star.' Then +followed no fewer than half a dozen muffled reports. +Her engines went astern for a moment, and down she +settled athwart the other two steamers, heeling over to +port as she did so. All was turmoil and confusion. None +of the dockyard and naval craft present were equipped +with searchlights. The harbour-master, the captain of +the yard, even the admiral superintendent, who had +just come down in his steam launch, all bawled out +orders.</p> + +<p>"Lights were flashed and lanterns swung up and +down in the vain endeavour to see more of what had +happened. Two simultaneous shouts of 'Man overboard!' +came from tugs and boats at opposite sides of +the river. When a certain amount of order was restored +it was discovered that a big dockyard tug was +settling down by the head. It seems she had been +grazed by the 'Van Gysen' as she came over the obstruction, +and forced against some portion of one of the +foundered vessels, which had pierced a hole in her below +the water-line.</p> + +<p>"In the general excitement the damage had not been +discovered, and now she was sinking fast. Hawsers +were made fast to her with the utmost expedition possible +in order to tow her clear of the piled-up wreckage, +but it was too late. There was only just time to rescue +her crew before she too added herself to the underwater +barricade. As for the crew of the 'Van Gysen,' it +is thought that all must have gone down in her, as no +trace of them has as yet been discovered, despite a most +diligent search, for it was considered that, in an affair +which had been so carefully planned as this certainly +must have been, some provision must surely have been +made for the escape of the crew. Those who have been +down at the scene of the disaster report that it will be +impossible to clear the channel in less than a week or +ten days, using every resource of the dockyard.</p> + +<p>"A little later I thought I would go down to the dockyard +on the off-chance of picking up any further information. +The Metropolitan policeman at the gate would on +no account allow me to pass at that hour, and I was +just turning away when, by a great piece of good fortune, +I ran up against Commander Shelley.</p> + +<p>"I was on board his ship as correspondent during the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>manœuvres of the year before last. 'And what are you +doing down here?' was his very natural inquiry after we +had shaken hands. I told him that I had been down +in Chatham for a week past as special correspondent, +reporting on the half-hearted preparations being made +for the possible mobilisation, and took the opportunity +of asking him if he could give me any further information +about the collision between the three steamers in +the Medway. 'Well,' said he, 'the best thing you can +do is to come right along with me. I have just been +hawked out of bed to superintend the diving operations, +which will begin the moment there is a gleam of daylight.' +Needless to say, this just suited me, and I +hastened to thank him and to accept his kind offer. +'All right,' he said, 'but I shall have to make one small +condition.'</p> + +<p>"'And that is?' I queried.</p> + +<p>"'Merely to let me "censor" your telegrams before +you send them,' he returned. 'You see, the Admiralty +might not like to have too much said about this business, +and I don't want to find myself in the dirt-tub.'</p> + +<p>"The stipulation was a most reasonable one, and however +I disliked the notion of having probably my best +paragraphs eliminated, I could not but assent to my +friend's proposition. So away we marched down the +echoing spaces of the almost deserted dockyard till we +arrived at the 'Thunderbolt' pontoon. Here lay a +pinnace with steam up, and lighted down the sloping +side of the old ironclad by the lantern of the policeman +on duty, we stepped on board and shot out into the +centre of the stream. We blew our whistles and the +coxswain waved a lantern, whereupon a small tug that +had a couple of dockyard lighters attached gave a +hoarse 'toot' in response, and followed us down the +river. We sped along in the darkness against a strong +tide that was making upstream, past Upnor Castle, that +quaint old Tudor fortress with its long line of modern +powder magazines, and along under the deeper shadows +beneath Hoo Woods till we came abreast of the medley +of mud flats and grass-grown islets just beyond them. +Here above the thud of the engines and the plash of the +water, a thin, long-drawn-out cry wavered through the +night. 'Some one hailing the boat, sir,' reported the +lookout forward. We had all heard it. 'Ease down,' +ordered Shelley, and hardly moving against the rushing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>tideway we listened for its repetition. Again the voice +was raised in quavering supplication. 'What the dickens +does he say?' queried the commander. 'It's German,' I +answered. 'I know that language well. I think he's +asking for help. May I answer him?'</p> + +<p>"'By all means. Perhaps he belongs to one of those +steamers.' The same thought was in my own mind. I +hailed in return, asking where he was and what he +wanted. The answer came back that he was a shipwrecked +seaman, who was cold, wet, and miserable, and +implored to be taken off from the islet where he found +himself, cut off from everywhere by water and darkness. +We ran the boat's nose into the bank, and presently +succeeded in hauling aboard a miserable object, wet +through, and plastered from head to foot with black Medway +mud. The broken remains of a cork life-belt hung from +his shoulders. A dram of whisky somewhat revived +him. 'And now,' said Shelley, 'you'd better cross-examine +him. We may get something out of the fellow.' The +foreigner, crouched down shivering in the stern-sheets +half covered with a yellow oilskin that some charitable +bluejacket had thrown over him, appeared to me in +the light of the lantern that stood on the deck before +him to be not only suffering from cold, but from terror. +A few moments' conversation with him confirmed my +suspicions. I turned to Shelley and exclaimed, 'He says +he'll tell us everything if we spare his life,' I explained. +'I'm sure I don't want to shoot the chap,' replied the +commander. 'I suppose he's implicated in this +"bottling up" affair. If he is, he jolly well deserves it, +but I don't suppose anything will be done to him. +Anyway, his information may be valuable, and so you +may tell him that he is all right as far as I'm concerned, +and I will do my best for him with the Admiral. +I daresay that will satisfy him. If not, you might +threaten him a bit. Tell him anything you like if you +think it will make him speak.' To cut a long story short, +I found the damp Dutchman amenable to reason, and +the following is the substance of what I elicited from him.</p> + +<p>"He had been a deck hand on board the 'Van Gysen.' +When she left Rotterdam he did not know that the trip +was anything out of the way. There was a new skipper +whom he had not seen before, and there were also two +new mates with a new chief engineer. Another steamer +followed them all the way till they arrived at the Nore. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>On the way over he and several other seamen were +sent for by the captain, and asked if they would volunteer +for a dangerous job, promising them £50 a-piece if it +came off all right. He and five others agreed, as did +two or three stokers, and were then ordered to remain +aft and not communicate with any others of the crew. +Off the Nore all the remainder were transferred +to the following steamer, which steamed off to +the eastward. After they were gone the selected men +were told that the officers all belonged to the Imperial +German Navy, and by orders of the Kaiser were about +to attempt to block up the Medway.</p> + +<p>"A collision between two other ships had been +arranged for, one of which was loaded with a mass of +old steel rails into which liquid cement had been run, so +that her hold contained a solid impenetrable block. The +'Van Gysen' carried a similar cargo, and was provided +with an arrangement for blowing holes in her bottom. +The crew were provided with life-belts, and the half +of the money promised, and all except the captain, the +engineer, and the two mates dropped overboard just before +arriving at the sunken vessels. They were advised +to make their way to Gravesend, and then to shift for +themselves as best they could. He had found himself +on a small island, and could not muster up courage to +plunge into the cold water again in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"'By Jove! This means war with Germany, man!—War!' +was Shelley's comment. At two o'clock this afternoon +we knew that it did, for the news of the enemy's +landing in Norfolk was signalled down from the dockyard. +We also knew from the divers that the cargo of +the sunken steamers was what the rescued seamen had +stated it to be. Our bottle has been fairly well corked."</p> + +<p>This amazing revelation showed how cleverly contrived +was the German plan of hostilities. All our splendid +ships at Chatham had, in that brief half-hour, been +bottled up and rendered utterly useless. Yet the +authorities were not blameless in the matter, for in +November, 1905, a foreign warship actually came up the +Medway in broad daylight, and was not noticed until +she began to bang away her salutes, much to the utter +consternation of every one.</p> + +<p>This incident, however, was but one of the many +illustrations of German's craft and cunning. The whole +scheme had been years in careful preparation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>She intended to invade us, and regarded every stratagem +as allowable in her sudden dash upon England, +an expedition which promised to result in the most +desperate war of modern times.</p> + +<p>At that moment the "Globe," at last aroused from +its long and peaceful sleep, reproduced those plain, prophetic +words of Lord Overstone, written some years before +to the Royal Defence Commission: "Negligence +alone can bring about the calamity under discussion. +Unless we suffer ourselves to be surprised we cannot be +invaded with success. It is useless to discuss what will +occur or what can be done after London has fallen into +the hands of an invading foe. The apathy which may +render the occurrence of such a catastrophe possible will +not afterwards enable the country, enfeebled, dispirited, +and disorganised by the loss of its capital, to redeem the +fatal error."</p> + +<p>Was that prophecy to be fulfilled?</p> + +<p>Some highly interesting information was given by +the Ipswich correspondent of the Central News.</p> + +<p>Repeated briefly, it was as follows:—</p> + +<p>"Shortly before three o'clock on Sunday morning the +coastguard at Lowestoft, Corton, and Beach End discovered +that their telephonic communication was interrupted, +and half an hour later, to the surprise of every +one a miscellaneous collection of mysterious craft were +seen approaching the harbour: and within an hour +many of them were high and dry on the beach, while +others were lashed alongside the old dock, the new fish-docks +of the Great Eastern Railway, and the wharves, +disembarking a huge force of German infantry, cavalry, +motor-infantry, and artillery. The town, awakened from +its slumbers, was utterly paralysed, the more so when +it was discovered that the railway to London was already +interrupted, and the telegraph lines all cut. On landing, +the enemy commandeered all provisions, including +all motor-cars they could discover, horses and forage, +while the banks were seized, and the infantry, falling +in marched up Old Nelson Street into High Street, and +out upon the Beccles Road. The first care of the invaders +was to prevent the people of Lowestoft damaging +the Swing Bridge, a strong guard being instantly mounted +upon it, and so quietly and orderly was the landing effected +that it was plain the German plans of invasion were +absolutely perfect in every detail.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Few hitches seemed to occur. The mayor was summoned +at six o'clock by General von Kronhelm, the +generalissimo of the German Army, and briefly informed +that the town of Lowestoft was occupied, and that all +armed resistance would be punished by death. Then, +ten minutes later, when the German war-flag was flying +from several flagstaffs in various parts of the town, the +people realised their utter helplessness.</p> + +<p>"The Germans, of course, knew that, irrespective of +the weather, a landing could be effected at Lowestoft, +where the fish-docks and wharves, with their many +cranes, were capable of dealing with a large amount of +stores. The Denes, that flat, sandy plain between the +upper town and the sea, they turned into a camping-ground, +and large numbers were billeted in various quarters +of the town itself.</p> + +<p>"The people were terror-stricken. To appeal to London +for help was impossible, as the place had been cut +entirely off, and around it a strong chain of outposts +had already been thrown, preventing any one from +escaping. The town had, in a moment, as it seemed, +fallen at the mercy of the foreigners. Even the important-looking +police constables of Lowestoft, with their +little canes, were crestfallen, sullen, and inactive.</p> + +<p>"While the landing was continuing during all Sunday +the advance guard moved rapidly over Mutford Bridge, +along the Beccles Road, occupying a strong position +on the west side of the high ground east of Lowestoft. +Beccles, where von Kronhelm established his headquarters, +resting as it does on the River Waveney, is strongly +held. The enemy's main position appears to run from +Windle Hill, one mile north-east of Gillingham, thence +north-west through Bull's Green, Herringfleet Hill, over +to Grove Farm and Hill House to Raveningham, whence +it turns easterly to Haddiscoe, which is at present its +northern limit. The total front from Beccles Bridge +north is about five miles, and commands the whole of +the flat plain west towards Norwich. It has its south +flank resting on the River Waveney, and to the north +on Thorpe Marshes. The chief artillery position is at +Toft Monks—the highest point. Upon the high tower +of Beccles Church is established a signal station, communication +being made constantly with Lowestoft by +helio by day, and acetylene lamps by night.</p> + +<p>"The enemy's position has been most carefully chosen, +for it is naturally strong, and, being well held to protect +Lowestoft from any attack from the west, the landing +can continue uninterruptedly, for Lowestoft beach and +docks are now entirely out of the line of any British +fire.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<h2>PROCLAMATION.</h2> + +<h3>CITIZENS OF LONDON.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>THE NEWS OF THE BOMBARDMENT of the +City of Newcastle and the landing of the German +Army at Hull, Weybourne, Yarmouth, and other +places along the East Coast is unfortunately confirmed.</p> + +<p>THE ENEMY'S INTENTION is to march upon +the City of London, which must be resolutely defended.</p> + +<p>THE BRITISH NATION and the Citizens of London, +in face of these great events, must be energetic +in order to vanquish the invader.</p> + +<p>The ADVANCE must be CHALLENGED FOOT +BY FOOT. The people must fight for King and +Country.</p> + +<p>Great Britain is not yet dead, for indeed, the more +serious her danger, the stronger will be her unanimous +patriotism.</p> + +<h3>GOD SAVE THE KING.</h3> + +<div class="right">HARRISON, <i>Lord Mayor</i>.</div> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Mansion House</span>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>September 3rd, 1910</i>. +</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 408px;"> +<a href="images/i035-hi.png"><img src="images/i035.png" width="408" height="600" alt="THE LORD MAYOR'S APPEAL TO LONDON." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE LORD MAYOR'S APPEAL TO LONDON.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"March outposts are at Blythburgh, Wenhaston, +Holton, Halesworth, Wissett, Rumburgh, Homersfield, +and Bungay, and then north to Haddiscoe, while cavalry +patrols watch by day, the line roughly being from Leiston +through Saxmundham, Framlingham, and Tannington, +to Hoxne.</p> + +<p>"The estimate, gleaned from various sources in Lowestoft +and Beccles, is that up to Monday at midday nearly +a whole Army Corps, with stores, guns, ammunition, +etc., had already landed, while there are also reports of +a further landing at Yarmouth, and at a spot still farther +north, but at present there are no details.</p> + +<p>"The enemy," he concluded, "are at present in a +position of absolute security."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>A PROPHECY FULFILLED.</h3> + + +<p>This authentic news of the position of the enemy, combined +with the vague rumours of other landings at Yarmouth, +along the coast at some unknown point north +of Cromer, at King's Lynn, and other places, produced +an enormous sensation in London, while the Central +News account, circulated to all the papers in the Midlands +and Lancashire, increased the panic in the manufacturing +districts.</p> + +<p>The special edition of the "Evening Star," issued +about six o'clock on Tuesday evening, contained another +remarkable story which threw some further light upon +the German movements. It was, of course, known that +practically the whole of the Norfolk and Suffolk coast +was already held by the enemy, but with the exception<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +of the fact that the enemy's cavalry vedettes and reconnoitring +patrols were out everywhere at a distance +about twenty miles from the shore, England was entirely +in the dark as to what had occurred anywhere +else but at Lowestoft. Attempts had been made to +penetrate the cavalry screen at various points, but in +vain. What was in progress was carefully kept a secret +by the enemy. The veil was, however, now lifted. The +story which the "Evening Star" had obtained exclusively, +and which was eagerly read everywhere, had +been related by a man named Scotney, a lobster-fisherman, +of Sheringham, in Norfolk, who had made the +following statement to the chief officer of coastguard +at Wainfleet, in Lincolnshire:</p> + +<p>"Just before dawn on Sunday morning I was in the +boat with my son Ted off the Robin Friend, taking up +the lobster pots, when we suddenly saw about three +miles off shore a mixed lot of curious-looking craft strung +out right across the horizon, and heading apparently for +Cromer. There were steamers big and little, many of +them towing queer flat-bottomed kind of boats, lighters, +and barges, which, on approaching nearer, we could +distinctly see were filled to their utmost capacity with +men and horses.</p> + +<p>"Both Ted and I stood staring at the unusual sight, +wondering whatever it meant. They came on very +quickly, however—so quickly, indeed, that we thought +it best to move on. The biggest ships went along to +Weybourne Gap, where they moored in the twenty-five +feet of water that runs in close to the shore, while some +smaller steamers and the flats were run high and dry +on the hard shingle. Before this I noticed that there +were quite a number of foreign warships in the offing, +with several destroyers far away in the distance both to +east and west.</p> + +<p>"From the larger steamships all sorts of boats were +lowered, including apparently many collapsible whaleboats, +and into these, in a most orderly manner, from +every gangway and accommodation-ladder, troops—Germans +we afterwards discovered them to be, to our +utter astonishment—began to descend.</p> + +<p>"These boats were at once taken charge of by steam +pinnaces and cutters and towed to the beach. When +we saw this we were utterly dumbfounded. Indeed, +at first I believed it to be a dream, for ever since I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +a lad I had heard the ancient rhyme my old father was +so fond of repeating:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +"'He who would Old England win,<br /> +Must at Weybourne Hoop begin.'<br /> +</div> + +<p>"As everybody knows, nature has provided at that +lonely spot every advantage for the landing of hostile +forces, and when the Spanish Armada was expected, and +again when Napoleon threatened an invasion, the place +was constantly watched. Yet nowadays, except for the +coastguard, it has been utterly unprotected and +neglected.</p> + +<p>"The very first soldiers who landed formed up quickly, +and under the charge of an officer ran up the low hill +to the coastguard station, I suppose in order to prevent +them signalling a warning. The funny thing was, however, +that the coastguards had already been held up by +several well-dressed men—spies of the Germans, I suppose. +I could distinctly see one man holding one of the +guards with his back to the wall, and threatening him +with a revolver.</p> + +<p>"Ted and I had somehow been surrounded by the +crowd of odd craft which dodged about everywhere, and +the foreigners now and then shouted to me words that +unfortunately I could not understand.</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile, from all the boats strung out along the +beach, from Sheringham right across to the Rocket +House at Salthouse, swarms of drab-coated soldiers were +disembarking, the boats immediately returning to the +steamers for more. They must have been packed as +tightly as herrings in a barrel; but they all seemed to +know where to go to, because all along at various +places little flags were held by men, and each regiment +appeared to march across and assemble at its own +flag.</p> + +<p>"Ted and I sat there as if we were watching a play. +Suddenly we saw from some of the ships and bigger +barges horses being lowered into the water and allowed +to swim ashore. Hundreds seemed to gain the beach +even as we were looking at them. Then, after the first +lot of horses had gone, boats full of saddles followed +them. It seemed as though the foreigners were too busy to +notice us, and we—not wanting to share the fate of +Mr. Gunter, the coastguard, and his mates—just sat +tight and watched.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"From the steamers there continued to pour hundreds +upon hundreds of soldiers, who were towed to land, +and then formed up in solid squares, which got bigger +and bigger. Horses innumerable—quite a thousand, I +should reckon—were slung overboard from some of the +smaller steamers which had been run high and dry on +the beach, and as the tide had now begun to run down, +they landed only knee-deep in water. Those steamers, +it seemed to me, had big bilge keels, for as the tide ebbed +they did not heel over. They had, no doubt, been +specially fitted for the purpose. Out of some they +began to hoist all sorts of things, wagons, guns, motor-cars, +large bales of fodder, clothing, ambulances with +big red crosses on them, flat-looking boats—pontoons I +think they call them—and great piles of cooking pots +and pans, square boxes of stores, or perhaps ammunition, +and as soon as anything was landed it was hauled up +above high-water mark.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime lots of men had mounted on horseback +and ridden off up the lane which leads into Weybourne +village. At first half a dozen started at a time; +then, as far as I could judge, about fifty more started. +Then larger bodies went forward, but more and more +horses kept going ashore, as though their number was +never-ending. They must have been stowed mighty +close, and many of the ships must have been specially +fitted up for them.</p> + +<p>"Very soon I saw cavalry swarming up over Muckleburgh, +Warborough, and Telegraph Hills, while a good +many trotted away in the direction of Runton and +Sheringham. Then, soon after they had gone—that is, +in about an hour and a half from their first arrival—the +infantry began to move off, and as far as I could +see, they marched inland by every road, some in the +direction of Kelling Street and Holt, others over Weybourne +Heath towards Bodham, and still others skirting +the woods over to Upper Sheringham. Large masses of +infantry marched along the Sheringham Road, and +seemed to have a lot of officers on horseback with them, +while up on Muckleburgh Hill I saw frantic signalling +in progress.</p> + +<p>"By this time they had a quantity of carts and wagons +landed, and a large number of motor-cars. The latter +were soon started, and, manned by infantry, moved +swiftly in procession after the troops. The great idea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +of the Germans was apparently to get the beach clear +of everything as soon as landed, for all stores, equipment, +and other tackle were pushed inland as soon as +disembarked.</p> + +<p>"The enemy kept on landing. Thousands of soldiers +got ashore without any check, and all proceeding orderly +and without the slightest confusion, as though the plans +were absolutely perfect. Everybody seemed to know +exactly what to do. From where we were we could see +the coastguards held prisoners in their station, with +German sentries mounted around; and as the tide was +now setting strong to the westward, Ted and I just let +our anchor off the ground and allowed ourselves to +drift. It occurred to me that perhaps I might be able +give the alarm at some other coastguard station if +I could only drift away unnoticed in the busy scene +now in progress.</p> + +<p>"That the Germans had actually landed in England +now apparent; yet we wondered what our own fleet +could be doing, and pictured to ourselves the jolly good +drubbing that our cruisers would give the audacious +foreigner when they did haul in sight. It was for us, +at all costs, to give the alarm, so gradually we drifted +off to the nor'-westward, in fear every moment lest we +should be noticed and fired at. At last we got around +Blakeney Point successfully, and breathed more freely; +then hoisting our sail, we headed for Hunstanton, but +seeing numbers of ships entering the Wash, and believing +them to be also Germans, we put our helm down and +ran across into Wainfleet Swatchway to Gibraltar Point, +where I saw the chief officer of coastguards and told +him all the extraordinary events of that memorable morning."</p> + +<p>The report added that the officer of coastguard in +question had, three hours before, noticed strange vessels +coming up the Wash, and had already tried to report +by telegraph to his divisional inspecting officer at Harwich, +but could obtain no communication. An hour later, +however, it had become apparent that a still further +landing was being effected on the south side of the Wash, +in all probability at King's Lynn.</p> + +<p>The fisherman Scotney's statement had been sent by +special messenger from Wainfleet on Sunday evening, +but owing to the dislocation of the railway traffic north +of London, the messenger was unable to reach the offices<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +of the coastguard in Victoria Street, Westminster, until +Monday. The report received by the Admiralty had +been treated as confidential until corroborated, lest undue +public alarm should be caused.</p> + +<p>It had then been given to the Press as revealing the +truth of what had actually happened.</p> + +<p>The enemy had entered by the back door of England, +and the sensation it caused everywhere was little short +of panic.</p> + +<p>Some further very valuable information was also received +by the Intelligence Department of the War Office, +revealing the military position of the invaders who had +landed at Weybourne Hoop.</p> + +<p>The whole of the IVth German Army Corps, about +38,000 men, had been landed at Weybourne, Sheringham, +and Cromer. It consisted of the 7th and 8th Divisions +complete, commanded respectively by Major-General +Dickmann and Lieutenant-General von Mirbach. The +7th Division comprised the 13th and 14th Infantry +Brigades, consisting of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau's +1st Magdeburg Regiment, the 3rd Magdeburg Infantry +Regiment, Prince Louis Ferdinand von Preussen's 2nd +Magdeburg Regiment, and the 5th Hanover Infantry +Regiment. Attached to this division were the Magdeburg +Hussars No. 10, and the Uhlan Regiment of Altmärk +No. 16.</p> + +<p>In the 8th Division were the 15th and 16th Brigades, +comprising a Magdeburg Fusilier Regiment, an Anhalt +Infantry Regiment, the 4th and 8th Thuringen Infantry, +with the Magdeburg Cuirassiers, and a regiment of +Thuringen Hussars. The cavalry were commanded by +Colonel Frölich, while General von Kleppen was in supreme +command of the whole corps.</p> + +<p>Careful reconnaissance of the occupied area showed +that immediately on landing, the German position extended +from the little town of Holt, on the west, eastward, +along the main Cromer road, as far as Gibbet +Lane, slightly south of Cromer, a distance of about +five miles. This constituted a naturally strong position; +indeed, nature seemed to have provided it specially to +suit the necessities of a foreign invader. The ground +for miles to the south sloped gently away down to the +plain, while the rear was completely protected, so that +the landing could proceed until every detail had been +completed.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> +<div class="center"> +<i>Berlin um Eins!</i> <i>Berlin um Eins!</i><br /> +<br /> +Das Kleine Journal<br /> +Mittags Ausgabe.<br /> +<br /> +Berlin, Montag, den 3 September 1910<br /> +<br /> +Triumph der<br /> +Deutschen<br /> +Waffen.<br /> +<br /> +Vernichtung der<br /> +Englischen<br /> +Flotte.<br /> +<br /> +Von Kronhelm Auf<br /> +Dem Vormarsche<br /> +Nach London.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 338px;"> +<a href="images/i042-hi.png"><img src="images/i042.png" width="338" height="500" alt="THE FIRST NEWS IN BERLIN OF +THE GERMAN VICTORY." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE FIRST NEWS IN BERLIN OF<br /> +THE GERMAN VICTORY.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Artillery were massed on both flanks, namely, at Holt +and on the high ground near Felbrigg, immediately south +of Cromer. This last-named artillery was adequately +supported by the detached infantry close at hand. The +whole force was covered by a strong line of outposts. +Their advanced sentries were to be found along a line +starting from Thornage village, through Hunworth, Edgefield, +Barningham Green, Squallham, Aldborough, Hanworth, +to Roughton. In rear of them lay their pickets, +which were disposed in advantageous situations. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +general line of these latter were at North Street, Pondhills +to Plumstead, thence over to Matlash Hall, Aldborough +Hall, and the rising ground north of Hanworth. +These, in their turn, were adequately supplemented +by the supports, which were near Hempstead Green, +Baconsthorpe, North Narningham, Bessingham, Sustead, +and Melton.</p> + +<p>In case of sudden attack, reserves were at Bodham, +West Beckham, East Beckham, and Aylmerton, but +orders had been issued by Von Kleppen, who had established +his headquarters at Upper Sheringham, that the +line of resistance was to be as already indicated—namely, +that having the Holt-Cromer Road for its crest. Cuirassiers, +Hussars, and some motorists—commanded by +Colonel von Dorndorf—were acting independently some +fifteen miles to the south scouring the whole country, +terrifying the villagers, commandeering all supplies, and +posting Von Kronhelm's proclamation, which has already +been reproduced.</p> + +<p>From inquiries it was shown that on the night of the +invasion six men, now known to have been advance +agents of the enemy, arrived at the Ship Inn, at Weybourne. +Three of them took accommodation for the +night, while their companions slept elsewhere. At two +o'clock the trio let themselves out quietly, were joined +by six other men, and just as the enemy's ships hove +in sight nine of them seized the coastguards and cut the +wires, while the other three broke into the Weybourne +Stores, and, drawing revolvers, obtained possession of +the telegraph instrument to Sheringham and Cromer +until they could hand it over to the Germans.</p> + +<p>That the Fourth German Army Corps were in a position +as strong as those who landed at Lowestoft could not +be denied, and the military authorities could not disguise +from themselves the extreme gravity of the +situation.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>STATE OF SIEGE DECLARED.</h3> + + +<p>That our fleet had been taken unawares was apparent. +There were all sorts of vague rumours of a sudden +attack upon the North Sea Fleet at Rosyth, and a fierce +cruiser battle, in which we had been badly beaten by +Germany. It is, however, the land campaign which we +have here to record.</p> + +<p>The authentic account of a further landing in Essex—somewhere +near Maldon—was now published. The statement +had been dictated by Mr. Henry Alexander, J.P.,—the +Mayor of Maldon, who had succeeded in escaping +from the town,—to Captain Wilfred Quare, of the Intelligence +Department of the War Office. This Department +had, in turn, given it to the newspapers for publication.</p> + +<p>It read as follows:—</p> + +<p>"On Sunday morning, September 2, I had arranged to +play a round of golf with my friend Somers, of Beeleigh, +before church. I met him at the Golf Hut about 8.30. +We played one round, and were at the last hole but +three in a second round when we both thought we heard +the sound of shots fired somewhere in the town. We +couldn't make anything at all of it, and as we had so +nearly finished the round, we thought we would do so +before going to inquire about it. I was making my +approach to the final hole when an exclamation from +Somers spoilt my stroke. I felt annoyed, but as I looked +around—doubtless somewhat irritably—my eyes turned +in the direction in which I now saw my friend was +pointing with every expression of astonishment in his +countenance.</p> + +<p>"'Who on earth are those fellows?' he asked. As for +me, I was too dumbfounded to reply. Galloping over +the links from the direction of the town came three +men in uniform—soldiers, evidently. I had often been +in Germany, and recognised the squat pickelhaubes +and general get-up of the rapidly approaching horsemen +at a glance.</p> + +<p>"They were upon us almost as he spoke, pulling up +their horses with a great spattering up of grass and +mud, quite ruining one of our best greens. All three of +them pointed big, ugly repeating pistols at us, and the +leader, a conceited-looking ass in staff uniform, required +us to 'surrender' in quite a pompous manner, but in +very good English.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<h3>BY THE KING,</h3> + +<h2>PROCLAMATION</h2> +<h3>FOR CALLING OUT THE ARMY RESERVE.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>EDWARD R.</p> + +<p>WHEREAS by the Reserve Forces Act, 1882, it is +amongst other things enacted that in case of imminent +national danger or of great emergency, it shall be +lawful for Us, by Proclamation, the occasion being +declared in Council and notified by the Proclamation, +if Parliament be not then sitting, to order that the +Army Reserve shall be called out on permanent service; +and by any such Proclamation to order a Secretary +of State from time to time to give, and when +given, to revoke or vary such directions as may seem +necessary or proper for calling out the forces or force +mentioned in the Proclamation, or all or any of the +men belonging thereto:</p> + +<p>AND WHEREAS Parliament is not sitting, and +whereas WE have declared in Council and hereby +notify the present state of Public Affairs and the extent +of the demands on Our Military Forces for the +protection of the interests of the Empire constitute a +case of great emergency within the meaning of the +said Act:</p> + +<p>NOW THEREFORE We do in pursuance of the +said Act hereby order that Our Army Reserve be +called out on permanent service, and We do hereby +order the Right Honourable Charles Leonard Spencer +Cotterell, one of our Principal Secretaries of State, +from time to time to give, and when given, to revoke +or vary such directions as may seem necessary or +proper for calling out Our Army Reserve, or all or +any of the men belonging thereto, and such men +shall proceed to and attend at such places and at +such times as may be respectively appointed by him +to serve as part of Our Army until their services are +no longer required.</p> + +<p>Given at Our Court at James', this fourth day of +September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand +nine hundred and ten, and in the tenth +year of Our Reign.</p> + +<h3>GOD SAVE THE KING.</h3> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 359px;"> +<a href="images/i045-hi.png"><img src="images/i045.png" width="359" height="600" alt="PROCLAMATION +FOR CALLING OUT THE ARMY RESERVE" title="" /></a> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Do we look so very dangerous, Herr Lieutenant?' +inquired I in German.</p> + +<p>"He dropped a little of his frills when he heard me +speak in his native language, asked which of us was the +Mayor, and condescended to explain that I was required +in Maldon by the officer at present in command of his +Imperial Majesty the Kaiser's forces occupying that +place.</p> + +<p>"I looked at my captor in complete bewilderment. +Could he be some fellow trying to take a rise out of me +by masquerading as a German officer? But no, I recognised +at once that he was the genuine article.</p> + +<p>"He demanded my parole, which I made no difficulty +about giving, since I did not see any way of escape, and +in any case was only too anxious to get back to town to +see how things were.</p> + +<p>"'But you don't want my friend, do you—he lives out +the other way?' I queried.</p> + +<p>"'I don't want him, but he will have to come all the +same,' rejoined the German. 'It isn't likely we're going +to let him get away to give the alarm in Colchester, +is it?'</p> + +<p>"Obviously it was not, and without more ado we +started off at a sharp walk, holding on to the stirrup +leathers of the horsemen.</p> + +<p>"As we entered the town there was on the bridge over +the river, a small picket of blue-coated German infantry. +The whole thing was a perfect nightmare. It was past +belief.</p> + +<p>"'How on earth did you get here?' I couldn't help +asking.</p> + +<p>"'By water,' he answered shortly, pointing down the +river as he spoke, where I was still further astonished—if +it were possible after such a morning—to see several +steam pinnaces and boats flying the black and white +German ensign.</p> + +<p>"I was conducted straight to the Moot Hall. There +I found a grizzled veteran waiting on the steps, who +turned round and entered the building as we came up. +We followed him inside, and I was introduced to him. +He appeared to be a truculent old ruffian.</p> + +<p>"'Well, Mr. Mayor,' he said, pulling viciously at his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +white moustache, 'do you know that I've a great mind +to take you out into the street and have you shot?'</p> + +<p>"I was not at all inclined to be browbeated.</p> + +<p>"'Indeed, Herr Hauptman?' I answered. 'And may +I inquire in what way I have incurred the displeasure +of the Hochwohlgeboren officer?'</p> + +<p>"'Don't trifle with me, sir. Why do you allow your +miserable Volunteers to come out and shoot my men?'</p> + +<p>"'My Volunteers? I am afraid I don't understand +what you mean,' I said. 'I'm not a Volunteer officer. +Even if I were, I should have no cognisance of anything +that has happened within the last two hours, as I have +been down on the golf course. This officer will bear +me out,' I added, turning to my captor. He admitted +that he had found me there.</p> + +<p>"'But, anyway, you are the Mayor,' persisted my interrogator. +'Why did you allow the Volunteers to come +out?'</p> + +<p>"'If you had been good enough to inform us of your +visit, we might have made better arrangements.' I +answered; 'but in any case you must understand that +a mayor has little or no authority in this country. His +job is to head subscription-lists, eat a dinner or two, +and make speeches on public occasions.'</p> + +<p>"He seemed to have some difficulty in swallowing +this, but as another officer who was there, writing at +a table, and who, it appears, had lived at some period +in England, corroborated my statement, the choleric +colonel seemed to be a little mollified, and contented +himself with demanding my parole not to leave Maldon +until he had reported the matter to the General for +decision. I gave it without more ado, and then asked +if he would be good enough to tell me what had happened. +From what he told me, and what I heard afterwards, +it seems that the Germans must have landed +a few of their men about half an hour before I left home, +down near the Marine Lake. They had not entered the +town at once, as their object was to work round outside +and occupy all entrances, to prevent anyone getting away +with the news of their presence. They had not noticed +the little lane leading to the golf course, and so I had +gone down without meeting any of them, although they +had actually got a picket just beyond the railway arch +at that time. They had completed their cordon before +there was any general alarm in the town, but at the first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +reliable rumour it seems that young Shand, of the +Essex Volunteers, had contrived to get together twenty +or thirty of his men in their uniforms and foolishly +opened fire on a German picket down by St. Mary's +Church. They fell back, but were almost instantly +reinforced by a whole company that had just landed, +and our men, rushing forward, had been ridden into by +some cavalry that came up a side street. They were +dispersed, a couple of them were killed, and several +wounded, among them poor Shand, who was hit in +the right lung. They had bagged four Germans, however, +and their commanding officer was furious. It +was a pity that it happened, as it could not possibly +have been of any use. But it seems that +Shand had no idea that it was more than a +very small detachment that had landed from a gun-boat +that some one said they had seen down the river. +Some of the Volunteers were captured afterwards and +sent off as prisoners, and the Germans posted up a +notice that all Volunteers were forthwith to surrender +either themselves or their arms and uniforms, under +pain of death. Most of them did the latter. They could +do nothing after it was found that the Germans had a +perfect army somewhere between Maldon and the sea, +and were pouring troops into the town as fast as they +could.</p> + +<p>"That very morning a Saxon rifle battalion arrived +from the direction of Mundon, and just afterwards a lot +spike-helmeted gentlemen came in by train from +Wickford way. So it went on all day, until the whole +town was in a perfect uproar. The infantry were billeted +in the town, but the cavalry and guns crossed the +river and canal at Heybridge, and went off in the direction +of Witham.</p> + +<p>"Maldon is built on a hill that slopes gradually towards +the east and south, but rises somewhat abruptly +on the west and north, humping up a shoulder, as it +were, to the north-west. At this corner they started to +dig entrenchments just after one o'clock, and soon officers +and orderlies were busy all round the town, plotting, +measuring, and setting up marks of one kind and another. +Other troops appeared to be busy down in Heybridge, +but what they were doing I could not tell, as no one was +allowed to cross the bridge over the river.</p> + +<p>"The German officer who had surprised me down on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +the golf course did not turn out to be a bad kind of youth +on further acquaintance. He was a Captain von Hildebrandt, +of the Guard Fusilier Regiment, who was employed +on the Staff, though in what capacity he did +not say. Thinking it was just as well to make the best +of a bad job, I invited him to lunch. He said he had +to be off. He, however, introduced me to three friends +of his in the 101st Grenadiers, who, he suggested, should +be billeted on me. I thought the idea a fairly good +one, and Von Hildebrandt, having apparently arranged +this with the billeting officer without any difficulty, I +took them home with me to lunch.</p> + +<p>"I found my wife and family in a great state of mind, +both on account of the untoward happenings of the +morning and my non-return from golf at the expected +time. They had imagined all sorts of things which +might have befallen me, but luckily seemed not to have +heard of my adventure with the choleric colonel. Our +three foreigners soon made themselves very much at +home, but as they were undeniably gentlemen, they +contrived to be about as agreeable as could be expected +under the circumstances. Indeed, their presence was +to a great extent a safeguard against annoyance, as the +stable and back premises were stuffed full of soldiers, +who might have been very troublesome had they not +been there to keep them in order.</p> + +<p>"Of what was happening up in London we knew +nothing. Being Sunday, all the shops were shut; but +I went out and contrived to lay in a considerable stock +of provisions one way and another, and it was just as +well I did, for I only just anticipated the Germans, +who commandeered everything in the town, and put +everybody on an allowance of rations. They paid for +them with bills on the British Government, which were +by no means acceptable to the shopkeepers. However, +it was 'Hobson's choice'—that or nothing. The Germans +soothed them by saying that the British Army +would be smashed in a couple of weeks, and the defrayment +of such bills would be among the conditions of +peace. The troops generally seemed to be well-behaved, +and treated those inhabitants with whom they came +in contact in an unexceptionable manner. They did +not see very much of them, however, as they were kept +hard at work all day with their entrenchments and were +not allowed out of their billets after eight o'clock that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +evening. No one, in fact, was allowed to be about the +streets after that hour. Two or three people were shot +by the sentries as they tried to break out in one direction +or the other. These affairs produced a feeling of +horror and indignation in the town, as Englishmen, +having such a long experience of peace in their own +country, have always refused to realise what war really +means.</p> + +<p>"The German fortifications went on at a rapid rate. +Trenches were dug all round the northern and western +sides of the town before dark on the first evening, and +the following morning I woke up to find three huge +gun-pits yawning in my garden, which looked to the +northward. During breakfast there was a great rattling +and rumbling in the street without, and presently three +big field howitzers were dragged in and planted in the +pits. There they stood, their ugly snouts pointing skyward +in the midst of the wreck of flowers and fruit.</p> + +<p>"Afterwards I went out and found that other guns +and howitzers were being put in position all along the +north side of Beeleigh Road, and round the corner by +the Old Barracks. The high tower of the disused Church +of St. Peter's, now utilised for the safe custody of Dr. +Plume's library, had been equipped as a lookout and +signal station."</p> + +<p>Such was the condition of affairs in the town of Maldon +on Monday morning.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The excitement in London, and indeed all over the +country, on Tuesday night was intense. Scotney's story +of the landing at Weybourne was eagerly read everywhere.</p> + +<p>As the sun sank blood-red into the smoke haze behind +Nelson's Monument in Trafalgar Square, it was an ominous +sign to the panic-stricken crowds that day and night +were now assembled there.</p> + +<p>The bronze lions facing the four points of the compass +were now mere mocking emblems of England's departed +greatness. The mobilisation muddle was known; for, +according to the papers, hardly any troops had as yet +assembled at their places of concentration. The whole +of the east of England was helplessly in the invader's +hands. From Newcastle had come terrible reports +of the bombardment. Half the city was in flames, the +Elswick works were held by the enemy, and whole streets<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, and Tynemouth +were still burning fiercely.</p> + +<p>The Tynemouth fort had proved of little or no use +against the enemy's guns. The Germans had, it appeared, +used petrol bombs with appalling results, spreading +fire, disaster, and death everywhere. The inhabitants, +compelled to fly with only the clothes they wore, had +scattered all over Northumberland and Durham, while +the enemy had seized a quantity of valuable shipping +that had been in the Tyne, hoisted the German flag, and +converted the vessels to their own uses.</p> + +<p>Many had already been sent across to Wilhelmshaven, +Emden, Bremerhaven, and other places to act as transports, +while the Elswick works—which surely ought to +have been properly protected—supplied the Germans +with quantities of valuable material.</p> + +<p>Panic and confusion were everywhere. All over the +country the railway system was utterly disorganised, +business everywhere was at a complete deadlock, for in +every town and city all over the kingdom the banks were +closed.</p> + +<p>Lombard Street, Lothbury, and other banking centres +in the City had all day on Monday been the scene of +absolute panic. There, as well as at every branch bank +all over the metropolis, had occurred a wild rush to +withdraw deposits by people who foresaw disaster. Many, +indeed, intended to fly with their families away from +the country.</p> + +<p>The price of the necessities of life had risen further, +and in the East End and poorer districts of Southwark +the whole population were already in a state of semi-starvation. +But worst of all, the awful truth with which +London was now face to face was that the metropolis +was absolutely defenceless.</p> + +<p>Every hour the papers were appearing with fresh +details of the invasion, for reports were so rapidly coming +in from every hand that the Press had difficulty in dealing +with them.</p> + +<p>Hull and Goole were known to be in the hands of the +invaders, and Grimsby, where the Mayor had been unable +to pay the indemnity demanded, had been sacked. But +details were not yet forthcoming.</p> + +<p>Londoners, however, learnt late that night more +authentic news from the invaded zone, of which Beccles +was the centre, and it was to the effect that those who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +had landed at Lowestoft were the IXth German Army +Corps, with General von Kronhelm, the Generalissimo +of the German Army. This Army Corps, consisting of +about 40,000 men, was divided into the 17th Division, +commanded by Lieutenant-General Hocker, and the +18th by Lieutenant-General von Rauch. The cavalry +was under the command of Major-General von Heyden, +and the motor-infantry under Colonel Reichardt.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h2>NOTICE.</h2> + +<h3>TO ALL GERMAN SUBJECTS RESIDENT IN ENGLAND.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>WILHELM.</p> + +<p>To all OUR LOYAL SUBJECTS, GREETING.</p> + +<p>We hereby COMMAND and enjoin that all persons +born within the German Empire, or being German +subjects, whether liable to military service or not, +shall join our arms at any headquarters of either of +our Army Corps in England within 24 hours of the +date of this proclamation.</p> + +<p>Any German subject failing to obey this our Command +will be treated as an enemy.</p> + +<p>By the EMPEROR'S Command.</p> + +<p>Given at Beccles, Sept. 3rd, 1910.</p> + +<div class="right"><b>VON KRONHELM</b>,<br /> +Commanding the Imperial German Army in England. +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 389px;"> +<a href="images/i052-hi.png"><img src="images/i052.png" width="389" height="400" alt="FACSIMILE OF A PROCLAMATION POSTED BY UNKNOWN +HANDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">FACSIMILE OF A PROCLAMATION POSTED BY UNKNOWN +HANDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>According to official information which had reached +the War Office and been given to the Press, the 17th +Division was made up of the Bremen and Hamburg +Infantry Regiments, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +Grenadiers, the Grand Duke's Fusiliers, the Lübeck +Regiment No. 162, the Schleswig-Holstein Regiment No. +163, while the cavalry brigade consisted of the 17th and +18th Grand Duke of Mecklenburg's Dragoons.</p> + +<p>The 18th Division consisted of the Schleswig Regiment +No. 84 and the Schleswig Fusiliers No. 86, the Thuringen +Regiment, and the Duke of Holstein's Regiment, the two +latter regiments being billeted in Lowestoft, while the +cavalry brigade forming the screen across from Leiston +by Wilby to Castle Hill were Queen Wilhelmina's Hanover +Hussars and the Emperor of Austria's Schleswig-Holstein +Hussars No. 16. These, with the smart motor infantry, +held every communication in the direction of London.</p> + +<p>As far as could be gathered, the German commander +had established his headquarters in Beccles, and had +not moved. It now became apparent that the telegraph +cables between the East coast and Holland and Germany, +already described in the first chapter, had never +been cut at all. They had simply been held by the +enemy's advance agents until the landing had been +effected. And now Von Kronhelm had actually established +direct communication between Beccles and Emden, +and on to Berlin.</p> + +<p>Reports from the North Sea spoke of the enemy's +transports returning to the German coast, escorted by +cruisers; therefore the plan was undoubtedly not to +move until a very much larger force had been landed.</p> + +<p>Could England regain her command of the sea in time +to prevent the completion of the blow?</p> + +<p>That night the London streets presented a scene of +panic indescribable. The theatres opened, but closed +their doors again, as nobody would see plays while in +that excited state. Every shop was closed, and every +railway station was filled to overflowing with the exodus +of terrified people fleeing to the country westward, or +reserves on their way to join the colours.</p> + +<p>The incredulous manner in which the country first +received the news had now been succeeded by wild +terror and despair. On that bright Sunday afternoon +they laughed at the report as a mere journalistic sensation, +but ere the sun set the hard, terrible truth was +forced upon them, and now, on Tuesday night, the whole +country, from Brighton to Carlisle, from Yarmouth +to Aberystwyth, was utterly disorganised and in a state +of terrified anxiety.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>The eastern counties were already beneath the iron +heel of the invader, whose objective was the world's +great capital—London.</p> + +<p>Would they reach it? That was the serious question +upon every one's tongue that fevered, breathless night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>HOW THE ENEMY DEALT THE BLOW.</h3> + + +<p>Meanwhile, at the regimental depôts feverish excitement +prevailed on Wednesday, September 5, now that +every man was ordered on active service. All officers +and men who had been on leave were recalled, and medical +inspection of all ranks at once commenced. Rations +and bedding, stores and equipment were drawn, but there +was a great lack of uniforms. Unlike the German Army, +where every soldier's equipment is complete even to +the last button on the proverbial gaiter, and stowed +away where the owner knows where to obtain it, our +officers commanding depôts commenced indenting for +clothing on the Royal Army Clothing Department and +the Army Corps Clothing Department.</p> + +<p>A large percentage of men were, of course, found +medically unfit to serve, and were discharged to swell the +mobs of hungry idlers. The plain clothes of the reservists +coming in were disposed of, no man daring to appear +in the ranks unless in uniform. Von Kronhelm's proclamation +having forbidden the tactics of the Boers of +putting mere armed citizens into the field.</p> + +<p>Horse-collecting parties went out all over the country, +taking with them head-collars, head-ropes, bits, reins, +surcingles, numnahs, horse-blankets, and nose-bags. +These scoured every county in search of likely animals, +every farm, every livery stable, every hunting-box, all +hound-kennels and private stables were visited, and a +choice made. All this, however, took time. Precious +hours were thus being wasted while the enemy were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +calmly completing their arrangements for the long-contemplated +blow at the heart of the British Empire.</p> + +<p>While the War Office refused any information, special +editions of the papers during Wednesday printed sensational +reports of the ruthless completion of the impenetrable +screen covering the operations of the enemy +on the whole of the East Coast.</p> + +<p>News had, by some means, filtered through from Yarmouth +that a similar landing to those at Lowestoft and +Weybourne had been effected. Protected as such an +operation was by its flanks being supported by the IVth +and IXth Army Corps landing on either side, the Xth +Army Corps, under General von Wilburg, had seized +Yarmouth, with its many miles of wharves and docks, +which were now crowded by the lighters' craft of flotilla +from the Frisian Islands.</p> + +<p>It was known that the landing had been effected simultaneously +with that at Lowestoft. The large number of +cranes at the fish-docks were of invaluable use to the +enemy, for there they landed guns, animals, and stores, +while the provisions they found at the various ship's +chandlers, and in such shops as Blagg's, and the International +Stores in King Street, Peter Brown's, Doughty's, +Lipton's, Penny's and Barnes's, were at once commandeered. +Great stores of flour were seized in Clarke's +and Press's mills, while the horse-provender mills in the +vicinity supplied them with valuable forage.</p> + +<p>Beyond these few details, as far as regarded the fate +of Yarmouth, nothing further was at present known.</p> + +<p>The British division at Colchester, which comprised +all the regular troops north of the Thames in the eastern +command, was, no doubt, in a critical position, threatened +so closely north and south by the enemy. None of +the regiments—the Norfolks, the Leicestershire, and the +King's Own Scottish Borderers of the 11th Infantry +Brigade—were up to their strength. The 12th Infantry +Brigade, which also belonged to the division, possessed +only skeleton regiments stationed at Hounslow and +Warley. Of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, some were at +Norwich, the 21st Lancers were at Hounslow, while only +the 16th Lancers were at Colchester. Other cavalry +regiments were as far away as Canterbury, Shorncliffe, +and Brighton, and although there were three batteries +of artillery at Colchester, some were at Ipswich, others +at Shorncliffe, and others at Woolwich.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>Therefore it was quite evident to the authorities in +London that unless both Colchester and Norwich were +instantly strongly supported, they would soon be simply +swept out of existence by the enormous masses of German +troops now dominating the whole eastern coast, bent +upon occupying London.</p> + +<p>Helpless though they felt themselves to be, the garrison +at Colchester did all they could. All available cavalry +had been pushed out past Ipswich, north to Wickham +Market, Stowmarket, and across to Bury St. Edmunds, +only to find on Wednesday morning that they were +covering the hasty retreat of the small body of cavalry +who had been stationed at Norwich. They, gallantly +led by their officers, had done everything possible to +reconnoitre and attempt to pierce the enemy's huge +cavalry screen, but in every instance entirely in vain. +They had been outnumbered by the squadrons of independent +cavalry operating in front of the Germans, and +had, alas! left numbers of their gallant comrades upon +the roads, killed and wounded.</p> + +<p>Norwich had, therefore, on Wednesday morning fallen +into the hands of the German cavalry, utterly defenceless. +From the Castle the German flag was now flying, +the Britannia Barracks were being used by the enemy, +food had all been seized, the streets were in a state of +chaos, and a complete reign of terror had been created +when a company of British Infantry, having fired at +some Uhlans, were ruthlessly shot down in the street +close by the Maid's Head.</p> + +<p>In addition to this, the Mayor of Norwich was taken +prisoner, lodged in the Castle, and held as surety for +the well-behaviour of the town.</p> + +<p>Everywhere Von Kronhelm's famous proclamation was +posted, and as the invaders poured into the city the +inhabitants looked on in sullen silence, knowing that +they were now under German military discipline, the +most rigorous and drastic in the whole world.</p> + +<p>A special issue of the "Times" in the evening of the 3rd +September contained the following vivid account—the +first published—of the happenings in the town of Goole, +in Yorkshire:</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Goole</span>, <i>September 3</i>. +</div> + +<p>"Shortly before five o'clock on Sunday morning the +night operator of the telephone call-office here discovered +an interruption on the trunk-line, and on trying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +the telegraphs was surprised to find that there was +no communication in any direction. The railway +station, being rung up, replied that their wires were also +down.</p> + +<p>"Almost immediately afterwards a well-known North +Sea pilot rushed into the post office and breathlessly +asked that he might telephone to Lloyd's. When told +that all communication was cut off he wildly shouted +that a most extraordinary sight was to be seen in the +River Ouse, up which was approaching a continuous +procession of tugs, towing flats, and barges filled with +German soldiers.</p> + +<p>"This was proved to be an actual fact, and the inhabitants +of Goole, awakened from their Sunday morning +slumbers by the shouts of alarm in the streets, found, +to their abject amazement, foreign soldiers swarming +everywhere. On the quay they found activity everywhere, +German being spoken on all hands. They watched +a body of cavalry, consisting of the 1st Westphalian +Hussars, the Westphalian Cuirassiers, land with order +and ease at the Victoria Pier, whence, after being formed +up on the quay, they advanced at a sharp trot up +Victoria Street, Ouse Street, and North Street to the +railway stations, where, as is generally known, there are +large sidings of the North-East Lancashire and Yorkshire +lines in direct communication both with London +and the great cities of the north. The enemy here found +great quantities of engines and rolling stock, all of which +was at once seized, together with huge stacks of coal +at the new sidings.</p> + +<p>"Before long the first of the infantry of the 13th +Division, which was commanded by Lieutenant-General +Doppschutz, marched up to the stations. They consisted +of the 13th and 56th Westphalian Regiments, and the +cavalry on being relieved advanced out of the town, +crossing the Dutch River by the railway bridge, and +pushed on as far as Thorne and Hensall, near which +they at once strongly held the several important railway +junctions.</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile cavalry of the 14th Brigade, consisting +of Westphalian Hussars and Uhlans, were rapidly disembarking +at Old Goole, and, advancing southwards +over the open country of Goole Moors and Thorne Waste, +occupied Crowle. Both cavalry brigades were acting +independently of the main body, and by their vigorous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +action both south and west they were entirely screening +what was happening in the port of Goole.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h2>CITY OF NORWICH.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><b>CITIZENS—</b></p> + +<p>AS IS WELL KNOWN, a hostile army has landed +upon the coast of Norfolk, and has already occupied +Yarmouth and Lowestoft, establishing their headquarters +at Beccles.</p> + +<p>IN THESE GRAVE CIRCUMSTANCES our only +thought is for England, and our duty as citizens and +officials is to remain at our post and bear our +part in the defence of Norwich, our capital now +threatened.</p> + +<p>YOUR PATRIOTISM, of which you have on so +many occasions in recent wars given proof, will, I +have no doubt, again be shown. By your resistance +you will obtain the honour and respect of your +enemies, and by the individual energy of each one +of you the honour and glory of England may be +saved.</p> + +<p>CITIZENS OF NORWICH, I appeal to you to view +the catastrophe calmly, and bear your part bravely +in the coming struggle.</p> + +<div class="right"> +<b>CHARLES CARRINGTON</b>,<br /> +<i>Mayor</i>. +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Norwich</span>, <i>September 4, 1910</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 331px;"> +<a href="images/i058-hi.png"><img src="images/i058.png" width="331" height="400" alt="APPEAL ISSUED BY THE MAYOR OF NORWICH" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">APPEAL ISSUED BY THE MAYOR OF NORWICH</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Infantry continued to pour into the town from flats +and barges, arriving in endless procession. Doppschutz's +Division landed at Aldan Dock, Railway Dock, and Ship +Dock; the 14th Division at the Jetty and Basin, also +in the Barge Dock and at the mouth of the Dutch River;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +while some, following the cavalry brigade, landed at Old +Goole and Swinefleet.</p> + +<p>"As far as can be ascertained, the whole of the VIIth +German Army Corps have landed, at any rate as far +as the men are concerned. The troops, who are under +the supreme command of General Baron von Bistram, +appear to consist almost entirely of Westphalians, and +include Prince Frederick of the Netherlands' 2nd Westphalians; +Count Bulow von Dennewitz's 6th Westphalians; +but one infantry brigade, the 79th, consisted +of men from Lorraine.</p> + +<p>"Through the whole day the disembarkation proceeded, +the townsmen standing there helpless to lift +a finger and watching the enemy's arrival. The Victoria +Pleasure Grounds were occupied by parked artillery, +which towards afternoon began to rumble through the +streets. The German gunners, with folded arms, sat +unconcernedly upon the ammunition boxes as the guns +were drawn up to their positions. Horses were seized +wherever found, the proclamation of Von Kronhelm +was nailed upon the church doors, and the terrified +populace read the grim threat of the German field-marshal.</p> + +<p>"The wagons, of which there were hundreds, were +put ashore mostly at Goole, but others up the river at +Hook and Swinefleet. When the cavalry advance was +complete, as it was soon after midday, and when reports +had come in to Von Bistram that the country was clear +of the British, the German infantry advance began. +By nightfall they had pushed forward, some by road, +some by rail, and others in the numerous motor-wagons +that had accompanied the force, until march-outposts +were established, south of Thorne, Askern, and +Crowle, straddling the main road at Bawtry. These +places, including Fishlake and the country between +them, were at once strongly held, while ammunition +and stores were pushed up by railway to both Thorne and +Askern.</p> + +<p>"The independent cavalry advance continued through +Doncaster until dusk, when Rotherham was reached, +during which advance scattered bodies of British Imperial +Yeomanry were met and compelled to retreat, +a dozen or so lives being lost. It appears that late in +the afternoon of Sunday news was brought into Sheffield +of what was in progress, and a squadron of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +Yeomanry donned their uniforms and rode forward to +reconnoitre, with the disastrous results already mentioned.</p> + +<p>"The sensation caused in Sheffield when it became +known that German cavalry were so close as Rotherham +was enormous, and the scenes in the streets soon approached +a panic; for it was wildly declared that that +night the enemy intended to occupy the town. The +Mayor telegraphed to the War Office, appealing for additional +defensive force, but no response was received to +the telegram. The small force of military in the town, +which consisted of the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Light +Infantry, some Royal Artillery, and the local Volunteers, +were soon assembled, and going out occupied the +strong position above Sheffield between Catcliffe and +Tinsley, overlooking the valley of the Rother to the +east.</p> + +<p>"The expectation that the Germans intended an immediate +descent on Sheffield was not realised, because the +German tactics were merely to reconnoitre and report +on the defences of Sheffield, if any existed. This they +did by remaining to the eastward of the river Rother, +whence the high ground rising before Sheffield could be +easily observed.</p> + +<p>"Before dusk one or two squadrons of Cuirassiers +were seen to be examining the river to find fords and +ascertain the capacity of the bridges, while others +appeared to be comparing the natural features of the +ground with the maps with which they all appeared to be +provided.</p> + +<p>"As night fell, however, the cavalry retired towards +Doncaster, which town was occupied, the Angel being +the cavalry headquarters. The reason the Germans +could not advance at once upon Sheffield was that the +cavalry was not strongly supported by infantry from +their base, the distance from Goole being too great +to be covered in a single day. That the arrangements +for landing were in every detail perfect could not be +doubted, but owing to the narrow channel of the Ouse +time was necessary, and it is considered probable that +fully three days must elapse from Sunday before the +Germans are absolutely established.</p> + +<p>"An attempt has been made by the Yorkshire Light +Infantry and the York and Lancaster Regiment, with +three battalions of Volunteers stationed at Pontefract, to +discover the enemy's strength and position between +Askern and Snaith, but so far without avail, the cavalry +screen across the whole country being impenetrable.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> +<h3>GOD SAVE THE KING.</h3> + +<h2>PROCLAMATION.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="center">TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.</div> + +<p>In regard to the Decree of September 3rd of the +present year, declaring a state of siege in the Counties +of Norfolk and Suffolk.</p> + +<p>In regard to the Decree of August 10th, 1906, regulating +the public administration of all theatres +of war and military servitude;</p> + +<p>Upon the proposition of the Commander-in-Chief</p> + +<div class="center">IT IS DECREED AS FOLLOWS:</div> + +<p>(1) There are in a state of war:</p> + +<p>1st. In the Eastern Command, the counties of +Northamptonshire, Rutlandshire, Cambridgeshire, +Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Huntingdonshire, Bedfordshire, +Hertfordshire, and Middlesex (except that +portion included in the London Military District).</p> + +<p>2nd. In the Northern Command, the counties of +Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, and Yorkshire, +with the southern shore of the estuary of the +Humber.</p> + +<p>(2) I, Charles Leonard Spencer Cotterell, his +Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for War, am +charged with the execution of this Decree.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">War Office, Whitehall</span>,<br /> +<br /> +<i>September the Fourth, 1910</i>.<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 435px;"> +<a href="images/i061-hi.png"><img src="images/i061.png" width="435" height="600" alt="This Proclamation was posted outside the War Office in +London at noon on Wednesday, and was read by thousands. +It was also posted upon the Town Hall of every city and +town throughout the Country." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">This Proclamation was posted outside the War Office in +London at noon on Wednesday, and was read by thousands. +It was also posted upon the Town Hall of every city and +town throughout the Country.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> people of the West Riding, and especially the +inhabitants of Sheffield, are stupefied that they have received +no assistance—not even a reply to the Mayor's +telegram. This fact has leaked out, and has caused +the greatest dissatisfaction. An enemy is upon us, yet +we are in ignorance of what step, if any, the authorities +are taking for our protection.</p> + +<p>"There are wild rumours here that the enemy have +burned Grimsby, but these are generally discredited, for +telegraphic and telephonic communication has been cut +off, and at present we are completely isolated. It has +been gathered from the invaders that the VIIIth Army +Corps of the Germans have landed and seized Hull, but +at present this is not confirmed. There is, alas! no +communication with the place, therefore, the report may +possibly be true.</p> + +<p>"Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Wakefield, and Selby are +all intensely excited over the sudden appearance of +German soldiers, and were at first inclined to unite to +stem their progress. But the German proclamation, +showing the individual peril of any citizen taking arms +against the invaders, having been posted everywhere, +has held every one scared and in silent inactivity.</p> + +<p>"'Where is our Army?' every one is asking. The +whole country has run riot in a single hour, now that the +Germans are upon us. On every hand it is asked: 'What +will London do?'"</p> + +<p>Reports now reached London that the VIIth German +Army Corps had landed at Hull and Goole, and taking +possession of these towns, were moving upon Sheffield +in order to paralyse our trade in the Midlands. Hull +had been bombarded, and was in flames! Terrible +scenes were taking place at that port.</p> + +<p>On that memorable Sunday, when a descent had been +made upon our shores, there were in German ports on +the North Sea nearly a million tons gross of German +shipping. Normally, in peace time, half a million +tons is always to be found there, the second half having +been quietly collected by ships putting in unobserved +into such ports as Emden, Bremen, Bremerhaven, and +Geestemunde, where there are at least ten miles of deep-sea +wharves, with ample railway access. The arrival of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +these crafts caused no particular comment, but they +had already been secretly prepared for the transport of +men and horses while at sea.</p> + +<p>Under the cover of the Frisian Islands, from every +canal, river, and creek had been assembled a huge +multitude of flats and barges, ready to be towed by tugs +alongside the wharves and filled with troops. Of a +sudden, in a single hour it seemed, Hamburg, Altona, +Cuxhaven, and Wilhelmshaven were in excited activity, +and almost before the inhabitants themselves realised +what was really in progress, the embarkation had well +commenced.</p> + +<p>At Emden, with its direct cable to the theatre of war +in England, was concentrated the brain of the whole +movement. Beneath the lee of the covering screen of +Frisian Islands, Borkum, Juist, Norderney, Langebog, +and the others, the preparations for the descent upon +England rapidly matured.</p> + +<p>Troop-trains from every part of the Fatherland arrived +with the punctuality of clockwork. From Düsseldorf +came the VIIth Army Corps, the VIIIth from Coblenz, +the IXth were already assembled at their headquarters +at Altona, while many of them being stationed at Bremen +embarked from there; the Xth came up from Hanover, +the XIVth from Magdeburg, and the Corps of +German Guards, the pride and flower of the Kaiser's +troops, arrived eagerly at Hamburg from Berlin and +Potsdam, among the first to embark.</p> + +<p>Each army corps consisted of about 38,000 officers and +men, 11,000 horses, 144 guns, and about 2,000 motor-cars, +wagons, and carts. But for this campaign—which +was more of the nature of a raid than of any protracted +campaign—the supply of wheeled transport, +with the exception of motor-cars, had been somewhat +reduced.</p> + +<p>Each cavalry brigade attached to an army corps consisted +of 1,400 horses and men, with some thirty-five +light machine guns and wagons. The German calculation—which +proved pretty correct—was that each army +corps could come over to England in 100,000 tons gross of +shipping, bringing with them supplies for twenty-seven +days in another 3,000 tons gross. Therefore about 618,000 +tons gross conveyed the whole of the six corps, leaving +an ample margin still in German ports for any emergencies. +Half this tonnage consisted of about 100<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +steamers, averaging 3,000 tons each, the remainder being +the boats, flats, lighters, barges, and tugs previously +alluded to.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 394px;"> +<a href="images/i064-hi.png"><img src="images/i064.png" width="394" height="300" alt="GERMANY'S +POINTS OF EMBARKATION" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">GERMANY'S<br /> +POINTS OF EMBARKATION</span> +</div> + +<p>The Saxons who, disregarding the neutrality of Belgium, +had embarked at Antwerp, had seized the whole +of the flat-bottomed craft in the Scheldt and the numerous +canals, as well as the merchant ships in the port, +finding no difficulty in commandeering the amount of +tonnage necessary to convey them to the Blackwater +and the Crouch.</p> + +<p>As hour succeeded hour the panic increased.</p> + +<p>It was now also known that, in addition to the various +corps who had effected a landing, the German Guards +had, by a sudden swoop into the Wash, got ashore at +King's Lynn, seized the town, and united their forces +with Von Kleppen's corps, who, having landed at Weybourne, +were now spread right across Norfolk. This +picked corps of Guards was under the command of that +distinguished officer, the Duke of Mannheim, while the +infantry divisions were under Lieutenant-Generals von +Castein and Von Der Decken.</p> + +<p>The landing at King's Lynn on Sunday morning had +been quite a simple affair. There was nothing whatever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +to repel them, and they disembarked on the quays +and in the docks, watched by the astonished populace. +All provisions were seized at shops, while headquarters +were established at the municipal buildings, and the +German flag hoisted upon the old church, the tower of +which was at once used as a signal station.</p> + +<p>Old-fashioned people of Lynn peered out of their +quiet respectable houses in King Street in utter amazement; +but soon, when the German proclamation was +posted, the terrible truth was plain.</p> + +<p>In half an hour, even before they could realise it, they +had been transferred from the protection of the British +flag to the militarism of the German.</p> + +<p>Ere sundown on Sunday, stalwart grey-coated sentries +of the Guards Fusiliers from Potsdam, and the Grenadiers +from Berlin were holding the roads at Gayton, +East Walton, Narborough, Markham, Fincham, Stradsett, +and Stow Bardolph. Therefore on Sunday night, from +Spalding on the east, Peterborough, Chatteris, Littleport, +Thetford, Diss, and Halesworth, were faced by a +huge cavalry screen protecting the landing and repose +of the great German Army behind it.</p> + +<p>Slowly but carefully the enemy were maturing their +plans for the defeat of our defenders and the sack of +London.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>DESPERATE FIGHTING IN ESSEX.</h3> + + +<p>London was at a standstill. Trade was entirely stopped. +Shopkeepers feared to open their doors on account of +the fierce, hungry mobs parading the street. Orators +were haranguing the crowds in almost every open space. +The police were either powerless, or feared to come into +collision with the assembled populace. Terror and +blank despair were everywhere.</p> + +<p>There was unrest night and day. The banks, head +offices, and branches, unable to withstand the run upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +them when every one demanded to be paid in gold, had, +by mutual arrangement, shut their doors, leaving excited +and furious crowds of customers outside unpaid. +Financial ruin stared every one in the face. Those who +were fortunate enough to realise their securities on +Monday were fleeing from London south and westward. +Day and night the most extraordinary scenes of frantic +fear were witnessed at Paddington, Victoria, Waterloo, +and London Bridge. The southern railways were badly +disorganised by the cutting of the lines by the enemy, +but the Great Western system was, up to the present, +intact, and carried thousands upon thousands to Wales, +to Devonshire, and to Cornwall.</p> + +<p>In those three hot, breathless days the Red Hand of +Ruin spread out upon London.</p> + +<p>The starving East met the terrified West, but in those +moments the bonds of terror united class with mass. +Restaurants and theatres were closed; there was but +little vehicular traffic in the streets, for of horses there +were none, while the majority of the motor 'buses +had been requisitioned, and the transit of goods had +been abandoned. "The City," that great army of +daily workers, both male and female, was out of employment, +and swelled the idlers and gossips, whose temper +and opinion were swayed each half-hour by the papers +now constantly appearing night and day without cessation.</p> + +<p>Cabinet Councils had been held every day, but their +decisions, of course, never leaked out to the public. +The King also held Privy Councils, and various +measures were decided upon. Parliament, which had +been hurriedly summoned, was due to meet, and every +one speculated as to the political crisis that must now +ensue.</p> + +<p>In St. James's Park, in Hyde Park, in Victoria Park, +on Hampstead Heath, in Greenwich Park—in fact, in +each of the "lungs of London,"—great mass meetings +were held, at which resolutions were passed condemning +the Administration and eulogising those who, at the +first alarm, had so gallantly died in defence of their +country.</p> + +<p>It was declared that by the culpable negligence of the +War Office and the National Defence Committee we had +laid ourselves open to complete ruin, both financially +and as a nation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>The man-in-the-street already felt the strain, for the +lack of employment and the sudden rise in the price +of everything had brought him up short. Wives and +families were crying for food, and those without savings +and with only a few pounds put by looked grimly into +the future and at the mystery it presented.</p> + +<p>Most of the papers published the continuation of the +important story of Mr. Alexander, the Mayor of Maldon, +which revealed the extent of the enemy's operations in +Essex and the strong position they occupied.</p> + +<p>It ran as below:</p> + +<p>"Of the events of the early hours of the morning I +have no very clear recollection. I was bewildered, +staggered, dumbfounded by the sights and sounds which +beset me. Of what modern war meant I had till then +truly but a very faint idea. To witness its horrid realities +enacted in this quiet, out-of-the-way spot where I +had pitched my tent for so many years, brought them +home to me literally as well as metaphorically.</p> + +<p>"I had run down Cromwell Hill, and seeing the +flames of Heybridge, was impelled to get nearer, if possible, +to discover more particularly the state of affairs +in that direction. But I was reckoning without the +Germans. When I got to the bridge over the river at the +foot of the hill, the officer in charge there absolutely +prevented my crossing. Beyond the soldiers standing +or kneeling behind whatever cover was offered by the +walls and buildings abutting on the riverside, and a +couple of machine guns placed so as to command the +bridge and the road beyond, there was nothing much to +see. A number of Germans were, however, very busy +in the big mill just across the river, but what they were +doing I could not make out. As I turned to retrace my step +the glare of the conflagration grew suddenly more and more +intense. A mass of dark figures came running down the +brightly illuminated road towards the bridge, while +the rifle fire became louder, nearer, and heavier than +ever. Every now and again the air became alive with, +as it were, the hiss and buzz of flying insects. The +English must have fought their way through Heybridge, +and these must be the bullets from their rifles. It was +dangerous to stay down there any longer, so I took +to my heels. As I ran I heard a thundering explosion +behind me, the shock of which nearly threw me to the +ground. Looking over my shoulder, I saw that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +Germans had blown up the mill at the farther end of the +bridge, and were now pushing carts from either side in +order to barricade it. The two Maxims, too, began to +pump lead with their hammering reports, and the men +near them commenced to fall in twos and threes. I made +off to the left, and passed into High Street by the end +of St. Peter's Church, now disused. At the corner I ran +against Mr. Clydesdale, the optician, who looks after +the library which now occupies the old building. He +pointed to the tower, which stood darkly up against +the blood-red sky.</p> + +<p>"'Look at those infernal Germans!' he said. 'They +can't even keep out of that old place. I wish we could +have got the books out before they came.'</p> + +<p>"I could not see any of our invaders where he was +pointing, but presently I became aware of a little winking, +blinking light at the very summit of the tower.</p> + +<p>"'That's them,' said Clydesdale. 'They're making +signals, I think. My boy says he saw the same thing +on Purleigh Church tower last night. I wish it would +come down with them, that I do. It's pretty shaky, +anyway.'</p> + +<p>"The street was fairly full of people. The Germans, it +is true, had ordered that no one should be out of doors +between eight in the evening and six in the morning; +but just now they appeared to have their hands pretty +full elsewhere, and if any of the few soldiers that were +about knew of or thought anything of the interdiction, +they said nothing.</p> + +<p>"The crash of a salvo of heavy guns from the direction +of my own house interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"'That'll be the guns in my garden,' I said.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, sir, and they've got three monstrous great ones +in the opening between the houses just behind the +church there,' said Clydesdale.</p> + +<p>"As he spoke, the guns in question bellowed out, one +after the other.</p> + +<p>"'Look—look at the tower!' I cried.</p> + +<p>"The light at the top had disappeared and the lofty +edifice was swaying slowly, slowly, over to the left.</p> + +<p>"'She's gone at last!' exclaimed Clydesdale.</p> + +<p>"It was true. Down came the old steeple that had +pointed heavenward for so many generations, with a +mighty crash and concussion that swallowed up even the +noise of the battle, though cannon of all sorts and sizes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +were now joining in the hellish concert, and shell from +the English batteries began to roar over the town. The +vibration and shock of the heavy guns had been too +much for the old tower, which, for years in a tottery +condition, had been patched up so often.</p> + +<p>"As soon as the cloud of dust cleared off we ran towards +the huge pile of débris that filled the little churchyard. +Several other people followed. It was very dark +down there, in the shadow of the trees and houses, +despite the fire-light overhead, and we began striking +matches as we looked about among the heaps of bricks +and beams to see if there were any of the German signal +party among them. Why we should have taken the +trouble under the circumstances I do not quite know. +It was an instinctive movement of humanity on my +part, and that of most of the others, I suppose.</p> + +<p>"I caught sight of an arm in a light blue sleeve protruding +from the débris, and took hold of it in a futile +attempt to remove some of the bricks and rubbish which +I thought were covering the body of its owner. To my +horror, it came away in my hand. The body to which +it belonged might be buried yards away in the immense +heap of ruins. I dropped it with a cry, and fled from the +spot.</p> + +<p>"Dawn was now breaking. I do not exactly remember +where I wandered to after the fall of St. Peter's Tower, +but it must have been between half-past five and six +when I found myself on the high ground at the north-western +corner of the town, overlooking the golf links, +where I had spent so many pleasant hours in that recent +past that now seemed so far away. All around me were +batteries, trenches, and gun-pits. But though the firing +was still going on somewhere away to the right, where +Heybridge poured black smoke skyward like a volcano, +gun and howitzer were silent, and their attendant artillerymen, +instead of being in cover behind their earthen +parapets, were clustered on the top, watching intently +something that was passing in the valley below them. +So absorbed were they that I was able to creep up behind +them, and also get a sight of what was taking place. +And this is what I saw:</p> + +<p>"Over the railway bridge which spanned the river a +little to the left were hurrying battalion after battalion +of green and blue clad German infantry. They moved +down the embankment after crossing, and continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +their march behind it. Where the railway curved to the +right and left, about half a mile beyond the bridge, the +top of the embankment was lined with dark figures +lying down and apparently firing, while over the golf +course from the direction of Beeleigh trotted squadron +after squadron of sky-blue riders, their green and white +lance pennons fluttering in the breeze. They crossed +the Blackwater and Chelmer Canal, and cantered off +in the direction of Langford Rectory.</p> + +<p>"At the same time I saw line after line of the Germans +massed behind the embankment spring over it +and advance rapidly towards the lower portion of the +town, just across the river. Hundreds fell under the +fire from the houses, which must have been full of +Englishmen, but one line after another reached the +buildings. The firing was now heavier than ever—absolutely +incessant and continuous—though, except for an +occasional discharge from beyond Heybridge, the artillery +was silent.</p> + +<p>"I have but little knowledge of military matters, but +it was abundantly evident, even to me, that what I had +just seen was a very formidable counter-attack on the +part of the Germans, who had brought up fresh troops +either from the rear of the town or from farther inland, +and launched them against the English under cover of +the railway embankment. I was not able to see the end +of the encounter, but bad news flies apace, and it soon +became common knowledge in the town that our troops +from Colchester had not only failed to cross the river at +any point, but had been driven helter-skelter out of +the lower town near the station and from the smoking +ruins of Heybridge with great loss, and were now in +full retreat.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, some hundreds of our khaki-clad fellow-countrymen +were marched through the town an hour or +two later as prisoners, to say nothing of the numbers +of wounded, who, together with those belonging to the +Germans, soon began to crowd every available building +suitable for use as an hospital. The wounded prisoners +with their escort went off towards Mundon, and are reported +to have gone in the direction of Steeple. It was +altogether a disastrous day, and our hopes, which had +begun to rise when the British had penetrated into the +northern part of the town, now fell below zero.</p> + +<p>"It was a black day for us, and for England. During<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +the morning the same officer who had captured me on +the golf course came whirling into Maldon on a 24-h.p. +Mercedes car. He drove straight up to my house, and +informed me that he had orders to conduct me to Prince +Henry, who was to be at Purleigh early in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>"'Was it in connection with the skirmish with the +Volunteers?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'I don't know,' was the reply. 'But I don't fancy +so. In the meantime, could I write here for an hour +or two?' he asked politely. 'I have much to write to +my friends in Germany, and have not had a minute up +to now.'</p> + +<p>"I was very glad to be able to oblige the young man +in such a small way, and left him in my study till midday, +very busy with pens, ink, and paper.</p> + +<p>"After a makeshift of a lunch, the car came round, +and we got into the back seat. In front sat his orderly +and the chauffeur, a fierce-looking personage in a semi-military +uniform. We ran swiftly down the High Street, +and in a few minutes were spinning along the Purleigh +Road, where I saw much that amazed me. I then for +the first time realised how absolutely complete were the +German plans."</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Tuesday</span>, <i>September 4</i>. +</div> + +<p>"About six o'clock this morning I awoke rather suddenly. +The wind had gone round to the northward, and +I was certain that heavy firing was going on somewhere +in that direction. I opened the window and looked out. +The 'thud' and rumble of a cannonade, with the accompaniment +of an occasional burst of musketry, came +clearly and loudly on the wind from the hills by Wickham +Bishops village. The church spire was in plain +view, and little faint puffs and rings of grey smoke were +just visible in its vicinity every now and again, sometimes +high up in the air, at others among the trees at +its base. They were exploding shells; I had no doubt +of that. What was going on it was impossible to say, +but I conjectured that some of our troops from Colchester +had come into collision with the Germans, who +had gone out in that direction the day of their arrival. +The firing continued for about an hour, and then died +away.</p> + +<p>"Soon after eight, Count von Ohrendorff, the general +officer commanding the 32nd Division, who appeared to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +be the supreme authority here, sent for me, and suggested +that I should take steps to arrange for the manufacture +of lint and bandages by the ladies living in the +town. I could see no reason for objecting to this, and +so promised to carry out his suggestion. I set about +the matter at once, and, with the assistance of my wife, +soon had a couple of score of more or less willing workers +busily engaged in the National Schoolroom. In the +meantime the roll of a terrible cannonade had burst +forth again from Wickham Bishops. It seemed louder +and more insistent than ever. As soon as I got away +from the schools I hurried home and climbed out on +the roof. The top of the Moot Hall and other coigns of +vantage had all been occupied by the Germans. However, +with the aid of a pair of field-glasses I was able to see +a good bit. Black smoke was now pouring from Wickham +Bishops in clouds, and every now and again I +fancied I could see the forked tongues of flame shooting +up above the surrounding trees. A series of scattered +black dots now came out on the open ground to the +south of the church. The trees of Eastland Wood soon +hid them from my sight, but others followed, mingled +with little moving black blocks which I took to be +formed bodies of troops. After them came four or five +guns, driven at breakneck pace towards the road that +passes between Eastland and Captain's Woods, then +more black dots, also in a desperate hurry. Several of +these last tumbled, and lay still here and there all over +the slope.</p> + +<p>"Other dots followed at their heels. They were not +quite so distinct. I looked harder. Hurrah! They were +men in khaki. We were hustling these Germans at last. +They also disappeared behind the woods. Then from the +fringe of trees about Wickham half a dozen big brilliant +flashes, followed after an interval by the loud detonation +of heavy cannon. I could not distinguish much +more, though the rattle of battle went on for some time +longer. Soon after eleven four German guns galloped +in from Heybridge. These were followed by a procession +of maimed and limping humanity. Some managed to +get along unaided, though with considerable difficulty. +Others were supported by a comrade, some carried between +two men, and others borne along on stretchers. +A couple of ambulance carts trotted out and picked up +more wounded. Our bandages and lint had not long to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +wait before being required. After this there was a cessation +of firing.</p> + +<p>"About one o'clock the German general sent word to +me that he thought an attack quite possible during the +afternoon, and that he strongly advised me to get all +the women and children out of the town—for the time +being at any rate. This was evidently well meant, but +it was a pretty difficult matter to arrange for, to say +nothing of raising a panic among the inhabitants. However, +in an hour and a half's time I had contrived to +marshal several hundred of them together, and to get +them out on the road to Mundon. The weather was +warm for the time of the year, and I thought, if the +worst came to the worst, they could spend the night +in the old church. I left the sad little column of +exiles—old, bent women helped along by their daughters, +tiny children dragged along through the dust, clutching +their mothers' skirts; infants in arms; and other older +and sturdier children staggering beneath the weight of +the most precious home adornments—and made the +best of my way back to arrange for the forwarding to +them of their rations.</p> + +<p>"At every step on my homeward way I expected to +hear the cannonade begin again. But beyond the +twittering of the birds in the trees and hedgerows, the +creak and rumble of a passing cart, and the rush of a +train along the railway on my left—just the usual +sounds of the countryside—nothing broke the stillness. +As I stepped out on the familiar highway, I could +almost bring myself to believe that the events of the +past twenty-four hours were but the phantasmagoria of +a dream. After interviewing some of the town councillors +who were going to undertake the transport of +provisions to the women and children at Mundon, I +walked round to my own house.</p> + +<p>"My wife and family had driven over to Purleigh on +the first alarm, and had arranged to stay the night with +some friends, on whatever shake-downs could be improvised, +since every house in the peninsula harboured +some of the ubiquitous German officers and men. I +wandered through the familiar rooms, and came out +into the garden, or rather, what had been the garden. +There I saw that the Saxon gunners were all standing +to their pieces, and one of my none too welcome guests +accosted me as I left the house.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'If you'll take my advice, sare, you'll get away out +of this,' he said in broken English.</p> + +<p>"'What! are you going to fire?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'I don't fancy so. It wouldn't hurt you if we were. +But I think your English friends from Colchester are +about to see if they can draw us.'</p> + +<p>"As he spoke I became aware of a sharp, hissing +noise like a train letting off steam. It grew louder and +nearer, passed over our heads, and was almost instantly +followed by a terrible crash somewhere behind the +house. A deeper and more muffled report came up +from the valley beyond Heybridge.</p> + +<p>"'Well, they've begun now, and the best thing you can +do is to get down into that gun epaulment there,' said +the German officer.</p> + +<p>"I thought his advice was good, and I lost no time +in following it.</p> + +<p>"'Here comes another!' cried he, as he jumped down +into the pit beside me. 'We'll have plenty of them +now.'</p> + +<p>"So we did. Shell after shell came hissing and screaming +at us over the tree-tops in the gardens lower down +the hill. Each one of them sounded to me as if it were +coming directly at my head, but one after another passed +over us to burst beyond. The gunners all crouched +close to the earthen parapet—and so did I. I am not +ashamed to say so. My German officer, however, occasionally +climbed to the top of the embankment and +studied the prospect through his field-glasses. At +length there was a loud detonation, and a column of +dirt and smoke in the garden next below us. Then two +shells struck the parapet of the gun-pit on our left +almost simultaneously. Their explosion was deafening, +and we were covered with the dust and stones they +threw up.</p> + +<p>"Immediately afterwards another shell passed so close +over our heads that I felt my hair lift. It just cleared +the parapet and plunged into the side of my house. A +big hole appeared just to the right of the dining-room +window, and through it came instantaneously the loud +bang of the explosion. The glass was shattered in all +the windows, and thick smoke, white and black, came +curling from every one of them.</p> + +<p>"'The house is on fire!' I shouted, and sprang madly +from the pit. Heedless of the bombardment, I rushed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +into the building. Another crash sounded overhead as +I entered, and a blaze of light shone down the stairway +for an instant. Another projectile had found a +billet in my home. I tried to make my way to my study, +but found the passage blocked with fallen beams and +ceiling. What with the smoke and dust, and the blocking +of some of the windows, it was very dark in the hall, +and I got quite a shock when, as I looked about me to +find my way, I saw two red, glittering specks shining +over the top of a heap of débris. But the howl that +followed told me that they were nothing but the eyes +of miserable Tim, the cat, who, left behind, had been +nearly frightened out of his senses by the noise and concussion +of the bursting shell. As I gazed at him +another projectile struck the house quite close to us. +Tim was simply smashed by a flying fragment. I was +thrown down, and half-buried under a shower of bricks +and mortar. I think that I must have lost consciousness +for a time.</p> + +<p>"The next thing I recollect was being dragged out +into the garden by a couple of Saxons. I had a +splitting headache, and was very glad of a glass of +water that one of them handed to me. Their officer, +who appeared to be quite a decent fellow, offered me his +flask.</p> + +<p>"'The house is all right,' he said, with his strong +accent. 'It caught fire once, but we managed to get it +under. Your friends have cleared off—at any rate for +the present. They got too bold at last, and pushed their +guns down till they got taken in the flank by the warship +in the river. They had two of their pieces knocked to +bits, and then cleared out. Best thing you can do is +to do the same.'</p> + +<p>"I was in two minds. I could not save the house by +staying, and might just as well join my people at +Purleigh Rectory. On the other hand, I felt that it +would better become me, as Mayor, to stick to the town. +Duty triumphed, and I decided to remain where I was—at +least for the present. All was now quiet, and after +an early supper I turned in, and, despite the excitement +of the day and my aching head, was asleep the moment +I touched the pillow."</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Wednesday</span>, <i>September 5</i>. +</div> + +<p>"It must have been about three in the morning when +I awoke. My head was much better, and for a minute or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +two I lay comfortably in the darkness, without any recollection +of the events of the preceding day. Then I +saw a bright reflection pass rapidly over the ceiling. I +wondered vaguely what it was. Presently it came back +again, paused a moment, and disappeared. By this +time I was wide awake. I went to the window and +looked out. It was quite dark, but from somewhere over +beyond Heybridge a long white ray was sweeping all +along this side of Maldon. Now the foliage of a tree +in the garden below would stand out in pale green +radiance against the blackness; now the wall of a house +half a mile away would reflect back the moving beam, +shining white as a sheet of notepaper.</p> + +<p>"Presently another ray shone out, and the two of +them, moving backwards and forwards, made the whole +of our hillside caper in a dizzy dance. From somewhere +far away to my right another stronger beam now +streamed through the obscurity, directed apparently at +the sources of the other two, and almost simultaneously +came the crack of a rifle from the direction of Heybridge, +sharp and ominous in the quiet darkness of the +night. Half a dozen scattered shots followed; then a +faint cheer. More and more rifles joined in, and presently +the burring tap-tap-tap of a Maxim. I hurried on +my clothes. The firing increased in volume and rapidity; +bugles rang out here, there, and everywhere through the +sleeping town, and above the rolling, rattling clamour +of the drums I could distinguish the hurried tramp of +hundreds of feet.</p> + +<p>"I cast one glance from the window as I quitted +the room. The electric searchlights had increased to +at least half a dozen. Some reached out long, steady +fingers into the vague spaces of the night, while others +wandered restlessly up and down, hither and thither. +Low down over the trees of the garden a dull red glare +slowly increased in extent and intensity. The rattle of +musketry was now absolutely continuous. As I ran out +of the house into the street, I was nearly carried off my +feet by the rush of a battalion that was pouring down +Cromwell Hill at the double. Hardly knowing what I +did, I followed in their wake. The glare in front got +brighter and brighter. A few steps, and I could see the +cause of it. The whole of Heybridge appeared to be on +fire, the flames roaring skywards from a dozen different +conflagrations."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>England halted breathless. Fighting had commenced +in real earnest.</p> + +<p>The greatest consternation was caused by the publication +in the "Times" of the description of the operations +in Essex, written by Mr. Henry Bentley, the distinguished +war correspondent, who had served that journal +in every campaign since Kitchener had entered +Khartum.</p> + +<p>All other papers, without exception, contained various +accounts of the British defence at the point nearest +London, but they were mostly of the scrappy and sensational +order, based more on report than upon actual +fact. The "Times" account, however, had been written +with calm impartiality by one of the most experienced +correspondents at the front. Whether he had been +afforded any special facilities was not apparent, but, in +any case, it was the most complete and truthful account +of the gallant attempt on the part of our soldiers to +check the advance from Essex westward.</p> + +<p>During the whole of that hot, stifling day it was +known that a battle was raging, and the excitement +everywhere was intense.</p> + +<p>The public were in anxious terror as the hours crept +by, until the first authentic news of the result of the +operations was printed in a special evening edition of +the "Times," as follows:</p> + +<div class="right"> +"(From our War Correspondent.)<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Danbury, Essex</span>, <i>September 8</i>. +</div> + +<p>"To-day has been a momentous one for England. The +great battle has raged since dawn, and though just at +present there seems to be a lull, during which the +opposing forces are, so to speak, regaining their breath, +it can be by no means over.</p> + +<p>"Dead and living alike will lie out on the battlefield +the whole night through, for we must hold on to the +positions so hardly won, and be ready to press forward +at the first glimmer of daylight. Our gallant troops, +Regular and Volunteers alike, have nobly vindicated +the traditions of our race, and have fought as desperately +as ever did their forebears at Agincourt, Albuera, +or Waterloo. But while a considerable success—paid for, +alas! by the loss of thousands of gallant lives—has been +achieved, it will take at least another day's hard fighting +before victory is in our grasp. Nowadays a soldier need +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>not expect to be either victorious or finally defeated by +nightfall, and although this battle, fought as it is between +much smaller forces, and extending over a much +more limited area, than the great engagement between +the Russians and Japanese at Liaoyang, will not take +quite so long a time to decide, the end is not yet +in sight. I wrote this after a hard day's travelling backwards +and forwards behind our advancing line of battle.</p> + +<p>"I took my cycle with me in my motor-car, and whenever +opportunity offered mounted it, and pushed forward +as near to the fighting as I could get. Frequently I had +to leave the cycle also, and crawl forward on hands +and knees, sheltering in some depression in the ground, +while the enemy's bullets whined and whistled overhead. +As reported in a previous issue, the Army which +had assembled at Brentwood moved forward on the 5th.</p> + +<p>"During the afternoon the advanced troops succeeded +in driving the enemy out of South Hanningfield, and +before sundown they were also in full retreat from the +positions they had held at East Hanningfield and Danbury. +There was some stiff fighting at the latter place, but +after a pounding from the artillery, who brought several +batteries into action on the high ground north-west of +East Hanningfield, the Germans were unable to withstand +the attack of the Argyll and Sutherlands and the +London Scottish, who worked their way through Danbury +Park and Hall Wood right into their position, +driving them from their entrenchments by a dashing +bayonet charge. Everything north and east of the +enemy's main position, which is now known to lie north +and south, between Maldon and the river Crouch, was +now in our hands, but his troops still showed a stout +front at Wickford, and were also reported to be at Rayleigh, +Hockley, and Canewdon, several miles to the +eastward. All preparations were made to assault the +German position at Wickford at daybreak to-day, but +our scouts found that the place had been evacuated. +The news that Rayleigh and Hockley had also been abandoned +by the enemy came in shortly afterwards. The +German invaders had evidently completed their arrangements +for the defence of their main position, and now +said, in effect, 'Come on, and turn us out if you can.'</p> + +<p>"It was no easy task that lay before our gallant defenders. +Maldon, perched on a high knoll, with a network +of river and canal protecting it from assault from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>the northward, fairly bristles with guns, many of them +heavy field howitzers, and has, as we know to our cost, +already repulsed one attack by our troops. Farther +south there are said to be many guns on the knolls +about Purleigh. Great Canney Hill, standing boldly +up like an immense redoubt, is reported to be seamed +with entrenchments mounting many heavy guns. The +railway embankment south of Maldon forms a perfect +natural rampart along part of the enemy's position, +while the woods and enclosures south-west of Great +Canney conceal thousands of sharpshooters. A sort of +advanced position was occupied by the enemy at Edwin +Hall, a mile east of Woodham Ferrers, where a pair of +high kopjes a quarter of a mile apart offered command +and cover to some of their field batteries.</p> + +<p>"Our scouts have discovered also that an elaborate +system of wire entanglements and other military obstacles +protects almost the whole front of the somewhat extensive +German position. On its extreme left their line +is said to be thrown back at an angle, so that any +attempt to outflank it would not only entail crossing the +river Crouch, but would come under the fire of batteries +placed on the high ground overlooking it. Altogether, +it is a very tough nut to crack, and the force at our +disposal none too strong for the work that lies before it.</p> + +<p>"Further detail regarding our strength would be inadvisable +for obvious reasons, but when I point out that +the Germans are supposed to be between thirty and +forty thousand strong, and that it is laid down by competent +military authorities that to attack troops in an +entrenched position a superiority of six to one is advisable, +my readers can draw their own conclusions.</p> + +<p>"The repairs to the railway line between Brentwood +and Chelmsford, that had been damaged by the enemy's +cavalry on their first landing, were completed yesterday, +and all night reinforcements had been coming in +by way of Chelmsford and Billericay. The general +headquarters had been established at Danbury, and, +thither I made my way as fast as my car could get +along the roads, blocked as they were by marching +horse, foot, and artillery. I had spent the night at South +Hanningfield, so as to be on the spot for the expected +attack on Wickford; but as soon as I found it was not +to come off, I considered that at Danbury would be the +best chance of finding out what our next move was to be.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> +<p>"Nor was I mistaken. As I ran up to the village I +found the roads full of troops under arms, and everything +denoted action of some kind. I was lucky enough +to come across a friend of mine on the staff—Captain +B——, I will call him—who spared a moment to give me +the tip that a general move forward was commencing, and +that a big battle was imminent. Danbury is situated +on the highest ground for many miles round, and as +it bid fair to be a fine, clear day, I thought I could not +do better than try and get a general look round from +the summit of the church tower before proceeding farther. +But I was informed that the General was up there +with some of his staff and a signalling party, so that +I could not ascend.</p> + +<p>"My pass, however, eventually procured me admission +to the little platform, which, by the way, the General +left a moment after my arrival. It was now eight o'clock, +the sun was fairly high in the heavens, and the light +mists that hung about the low ground in the vicinity of +Maldon were fast fading into nothingness. The old +town was plainly distinguishable as a dark silhouette +against the morning light, which, while it illumined +the panorama spread out before me, yet rendered observation +somewhat difficult, since it shone almost directly +into my eyes. However, by the aid of my glasses I was +able to see something of the first moves on the fatal +chess-board where so many thousands of lives are staked +on the bloody game of war.</p> + +<p>"I noticed among other things that the lessons of the +recent war in the East had not passed unobserved, for +in all the open spaces on the eastern slope of the hill, +where the roads were not screened by trees or coppices, +lofty erections of hurdles and greenery had been placed +overnight to hide the preliminary movements of our +troops from the glasses of the enemy. Under cover of +these, regiment after regiment of khaki-clad soldiers, +batteries of artillery and ammunition carts, were proceeding +to their allotted posts down the network of +roads and lanes leading to the lower ground towards the +south-east. Two battalions stood in quarter column behind +Thrift Wood. They were kilted corps, probably the +Argylls and the London Scottish. Several field batteries +moved off to the left towards Woodham Walter. Other +battalions took up their position behind Hyde Woods, +farther away to the right, the last of them, the Grenadier +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>Guards, I fancy, passing behind them and marching +still farther southward.</p> + +<p>"Finally, two strong battalions, easily recognised as +marines by their blue war-kit, marched rapidly down +the main road and halted presently behind Woodham +Mortimer Place. All this time there was neither sight +nor sound of the enemy. The birds carolled gaily in +the old elms round my eyrie, the sparrows and martins +piped and twittered in the eaves of the old church, +and the sun shone genially on hill and valley, field and +wood. To all appearance, peace reigned over the +countryside, though the dun masses of troops in +the shadows of the woodlands were suggestive of +the autumn manœuvres. But for all this the 'Real +Thing' was upon us. As I looked, first one, then +another long and widely scattered line of crouching men +in khaki issued from the cover of Hyde Woods and began +slowly to move away towards the east. Then, and +not till then, a vivid violet-white flash blazed out on the +dim grey upland five miles away to the south-east, which +had been pointed out to me as Great Canney, and +almost at once a spout of earth and smoke sprang up a +little way ahead of the advancing British. A dull boom +floated up on the breeze, but was drowned in an ear-splitting +crash somewhere close to me. I felt the old +tower rock under the concussion, which I presently discovered +came from a battery of at least six big 4·7 guns +established just outside the churchyard.</p> + +<p>"They were manned by a party of bluejackets, who +had brought them over from Chatham. The movement I +saw developing below me was the first step towards what +I eventually discovered was our main objective—Purleigh.</p> + +<p>"Could we succeed in establishing ourselves there, +we should be beyond effective range from Maldon, and +should also take Great Canney in reverse, as well as +the positions on the refused left flank of the enemy. +Maldon, too, would be isolated. Purleigh, therefore, was +the key of the position. Our first move was in this +direction. The scouts were picked men from the Line +battalions, but the firing lines were composed of Volunteers +and, in some cases, Militiamen. It was considered +more politic to reserve the Regulars for the later stages +of the attack. The firing from Canney, and afterwards +from Purleigh, was at first at rather too long a range to +be effective, even from the heavy guns that were in use, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>and later on the heavy long-range fire from 'Bloody +Mary' and her sisters at Danbury, and other heavy +guns and howitzers in the neighbourhood of East Hanningfield, +kept it down considerably, although the big, +high-explosive shells were now and again most terribly +destructive to the advancing British.</p> + +<p>"When, however, the firing line—which as yet had +not been near enough to fire a shot in reply—arrived in +the neighbourhood of Loddard's Hill, its left came under +a terrible rifle fire from Hazeleigh Wood, while its right +and centre were all but destroyed by a tornado of shrapnel +from some German field batteries to the north of +Purleigh. Though dazed and staggered under the appalling +sleet of projectiles, the Volunteers stuck doggedly +to their ground, though unable to advance. Line after +line was pushed forward, the men stumbling and falling +over the thickly-scattered bodies of their fallen comrades.</p> + +<p>"It was a perfect holocaust. Some other card must +be played at once, or the attack must fail."</p> + +<p>The second of Mr. Henry Bentley's descriptive articles +in the "Times" told a terrible truth, and was as +follows:</p> + +<div class="right"> +"(From our War Correspondent.)<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Chelmsford</span>, <i>September 7</i>. +</div> + +<p>"When I sent off my despatch by motor-car last night, +it was with very different feelings to those with which I +take my pen in hand this evening, in the Saracen's +Head Hotel, which is the headquarters of my colleagues, +the correspondents.</p> + +<p>"Last night, despite the hard fighting and the heavy +losses we had sustained, the promise of the morrow was +distinctly a good one. But now I have little heart with +which to commence the difficult and unpleasant task +of chronicling the downfall of all our high hopes, the +repulse—ay, and the defeat—it is no use mincing matters—of +our heroic and sorely tried Army.</p> + +<p>"Yes, our gallant soldiers have sustained a reverse +which, but for their stubborn fighting qualities and a +somewhat inexplicable holding back on the part of the +Germans, might very easily have culminated in disaster. +Defeat although it undoubtedly is, the darkness of the +gloomy outlook is illuminated by the brilliancy of the +conduct of our troops.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> +<p>"From General down to the youngest Volunteer +drummer boy, our brave soldiers did all, and more, than +could be humanly expected of them, and on none of +them can be laid the blame of our ill-success. The plan +of attack is agreed on all hands to have been as good a +one as could have been evolved; the officers led well, +their men fought well, and there was no running short +of ammunition at any period of the engagement.</p> + +<p>"'Who, then, was responsible?' it may well be asked. +The answer is simple. The British public, which, in its +apathetic attitude towards military efficiency, aided and +abetted by the soothing theories of the extremists of the +'Blue Water' school, had, as usual, neglected to provide +an Army fitted to cope in numbers and efficiency +with those of our Continental neighbours. Had +we had a sufficiency of troops, more especially of regular +troops, there is not the slightest doubt that +the victory would have been ours. As it was, our +General was obliged to attack the enemy's position +with a force whose numbers, even if they had been all +regular soldiers, were below those judged necessary by +military experts for the task in hand.</p> + +<p>"Having broken through the German lines, success was +in his grasp had he had sufficient reinforcements to +have established him in the position he had won, and +to beat back the inevitable counter-attack. But it is +best that I should continue my account of the fighting +from the point at which I closed my letter of yesterday. +I had arrived at the checking of our advance near Loddard's +Hill by the blast of shrapnel from the German +field batteries. It was plain that the Volunteer Brigade, +though it held its ground, could not advance farther. +But, unnoticed by them, the General had been preparing +for this eventuality.</p> + +<p>"On the left the two battalions of Marines that I +noticed drawn up behind Woodham Mortimer Place +suddenly debouched on Loddard's Hill, and, carrying +forward with them the débris of the Volunteer firing +line, hurled themselves into Hazeleigh Wood. There was +a sanguinary hand-to-hand struggle on the wire-entangled +border, but the newcomers were not to be denied, and, +after a quarter of an hour's desperate mêlée, which filled +the sylvan glades with moaning and writhing wounded +and stark dead bodies, we remained masters of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>wood, and even obtained a footing on the railway line +where it adjoins it.</p> + +<p>"Simultaneously a long line of our field batteries came +into action near Woodham Mortimer, some trying to +beat down the fire of the German guns opposite, while +others replied to a battery which had been established +near West Maldon Station to flank the railway, and +which was now beginning to open on Hazeleigh Wood. +The latter were assisted by a battery of 4·7 guns manned +by Volunteers, which took up a position behind Woodham +Walter. The firing on Great Canney from our batteries +at East Hanningfield redoubled, the whole summit +of the hill being at times obscured by the clouds of +smoke and débris from the explosions of the big, high-explosive +projectiles.</p> + +<p>"The main firing line, continually fed from the rear, +now began slowly to gain ground, and when the Grenadiers +and the Irish Guards, who had managed to work +up through the series of plantations that run eastwards +for nearly two miles from Woodham Hall without drawing +any particular attention from the busily engaged +enemy, came into action on the right, there was a distinct +move forward. But the defence was too stubborn, +and about midday the whole line again came to a standstill, +its left still in Hazeleigh Wood, its right at +Prentice Farm. Orders were passed that the men should +try to entrench themselves as best they could, and spades +and other tools were sent forward to those corps who +were not provided with them already.</p> + +<p>"Here we must leave the main attack to notice what +was going on elsewhere. On the north the Colchester +Garrison again brought their heavy artillery into action +on the slopes south of Wickham Bishops, while others +of our troops made a show of advancing against Maldon +from the west. These movements were, however, merely +intended to keep the German garrison occupied. But on +the right a rather important flanking movement was in +progress.</p> + +<p>"We had a considerable body of troops at East +Hanningfield, which lies in a hollow between two little +ridges, both running from south-west to north-east, and +about a mile apart. The most easterly ridge is very +narrow for the most part, and behind it were stationed +several batteries of our field howitzers, which fired over +it at Great Canney at a range of about 5,000 yards. A +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>number of 4·7-inch guns, scattered over the western +hill, were also concentrated on the same target. Although +the range was an extremely long one, there is no doubt +that they made a certain number of effective hits, since +Great Canney offered a conspicuous and considerable +target. But beyond this the flashes of their discharges +drew off all attention from the howitzer batteries in +front of them, and served to conceal their presence from +the enemy. Otherwise, although invisible, their presence +would have been guessed at. As it was, not a +single German projectile came anywhere near them.</p> + +<p>"When the fighting began, those troops who were not +intended to be held in reserve or to co-operate with the +right of the main attack moved off in the direction of +Woodham Ferrers, and made a feint of attacking the +German position astride the two kopjes at Edwin's Hall, +their field guns coming into action on the high ground +north of Rettendon, and engaging those of the enemy +at long range. But the real attack on this salient of the +German position came from a very different quarter.</p> + +<p>"The troops detailed for this movement were those who +had advanced against Wickford at daybreak, and had +found it abandoned by the enemy. They consisted of +the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, the Honourable Artillery +Company, and the Inns of Court Volunteers, together +with their own and three or four other machine-gun +detachments, their Maxims being mounted on detachable +legs instead of carriages. Co-operating with +them were the Essex and the East Kent Yeomanry, who +were scouting in the direction of Hockley.</p> + +<p>"The troops had a long, wearisome march before +them, the design being to take advantage of the time of +low tide, and to move along out of sight of the enemy +behind the northern bank of the river Crouch, as it had +been discovered that the German line of defence turned +back to the eastward at a mile or two north of the +river at the point aimed at. Its guns still commanded it, +and might be trusted to render abortive any attempt to +throw a bridge across it. The Yeomanry had the task +of occupying the attention of the enemy at Canewdon, +and of preventing the passage of boats from the German +warships. This part of our operations succeeded admirably. +The long creeping lines of the Oxfordshires and +the machine-gun detachments in their khaki uniforms +were almost indistinguishable against the steep mud +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>banks at any distance, and they escaped observation both +from the German main lines and from their outpost at +Canewdon until they had reached the entrances of the two +branch creeks for which they were making.</p> + +<p>"Then, and not till then, came the sound of artillery +from the left rear of the German position. But it was +too late. The Oxford companies pushed forward at the +double. Five companies lined the embankments of Stow +Creek, the easternmost of the two, while the remainder, +ensconced in Clementsgreen Creek, aligned the whole +of their machine-guns on the southern of the two kopjes +against which the manœuvre had been directed. Their +fire, which, coming from a little to the rear of the left +flank of the southern kopje, completely enfiladed it, +created such slaughter and confusion that the Honourable +Artillery Company and the Inns of Court, who had +been working up the railway line from Battle Bridge, +had little difficulty in establishing themselves at Woodham +Ferrers Station and in an adjacent farm. Being +almost immediately afterwards reinforced by the arrival +of two regular battalions who had been pushed forward +from Rettendon, a determined assault was made on the +southern kopje. Its defenders, demoralised by the pelting +shower of lead from the machine-gun battery, and +threatened also by the advance from Woodham Ferrers +village, gave way, and our people, forcing their way over +every obstacle, seized the position amid frantic cheering.</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile the Oxfordshires had been subjected to a +determined counter-attack from North Frambridge. Preceded +by a pounding from the guns on Kit's Hill, but +aided by the fire of the Yeomanry on the south bank +of the river, who galloped up and lined the embankment, +thus flanking the defenders of Stow Creek, it was +beaten back with considerable loss. The machine-guns +were transferred to the neighbourhood of South Kopje, +and used with such effect that its defenders, after repulsing +several counter-attacks from the adjoining German +entrenchment, were able to make themselves masters +of the North Kopje also.</p> + +<p>"Elsewhere the fighting still continued strenuous and +deadly. The main attack had contrived to make some +little shelter for itself; but though three several attempts +were made to advance from this, all ended in failure, +one nearly in disaster. This was the last of the three, +when the advancing line was charged by a mass of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>cavalry which suddenly appeared from behind Great +Canney Hill. I myself was a witness of this attack, +the most picturesque incident of the day's fighting.</p> + +<p>"I was watching the progress of the engagement +through my glasses from the high ground about Wickham's +Farm, when I saw line after line of the German +horsemen in their sky-blue tunics and glittering helmets +trot out into the open, canter, and one after another +break into a mad gallop, as they bore down upon the +advancing lines of our citizen soldiers. Staunchly as +these had withstood the murderous fire which for hours +had been directed upon them, this whirlwind of lance +and sabre, the thunder of thousands of hoofs, and the +hoarse cries of the riders, were rather more than such +partially trained soldiers could stand. A scattering +discharge from their rifles was followed by something +very much approaching a <i>sauve qui peut</i>.</p> + +<p>"A large number of Volunteers, however, sought +shelter among the ruined houses of Cock Clarke's hamlet, +from whence they opened a heavy fire on the adventurous +horsemen. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, +who were by this time in Mosklyns Copse, and +the Guards and other troops on the right, also opened +a rapid and sustained fire on the German cavalry, which +seconded by the shrapnel from our guns on Loddard's +Hill, caused them to turn and ride back for their lives. +There was a tremendous outburst of firing from both +sides after this, followed by quite a lull. One could well +imagine that all the combatants were exhausted by the +prolonged effort of the day. It was now between five +and six in the evening. It was at this time that the +news of the capture of the two kopjes reached me, and +I made for Danbury to write my despatches.</p> + +<p>"Shortly after my arrival I heard of the capture of +Spar Hill, a detached knoll about 1,200 yards to the +north-west of Purleigh. The Marines from Hazeleigh +Wood and the Highlanders from Mosklyns Copse had +suddenly and simultaneously assaulted it from opposite +sides, and were now entrenching themselves upon it. +What wonder, then, that I reported satisfactory progress, +and reckoned—too confidently, as it proved—on a +victory for the morrow?</p> + +<p>"I spent a great part of that night under the stars +on the hilltop near East Hanningfield, watching the weird +play of the searchlights which swept over the country +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>from a score of different positions, and listening to the +crash of artillery and clatter of rifle fire which now +and again told of some attempted movement under cover +of the darkness. Just before daylight the continuous +roar of battle began again, and when light dawned I +found that our troops had cut right through the German +lines, and had penetrated as far as Cop Kitchen's +Farm, on the Maldon-Mundon road. Reinforcements +were being hurried up, and an attack was being pushed +towards the rear of Purleigh and Great Canney, which +was being heavily bombarded by some of our large guns, +which had been mounted during the night on the two +kopjes.</p> + +<p>"But the reinforcements were not enough. The Germans +held fast to Purleigh and to some reserve positions +they had established about Mundon. After two or +three hours of desperate effort, costing the lives of +thousands, our attack was at a standstill. At this critical +moment a powerful counter-attack was made from Maldon, +and, outnumbered and almost surrounded, our +gallant warriors had to give ground. But they fell back +as doggedly as they had advanced, the Argylls, Marines, +and Grenadiers covering the retreat on Danbury.</p> + +<p>"The guns at East Hanningfield and the two kopjes +checked the pursuit to a great extent, and the Germans +seemed unwilling to go far from their works. The kopjes +had to be abandoned later in the day, and we now +occupy our former line from Danbury to Billericay, and +are busily engaged in entrenching ourselves."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>DEFENCE AT LAST.</h3> + + +<p>Late on Wednesday night came tardy news of the +measures we were taking to mobilise.</p> + +<p>The Aldershot Army Corps, so complete in the "Army +List," consisted, as all the world knew, of three divisions, +but of these only two existed, the other being +found to be on paper. The division in question, located<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +at Bordon, was to be formed on mobilisation, and this +measure was now being proceeded with. The train service +was practically suspended, owing to the damage +done to the various lines south of London by the +enemy's emissaries. Several of these men had been +detected, and, being in plain clothes, were promptly shot +out of hand. However, their work had, unfortunately +for us, been accomplished, and trains could only run as +far as the destroyed bridges, so men on their way to join +their respective corps were greatly delayed in consequence.</p> + +<p>All was confusion at Bordon, where men were arriving +in hundreds on foot and by the service of motor omnibuses, +which the War Office had on the day before established +between Charing Cross and Aldershot. Perspiring +staff officers strove diligently, without much avail, to +sort out into their respective units this ever-increasing +mass of reservists.</p> + +<p>There was perfect chaos.</p> + +<p>Before the chief constituent parts of the division—that +is to say, regiments who were stationed elsewhere—had +arrived little could be done with the reservists. The +regiments in question were in many cases stationed at +considerable distance, and although they had received +orders to start, were prevented from arriving owing to +the universal interruptions of the railway traffic south. +By this, whole valuable days were lost—days when at +any hour the invaders might make a sudden swoop on +London.</p> + +<p>Reports were alarming and conflicting. Some said +that the enemy meant to strike a blow upon the capital +just as suddenly as they had landed, while others reassured +the alarmists that the German plans were not +yet complete, and that they had not sufficient stores to +pursue the campaign.</p> + +<p>Reservists, with starvation staring them in the face, +went eagerly south to join their regiments, knowing that +at least they would be fed with regularity; while, in +addition, the true patriotic spirit of the Englishman +had been roused against the aggressive Teuton, and everyone, +officer and man, was eager to bear his part in driving +the invader into the sea.</p> + +<p>The public were held breathless. What would happen?</p> + +<p>Arrivals at Aldershot, however, found the whole +arrangements in such a complete muddle that Army<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +Service Corps men, who ought to have been at Woolwich, +were presenting themselves for enrolment at +Bordon, and infantry of the line were conducted into +the camp of the Dragoons. The Motor Volunteer Corps +were at this moment of very great use. The cars were +filled with staff officers and other exalted officials, who +were settling themselves in various offices, and passing +out again to make necessary arrangements for dealing +with such a large influx of men.</p> + +<p>There were activity and excitement everywhere. Men +were rapidly drawing their clothing, or as much of it as +they could get, and civilians were quickly becoming +soldiers on every hand. Officers of the Reserve were +driving up in motor-cars and cabs, many of them with +their old battered uniform cases, that had seen service +in the field in distant parts of the globe. Men from +the "Junior" and the "Senior" wrung each other's +hands on returning to active duty with their old regiments, +and at once settled down into the routine work +they knew so well.</p> + +<p>The rumour, however, had now got about that a +position in the neighbourhood of Cambridge had been +selected by the General Staff as being the most suitable +theatre of action where an effective stand could, with +any hope of success, be made. It was evident that the +German tactics were to strike a swift and rapid blow +at London. Indeed, nothing at present stood in their +way except the gallant little garrison at Colchester, who +had been so constantly driven back by the enemy's +cavalry on attempting to make any reconnaissance, and +who might be swept out of existence at any hour.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>During Tuesday and Wednesday large gangs of workmen +had been busy repairing the damaged lines. The +first regiment complete for the field was the 2nd Battalion +of the 5th Fusiliers, who carried upon their +colours the names of a score of battles, ranging from +Corunna and Badajoz, all through the Peninsula, Afghanistan, +and Egypt, down to the Modder River. This regiment +left by train for London on Tuesday evening, and +was that same night followed by the 2nd Battalion King's +Liverpool Regiment and the 1st King's Shropshire Light +Infantry, while the Manchester Regiment got away soon +after midnight.</p> + +<p>These formed the second infantry brigade of the 1st<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +Division, and were commanded by Brigadier-General Sir +John Money. They were several hours getting up to +London, whence from Clapham Junction their trains +circled London on to the Great Eastern system to Braintree, +where the Horn Hotel was made the headquarters. +By other trains in the small hours of the morning the +last of the Guards Brigade under Colonel (temporary +Brigadier-General) Lord Wansford departed, and duly +arrived at Saffron Walden, to join their comrades on +the line of defence.</p> + +<p>The divisional troops were also on the move early on +Wednesday. Six batteries of artillery and the field company +of Royal Engineers left by road. There was a +balloon section accompanying this, and searchlights, wireless +instruments, and cables for field-telegraphy were +carried in the waggons.</p> + +<p>The 2nd Division, under Lieutenant-General Morgan, +C.B., was also active. The 3rd Infantry Brigade, commanded +by Major-General Fortescue, composed of 2nd +Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, the 2nd Bedfordshire, +the 1st Princess of Wales' Own, and the 1st Royal +Welsh Fusiliers, were preparing, but had not yet moved. +The 4th Infantry Brigade of the same division, consisting +of the 3rd and 4th Battalions King's Royal Rifle +Corps, the 2nd Sherwood Foresters, and the 2nd South +Lancashire, with the usual smartness of those distinguished +regiments, were quick and ready, now as +ever, to go to the front. They were entrained to Baldock, +slightly east of Hitchin, where they marched out +on the Icknield Way. These were followed by Fortescue's +Brigade, who were also bound for Baldock and the +neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>The bulk of the cavalry and field artillery of both divisions, +together with the divisional troops, were compelled +to set out by march-route from Aldershot for the +line of defences. The single and all-sufficient reason +of this delay in sending out the cavalry and artillery +was owing to the totally inadequate accommodation on +the railways for the transport of so many horses and +guns. The troop-trains, which were of course, necessary +to transport the infantry, were not forthcoming in sufficient +numbers, this owing to the fact that at several +points the lines to London were still interrupted.</p> + +<p>The orders to the cavalry who went by march-route +were to get up to the line proposed to be taken up by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +the infantry as quickly as possible, and to operate in +front of it to the east and north-east in screening and +reconnoitring duties. The temporary deficiency of +cavalry, who ought, of course, to have been the first to +arrive at the scene, was made good as far as possible +by the general employment of hordes of motor-cyclists, +who scoured the country in large armed groups, in order +to ascertain, if possible, the dispositions of the enemy. +This they did, and very soon after their arrival reported +the result of their investigations to the general officers +commanding the 1st and 2nd Divisions.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile both cavalry and artillery in great bodies, +and strings of motor omnibuses filled with troops, were +upon the white, dusty roads passing through Staines to +Hounslow and Brentford, thence to London, St. Albans, +<i>en route</i> to their respective divisions. Roughly, the distance +was over fifty miles, therefore those marching were +compelled to halt the night on the way, while those +in the motor omnibuses got through to their destination.</p> + +<p>The sight of British troops hurrying to the front +swelled the hearts of the villagers and townsfolk with +renewed patriotism, and everywhere, through the blazing, +dusty day, the men were offered refreshment by +even the poorest and humblest cottagers. In Bagshot, in +Staines, and in Hounslow the people went frantic with +excitement, as squadron after squadron rapidly passed +along, with its guns, waggons, and ambulances rumbling +noisily over the stones in the rear.</p> + +<p>Following these came pontoon troops with their long +grey waggons and mysterious-looking bridging apparatus, +telegraph troops, balloon sections, supply columns, field +bakery, and field hospitals, the last-named packed in +waggons marked with the well-known red cross of the +Geneva Convention.</p> + +<p>No sooner was Aldershot denuded of its army corps, +however, than battalions began to arrive from Portsmouth +on their way north, while troops from the great +camp on Salisbury Plain were rapidly being pushed to +the front, which, roughly speaking, extended through +Hitchin, Royston, to Saffron Walden, across to Braintree, +and also the high ground commanding the valley +of the Colne to Colchester.</p> + +<p>The line chosen by the General Staff was the natural +chain of hills which presented the first obstacle to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +enemy advancing on London from the wide plain stretching +eastward beyond Cambridge to the sea.</p> + +<p>If this could be held strongly, as was intended, by +practically the whole of the British forces located in the +South of England, including the Yeomanry, Militia, and +Volunteers—who were now all massing in every direction—then +the deadly peril threatening England might be +averted.</p> + +<p>But could it be held?</p> + +<p>This was the appalling question on every one's tongue +all over the country, for it now became generally known +that upon this line of defence four complete and perfectly +equipped German army corps were ready to +advance at any moment, in addition to the right flank +being exposed to the attack of the XIIth Saxon Corps, +entrenched on the Essex coast.</p> + +<p>It was estimated that no fewer than two hundred +thousand Germans were already upon English soil!</p> + +<p>The outlook grew blacker every hour.</p> + +<p>London was in a state of absolute stagnation and +chaos. In the City, business was now at an entire +standstill. The credit system had received a fatal blow, +and nobody wanted to buy securities. Had people kept +level heads in the crisis there would have been a moratorium, +but, as it was, a panic had been created that +nothing could allay. Even Consols were now unsaleable. +Some of the smaller banks were known to have failed, +and traders and manufacturers all over the country +had been ruined on account of credit, the foundation of +all trade, having been swept away. Only persons of the +highest financial standing could have dealt with the +banks, even if they had remained open.</p> + +<p>The opinion held in banking circles was that if the +invasion should unfortunately prove disastrous to England, +and Germany demand a huge indemnity, there was +still hope, however small. The experience of the Franco-German +war had proved that, though in such circumstances +the Bank, for a considerable period, might not +be able to resume cash payments, yet, with sound +finance, there was no reason that the currency should +greatly depreciate. During the period of suspension of +cash payments by the Bank of France, the premium on +gold never went above 1·5 per cent., and during most +of the period was 5, 4, or even less per mille. Therefore +what the French by sound banking had been able to do, +there was no reason why English bankers could not +also do.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><b>WE, WILHELM,</b></p> + +<p><b>GIVE NOTICE to the inhabitants of those provinces +occupied by the German Imperial Army, that—</b></p> + +<p>I MAKE WAR upon the soldiers, and not upon +English citizens. Consequently, it is my wish to +give the latter and their property entire security, and +as long as they do not embark upon hostile enterprise +against the German troops they have a right to +my protection.</p> + +<p>GENERALS COMMANDING the various corps in +the various districts in England are ordered to place +before the public the stringent measures which I +have ordered to be adopted against towns, villages, +and persons who act in contradiction to the usages +of war. They are to regulate in the same manner all +the operations necessary for the well-being of our +troops, to fix the difference between the English and +German rate of exchange, and to facilitate in every +manner possible the individual transactions between +our Army and the inhabitants of England.</p> + +<div class="right"> +<b>WILHELM.</b><br /> +</div> + +<p>Given at <span class="smcap">Potsdam</span>, <i>September 4th, 1910</i>. +</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 444px;"> +<a href="images/i094-hi.png"><img src="images/i094.png" width="444" height="600" alt="The above is a copy of the German Imperial Decree, +printed in English, which was posted by unknown German +agents in London, and which appeared everywhere +throughout East Anglia and in that portion of the Midlands +held by the enemy." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">The above is a copy of the German Imperial Decree, +printed in English, which was posted by unknown German +agents in London, and which appeared everywhere +throughout East Anglia and in that portion of the Midlands +held by the enemy.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> the outbreak of the war of 1870, on August 1, French +Three per Cent. Rentes were at 60·85, and Four and a +Half per Cent. at 98. On the memorable day of Sedan, +September 2, they were at 50·80 and 88·50 respectively, +and on January 2, 1871, Three per Cents. were down to +50·95. At the commencement of the Commune, on March +18, they were at 51·50 and 76·25, and on the 30th of that +month down to 50·60 and 76·25 respectively.</p> + +<p>With so little money in England as there now was, +securities had fallen to the value at which holders would +as soon not sell as sell at such a great discount. High +rates and the heavy fall in the value of securities had +brought business in every quarter all over London to a +standstill. Firms all over the country were now hard +put to in order to find the necessary money to carry +on their various trades. Instantly after the report of +the reverse at Sheffield, there was a wild rush to obtain +gold, and securities dropped even a few more points.</p> + +<p>Therefore there was little or nothing for the banks +to do, and Lombard Street, Lothbury, and the other +banking centres were closed, as though it had been Sunday +or Bank Holiday. Despair was, alas! everywhere, +and the streets presented strange scenes.</p> + +<p>Most of the motor omnibuses had been taken off the +road and pressed into the service of the military. The +walls bore a dozen different broadsides and proclamations, +which were read by the gaping, hungry crowds.</p> + +<p>The Royal Standard was flying from St. Stephen's +Tower, for Parliament had now met, and all members +who were not abroad for their summer vacation had +taken their places at the heated debates now hourly in +progress. Over Buckingham Palace the Royal Standard +also flew proudly, while upon every public building was +displayed a Union Jack or a white ensign, many of +which had done duty at the coronation of His Majesty +King Edward. The Admiralty flew its own flag, and +upon the War Office, the India Office, the Foreign Office, +and all the dark, sombre Government buildings in +Whitehall was bunting displayed.</p> + +<p>The wild enthusiasm of Sunday and Monday, however, +had given place to a dark, hopeless apprehension. +The great mobs now thronging all the principal thoroughfares +in London were already half-famished. Food was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +daily rising in price, and the East End was already +starving. Bands of lawless men and women from the +slums of Whitechapel were parading the West End +streets and squares, and were camping out in Hyde +Park and St. James's Park.</p> + +<p>The days were stifling, for it was an unusually hot +September following upon a blazing August, and as +each breathless evening the sun sank, it shed its blood-red +afterglow over the giant metropolis, grimly precursory +of the ruin so surely imminent.</p> + +<p>Supplies were still reaching London from the country, +but there had been immediate panic in the corn and +provision markets, with the result that prices had instantly +jumped up beyond the means of the average +Londoner. The poorer ones were eagerly collecting the +refuse in Covent Garden Market and boiling it down +to make soup in lieu of anything else, while wise fathers +of families went to the shops themselves and made +meagre purchases daily of just sufficient food to keep +body and soul together.</p> + +<p>For the present there was no fear of London being +absolutely starved, at least the middle class and +wealthier portion of it. At present it was the poor—the +toiling millions now unemployed—who were the first +to feel the pinch of hunger and its consequent despair. +They filled the main arteries of London—Holborn, +Oxford Street, the Strand, Regent Street, Piccadilly, the +Haymarket, St. James's Street, Park Lane, Victoria Street, +and Knightsbridge, overflowing northward into Grosvenor, +Berkeley, Portman, and Cavendish Squares, Portland +Place, and to the terraces around Regent's Park. The +centre of London became congested. Day and night it +was the same. There was no sleep. From across the +river and from the East End the famished poor came in +their bewildering thousands, the majority of them honest +workers, indignant that by the foolish policy of the +Government they now found themselves breadless.</p> + +<p>Before the Houses of Parliament, before the fine new +War Office and the Admiralty, before Downing +Street, and before the houses of known members +of the Government, constant demonstrations were +being made, the hungry crowds groaning at the authorities, +and singing "God Save the King." Though +starving and in despair, they were nevertheless loyal, +still confident that by the personal effort of His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +Majesty some amicable arrangement would be arrived at. +The French <i>entente cordiale</i> was remembered, and our +Sovereign had long ago been declared to be the first +diplomat in Europe. Every Londoner believed in him, +and loved him.</p> + +<p>Many houses of the wealthy, especially those of +foreigners, had their windows broken. In Park Lane, +in Piccadilly, and in Grosvenor Square more particularly, +the houses seemed to excite the ire of the crowds, who, +notwithstanding special constables having been sworn +in, were now quite beyond the control of the police. The +German Ambassador had presented his letters of recall +on Sunday evening, and together with the whole staff +had been accorded a safe conduct to Dover, whence they +had left for the Continent. The Embassy in Carlton +House Terrace, and also the Consulate-General in Finsbury +Square, had, however, suffered severely at the +hands of the angry crowd, notwithstanding that both premises +were under police protection.</p> + +<p>All the German waiters employed at the Cecil, the +Savoy, the Carlton, the Métropole, the Victoria, the +Grand, and the other big London hotels, had already +fled for their lives out into the country, anywhere from +the vengeance of the London mob. Hundreds of them +were trying to make their way within the German lines +in Essex and Suffolk, and it was believed that many +had succeeded—those, most probably, who had previously +acted as spies. Others, it was reported, had been +set upon by the excited populace, and more than one +had lost his life.</p> + +<p>Pandemonium reigned in London. Every class and +every person in every walk of life was affected. German +interests were being looked after by the Russian Ambassador, +and this very fact caused a serious demonstration +before Chesham House, the big mansion where +lives the representative of the Czar. Audacious spies +had, in secret, in the night actually posted copies of +Von Kronhelm's proclamation upon the Griffin at Temple +Bar, upon the Marble Arch, and upon the Mansion +House. But these had been quickly torn down, and if the +hand that had placed them there had been known, it +would certainly have meant death to the one who had +thus insulted the citizens of London.</p> + +<p>Yet the truth was, alas! too plain. Spread out across +Essex and Suffolk, making leisurely preparations and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +laughing at our futile defence, lay over one hundred +thousand well-equipped, well-fed Germans, ready, when +their plans were completed, to advance upon and crush +the complex city which is the pride and home of every +Englishman—London.</p> + +<p>On Friday night an official communication from the +War Office was issued to the Press, showing the exact +position of the invaders. It was roughly this:</p> + +<p>"The IXth German Corps, which had effected a landing +at Lowestoft, had, after moving along the most +easterly route, including the road through Saxmundham +and Ipswich, at length arrived at a position where their +infantry outposts had occupied the higher slopes of the +rising ground overlooking the river Stour, near Manningtree, +which town, as well as Ipswich, was held by +them.</p> + +<p>"The left flank of this corps rested on the river Stour +itself, so that it was secure from any turning movement. +Its front was opposed to and directly threatened Colchester, +while its outposts, to say nothing of its independent +cavalry, reached out in a northerly direction +towards Stowmarket, where they joined hands with the +left flank of the Xth Corps—those under Von Wilburg, +who had landed at Yarmouth—whose headquarters were +now at Bury St. Edmunds, their outposts being disposed +south, overlooking the valley of the upper reaches of the +Stour."</p> + +<p>Nor was this all. From Newmarket there came information +that the enemy who had landed at Weybourne +and Cromer—viz., the IVth Corps under Von +Kleppen—were now encamping on the racecourse and +being billeted in the town and villages about, including +Exning, Ashley, Moulton, and Kentford. Frölich's +cavalry brigade had penetrated south, covering the advance, +and had now scoured the country, sweeping away +the futile resistance of the British Yeomanry, and scattering +cavalry squadrons which they found opposed to +them, all the time maintaining communication with the +Xth Corps on their left, and the flower of the German +Army, the Guards Corps, from King's Lynn, on their right. +Throughout the advance from Holt, Von Dorndorf's +motorists had been of the greatest utility. They had +taken constantly companies of infantry hither and +thither. At any threatened point, so soon as the sound +of firing was heard in any cavalry skirmish or little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +engagement of outposts, the smart motor infantry were +on the spot with the promptness of a fire brigade proceeding +to a call. For this reason the field artillery, +who were largely armed with quick-firing guns, capable +of pouring in a hail of shrapnel on any exposed point, +were enabled to push on much further than would have +been otherwise possible. They were always adequately +supported by a sufficient escort of these up-to-date troops, +who, although infantry, moved with greater rapidity than +cavalry itself, and who, moreover, brought with them +their Maxims, which dealt havoc far and near.</p> + +<p>The magnificent troops of the Duke of Mannheim, +in their service uniforms, who had landed at King's +Lynn, had come across the wide, level roads, some by +way of Downham Market, Littleport, and Ely, and +arrived at Cambridge. The 2nd Division, under +Lieutenant-General von Kasten, protecting the exposed +flanks, had marched <i>viâ</i> Wisbech, March, Chatteris, and +St. Ives, while the masses of the cavalry of the Guard, +including the famous White Cuirassiers, had been acting +independently around the flat fen country, Spalding and +Peterborough, and away to quaint old Huntingdon, +striking terror into the inhabitants, and effectively checking +any possible offensive movement of the British that +might have been directed upon the great German Army +during its ruthless advance.</p> + +<p>Beyond this, worse remained. It was known that the +VIIth Corps, under Von Bristram, had landed at Goole, +and that General Graf Haeseler had landed at Hull, New +Holland, and Grimsby. This revealed what the real +strategy of the Generalissimo had been. Their function +seemed twofold. First and foremost their presence, as +a glance at the map will show, effectually prevented +any attack from the British troops gathered from the +north and elsewhere, and who were, as shown, concentrated +near Sheffield and Birmingham, until these +two corps had themselves been attacked and repulsed, +which we were, alas! utterly unable to accomplish.</p> + +<p>These were two fine German army corps, complete to +the proverbial last button, splendidly equipped, well fed, +and led by officers who had had life-long training and were +perfectly well acquainted with every mile of the country +they occupied, by reason of years of careful study given +to maps of England. It was now entirely plain that the +function of these two corps was to paralyse our trade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +in Yorkshire and Lancashire, to commit havoc in the +big cities, to terrify the people, and to strike a crushing +blow at our industrial centres, leaving the siege of +London to the four other corps now so rapidly advancing +upon the metropolis.</p> + +<p>Events meanwhile were marching quickly in the North.</p> + +<p>The town of Sheffield throughout Tuesday and Wednesday +was the scene of the greatest activity. Day and +night the streets were filled with an excited populace, +and hour by hour the terror increased.</p> + +<p>Every train arriving from the North was crowded with +Volunteers and troops of the line from all stations in +the Northern Command. The 1st Battalion West Riding +Regiment had joined the Yorkshire Light Infantry, who +were already stationed in Sheffield, as had also the +19th Hussars, and from every regimental district and +depôt came battalions of Militia and Volunteers. From +Carlisle came the Reservists of the Border Regiment, +from Richmond those of the Yorkshire Regiment, from +Newcastle came what was left of the Reservists of the +Durham Light Infantry, and the Northumberland Fusiliers, +from Lancaster the Royal Lancashires, while field +artillery came from Seaforth and Preston, and small +bodies of Reservists of the Liverpool and the South +Lancashire Regiments came from Warrington. Contingents +of the East and North Lancashire Regiments +arrived from Preston. The Militia, including battalions +of the Liverpool Regiment, the South Lancashire Regiment, +the Lancashire Fusiliers, and other regiments in +the command, were hurried to the scene of action outside +Sheffield. From every big town in the whole of +the North of England and South of Scotland came +straggling units of Volunteers. The mounted troops were +almost entirely Yeomanry, and included the Duke of +Lancaster's Own Imperial Yeomanry, the East Riding +of Yorks, the Lancashire Hussars, Northumberland +Yeomanry, Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry, +the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons, and the York +Hussars.</p> + +<p>These troops, with their ambulances, their baggage, +and all their impedimenta, created the utmost confusion +at both railway stations. The great concourse +of idlers cheered and cheered again, the utmost enthusiasm +being displayed when each battalion forming +up was marched away out of the town to the position<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +chosen for the defence, which now reached from Woodhouse +on the south, overlooking and commanding the +whole valley of the river Rother, through Catcliffe, +Brinsworth, and Tinsley, previously alluded to, skirting +Greasborough to the high ground north of Wentworth, +also commanding the river Don and all approaches to it +through Mexborough, and over the various bridges +which spanned this stream—a total of about eight miles.</p> + +<p>The south flank was thrown back another four miles +to Norton, in an endeavour to prevent the whole position +being turned, should the Germans elect to deliver +their threatened blow from a more southerly point than +was anticipated.</p> + +<p>The total line, then, to be occupied by the defenders +was about twelve miles, and into this front was crowded +the heterogeneous mass of troops of all arms. The post +of honour was at Catcliffe, the dominating key to the +whole position, which was occupied by the sturdy soldiers +of the 1st Battalion West Riding Regiment and the 2nd +Battalion Yorkshire Light Infantry, while commanding +every bridge crossing the rivers which lay between +Sheffield and the invaders were concentrated the guns +of the 7th Brigade Royal Horse Artillery, and of the +Field Artillery, the 2nd, the 30th, the 37th, and 38th +Brigades, the latter having hurriedly arrived from +Bradford.</p> + +<p>All along the crests of these slopes which formed the +defence of Sheffield, rising steeply from the river at +times up to five hundred feet, were assembled the Volunteers, +all now by daybreak on Thursday morning busily +engaged in throwing up shelter-trenches and making +hasty earthwork defences for the guns. The superintendence +of this force had merged itself into that of +the Northern Command, which nominally had its headquarters +in York, but which had now been transferred +to Sheffield itself, for the best of reasons—that it was +of no value at York, and was badly wanted farther +south. General Sir George Woolmer, who so distinguished +himself in South Africa, had therefore shifted +his headquarters to the Town Hall in Sheffield, but as +soon as he had begun to get the line of defence completed, +he, with his staff, moved on to Handsworth, +which was centrally situated.</p> + +<p>In the command were to be found roughly twenty-three +battalions of Militia and forty-eight of Volunteers;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +but, owing to the supineness and neglect of the Government, +the former regiments now found themselves, at +the moment when wanted, greatly denuded of officers, +and, owing to any lack of encouragement to enlist, largely +depleted in men. As regards the Volunteers, matters +were even worse, only about fifteen thousand having +responded to the call to arms. And upon these heroic +men, utterly insufficient in point of numbers, Sheffield +had to rely for its defence.</p> + +<p>Away to the eastward of Sheffield—exactly where was +yet unknown—sixty thousand perfectly equipped and +thoroughly trained German horse, foot, and artillery, +were ready at any moment to advance westward into +our manufacturing districts!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>BRITISH SUCCESS AT ROYSTON.</h3> + + +<p>Arrests of alleged spies were reported from Manchester +and other large towns. Most of the prisoners were, however, +able to prove themselves naturalised British subjects; +but several were detained pending investigation +and examination of correspondence found at their homes. +In Manchester, where there are always a number of +Germans, it is known that many slipped away on Sunday +night after the publication of the news of the +invasion.</p> + +<p>In most of the larger Midland towns notices had been +issued by the mayors deprecating hostility towards residents +of foreign origin, and stating that all suspicious +cases were already receiving the attention of the police.</p> + +<p>In Stafford the boot factories were idle. In the Potteries +all work was at a standstill. At Stoke-on-Trent, +at Hanley, at Burslem, Tunstall, and Congleton all was +chaos, and thousands upon thousands were already +wanting bread. The silk-thread industry at Leek was +ruined, so was the silk industry at Macclesfield; the +great breweries at Burton were idle, while the hosiery +factories of Leicester and the boot factories of Northampton +were all shut.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>With the German troops threatening Sheffield, Nottingham +was in a state of intense alarm. The lace and +hosiery factories had with one accord closed on Tuesday, +and the great Market Place was now filled day and +night by thousands upon thousands of unemployed +mill-hands of both sexes. On Friday, however, came +the news of how Sheffield had built barricades against +the enemy, and there ensued a frantic attempt at defence +on the part of thousands of terrified and hungry men +and women. In their frenzy they sacked houses in +order to obtain material to construct the barricades, +which were, however, built just where the fancy took +the crowd.</p> + +<p>The white, interminable North Road, that runs so +straight from London through York and Berwick to +Edinburgh, was, with its by-roads in the Midlands, now +being patrolled by British cavalry, and here and there +telegraphists around a telegraph post showed that those +many wires at the roadside were being used for military +communication.</p> + +<p>At several points along the road between Wansford +Bridge and Retford the wires had been cut and tangled +by the enemy's agents, but by Friday all had been restored +again. In one spot, between Weston and Sutton-on-Trent, +eight miles south of Newark, a trench had +actually been dug during the night, the tube containing +the subterranean telegraph lines discovered, and the +whole system to the North disorganised. Similar damage +had been done by German spies to the line between +London and Birmingham, two miles south of Shipston-on-Stour; +and again the line between Loughborough +and Nottingham had been similarly destroyed.</p> + +<p>The Post Office linesmen had, however, quickly made +good the damage everywhere in the country not already +occupied by the enemy, and telegraph and telephone +communication North and South was now practically +again in its normal state.</p> + +<p>Through Lincolnshire the enemy's advance patrols had +spread South over every road between the Humber and +the Wash, and in the city of Lincoln itself a tremendous +sensation was caused when on Wednesday, market-day, +several bodies of German motor-cyclists swept into the +Stonebow and dismounted at the Saracen's Head, amid +the crowd of farmers and dealers who had assembled +there, not, alas! to do business, but to discuss the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +situation. In a moment the city was panic-stricken. +From mouth to mouth the dread truth spread, that the +Germans were upon them, and people ran indoors +and barricaded themselves within their houses.</p> + +<p>A body of Uhlans came galloping proudly through the +Stonebow a quarter of an hour later, and halted in High +Street as though awaiting orders. Then in rapid succession +troops seemed to arrive from all quarters, many +halting in the Cathedral Close and by Exchequer Gate, +and others riding through the streets in order to terrify +the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Von Kronhelm's famous proclamation was posted by +German soldiers upon the police station, upon the +Stonebow, and upon the door of the grand old Cathedral +itself, and before noon a German officer accompanied by +his staff called upon the Mayor, and warned him that +Lincoln was occupied by the German troops, and that +any armed resistance would be punished by death, as +the Generalissimo's proclamation stated. An indemnity +was demanded, and then the powerless people saw upon +the Cathedral and upon several of the public buildings +the German flag rise and float out upon the summer wind.</p> + +<p>Boston was full of German infantry, and officers had +taken up temporary quarters in the Peacock and +other hotels in the market-place, while upon the +"Stump" the enemy's colours were flying.</p> + +<p>No news came from London. People in Norwich, +Ipswich, Yarmouth, and other places heard vaguely of +the invasion in the North, and of fighting in which the +Germans were careful to report that they were always +successful. They saw the magnificently equipped army +of the Kaiser, and, comparing it with our mere apology +for military force, regarded the issue as hopeless from +the very first. In every town the German colours were +displayed, and all kinds of placards in German and in +English made their appearance.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The "Daily Chronicle," on September 10, published +the following despatch from one of its war correspondents:</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Royston</span>, <i>September</i> 9. +</div> + +<p>"Victory at last. A victory due not only to the bravery +and exertion of our troops, regular and auxiliary, but +also to the genius of Field-Marshal Lord Byfield, our +Commander-in-Chief, ably seconded by the energy and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +resource with which Sir William Packington, in command +of the IVth Army Corps at Baldock, carried out +that part of the programme entrusted to him.</p> + +<p>"But though in this success we may hope that we are +seeing the first glimmerings of dawn—of deliverance from +the nightmare of German invasion that is now oppressing +our dear old England—we must not be led into foolishly +sanguine hopes. The snake has been scotched, and +pretty badly into the bargain, but he is far from being +killed. The German IVth Army Corps, under the famous +General Von Kleppen, their magnificent Garde Corps +commanded by the Duke of Mannheim, and Frölich's +fine Cavalry Division, have been repulsed in their +attack on our positions near Royston and Saffron Walden, +and driven back with great loss and confusion. But we +are too weak to follow up our victory as it should be +followed up.</p> + +<p>"The menace of the IXth and Xth Corps on our right +flank ties us to our selected position, and the bulk of +our forces being composed of indifferently trained Volunteers +and Militia, is much more formidable behind +entrenchments than when attempting to manœuvre in +a difficult and intricate country such as it is about +here. But, on the other hand, we have given pause to +the invaders, and have certainly gained a few days' +time, which will be invaluable to us.</p> + +<p>"We shall be able to get on with the line of fortifications +that are being constructed to bar the approaches +to London, and behind which it will be necessary for us +to make our final stand. I do not conceive that it is +possible for such an agglomeration of amateur troops +as ours are in the main to defeat in the open field such +formidable and well-trained forces as the Germans have +succeeded in throwing into this country. But when our +Navy has regained command of the sea, we hope that we +may, before very long, place our unwelcome visitors +'between the devil and the deep sea'—the part of the +devil being played by our brave troops finally concentrated +behind the strong defences of the metropolis. +In short, that the Germans may run out of ammunition +and provisions. For if communication with the Fatherland +is effectively cut, they must starve, unless they have +previously compelled our submission; for it is impossible +for an army of the size that has invaded us to live +on the country.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No doubt hundreds, nay thousands, of our non-militant +countrymen—and, alas! women and children—will +starve before the German troops are conquered by +famine, that most terrible of enemies; but this issue +seems to be the only possible one that will save the +country.</p> + +<p>"But enough of these considerations of the future. +It is time that I should relate what I can of the glorious +victory which our gallant defenders have torn from the +enemy. I do not think that I am giving any information +away if I state that the British position lay mainly between +Saffron Walden and Royston, the headquarters +respectively of the IInd and IIIrd Army Corps. The +IVth Corps was at Baldock, thrown back to cover the +left flank and protect our communications by the Great +Northern Railway. A detached force, from what command +supplied it is not necessary or advisable to say, +was strongly entrenched on the high ground north-west +of Helions Bumpstead, serving to strengthen our right. +Our main line of defence—very thinly held in some +parts—began a little to the south-east of Saffron Walden, +and ran westwards along a range of high ground through +Elmdon and Chrishall to Heydon. Here it turned south +through Great Chrishall to Little Chrishall, where it +again turned west, and occupied the high range south +of Royston on which stands the village of Therfield.</p> + +<p>"The night before the battle we knew that the greater +portion of the German IVth and Garde Corps were concentrated, +the former at Newmarket, the 1st Division of +the latter at Cambridge, the 2nd on this side of St. +Ives, while Frölich's Cavalry Division had been in constant +contact with our outposts the greater part of the +day previous. The Garde Cavalry Brigade was reported +to be well away to the westward towards Kettering, as +we suppose, on account of the reports which have been +going about of a concentration of Yeomanry and Militia +in the hilly country near Northampton. Our Intelligence +Department, which appears to have been very well +served by its spies, obtained early knowledge of the intention +of the Germans to make an attack on our position. +In fact, they talked openly of it, and stated at +Cambridge and Newmarket that they would not +manœuvre at all, and only hoped that we should hold +on long enough to our position to enable them to smash +up our IInd and IIIrd Corps by a frontal attack, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +so clear the road to London. The main roads lent themselves +admirably to such strategy, which rendered the +reports of their intentions the more probable, for they +all converged on our position from their main points of +concentration.</p> + +<p>"The letter 'W' will exactly serve to show the positions +of the contending forces. St. Ives is at the top of +the first stroke, Cambridge at the junction of the two +shorter centre ones, Newmarket at the top of the last +stroke, while the British positions at Royston and Saffron +Walden are at the junctions of all four strokes at +the bottom of the letter. The strokes also represent the +roads, except that from Cambridge three good roads +lead towards each of the British positions. The prisoners +taken from the Germans in the various preliminary +skirmishes also made no bones of boasting that a direct +attack was imminent, and our Commander-in-Chief eventually, +and rightly as it proved, determined to take the +risk of all this information having been specially promulgated +by the German Staff to cover totally different +intentions, as was indeed quite probable, and to accept +it as true. Having made up his mind, he lost no time +in taking action. He ordered the IVth Corps under Sir +William Packington to move on Potton, twelve miles to +the north-west, as soon as it was dark. As many cavalry +and mounted infantry as could possibly be spared from +Royston were placed at his disposal.</p> + +<p>"It ought to be stated that while the auxiliary troops +had been busily employed ever since their arrival in entrenching +the British position, the greater part of the +regular troops had been occupying an advanced line +two or three miles to the northward on the lower spurs +of the hills, and every possible indication of a determination +to hold this as long as possible was afforded to +the German reconnoitrers. During the night these troops +fell back to the position which had been prepared, the +outposts following just before daylight. About 6 a.m. +the enemy were reported to be advancing in force along +the Icknield Way from Newmarket, and also by the +roads running on either bank of the river Cam. Twenty +minutes later considerable bodies of German troops were +reported at Fowlmere and Melbourn on the two parallel +Royston-Cambridge roads. They must have followed very +close on the heels of our retiring outposts. It was a +very misty morning—down in the low ground over which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +the enemy were advancing especially so—but about +seven a gust of wind from the westward dispelled the +white fog-wreaths that hung about our left front, and +enabled our lookouts to get a glimpse along the famous +Ermine Street, which runs straight as an arrow from +Royston for twenty or thirty miles to the N.N.W.</p> + +<p>"Along this ancient Roman way, far as the eye could +reach, poured a steady stream of marching men, horse, +foot, and artillery. The wind dropped, the mists +gathered again, and once more enveloped the invaders +in an impenetrable screen. But by this time the whole +British line was on the <i>qui vive</i>. Regulars, Militia, and +Volunteers were marching down to their chin-deep +trenches, while those who were already there busied +themselves in improving their loopholes and strengthening +their head cover. Behind the ridges of the hills the +gunners stood grouped about their 'Long Toms' and +heavy howitzers, while the field batteries waited, ready +horsed, for orders to gallop under cover of the ridge +to whichever set of emplacements should first require +to be manned and armed. We had not enough to distribute +before the movements of the enemy should, to +a certain extent, show his hand.</p> + +<p>"About seven o'clock a series of crackling reports from +the outskirts of Royston announced that the detachment +of Mounted Infantry, who now alone held it, +was exchanging shots with the advancing enemy, and +in a few minutes, as the morning mistiness cleared off, +the General and his staff, who were established at the +northern edge of the village of Therfield, three or four +hundred feet higher up than the German skirmishers, +were able to see the opening of the battle spread like a +panorama before them. A thick firing line of drab-costumed +Germans extended right across from Holland +Hall to the Coach and Horses on the Fowlmere Road. +On their left moved two or three compact masses of +cavalry, while the infantry reserves were easily apparent +in front of the village of Melbourn. Our Mounted Infantry +in the village were indistinguishable, but away +on the spur to the north-east of Royston a couple of +batteries of Horse Artillery were unlimbered and were +pushing their guns up to the brow of the hill by hand. +In two minutes they were in action, and hard at work.</p> + +<p>"Through the glasses the shrapnel could be seen bursting, +half a dozen together, in front of the advancing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +Germans, who began to fall fast. But almost at once +came an overwhelming reply from somewhere out of +sight behind Melbourn. The whole hilltop around our +guns was like a spouting volcano. Evidently big high-explosive +shells were being fired from the German field-howitzers. +In accordance with previous orders, our +horse-gunners at once ran down their guns, limbered up, +and started to gallop back towards our main position. +Simultaneously a mass of German cavalry deployed into +attack formation near the Coach and Horses, and swept +down in their direction with the evident intention of +cutting off and capturing them. But they reckoned without +their escort of Mounted Infantry, who had been +lying low behind the long, narrow line of copse north of +Lowerfield Farm. Safely ensconced behind this—to +cavalry—impassable barrier, the company, all good shots, +opened a terrible magazine fire on the charging squadrons +as they passed at close range. A Maxim they had +with them also swept horses and men away in swathes. +The charge was checked, and the guns saved, but we +had not finished with the German reiters. Away to the +north-east a battery of our 4·7 guns opened on the disorganised +cavalry, firing at a range of four thousand +yards. Their big shells turned the momentary check +into a rout, both the attacking cavalry and their supports +galloping towards Fowlmere to get out of range. +We had scored the first trick!</p> + +<p>"The attacking lines of German Infantry still pressed +on, however, and after a final discharge the Mounted +Infantry in Royston sprang on their horses and galloped +back over Whitely Hill, leaving the town to be occupied +by the enemy. To the eastward the thunder of heavy +cannon, gradually growing in intensity, proclaimed that +the IInd Corps was heavily attacked. Covered by a +long strip of plantation, the German IVth Corps contrived +to mass an enormous number of guns on a hill +about two miles north of the village of Elmdon, and a +terrific artillery duel began between them and our artillery +entrenched along the Elmdon-Heydon ridge. Under +cover of this the enemy began to work his infantry up +towards Elmdon, obtaining a certain amount of shelter +from the spurs which ran out towards the north-east +of our line. Other German troops with guns put in an +appearance on the high ground to the north-east of +Saffron Walden, near Chesterton Park.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To describe the fortunes of this fiercely contested +battle, which spread along a front of nearly twenty miles, +counting from the detached garrison of the hill at +Helions Bumpstead—which, by the way, succeeded in +holding its ground all day, despite two or three most +determined assaults by the enemy—to Kelshall on the +left of the British position, would be an impossibility in +the space at my disposal. The whole morning it raged +all along the northern slopes of the upland held by our +gallant troops. The fiercest fighting was, perhaps, in +the neighbourhood of Elmdon, where our trenches were +more than once captured by the Magdeburg battalions, +only to be themselves hurled out again by the rush of +the 1st Coldstream Guards, who had been held in reserve +near the threatened point. By noon the magnificent +old palace at Audley End was in flames. Art treasures +which were of inestimable value and absolutely +unreplaceable perished in this shocking conflagration. +Desperate fighting was going on in the streets of the +little town of Saffron Walden, where a mingled mass of +Volunteers and Militia strove hard to arrest the advance +of a portion of the German Army which was endeavouring +to work round the right of our position.</p> + +<p>"On our left the Foot Guards and Fusiliers of the 1st +German Guard Division, after receiving a terrible pounding +from our guns when they poured into Royston at the +heels of our Mounted Infantry, had fought their way up +the heights to within fifteen hundred yards of our +trenches on the upper slopes of the ridge. Farther than +that they had been unable to advance. Their close formations +offered an excellent target to the rifles of the +Volunteers and Militia lining our entrenchments. The +attackers had lost men in thousands, and were now +endeavouring to dig themselves in as best they could +under the hail of projectiles that continually swept the +hillside. About noon, too, the 2nd Division of the Garde +Corps, after some skirmishing with the Mounted Infantry +away on our left front, got into attack formation +along the line of the Hitchin and Cambridge Railway, +and after pouring a deluge of projectiles from field +guns and howitzers upon our position, advanced upon +Therfield with the greatest bravery and determination. +They had succeeded by 2 p.m. in driving our men from +the end of the spur running northward near Therfield +Heath, and managed to get a number of their howitzers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +up there, and at once opened fire from the cover afforded +by several copses out of which our men had been +driven.</p> + +<p>"In short, things were beginning to look very bad +for Old England, and the watchers on the Therfield +heights turned their glasses anxiously northward in +search of General Sir William Packington's force from +Potton. They had not long to wait. At 2.15 the winking +flash of a heliograph away near Wendy Place, about +eight miles up Ermine Street, announced that the +advance guard, consisting of the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers, +was already at Bassingbourn, and that the main +body was close behind, having escaped detection by all +the enemy's patrols and flank guards. They were now +directly in the rear of the right of the German reserves, +who had been pushed forward into the neighbourhood of +Royston to support the attack of their main body on +the British position. A few minutes later it was evident +that the enemy had also become aware of their advent. +Two or three regiments hurriedly issued from Royston +and deployed to the north-west. But the guns of the +Baldock Corps turned such a 'rafale' fire upon them +that they hesitated and were lost.</p> + +<p>"Every long-range gun in the British entrenchments +that would bear was also turned upon them, leaving the +infantry and field guns to deal with the troops assaulting +their position. The three battalions, as well as a fourth +that was sent to their assistance, were simply swept out +of existence by this terrible cross-fire. Their remnants +streamed away, a disorganised crowd of scattered +stragglers, towards Melbourn; while, still holding on to +Bassingbourn, the Baldock force moved down on Royston, +driving everything before it.</p> + +<p>"The most advanced German troops made a final effort +to capture our position when they saw what was going on +behind them, but it was half-hearted; they were brought +to a standstill, and our men, fixing bayonets, sprang from +their trenches and charged down upon them with cheers, +which were taken up all along the line for miles. The +Germans here and there made a partial stand, but in half +an hour they were down on the low ground, falling back +towards the north-east in the greatest confusion, losing +men in thousands from the converging fire of our guns. +Their cavalry made a gallant attempt to save the day +by charging our troops to the north of Royston. It was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +a magnificent sight to see their enormous masses sweeping +over the ground with an impetus which looked capable +of carrying everything before it, but our men, clustering +behind the hedges of Ermine Street, mowed them +down squadrons at a time. Not one of them reached the +roadway. The magnificent Garde Corps was routed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 536px;"> +<a href="images/i112-hi.png"><img src="images/i112.png" width="536" height="500" alt="BATTLE OF ROYSTON +SUNDAY SEPT. 9TH." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">BATTLE OF ROYSTON<br /> +SUNDAY SEPT. 9TH.</span> +</div> + +<p>"The combined IIIrd and IVth Corps now advanced +on the exposed right flank of the German IVth Corps, +which, fighting gallantly, fell back, doing its best to cover +the retreat of its comrades, who, on their part, very much +hampered its movements. By nightfall there was no unwounded +German south of Whittlesford, except as a prisoner. +By this time, too, we were falling back on our +original position."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>BRITISH ABANDON COLCHESTER.</h3> + + +<p>On Tuesday, 10th September, the "Daily News" published +the following telegram from its war correspondent, +Mr. Edgar Hamilton:</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Chelmsford</span>, <i>Monday, Sept.</i> 9. +</div> + +<p>"I sit down, after a sleepless night, to indite the account +of our latest move. We hear that Sheffield has fallen, and +our troops are in flight. As, by the time this appears +in print, the enemy will of necessity be aware of our +abandonment of Colchester, the censor will not, I imagine, +prevent the despatch of my letter.</p> + +<p>"For our move has been made one of a retrograde +nature, and I do not doubt that the cavalry of the German +IXth Corps are close behind us and in touch with +our own. But I must not, in using the word 'retrograde,' +be supposed to criticise in any way the strategy of our +generals. For every one here is, I am sure, fully persuaded +of the wisdom of the step. Colchester, with its +plucky little garrison, was altogether too much 'in the +air,' and stood a great risk of being isolated by a converging +advance of the IXth and Xth Corps of the German +invaders, to say nothing of the XIIth (Saxon) Corps +at Maldon, which since the unfortunate battle of Purleigh +has shown itself very active to the north and east.</p> + +<p>"The Saxons have refrained from attacking our Vth +Corps since its repulse, and it has been left almost in +peace to entrench its position from Danbury to the southward; +but, on the other hand, while not neglecting to +further strengthen their already formidable defences +between the Blackwater and the Crouch, their cavalry +have scoured the country up to the very gates of Colchester. +Yesterday morning the 16th Lancers and the 17th +Hussars—who had fallen back from Norwich—together +with some of the local Yeomanry, moved out by the +Tolleshunt d'Arcy and Great Totham roads, and drove +in their patrols with some loss. At Tiptree Heath there +was a sharp cavalry engagement between our red +Lancers and several squadrons of a sky-blue hussar regiment. +Our people routed them, but in the pursuit that +followed would have fared badly, as they fell in with +the four remaining squadrons supported by another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +complete regiment, had it not been for the opportune arrival +of the Household Cavalry Brigade, which had moved +north-east from Danbury to co-operate. This completely +changed the aspect of affairs. The Germans were +soundly beaten, with the loss of a large number of prisoners, +and galloped back to Maldon in confusion. In the +meantime, the 2nd King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment +and the 5th Battery R.F. Artillery had been sent +down to Witham by train, whence they marched up to +the high ground near Wickham Bishops. They and +the Yeomanry were left there in a position to cover the +main London Road and the Great Eastern Railway, and +at the same time threaten any movement of the enemy +by the Great Totham Road. When the news of our +success reached Colchester, soon after midday, we were +all very jubilant. In fact, I fear that a great many +people spent the afternoon in a species of fool's paradise. +And when towards the evening the announcement of our +splendid victory at Royston was posted up on the red +walls of the fine town hall, and outside the Cups, there +was an incipient outbreak of that un-English excitement +known as 'Mafficking.'</p> + +<p>"But this exultation was fated to be but short-lived, +even though the Mayor appeared on the balcony of the +Town Hall and addressed the crowd, while the latest +news was posted outside the offices of the 'Essex Telegraph,' +opposite the post office. The wind was in the +north, and about 5.45 in the afternoon the sound of a +heavy explosion was heard from the direction of Manningtree. +I was in the Cups Hotel at the time arranging +for an early dinner, and ran out into the street. As I +emerged from the archway of the hotel I distinctly heard +a second detonation from the same direction. A sudden +silence, ominous and unnatural, seemed to fall on the +yelping jingoes in the street, in the midst of which the +rumble of yet another explosion rolled down on the +wind, this time from a more westerly direction. Men +asked their neighbours breathlessly as to what all this +portended. I myself knew no more than the most +ignorant of the crowd, till in an officer who rushed hastily +by me in Head Street, on his way into the hotel, I recognised +my friend Captain Burton, of the Artillery.</p> + +<p>"I buttonholed him at once.</p> + +<p>"'Do I know what those explosions were?' repeated +he in answer to my inquiry. 'Well, I don't know, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +I'm open to bet you five to one that it's the sappers +blowing up the bridges over the Stour at Manningtree +and Stratford St. Mary.'</p> + +<p>"'Then the Germans will have arrived there?' I +queried.</p> + +<p>"'Most probably. And look here,' he continued, taking +me aside by the arm, and lowering his voice, 'you take +my tip. We shall be out of this to-night. So you'd best +pack up your traps and get into marching order.'</p> + +<p>"'Do you know this?' said I.</p> + +<p>"'Not officially, or I shouldn't tell you anything about +it. But I can put two and two together. We all knew +that the General wouldn't be fool enough to try and defend +an open town of this size with such a small garrison +against a whole army corps, or perhaps more. It would +serve no good purpose, and expose the place to destruction +and bring all sorts of disaster on the civil population. +You could have seen that for yourself, for no attempt +whatever has been made to erect defences of any kind, +neither have we received any reinforcements at all. If +they had meant to defend it they could certainly have +contrived to send us some Volunteers and guns at any +rate. No, the few troops we have here have done their +best in assisting the Danbury Force against the Saxons, +and are much too valuable to be left here to be cut off +without being able to do much to check the advance of the +enemy. If we had been going to try anything of that +kind, we should have now been holding the line of the +river Stour; but I know we have only small detachments +at the various bridges, sufficient only to drive off +the enemy's cavalry patrols. By now, having blown up +the bridges, I expect they are falling back as fast as they +can get. Besides, look here,' he added, 'what do you +think that battalion was sent to Wickham Bishops for +this morning?'</p> + +<p>"I told him my theories as set forth above.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, yes, that's all right,' he answered. 'But you +may bet your boots that there's more in it than that. In +my opinion, the General has had orders to clear out as soon +as the enemy are preparing to cross the Stour, and the +Lancasters are planted there to protect our left flank +from an attack from Maldon while we are retreating on +Chelmsford.'</p> + +<p>"'But we might fall back on Braintree?' I hazarded.</p> + +<p>"'Don't you believe it. We're not wanted there—at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +least, I mean, not so much as elsewhere. Where we shall +come in is to help to fill the gap between Braintree and +Danbury. I think, myself, we might just as well have +done it before. We have been sending back stores by +rail for the last two days. Well, good-bye,' he said, holding +out his hand. 'Keep all this to yourself, and mark +my words, we'll be off at dusk.'</p> + +<p>"Away he went, and convinced that his prognostications +were correct—as, indeed, in the main they proved—I +hastened to eat my dinner, pay my bill, and get my +portmanteau packed and stowed away in my motor. As +soon as the evening began to close in I started and made +for the barracks, going easy. The streets were still full +of people, but they were very quiet, and mostly talking +together in scattered groups. A shadow seemed to have +fallen on the jubilant crowd of the afternoon, though, +as far as I could ascertain, there were no definite rumours +of the departure of the troops and the close advent of +the enemy.</p> + +<p>"When I arrived at the barracks, I saw at once that +there was something in the wind, and pulled up alongside +the barrack railings, determined to watch the progress +of events. I had not long to wait. In about ten +minutes a bugle sounded, and the scattered assemblage +of men on the barrack-square closed together and solidified +into a series of quarter columns. At the same time +the Volunteer battalion moved across from the other +side of the road and joined the Regular troops. I heard +a sharp clatter and jingling behind me, and, looking +round, saw the General and his staff with a squad of +cavalry canter up the road. They turned into the barrack +gate, greeted by a sharp word of command and the +rattle of arms from the assembled battalions. As far +as I could make out, the General made them some kind +of address, after which I heard another word of command, +upon which the regiment nearest to the gate formed fours +and marched out.</p> + +<p>"It was the 2nd Dorsetshire. I watched anxiously to +see which way they turned. As I more than expected, +they turned in the direction of the London Road. My +friend had been right so far, but till the troops arrived +at Mark's Tey, where the road forked, I could not be +certain whether they were going towards Braintree or +Chelmsford. The Volunteers followed; then the Leicestershires, +then a long train of artillery, field batteries,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +big 4·7 guns, and howitzers. The King's Own Scottish +Borderers formed the rearguard. With them marched +the General and his staff; I saw no cavalry. I discovered +afterwards that the General, foreseeing that a +retirement was imminent, had ordered the 16th Lancers +and the 7th Hussars, after their successful morning performance, +to remain till further orders at Kelvedon and +Tiptree respectively, so that their horses were resting +during the afternoon.</p> + +<p>"During the night march the former came back and +formed a screen behind the retiring column, while the +latter were in a position to observe and check any movement +northwards that might be made by the Saxons, at +the same time protecting its flank and rear from a possible +advance by the cavalry of Von Kronhelm's Army, +should they succeed in crossing the river Stour soon +enough to be able to press after us in pursuit by either +of the two eastern roads leading from Colchester to +Maldon. After the last of the departing soldiers had +tramped away into the gathering darkness through the +mud, which after yesterday's downpour still lay thick +upon the roads, I bethought me that I might as well +run down to the railway station to see if anything was +going on there. I was just in time.</p> + +<p>"The electric light disclosed a bustling scene as the +last of the ammunition and a certain proportion of stores +were being hurried into a long train that stood with +steam up ready to be off. The police allowed none of +the general public to enter the station, but my correspondent's +pass obtained me admission to the departure +platform. There I saw several detachments of the Royal +Engineers, the Mounted Infantry—minus their horses, +which had been already sent on—and some of the +Leicestershire Regiment. Many of the men had their +arms, legs, or heads bandaged, and bore evident traces of +having been in action. I got into conversation with a +colour-sergeant of the Engineers, and learned these were +the detachments who had been stationed at the bridges +over the Stour. It appears there was some sharp skirmishing +with the German advance troops before the officers +in command had decided that they were in sufficient +force to justify them in blowing up the bridges. In fact, +at the one at which my informant was stationed, and +that the most important one of all, over which the main +road from Ipswich passed at Stratford St. Mary, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +officer in charge delayed just too long, so that a party of +the enemy's cavalry actually secured the bridge, and succeeded +in cutting the wires leading to the charges which +had been placed in readiness to blow it up. Luckily, the +various detachments present rose like one man to the +occasion, and, despite a heavy fire, hurled themselves +upon the intruders with the bayonet with such determination +and impetus, that the bridge was swept clear in +a moment. The wires were reconnected, and the bridge +cleared of our men just as the Germans, reinforced by +several of their supporting squadrons, who had come +up at a gallop, dashed upon it in pursuit. The firing +key was pressed at this critical moment, and, with a +stunning report, a whole troop was blown into the air, +the remaining horses, mad with fright, stampeding despite +all that their riders could do. The road was cut, +and the German advance temporarily checked, while the +British detachment made off as fast as it could for +Colchester.</p> + +<p>"I asked the sergeant how long he thought it would +be before the Germans succeeded in crossing it. 'Bless +you, sir, I expect they're over by now,' he answered. +'They would be sure to have their bridging companies +somewhere close up, and it would not take them more +than an hour or two to throw a bridge over that place.' +The bridges at Boxted Mill and Nayland had been destroyed +previously.</p> + +<p>"The railway bridge and the other one at Manningtree +were blown up before the Germans could get a +footing, and their defenders had come in by rail. But +my conversation was cut short, the whistle sounded, +the men were hustled on board the train, and it moved +slowly out of the station. As for me, I hurried out to +my car, and, putting on speed, was soon clear of the +town, and spinning along for Mark's Tey. It is about +five miles, and shortly before I got there I overtook the +marching column. The men were halted, and in the +act of putting on their greatcoats. I was stopped here +by the rearguard, who took charge of me, and would +not let me proceed until permission was obtained from +the General.</p> + +<p>"Eventually this officer ordered me to be brought to +him, I presented my pass; but he said, 'I am afraid +that I shall have to ask you either to turn back or to +slow down and keep pace with us. In fact, you had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +better do the latter. I might, indeed, have to exercise +my powers and impress your motor, should the exigencies +of the Service require it.' I saw that it was best +to make virtue of necessity, and replied that it was +very much at his service, and that I was very well content +to accompany the column. In point of fact, the +latter was strictly true, for I wanted to see what was +to be seen, and there were no points about going along +with no definite idea of where I wanted to get to, with a +possible chance of falling into the hands of the Saxons +into the bargain. So a Staff officer, who was suffering +from a slight wound, was placed alongside me, and the +column, having muffled itself in its greatcoats, once +more began to plug along through the thickening mire. +My position was just in front of the guns, which kept +up a monotonous rumble behind me. My companion +was talkative, and afforded me a good deal of incidental +and welcome information. Thus, just after we started, +and were turning to the left at Mark's Tey, a bright +glare followed by a loudish report came from the right +of the road. 'What's that?' I naturally ejaculated. +'Oh, that will be the sappers destroying the junction +with the Sudbury line,' he replied. 'There's the train +waiting for them just beyond.'</p> + +<p>"So it was. The train that I had seen leaving had +evidently stopped after passing the junction, while the +line was broken behind it. 'They will do the same after +passing the cross line at Witham,' volunteered he.</p> + +<p>"A mile or two further on we passed between two lines +of horsemen, their faces set northwards and muffled to +the eyes in their long cloaks. 'That's some of the 16th,' +he said, 'going to cover our rear.'</p> + +<p>"So we moved on all night through the darkness and +rain, and with the first glimmer of dawn halted at Witham. +We had about nine miles still to go to reach Chelmsford, +which I learned was our immediate destination, and +it was decided to rest here for an hour, while the men +made the best breakfast they could from the contents +of their haversacks. But the villagers brought out +hot tea and coffee, and did the best they could for us, +so we did not fare so badly after all. As for me, I got +permission to go on, taking with me my friend the Staff +officer, who had despatches to forward from Chelmsford. +I pushed on at full speed. We were there in a very +short space of time, and during the morning I learned +that the Braintree Army was falling back on Dunmow, +and that the Colchester garrison was to assist in holding +the line of the river Chelmer."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> +<h2>NOTICE.</h2> +<h3>CONCERNING WOUNDED BRITISH SOLDIERS.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +In compliance with an order of the Commander-in-Chief +of the German Imperial Army, the Governor-General +of East Anglia decrees as follows:— +</p> +<p> +(1) Every inhabitant of the counties of Norfolk, +Suffolk, Essex, Cambridge, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, +Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Northampton, Rutland, +Huntingdon, and Hertford, who gives asylum to or +lodges one or more ill or wounded British soldier, is +obliged to make a declaration to the mayor of the town +or to the local police within 24 hours, stating name, +grade, place of birth, and nature of illness or injury. +</p> +<p> +Every change of domicile of the wounded is also to +be notified within 24 hours. +</p> +<p> +In absence of masters, servants are ordered to make +the necessary declarations. +</p> +<p> +The same order applies to the directors of hospitals, +surgeries, or ambulance stations, who receive the +British wounded within our jurisdiction. +</p> +<p> +(2) All mayors are ordered to prepare lists of the +British wounded, showing the number, with their +names, grade, and place of birth in each district. +</p> +<p> +(3) The mayor, or the superintendent of police, must +send on the 1st and 15th of each month a copy of +his lists to the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief. +The first list must be sent on the 15th September. +</p> +<p> +(4) Any person failing to comply with this order +will, in addition to being placed under arrest for +harbouring British troops, be fined a sum not exceeding +£20. +</p> +<p> +(5) This decree is to be published in all towns and +villages in the Province of East Anglia. +</p> + +<div class="right"> +<b>Count VON SCHONBURG-WALDENBURG,<br /> +Lieutenant-General,<br /> +Governor of German East Anglia.</b> +</div> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Ipswich</span>, <i>September</i> 6, 1910. +</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 377px;"> +<a href="images/i120-hi.png"><img src="images/i120.png" width="377" height="600" alt="COPY OF ONE OF THE ENEMY'S PROCLAMATIONS." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">COPY OF ONE OF THE ENEMY'S PROCLAMATIONS.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>FIERCE FIGHTING AT CHELMSFORD.</h3> + + +<p>A despatch from Mr. Edgar Hamilton to the "Daily +News," as follows, was published on Saturday, 15th +September:</p> + +<p>"At Little Waltham I found myself close to the scene +of action. About a mile ahead of me the hamlet of +Howe Street was in flames and burning furiously. I +could see the shells bursting in and all over it in perfect +coveys. I could not make out where they were +coming from, but an officer I met said he thought the +enemy must have several batteries in action on the high +ground about Littley Green, a mile and a half to the +north on the opposite side of the river. I crossed over +myself, and got up on the knoll where the Leicestershires +and Dorsets had been stationed, together with a number +of the 4·7-inch guns brought from Colchester.</p> + +<p>"This piece of elevated ground is about two miles +long, running almost north and south, and at the top +of it I got an extensive view to the eastward right away +to beyond Witham, as the ground fell all the way. The +country was well wooded, and a perfect maze of trees +and hedgerows. If there were any Germans down there +in this plain they were lying very low indeed, for my +glasses did not discover the least indication of their presence. +Due east my view was bounded by the high +wooded ground about Wickham Bishops and Tiptree +Heath, which lay a long blue hummock on the horizon, +while to the south-east Danbury Hill, with our big war-balloon +floating overhead, was plainly discernible.</p> + +<p>"While I gazed on the apparently peaceful landscape +I was startled by a nasty, sharp hissing sound, which +came momentarily nearer. It seemed to pass over my +head, and was followed by a loud bang in the air, +where now hung a ring of white smoke. It was a shell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +from the enemy. Just ahead of me was a somewhat +extensive wood; and, urged by some insane impulse of +seeking shelter, I left the car, which I ordered my chauffeur +to take back for a mile and wait, and made for +the close-standing trees. If I had stopped to think I +should have realised that the wood gave me actually +no protection whatever, and I had not gone far when +the crashing of timber and noise of the bursting projectiles +overhead and in the undergrowth around made +me understand clearly that the Germans were making +a special target of the wood, which, I imagine, they +thought might conceal some of our troops. I wished +heartily that I was seated beside my chauffeur in his +fast-receding car.</p> + +<p>"However, my first object was to get clear of the wood +again, and after some little time I emerged on the west +side, right in the middle of a dressing station for the +wounded, which had been established in a little hollow. +Two surgeons, with their assistants, were already busily +engaged with a number of wounded men, most of whom +were badly hit by shrapnel bullets about the upper part +of the body. I gathered from one or two of the few most +slightly wounded men that our people had been, and +were, very hardly put to it to hold their own. 'I reckon,' +said one of them, a bombardier of artillery, 'that the +enemy must have got more than a hundred guns firing +at us, and at Howe Street village. If we could only make +out where the foreign devils were,' continued my informant, +'our chaps could have knocked a good many of +them out with our four-point-sevens, especially if we +could have got a go at them before they got within +range themselves. But they must have somehow contrived +to get them into position during the night, for +we saw nothing of them coming up. They are somewhere +about Chatley, Fairstead Lodge, and Little Leighs, +but as we can't locate them exactly, and only have ten +guns up here, it don't give us much chance, does it?' +Later I saw an officer of the Dorsets, who confirmed the +gunner's story, but added that our people were well entrenched +and the guns well concealed, so that none of +the latter had been put out of action, and he thought we +should be able to hold on to the hill all right. I regained +my car without further adventure, bar several narrow +escapes from stray shell, and made my way back as +quickly as possible to Chelmsford.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The firing went on all day, not only to the northward, +but also away to the southward, where the Saxons, +while not making any determined attack, kept the Vth +Corps continually on the alert, and there was an almost +continuous duel between the heavy pieces. As it appeared +certain that the knoll I had visited in the forenoon +was the main objective of the enemy's attack, +reinforcements had been more than once sent up there, +but the German shell fire was so heavy that they found +it almost impossible to construct the additional cover +required. Several batteries of artillery were despatched +to Pleshy and Rolphy Green to keep down, if possible, +the fire of the Germans, but it seemed to increase rather +than diminish. They must have had more guns in action +than they had at first. Just at dusk their infantry had +made the first openly offensive movement.</p> + +<p>"Several lines of skirmishers suddenly appeared in the +valley between Little Leighs and Chatley, and advanced +towards Lyonshall Wood, at the north end of the knoll +east of Little Waltham. They were at first invisible +from the British gun positions on the other side of the +Chelmer, and when they cleared the spur on which +Hyde Hall stands they were hardly discernible in the +gathering darkness. The Dorsetshire and the other +battalions garrisoning the knoll manned their breastworks +as they got within rifle range, and opened fire, +but they were still subjected to the infernal rafale from +the Hanoverian guns on the hills to the northward, and +to make matters worse at this critical moment the Xth +Corps brought a long line of guns into action between +Flacks Green and Great Leighs Wood, in which position +none of the British guns except a few on the knoll itself +could reach them. Under this cross hurricane of projectiles +the British fire was quite beaten down, and the +Germans followed up their skirmishers by almost solid +masses, which advanced with all but impunity save for +the fire of the few British long-range guns at Pleshy +Mount. There they were firing almost at random, as the +gunners could not be certain of the exact whereabouts +of their objectives. There was a searchlight on the knoll, +but at the first sweep of its ray it was absolutely demolished +by a blizzard of shrapnel. Every German gun +was turned upon it. The Hanoverian battalions now +swarmed to the assault, disregarding the gaps made in +their ranks by the magazine fire of the defenders as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +soon as their close advance masked the fire of their own +cannon.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 480px;"> +<a href="images/i124-hi.png"><img src="images/i124.png" width="480" height="500" alt="BATTLE OF CHELMSFORD. +Position on the Evening of September 11." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">BATTLE OF CHELMSFORD.<br /> +Position on the Evening of September 11.</span> +</div> + +<p>"The British fought desperately. Three several times +they hurled back at the attackers, but, alas! we were +overborne by sheer weight of numbers. Reinforcements +summoned by telephone, as soon as the determined +nature of the attack was apparent, were hurried up from +every available source, but they only arrived in time to +be carried down the hill again in the rush of its defeated +defenders, and to share with them the storm of +projectiles from the quick-firers of General von Kronhelm's +artillery, which had been pushed forward during +the assault. It was with the greatest difficulty that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +shattered and disorganised troops were got over the +river at Little Waltham. As it was, hundreds were +drowned in the little stream, and hundreds of others killed +and wounded by the fire of the Germans. They had won +the first trick. This was indisputable, and as ill news +travels apace, a feeling of gloom fell upon our whole force, +for it was realised that the possession of the captured +knoll would enable the enemy to mass troops almost +within effective rifle range of our river line of defence. I +believe that it was proposed by some officers on the staff +that we should wheel back our left and take up a fresh +position during the night. This was overruled, as it was +recognised that to do so would enable the enemy to push +in between the Dunmow force and our own, and so cut our +general line in half. All that could be done was to get +up every available gun and bombard the hill during the +night in order to hamper the enemy in his preparations for +further forward movement and in his entrenching operations.</p> + +<p>"Had we more men at our disposal I suppose there +is little doubt that a strong counter-attack would have +been made on the knoll almost immediately; but in the +face of the enormous numbers opposed to us, I imagine +that General Blennerhasset did not feel justified in denuding +any portion of our position of its defenders. So +all through the dark hours the thunder of the great +guns went on. In spite of the cannonade the Germans +turned on no less than three searchlights from the southern +end of the knoll about midnight. Two were at once +put out by our fire, but the third managed to exist for +over half an hour, and enabled the Germans to see how +hard we were working to improve our defences along +the river bank. I am afraid that they were by this +means able to make themselves acquainted with the +positions of a great number of our trenches. During +the night our patrols reported being unable to penetrate +beyond Pratt's Farm, Mount Maskell, and Porter's Farm +on the Colchester Road. Everywhere they were forced +back by superior numbers. The enemy were fast closing +in upon us. It was a terrible night in Chelmsford.</p> + +<p>"There was panic on every hand. A man mounted the +Tindal statue and harangued the crowd, urging the people +to rise and compel the Government to stop the war. +A few young men endeavoured to load the old Crimean +cannon in front of the Shire Hall, but found it clogged +with rust and useless. People fled from the villa residences +in Brentwood Road into the town for safety, +now that the enemy were upon them. The banks in +High Street were being barricaded, and the stores still +remaining in the various grocers' shops, Luckin Smith's, +Martin's, Cramphorn's, and Pearke's, were rapidly being +concealed from the invaders. All the ambulance waggons +entering the town were filled with wounded, although +as many as possible were sent south by train. By +one o'clock in the morning, however, most of the civilian +inhabitants had fled. The streets were empty, but +for the bivouacking troops and the never-ending procession +of wounded men. The General and his staff +were deliberating to a late hour in the Shire Hall, at +which he had established his headquarters. The booming +of the guns waxed and waned till dawn, when a furious +outburst announced that the second act of the tragedy +was about to open.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> +<h2>DECREE</h2> + +<h3>CONCERNING THE POWER OF COUNCILS OF WAR.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>WE, GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF EAST ANGLIA, in virtue of the powers conferred +upon us by His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor, Commander-in-Chief of +the German Armies, order, for the maintenance of the internal and external security of +the counties of the Government-General:—</p> + +<p>ARTICLE I.—Any individual guilty of incendiarism or of wilful inundation, of attack, +or of resistance with violence against the Government-General or the agents of the civil +or military authorities, of sedition, of pillage, of theft with violence, of assisting prisoners +to escape, or of exciting soldiers to treasonable acts, shall be PUNISHED BY DEATH.</p> + +<p>In the case of any extenuating circumstances, the culprit may be sent to penal servitude +with hard labour for twenty years.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE II.—Any person provoking or inciting an individual to commit the crimes +mentioned in Article I. will be sent to penal servitude with hard labour for ten years.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE III.—Any person propagating false reports relative to the operations of war +or political events will be imprisoned for one year, and fined up to £100.</p> + +<p>In any case where the affirmation or propagation may cause prejudice against the +German Army, or against any authorities or functionaries established by it, the culprit +will be sent to hard labour for ten years.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE IV.—Any person usurping a public office, or who commits any act or issues +any order in the name of a public functionary, will be imprisoned for five years, and +fined £150.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE V.—Any person who voluntarily destroys or abstracts any documents, +registers, archives, or public documents deposited in public offices, or passing through +their hands in virtue of their functions as government or civic officials, will be imprisoned +for two years, and fined £150.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE VI.—Any person obliterating, damaging, or tearing down official notices, +orders, or proclamations of any sort issued by the German authorities will be imprisoned +for six months, and fined £80.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE VII.—Any resistance or disobedience of any order given in the interests of +public security by military commanders and other authorities, or any provocation or +incitement to commit such disobedience, will be punished by one year's imprisonment, or +a fine of not less than £150.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE VIII.—All offences enumerated in Articles I.—VII. are within the jurisdiction +of the Councils of War.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE IX.—It is within the competence of Councils of War to adjudicate upon all +other crimes and offences against the internal and external security of the English provinces +occupied by the German Army, and also upon all crimes against the military or civil +authorities, or their agents, as well as murder, the fabrication of false money, of blackmail, +and all other serious offences.</p> + +<p>Article X.—Independent of the above, the military jurisdiction already proclaimed +will remain in force regarding all actions tending to imperil the security of the German +troops, to damage their interests, or to render assistance to the Army of the British +Government.</p> + +<p>Consequently, there will be PUNISHED BY DEATH, and we expressly repeat this, +all persons who are not British soldiers and—</p> + +<p>(a) Who serve the British Army or the Government as spies, or receive British spies, +or give them assistance or asylum.</p> + +<p>(b) Who serve as guides to British troops, or mislead the German troops when charged +to act as guides.</p> + +<p>(c) Who shoot, injure, or assault any German soldier or officer.</p> + +<p>(d) Who destroy bridges or canals, interrupt railways or telegraph lines, render roads +impassable, burn munitions of war, provisions, or quarters of the troops.</p> + +<p>(e) Who take arms against the German troops.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE XI.—The organisation of Councils of War mentioned in Articles VIII. and +IX. of the Law of May 2, 1870, and their procedure are regulated by special laws which +are the same as the summary jurisdiction of military tribunals. In the case of Article X. +there remains in force the Law of July 21, 1867, concerning the military jurisdiction +applicable to foreigners.</p> + +<p>ARTICLE XII.—The present order is proclaimed and put into execution on the +morrow of the day upon which it is affixed in the public places of each town and village, +The Governor-General of East Anglia,</p> + +<div class="right"><b>COUNT VON SCHONBURG-WALDENBERG,<br /> +Lieutenant-General.</b> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Norwich</span>, <i>September 7th</i>, 1910.</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 452px;"> +<a href="images/i126-hi.png"><img src="images/i126.png" width="452" height="800" alt="DECREE +CONCERNING THE POWER OF COUNCILS OF WAR." title="" /></a> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> had betaken myself at once to the round tower +of the church, next the Stone Bridge, from which I had +an excellent view both east and north. The first thing +that attracted my eye was the myriad flashings of rifle +fire in the dimness of the breaking day. They reached +in a continuous line of coruscations from Boreham Hall, +opposite my right hand, to the knoll by Little Waltham, +a distance of three or four miles, I should say. The enemy +were driving in all our outlying and advanced troops by +sheer weight of numbers. Presently the heavy batteries +at Danbury began pitching shell over in the direction +of the firing, but as the German line still advanced, +it had not apparently any very great effect. The next +thing that happened was a determined attack on the +village of Howe Street made from the direction of Hyde +Hall. This is about two miles north of Little Waltham. +In spite of our incessant fire, the Germans had contrived +to mass a tremendous number of guns and howitzers on +and behind the knoll they captured last night, and +there was any quantity more on the ridge above Hyde +Hall. All these terrible weapons concentrated their +fire for a few moments on the blackened ruins of Howe +Street. Not a mouse could have lived there. The little +place was simply pulverised.</p> + +<p>"Our guns at Pleshy Mount and Rolphy Green, aided +by a number of field batteries, in vain endeavoured to +make head against them. They were outnumbered by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +six to one. Under cover of this tornado of iron and +fire, the enemy pushed several battalions over the river, +making use of the ruins of the many bridges about +there which had been hastily destroyed, and which they +repaired with planks and other materials they brought +along with them. They lost a large number of men in +the process, but they persevered, and by ten o'clock +were in complete possession of Howe Street, Langley's +Park, and Great Waltham, and moving in fighting formation +against Pleshy Mount and Rolphy Green, their guns +covering their advance with a perfectly awful discharge +of shrapnel. Our cannon on the ridge at Partridge +Green took the attackers in flank, and for a time checked +their advance, but, drawing upon themselves the attention +of the German artillery, on the south end of the +knoll, were all but silenced.</p> + +<p>"As soon as this was effected another strong column +of Germans followed in the footsteps of the first, and +deploying to the left, secured the bridge at Little +Waltham, and advanced against the gun positions on +Partridge Green. This move turned all our river bank +entrenchments right down to Chelmsford. Their defenders +were now treated to the enfilade fire of a number +of Hanoverian batteries that galloped down to Little +Waltham. They stuck to their trenches gallantly, but +presently when the enemy obtained a footing on Partridge +Green they were taken in reverse, and compelled +to fall back, suffering terrible losses as they did so. The +whole of the infantry of the Xth Corps, supported—as +we understand—by a division which had joined them +from Maldon, now moved down on Chelmsford. In +fact, there was a general advance of the three combined +armies stretching from Partridge Green on the +west to the railway line on the east. The defenders of +the trenches facing east were hastily withdrawn, and +thrown back on Writtle. The Germans followed closely +with both infantry and guns, though they were for a +time checked near Scot's Green by a dashing charge +of our cavalry brigade, consisting of the 16th Lancers +and the 7th, 14th, and 20th Hussars, and the Essex +and Middlesex Yeomanry. We saw nothing of their +cavalry, for a reason that will be apparent later. By +one o'clock fierce fighting was going on all round the +town, the German hordes enveloping it on all sides but +one. We had lost a great number of our guns, or at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +any rate had been cut off from them by the German +successes around Pleshy Mount, and in all their assaults +on the town they had been careful to keep out of effective +range of the heavy batteries on Danbury Hill. These, +by the way, had their own work cut out for them, as +the Saxon artillery were heavily bombarding the hill +with their howitzers. The British forces were in a critical +situation. Reinforcements—such as could be spared—were +hurried up from the Vth Army Corps, but they were +not very many in numbers, as it was necessary to provide +against an attack by the Saxon Corps. By three o'clock +the greater part of the town was in the hands of the +Germans, despite the gallant way in which our men fought +them from street to street, and house to house. A dozen +fires were spreading in every direction, and fierce fighting +was going on at Writtle. The overpowering numbers +of the Germans, combined with their better organisation, +and the number of properly trained officers at their disposal, +bore the British mixed Regular and Irregular +forces back, and back again.</p> + +<p>"Fearful of being cut off from his line of retreat, +General Blennerhasset, on hearing from Writtle soon +after three that the Hanoverians were pressing his left +very hard, and endeavouring to work round it, reluctantly +gave orders for the troops in Chelmsford to +fall back on Widford and Moulsham. There was a lull +in the fighting for about half an hour, though firing +was going on both at Writtle and Danbury. Soon after +four a terrible rumour spread consternation on every +side. According to this, an enormous force of cavalry +and motor infantry was about to attack us in the rear. +What had actually happened was not quite so bad as +this, but quite bad enough. It seems, according to our +latest information, that almost the whole of the cavalry +belonging to the three German Army Corps with whom +we were engaged—something like a dozen regiments, +with a proportion of horse artillery and all available +motorists, having with them several of the new armoured +motors carrying light, quick-firing and machine guns—had +been massed during the last thirty-six hours behind +the Saxon lines extending from Maldon to the River +Crouch. During the day they had worked round to +the southward, and at the time the rumour reached us +were actually attacking Billericay, which was held by a +portion of the reserves of our Vth Corps. By the time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +this news was confirmed the Germans were assaulting +Great Baddow, and moving on Danbury from east, +north, and west, at the same time resuming the offensive +all along the line. The troops at Danbury must +be withdrawn or they would be isolated. This difficult +manœuvre was executed by way of West Hanningfield. +The rest of the Vth Corps conformed +to the movement, the Guards Brigade at East +Hanningfield forming the rearguard, and fighting +fiercely all night through with the Saxon troops, who +moved out on the left flank of our retreat. The wreck +of the first Corps and the Colchester garrison was now +also in full retirement. Ten miles lay between it and +the lines at Brentwood, and had the Germans been +able to employ cavalry in pursuit, this retreat would +have been even more like a rout than it was. Luckily +for us the Billericay troops mauled the German cavalry +pretty severely, and they were beset in the close country +in that neighbourhood by Volunteers, motorists, and +every one that the officer commanding at Brentwood +could get together in this emergency.</p> + +<p>"Some of them actually got upon our line of retreat, +but were driven off by our advance guard; others came +across the head of the retiring Vth Corps, but the terrain +was all against cavalry, and after nightfall most of them +had lost their way in the maze of lanes and hedgerows +that covered the countryside. Had it not been for this +we should probably have been absolutely smashed. As +it was, rather more than half our original numbers of +men and guns crawled into Brentwood in the early +morning, worn out and dead-beat."</p> + +<p>Reports from Sheffield also showed the position to be +critical.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_II" id="BOOK_II"></a>BOOK II.</h2> + +<h3>THE SIEGE OF LONDON.</h3> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I_II" id="CHAPTER_I_II"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE LINES OF LONDON.</h3> + + +<p>The German successes were continued in the North and +Midlands, and notwithstanding the gallant defence of +Sir George Woolmer before Manchester and Sir Henry +Hibbard before Birmingham, both cities were captured +and occupied by the enemy after terrible losses. London, +however, was the chief objective of Von Kronhelm, and +towards the Metropolis he now turned his attention.</p> + +<p>After the defeat of the British at Chelmsford on that +fateful Wednesday, Lord Byfield decided to evacuate +his position at Royston and fall back on the northern +section of the London defence line, which had been +under construction for the last ten days. These hasty +entrenchments, which would have been impossible to +construct but for the ready assistance of thousands of +all classes of the citizens of London and the suburbs, +extended from Tilbury on the east to Bushey on the west, +passing by the Laindon Hills, Brentwood, Kelvedon, +North Weald, Epping, Waltham Abbey, Cheshunt, +Enfield Chase, Chipping Barnet, and Elstree. They were +more or less continuous, consisting for the most part of +trenches for infantry, generally following the lines of +existing hedgerows or banks, which often required but +little improvement to transform them into well-protected +and formidable cover for the defending troops. +Where it was necessary to cross open ground they were +dug deep and winding, after the fashion adopted by +the Boers in the South African War, so that it would +be difficult, if not impossible, to enfilade them.</p> + +<p>Special bomb-proof covers for the local reserves were +also constructed at various points, and the ground in +front ruthlessly cleared of houses, barns, trees, hedges,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +and everything that might afford shelter to an advancing +enemy. Every possible military obstacle was placed in +front of the lines that time permitted, abattis, military +pits, wire entanglements, and small ground mines. At +the more important points along the fifty miles of entrenchments, +field works and redoubts for infantry were +built, most of them being armed with 4·7 or even 6 and +7·5 in. guns, which had been brought from Woolwich, +Chatham, Portsmouth, and Devonport, and mounted on +whatever carriages could be adapted or improvised for +the occasion.</p> + +<p>The preparation of the London lines was a stupendous +undertaking, but the growing scarceness and dearness +of provisions assisted in a degree, as no free rations +were issued to any able-bodied man unless he went out +to work at the fortifications. All workers were placed +under military law. There were any number of willing +workers who proffered their services in this time of +peril. Thousands of men came forward asking to be +enlisted and armed. The difficulty was to find enough +weapons and ammunition for them, to say nothing of +the question of uniform and equipment, which loomed +very large indeed. The attitude of the Germans, as set +forth in Von Kronhelm's proclamations, precluded the +employment of fighting men dressed in civilian garb, +and their attitude was a perfectly natural and justifiable +one by all the laws and customs of war.</p> + +<p>It became necessary, therefore, that all men sent to +the front should be dressed as soldiers in some way +or another. In addition to that splendid corps, the +Legion of Frontiersmen, many new armed organisations +had sprung into being, some bearing the most fantastic +names, such as the "Whitechapel War-to-the-Knives," +the "Kensington Cowboys," the "Bayswater Braves," +and the "Southwark Scalphunters." All the available +khaki and blue serge was used up in no time; even though +those who were already in possession of ordinary lounge +suits of the latter material were encouraged to have +them altered into uniforms by the addition of stand-up +collars and facings of various colours, according to their +regiments and corps.</p> + +<p>Only the time during which these men were waiting +for their uniforms was spent in drill in the open spaces +of the Metropolis. As soon as they were clothed, they +were despatched to that portion of the entrenchments to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +which their corps had been allocated, and there, in the +intervals of their clearing and digging operations, they +were hustled through a brief musketry course, which consisted +for the most part in firing. The question of the +provision of officers and N.C.O.'s was an almost insuperable +one. Retired men came forward on every side, +but the supply was by no means equal to the demand, +and they themselves in many instances were absolutely +out of date as far as knowledge of modern arms and +conditions were concerned. However, every one, with +but very few exceptions, did his utmost, and by the +11th or 12th of the month the entrenchments were practically +completed, and manned by upwards of 150,000 +"men with muskets" of stout heart and full of patriotism, +but in reality nothing but an army <i>pour rire</i> so far as +efficiency was concerned.</p> + +<p>The greater part of the guns were also placed in position, +especially on the north and eastern portions of the lines, +and the remainder were being mounted as fast as it +was practicable. They were well manned by Volunteer +and Militia Artillerymen, drawn from every district +which the invaders had left accessible. By the 13th the +eastern section of the fortifications was strengthened by +the arrival of the remnants of the Ist and Vth Army +Corps, which had been so badly defeated at Chelmsford, +and no time was lost in reorganising them and distributing +them along the lines, thereby, to a certain extent, +leavening the unbaked mass of their improvised defenders. +It was generally expected that the enemy +would follow up the success by an immediate attack +on Brentwood, the main barrier between Von Kronhelm +and his objective—our great Metropolis. But, as it +turned out, he had a totally different scheme in hand. +The orders to Lord Byfield to evacuate the position he +had maintained with such credit against the German +Garde and IVth Corps have already been referred to. +Their reason was obvious. Now that there was no +organised resistance on his right, he stood in danger of +being cut off from London, the defences of which were now +in pressing need of his men. A large amount of rolling +stock was at once despatched to Saffron Walden and +Buntingford by the G.E.R. and to Baldock by the +G.N.R., to facilitate the withdrawal of his troops and +stores, and he was given an absolutely free hand as +to how these were to be used, all lines being kept clear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +and additional trains kept at his disposal at their London +termini.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 521px;"> +<a href="images/i134-hi.png"><img src="images/i134.png" width="521" height="300" alt="THE LINES OF LONDON +Rough sketch showing approximately +the lines of entrenchments constructed +for the defence of the Metropolis." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE LINES OF LONDON<br /> +Rough sketch showing approximately +the lines of entrenchments constructed +for the defence of the Metropolis.</span> +</div> + +<p>September 13 proved a memorable date in the history +of England.</p> + +<p>The evacuation of the Baldock-Saffron Walden position +could not possibly have been carried out in good order +on such short notice, had not Lord Byfield previously +worked the whole thing out in readiness. He could not +help feeling that, despite his glorious victory on the +ninth, a turn of Fortune's wheel might necessitate a +retirement on London sooner or later, and, like the good +General that he was, he made every preparation both +for this, and other eventualities. Among other details, +he had arranged that the mounted infantry should be +provided with plenty of strong light wire. This was intended +for the express benefit of Frölich's formidable +cavalry brigade, which he foresaw would be most +dangerous to his command in the event of a retreat. As +soon, therefore, as the retrograde movement commenced, +the mounted infantry began to stretch their wires across +every road, lane and byway leading to the north and +north-east. Some wires were laid low, within a foot of +the ground, others high up, where they could catch a +rider about the neck or breast. This operation they +carried out again and again, after the troops had passed, +at various points on the route of the retreat. Thanks to +the darkness, this device well fulfilled its purpose. +Frölich's brigade was on the heels of the retreating +British soon after midnight, but as it was impossible for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +them to move over the enclosed country at night, his +riders were confined to the roads, and the accidents and +delays occasioned by the wires were so numerous and +disconcerting that their advance had to be conducted +with such caution that as a pursuit it was of no use at +all. Even the infantry and heavy guns of the retiring +British got over the ground nearly twice as fast. After +two or three hours of this, only varied by occasional +volleys from detachments of our mounted infantry, who +sometimes waited in rear of their snares to let fly at the +German cavalry before galloping back to lay others, the +enemy recognised the fact, and, withdrawing their +cavalry till daylight, replaced them by infantry, but so +much time had been lost, that the British had got several +miles' start.</p> + +<p>As has been elsewhere chronicled, the brigade of four +regular battalions with their guns, and a company of +Engineers which were to secure the passage of the Stort +and protect the left flank of the retirement, left Saffron +Walden somewhere about 10.30 p.m. The line was +clear, and they arrived at Sawbridgeworth in four long +trains in a little under an hour. Their advent did +not arouse the sleeping village, as the station lies nearly +three-quarters of a mile distant on the further side of the +river. It may be noted in passing that while the Stort +is but a small stream, easily fordable in most places, +yet it was important, if possible, to secure the bridges +to prevent delay in getting over the heavy guns and +waggons of the retiring British. A delay and congestion +at the points selected for passage might, with +a close pursuit, easily lead to disaster. Moreover, the +Great Eastern Railway crossed the river by a wooden +bridge just north of the village of Sawbridgeworth, and +it was necessary to ensure the safe passage of the last +trains over it before destroying it to preclude the use +of the railway by the enemy.</p> + +<p>There were two road bridges on the Great Eastern +Railway near the village of Sawbridgeworth, which might +be required by the Dunmow force, which was detailed +to protect the same flank rather more to the northward. +The most important bridge, that over which the main +body of the Saffron Walden force was to retire, with +all the impedimenta it had had time to bring away +with it, was between Sawbridgeworth and Harlow, about +a mile north of the latter village, but much nearer its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +station. Thither, then, proceeded the leading train with +the Grenadiers, four 4·7 guns, and half a company of +Royal Engineers with bridging materials. Their task +was to construct a second bridge to relieve the traffic +over the permanent one. The Grenadiers left one company +at the railway station, two in Harlow village, +which they at once commenced to place in a state of +defence, much to the consternation of the villagers, who +had not realised how close to them were trending the +red footsteps of war. The remaining five companies +with the other four guns turned northward, and after +marching another mile or so occupied the enclosures +round Durrington House and the higher ground to its +north. Here the guns were halted on the road. It +was too dark to select the best position for them, +for it was now only about half an hour after midnight. +The three other regiments which detrained at Sawbridgeworth +were disposed as follows, continuing the +line of the Grenadiers to the northward. The Rifles +occupied Hyde Hall, formerly the seat of the Earls of +Roden, covering the operations of the Engineers, who +were preparing the railway bridge for destruction, and +the copses about Little Hyde Hall on the higher ground +to the eastward.</p> + +<p>The Scots Guards with four guns were between them +and the Grenadiers, and distributed between Sheering +village and Gladwyns House, from the neighbourhood +of which it was expected that the guns would be able to +command the Chelmsford Road for a considerable distance. +The Seaforth Highlanders for the time being +were stationed on a road running parallel to the railway, +from which branch roads led to both the right, +left, and centre of the position. An advanced party of +the Rifle Brigade was pushed forward to Hatfield Heath +with instructions to patrol towards the front and flanks, +and, if possible, establish communication with the troops +expected from Dunmow. By the time all this was +completed it was getting on for 3 a.m. on the 13th. At +this hour the advanced guard of the Germans coming +from Chelmsford was midway between Leaden Roding +and White Roding, while the main body was crossing +the small River Roding by the shallow ford near the +latter village. Their few cavalry scouts were, however, +exploring the roads and lanes some little way ahead. +A collision was imminent. The Dunmow force had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +not been able to move before midnight, and, with the +exception of one regular battalion, the 1st Leinsters, +which was left behind to the last and crowded into the +only train available, had only just arrived at the northern +edge of Hatfield Forest, some four miles directly north +of Hatfield Heath. The Leinsters, who left Dunmow +by train half an hour later, had detrained at this +point at one o'clock, and just about three had met +the patrols of the Rifles. A Yeomanry corps from Dunmow +was also not far off, as it turned to its left at the +cross-roads east of Takely, and was by this time in the +neighbourhood of Hatfield Broad Oak. In short, all +three forces were converging, but the bulk of the +Dunmow force was four miles away from the point of +convergence.</p> + +<p>It was still profoundly dark when the Rifles at Hatfield +Heath heard a dozen shots cracking through the +darkness to their left front. Almost immediately other +reports resounded from due east. Nothing could be seen +beyond a very few yards, and the men of the advanced +company drawn up at the cross-roads in front of the +village inn fancied they now and again saw figures +dodging about in obscurity, but were cautioned not to +fire till their patrols had come in, for it was impossible +to distinguish friend from foe. Shots still rattled out +here and there to the front. About ten minutes later +the captain in command, having got in his patrols, gave +the order to fire at a black blur that seemed to be moving +towards them on the Chelmsford Road. There was +no mistake this time. The momentary glare of the discharge +flashed on the shiny "pickel-haubes" of a detachment +of German infantry, who charged forward +with a loud "Hoch!" The Riflemen, who already had +their bayonets fixed, rushed to meet them, and for a +few moments there was a fierce stabbing affray in the +blackness of the night. The Germans, who were but +few in number, were overpowered, and beat a retreat, +having lost several of their men. The Rifles, according +to their orders, having made sure of the immediate +proximity of the enemy, now fell back to the rest of +their battalion at Little Hyde Hall, and all along the +banks and hedges which covered the British front, our +men, rifle in hand, peered eagerly into the darkness +ahead of them.</p> + +<p>Nothing happened for quite half an hour, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +anxious watchers were losing some of their alertness, +when a heavy outburst of firing re-echoed from Hatfield +Heath. To explain this we must return to the Germans. +Von der Rudesheim, on obtaining touch with the British, +at once reinforced his advanced troops, and they, a +whole battalion strong, advanced into the hamlet +meeting with no resistance. Almost simultaneously +two companies of the Leinsters entered it from the +northward. There was a sudden and unexpected collision +on the open green, and a terrible fire was exchanged +at close quarters, both sides losing very +heavily. The British, however, were borne back by +sheer weight of numbers, and, through one of those unfortunate +mistakes that insist on occurring in warfare, +were charged as they fell back by the leading squadrons +of the Yeomanry who were coming up from Hatfield +Broad Oak. The officer commanding the Leinsters +decided to wait till it was a little lighter before again +attacking the village. He considered that, as he had +no idea of the strength of the enemy, he had best wait +till the arrival of the troops now marching through Hatfield +Forest. Von der Rudesheim, on his part, mindful +of his instructions, determined to try to hold the few +scattered houses on the north side of the heath which +constituted the village, with the battalion already in +it, and push forward with the remainder of his force +towards Harlow. His first essay along the direct road +<i>viâ</i> Sheering was repulsed by the fire of the Scots Guards +lining the copses about Gladwyns. He now began to +have some idea of the British position, and made his +preparations to assault it at daybreak.</p> + +<p>To this end he sent forward two of his batteries into +Hatfield Heath, cautiously moved the rest of his force +away to the left, arranged his battalions in the valley of +the Pincey Brook ready for attacking Sheering and +Gladwyns, placed one battalion in reserve at Down Hall, +and stationed his remaining battery near Newman's +End. By this time there was beginning to be a faint +glimmer of daylight in the east, and, as the growing +dawn began to render vague outlines of the nearer objects +dimly discernible, hell broke loose along the peaceful +countryside. A star shell fired from the battery at Newman's +End burst and hung out a brilliant white blaze +that fell slowly over Sheering village, lighting up its +walls and roofs and the hedges along which lay its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +defenders, was the signal for the Devil's Dance to begin. +Twelve guns opened with a crash from Hatfield Heath, +raking the Gladwyns enclosures and the end of Sheering +village with a deluge of shrapnel, whilst an almost solid +firing line advanced rapidly against it, firing heavily.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 413px;"> +<a href="images/i139-hi.png"><img src="images/i139.png" width="413" height="600" alt="BATTLE OF HARLOW +1ST PHASE about 5 a m Sept 13th" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">BATTLE OF HARLOW<br /> +1<sup>ST</sup> PHASE<br /> +about 5 a m Sept 13th</span> +</div> + +<p>The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> British replied lustily with gun, rifle, and maxim, +the big high-explosive shells bursting amid the advancing +Germans and among the houses of Hatfield Heath with +telling effect. But the German assaulting lines had but +six or seven hundred yards to go. They had been trained +above all things to ignore losses and to push on at all +hazards. The necessity for this had not been confused +in their minds by maxims about the importance of +cover, so the south side of the village street was taken +at a rush. Von der Rudesheim continued to pile on his +men, and, fighting desperately, the Guardsmen were +driven from house to house and from fence to fence. +All this time the German battery at Newman's End continued +to fire star shells with rhythmical regularity, +lighting up the inflamed countenances of the living +combatants, and the pale up-turned faces of the dead +turned to heaven as if calling for vengeance on their +slayers. In the midst of this desperate fighting the +Leinsters, supported by a Volunteer and a Militia regiment, +which had just come up, assaulted Hatfield Heath. +The Germans were driven out of it with the loss of a +couple of their guns, but hung on to the little church, +around which such a desperate conflict was waged that +the dead above ground in that diminutive God's acre outnumbered +the "rude forefathers of the hamlet" who +slept below.</p> + +<p>It was now past five o'clock in the morning, and by +this time strong reinforcements might have been expected +from Dunmow, but, with the exception of the +Militia and Volunteer battalions just referred to, who +had pushed on at the sound of the firing, none were seen +coming up. The fact was that they had been told off +to certain positions in the line of defence they had been +ordered to take up, and had been slowly and carefully +installing themselves therein. Their commanding officer, +Sir Jacob Stellenbosch, thought that he must carry out +the exact letter of the orders he had received from Lord +Byfield, and paid little attention to the firing except to +hustle his battalion commanders, to try to get them into +their places as soon as possible. He was a pig-headed +man into the bargain, and would listen to no remonstrance. +The two battalions which had arrived so opportunely +had been at the head of the column, and had +pushed forward "on their own" before he could prevent +them. At this time the position was as follows:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +One German battalion was hanging obstinately on to the +outskirts of Hatfield Heath; two were in possession of +the copses about Gladwyns; two were in Sheering village, +or close up to it, and the sixth was still in reserve at +Down Hall. On the British side the Rifles were in their +original position at Little Hyde Hall where also were +three guns, which had been got away from Gladwyns. +The Seaforths had come up, and were now firing from +about Quickbury, while the Scots Guards, after suffering +fearful losses, were scattered, some with the Highlanders, +others with the five companies of the Grenadiers, who +with their four guns still fought gallantly on between +Sheering and Durrington House.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II_II" id="CHAPTER_II_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>REPULSE OF THE GERMANS.</h3> + + +<p>The terrible fire of the swarms of Germans who now +lined the edges of Sheering village became too much for +the four 4·7 guns on the open ground to the south.</p> + +<p>Their gunners were shot down as fast as they touched +their weapons, and when the German field battery at +Newman's End, which had been advanced several hundred +yards, suddenly opened a flanking fire of shrapnel +upon them, it was found absolutely impossible to serve +them. A gallant attempt was made to withdraw them by +the Harlow Road, but their teams were shot down as soon +as they appeared. This enfilade fire, too, decimated the +Grenadiers and the remnant of the Scots, though they +fought on to the death, and a converging attack of a +battalion from Down Hall and another from Sheering +drove them down into the grounds of Durrington House, +where fighting still went on savagely for some time afterwards.</p> + +<p>Von der Rudesheim had all but attained a portion of +his object, which was to establish his guns in such a +position that they could fire on the main body of the +British troops when they entered Sawbridgeworth by the +Cambridge Road. The place where the four guns with +the Grenadiers had been stationed was within 3,000<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +yards of any part of that road between Harlow and Sawbridgeworth. +But this spot was still exposed to the +rifle fire of the Seaforths who held Quickbury. Von der +Rudesheim therefore determined to swing forward his +left, and either drive them back down the hill towards +the river, or at least to so occupy them that he could +bring up his field-guns to their chosen position without +losing too many of his gunners.</p> + +<p>By six o'clock, thanks to his enormous local superiority +in numbers, he had contrived to do this, and now the +opposing forces with the exception of the British Grenadiers, +who still fought with a German battalion between +Durrington House and Harlow, faced each other north +and south, instead of east and west, as they were at the +beginning of the fight. Brigadier-General Lane-Edgeworth, +who was in command of the British, had been +sending urgent messages for reinforcements to the Dunmow +Force, but when its commanding officer finally decided +to turn his full strength in the direction of the +firing, it took so long to assemble and form up the +Volunteer regiments who composed the bulk of his +command, that it was past seven before the leading +battalion had deployed to assist in the attack which it +was decided to make against the German right. Meantime, +other important events had transpired.</p> + +<p>Von der Rudesheim had found that the battalion which +was engaged with the Grenadiers could not get near +Harlow village, or either the river or railway bridge at +that place, both of which he wished to destroy. But his +scouts had reported a lock and wooden footbridge immediately +to the westward between Harlow and Sawbridgeworth, +just abreast of the large wooded park surrounding +Pishobury House on the farther side. He determined +to send two companies over by this, their movements +being hidden from the English by the trees. After crossing, +they found themselves confronted by a backwater, +but, trained in crossing rivers, they managed to ford and +swim over, and advanced through the park towards +Harlow Bridge. While this was in progress, a large +force was reported marching south on the Cambridge +Road.</p> + +<p>While Von der Rudesheim, who was at the western end +of Sheering hamlet, was looking through his glasses at +the new arrivals on the scene of action—who were without +doubt the main body of the Royston command,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +which was retiring under the personal supervision of +Lord Byfield—a puff of white smoke rose above the trees +about Hyde Hall, and at top speed four heavily loaded +trains shot into sight going south. These were the same +ones that had brought down the Regular British troops, +with whom he was now engaged. They had gone north +again, and picked up a number of Volunteer battalions +belonging to the retreating force just beyond Bishop's +Stortford. But so long a time had been taken in entraining +the troops in the darkness and confusion of the retreat, +that their comrades who had kept to the road, +arrived almost simultaneously. Von der Rudesheim +signalled, and sent urgent orders for his guns to be +brought up to open fire on them, but by the time the +first team had reached him the last of the trains had +disappeared from sight into the cutting at Harlow +Station. But even now it was not too late to open fire +on the troops entering Sawbridgeworth.</p> + +<p>Things were beginning to look somewhat bad for Von +der Rudesheim's little force. The pressure from the +north was increasing every moment, his attack on the +retreating troops had failed, he had not so far been able to +destroy the bridges at Harlow, and every minute the +likelihood of his being able to do so grew more remote. +To crown all, word was brought him that the trains +which had just slipped by were disgorging men in +hundreds along the railway west of Harlow Station, and +that these troops were beginning to move forward as if +to support the British Grenadiers, who had been driven +back towards Harlow. In fact, he saw that there was +even a possibility of his being surrounded. But he had +no intention of discontinuing the fight. He knew he +could rely on the discipline and mobility of his well-trained +men under almost any conditions, and he trusted, +moreover, that the promised reinforcements would not +be very long in turning up. But he could not hold on +just where he was. He accordingly, by various adroit +manœuvres, threw back his right to Down Hall, whose +copses and plantations afforded a good deal of cover, +and, using this as a pivot, gradually wheeled back his +left till he had taken up a position running north and +south from Down Hall to Matching Tye. He had not +effected this difficult manœuvre without considerable +loss, but he experienced less difficulty in extricating his +left than he had anticipated, since the newly arrived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +British troops at Harlow, instead of pressing forward +against him, had been engaged in moving into a position +between Harlow and the hamlet of Foster Street, on the +somewhat elevated ground to the south of Matching, +which would enable them to cover the further march +of the main body of the retreating troops to Epping.</p> + +<p>But he had totally lost the two companies he had sent +across the river to attack Harlow Bridge. Unfortunately +for them, their arrival on the Harlow-Sawbridgeworth +Road synchronised with that of the advanced guard of +Lord Byfield's command. Some hot skirmishing took +place in and out among the trees of Pishobury, and +finally the Germans were driven to earth in the big square +block of the red-brick mansion itself.</p> + +<p>Here they made a desperate stand, fighting hard as +they were driven from one storey to another. The staircases +ran with blood, the woodwork smouldered and +threatened to burst into flame in a dozen places. At +length the arrival of a battery of field guns, which unlimbered +at close range, induced the survivors to surrender, +and they were disarmed and carried off as +prisoners with the retreating army.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>By the time Von der Rudesheim had succeeded in +taking up his new position it was past ten o'clock, and +he had been informed by despatches carried by motor-cyclists +that he might expect assistance in another hour +and a half.</p> + +<p>The right column, consisting of the 39th Infantry Brigade +of five battalions, six batteries, and a squadron +of Dragoons, came into collision with the left flank of +the Dunmow force, which was engaged in attacking Von +der Rudesheim's right at Down Hall, and endeavouring +to surround it. Sir Jacob Stellenbosch, who was in +command, in vain tried to change front to meet the +advancing enemy. His troops were nearly all Volunteers, +who were incapable of quickly manœuvring under +difficult circumstances; they were crumpled up and +driven back in confusion towards Hatfield Heath. Had +Von Kronhelm been able to get in the bulk of his +cavalry from their luckless pursuit of the Ist and Vth +British Army Corps, who had been driven back on +Brentwood the evening previous, and so send a proportion +with the 20th Division, few would have escaped to +tell the tale. As it was, the unfortunate volunteers were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +shot down in scores by the "feu d'enfer" with which the +artillery followed them up, and lay in twos and threes +and larger groups all over the fields, victims of a selfish +nation that accepted these poor fellows' gratuitous services +merely in order that its citizens should not be +obliged to carry out what in every other European country +was regarded as the first duty of citizenship—that of +learning to bear arms in the defence of the Fatherland.</p> + +<p>By this time the greater portion of the retreating British +Army, with all its baggage, guns and impedimenta, +was crawling slowly along the road from Harlow to +Epping. Unaccustomed as they were to marching, the +poor Volunteers who had already covered eighteen or +twenty miles of road, were now toiling slowly and painfully +along the highway. The regular troops, who had +been engaged since early morning, and who were now +mostly in the neighbourhood of Moor Hall, east of Harlow, +firing at long ranges on Von der Rudesheim's men +to keep them in their places while Sir Jacob Stellenbosch +attacked their right, were now hurriedly withdrawn and +started to march south by a track running parallel to the +main Epping Road, between it and that along which +the covering force of Volunteers, who had come in by +train, were now established in position. The 1st and +2nd Coldstreamers, who had formed Lord Byfield's +rearguard during the night, were halted in Harlow +village.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon the success obtained by his right +column, General Richel von Sieberg, who commanded +the 20th Hanoverian Division, ordered his two centre +and left columns, consisting respectively of the three +battalions 77th Infantry and two batteries of Horse +Artillery, then at Matching Green, and the three battalions +92nd Infantry, 10th Pioneer Battalion, and five +batteries Field Artillery, then between High Laver and +Tilegate Green, to turn to their left and advance in fighting +formation in a south-westerly direction, with the object +of attacking the sorely-harassed troops of Lord Byfield +on their way to Epping.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The final phase of this memorable retreat is best told +in the words of the special war correspondent of the +"Daily Telegraph," who arrived on the scene at about +one o'clock in the afternoon:</p> + +<div class="right">"<span class="smcap">Epping, 5 p.m.</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>, <i>September 9</i>.</div> + +<p>"Thanks to the secrecy preserved by the military +authorities, it was not known that Lord Byfield was +falling back from the Royston-Saffron Walden position +till seven this morning. By eight, I was off in my car +for the scene of action, for rumours of fighting near +Harlow had already begun to come in. I started out by +way of Tottenham and Edmonton, expecting to reach +Harlow by 9.30 or 10. But I reckoned without the +numerous military officials with whom I came in contact, +who constantly stopped me and sent me out of my +way on one pretext or another. I am sure I hope that +the nation has benefited by their proceedings. In the +end it was close on one before I pulled up at the Cock +Inn, Epping, in search of additional information, because +for some time I had been aware of the rumbling growl +of heavy artillery from the eastward, and wondered what +it might portend. I found that General Sir Stapleton +Forsyth, who commanded the Northern section of the +defences, had made the inn his headquarters, and there +was a constant coming and going of orderlies and staff-officers +at its portals. Opposite, the men of one of the +new irregular corps, dressed in dark green corduroy, +blue flannel cricketing caps, and red cummerbunds, sat +or reclined in two long lines on either side of their piled +arms on the left of the wide street. On inquiry I heard +that the enemy were said to be bombarding Kelvedon +Hatch, and also that the head of our retreating columns +was only three or four miles distant.</p> + +<p>"I pushed on, and, after the usual interrogations from +an officer in charge of a picket, where the road ran +through the entrenchments about a mile farther on, +found myself spinning along through the country in the +direction of Harlow. As I began to ascend the rising +ground towards Potter Street I could hear a continuous +roll of artillery away to my right. I could not distinguish +anything except the smoke of shells bursting here +and there in the distance, on account of the scattered +trees which lined the maze of hedgerows on every side. +Close to Potter Street I met the head of the retreating +army. Very tired, heated and footsore looked the hundreds +of poor fellows as they dragged themselves along +through the heat. It was a sultry afternoon, and the +roads inches deep in dust.</p> + +<p>"Turning to the right of Harlow Common, I met<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +another column of men. I noticed that these were all +Regulars, Grenadiers, Scots Guards, a battalion of Highlanders, +another of Riflemen, and, lastly, two battalions +of the Coldstreamers. These troops stepped along with +rather more life than the citizen soldiers I had met +previously, but still showed traces of their hard marching +and fighting. Many of them were wearing bandages, +but all the more seriously wounded had been left behind +to be looked after by the Germans. All this time +the firing was still resounding heavy and constant from +the north-east, and from one person and another whom +I questioned I ascertained that the enemy were advancing +upon us from that direction. Half a mile farther +on I ran into the middle of the fighting. The road ran +along the top of a kind of flat ridge or upland, whence I +could see to a considerable distance on either hand.</p> + +<p>"Partially sheltered from the view by its hedges and +the scattered cottages forming the hamlet of Foster Street +was a long, irregular line of guns facing nearly east. +Beyond them were yet others directed north. There were +field batteries and big 4·7's. All were hard at work, +their gunners working like men possessed, and the crash +of their constant discharge was ear-splitting. I had +hardly taken this in when 'Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!'—four +dazzling flashes opened in the air overhead, and +shrapnel bullets rattled on earth, walls, and roofs with a +sound as of handfuls of pebbles thrown on a marble +pavement. But the hardness with which they struck +was beyond anything in my experience.</p> + +<p>"It was not pleasant to be here, but I ran my car +behind a little public-house that stood by the wayside, +and, dismounting, unslung my glasses and determined +to get what view of the proceedings I could from +the corner of the house. All around khaki-clad +Volunteers lined every hedge and sheltered behind +every cottage, while farther off, in the lower ground, +from a mile to a mile and a half away I could distinguish +the closely-packed firing lines of the Germans +advancing slowly but steadily, despite the gaps made +in their ranks by the fire of our guns. Their own guns, +I fancied, I could make out near Tilegate Green to the +north-east. Neither side had as yet opened rifle fire. +Getting into my car I motored back to the main road, +but it was so blocked by the procession of waggons +and troops of the retreating army that I could not turn +into it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> Wheeling round I made my way back to a +parallel lane I had noticed, and turning to the left again +at a smithy, found myself in a road bordered by cottages +and enclosures. Here I found the Regular troops I +had lately met lining every hedgerow and fence, while +I could see others on a knoll further to their left. There +was a little church here, and, mounting to the roof, I +got a comparatively extensive view. To my right the +long dusty column of men and waggons still toiled along +the Epping Road. In front, nearly three miles off, an +apparently solid line of woods stretched along the horizon, +surmounting a long, gradual and open slope. This was +the position of our lines near Epping, and the haven for +which Lord Byfield's tired soldiery were making. To the +left the serried masses of drab-clad German infantry still +pushed aggressively forward, their guns firing heavily +over their heads.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;"> +<a href="images/i148-hi.png"><img src="images/i148.png" width="406" height="600" alt="BATTLE of HARLOW FINAL PHASE" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">BATTLE of HARLOW<br /> +FINAL PHASE +</span> +</div> + +<p>"As<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> I watched them three tremendous explosions took +place in their midst, killing dozens of them. Fire, +smoke, and dust rose up twenty feet in the air, while three +ear-splitting reports rose even above the rolling thunder +of the gunfire. More followed. I looked again towards +the woodland. Here I saw blaze after blaze of fire among +the dark masses of trees. Our big guns in the fortifications +had got to work, and were punishing the Germans +most severely, taking their attack in flank with the +big 6-inch and 7·5-inch projectiles. Cheers arose all +along our lines, as shell after shell, fired by gunners +who knew to an inch the distances to every house and +conspicuous tree, burst among the German ranks, killing +and maiming the invaders by hundreds. The advance +paused, faltered and, being hurriedly reinforced from the +rear, once more went forward.</p> + +<p>"But the big high explosive projectiles continued to +fall with such accuracy and persistence that the +attackers fell sullenly back, losing heavily as they did +so. The enemy's artillery now came in for attention, +and also was driven out of range with loss. The last +stage in the retreat of Lord Byfield's command was now +secured. The extended troops and guns gradually drew +off from their positions, still keeping a watchful eye on +the foe, and by 4.30 all were within the Epping entrenchments. +All, that is to say, but the numerous killed +and wounded during the running fight that had extended +along the last seven or eight miles of the retreat, +and the bulk of the Dunmow force under Sir Jacob +Stellenbosch, which with its commander, had, it was +believed, been made prisoners. They had been caught +between the 39th German Infantry Brigade and several +regiments of cavalry, that it was said had arrived from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +the northward soon after they were beaten at Hatfield +Heath. Probably these were the advanced troops of +General Frölich's Cavalry Brigade."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III_II" id="CHAPTER_III_II"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>BATTLE OF EPPING.</h3> + + +<p>The following is extracted from the "Times" of 15th +September:</p> + +<div class="right">"<span class="smcap">Epping</span>, <i>14th September</i>, <i>Evening</i>.</div> + +<p>"I have spent a busy day, but have no very important +news to record. After the repulse of the German troops +attacking Lord Byfield's retreating army and the arrival +of our sorely harassed troops behind the Epping entrenchments, +we saw no more of the enemy that evening. +All through the night, however, there was the sound of +occasional heavy gun firing from the eastward. I have +taken up my quarters at the Bell, an inn at the south +end of the village, from the back of which I can get +a good view to the north-west for from two to four +miles. Beyond that distance the high ridge known as +Epping Upland limits the prospect. The whole terrain +is cut up into fields of various sizes and dotted all over +with trees. Close by is a lofty red brick water-tower, +which has been utilised by Sir Stapleton Forsyth as a +signal station. Away about a mile to my left front as I +look from the back of the Bell a big block of buildings +stands prominently out on a grassy spur of high ground. +This is Copped Hall and Little Copped Hall.</p> + +<p>"Both mansions have been transformed into fortresses, +which, while offering little or no resistance to artillery +fire, will yet form a tough nut for the Germans to crack, +should they succeed in getting through our entrenchments +at that point. Beyond, I can just see a corner of a +big earthwork that has been built to strengthen the defence +line, and which has been christened Fort Obelisk +from a farm of that name, near which it is situated. +There is another smaller redoubt on the slope just +below this hostelry, and I can see the gunners busy +about the three big khaki-painted guns which are +mounted in it. There are a 6-inch and two 4·7-inch guns<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +I believe. This morning our cavalry, consisting of a +regiment of yeomanry and some mounted infantry, who +had formed a portion of Lord Byfield's force, went out +to reconnoitre towards the north and east. They were +not away long, as they were driven back in every +direction in which they attempted to advance, by +superior forces of the enemy's cavalry, who seemed to +swarm everywhere.</p> + +<p>"Later on, I believe, some of the German reiters became +so venturesome that several squadrons exposed +themselves to the fire of the big guns in the fort at +Skip's Corner, and suffered pretty severely for their +temerity. The firing continued throughout the morning +away to eastward. At noon I thought I would run down +and see if I could find anything out about it. I therefore +mounted my car and ran off in that direction. I +found that there was a regular duel going on between +our guns at Kelvedon Hatch and some heavy siege guns +or howitzers that the enemy had got in the neighbourhood +of the high ground about Norton Heath, only about +3,000 yards distant from our entrenchments. They did +not appear to have done us much damage, but neither, +in all probability, did we hurt them very much, since +our gunners were unable to exactly locate the hostile +guns.</p> + +<p>"When I got back to Epping, about three o'clock, I +found the wide single street full of troops. They were +those who had come in the previous afternoon with Lord +Byfield, and who, having been allowed to rest till +midday after their long fighting march, were now being +told off to their various sections of the defence line. +The Guard regiments were allocated to the northernmost +position between Fort Royston and Fort Skips. +The rifles were to go to Copped Hall, and the Seaforths to +form the nucleus of a central reserve of Militia and +Volunteers, which was being established just north of +Gaynes Park. Epping itself and the contiguous entrenchments +were confided to the Leinster Regiment, +which alone of Sir Jacob Stellenbosch's brigade had +escaped capture, supported by two Militia battalions. +The field batteries were distributed under shelter of the +woods on the south, east, and north-east of the town.</p> + +<p>"During the afternoon the welcome news arrived that +the remainder of Lord Byfield's command from Baldock, +Royston, and Elmdon had safely arrived within our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +entrenchments at Enfield and New Barnet. We may now +hope that what with Regulars, Militia, Volunteers, and +the new levies, our lines are fully and effectively +manned, and will suffice to stay the further advance of +even such a formidable host as is that at the disposal +of the renowned Von Kronhelm. It is reported too, from +Brentwood, that great progress has already been made +in reorganising and distributing the broken remnants +of the 1st and 5th Armies that got back to that town +after the great and disastrous battle of Chelmsford. +Victorious as they were, the Germans must also have +suffered severely, which may give us some breathing +time before their next onslaught."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The following are extracts from the diary picked up by +a "Daily Telegraph" correspondent, lying near the body +of a German officer after the fighting in the neighbourhood +of Enfield Chase. It is presumed that the officer in +question was Major Splittberger, of the Kaiser Franz +Garde Grenadier Regiment, since that was the name +written inside the cover of the diary.</p> + +<p>From enquiries that have since been instituted, it is +probable that the deceased officer was employed on the +staff of the General commanding the IVth Corps of the +invading Army, though it would seem from the contents +of his diary that he saw also a good deal of the operations +of the Xth Corps. Our readers will be able to +gather from it the general course of the enemy's strategy +and tactics during the time immediately preceding the +most recent disasters which have befallen our brave +defenders. The first extract is dated September 15, and +was written somewhere north of Epping:</p> + +<p>"<i>Sept. 15.</i>—So far the bold strategy of our Commander-in-Chief, +in pushing the greater part of the Xth Corps +directly to the west immediately after our victory at +Chelmsford, has been amply justified by results. +Although we just missed cutting off Lord Byfield and a +large portion of his command at Harlow, we gained a +good foothold inside the British defences north of +Epping, and I don't think it will be long before we have +very much improved our position here. The IVth Corps +arrived at Harlow about midday yesterday in splendid +condition, after their long march from Newmarket, and +the residue of the Xth joined us at about the same +time. As there is nothing like keeping the enemy on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +the move, no time was lost in preparing to attack him +at the very earliest opportunity. As soon as it was dark +the IVth Corps got its heavy guns and howitzers into +position along the ridge above Epping Upland, and +sent the greater portion of its field batteries forward to +a position from which they were within effective range +of the British fortifications at Skip's Corner.</p> + +<p>"The IXth Corps, which had arrived from Chelmsford +that evening, also placed its field artillery in a similar +position, from which its fire crossed that of the IVth +Corps. This Corps also provided the assaulting troops. +The Xth Corps, which had been engaged all day on +Thursday, was held in reserve. The howitzers on +Epping Upland opened fire with petrol shell on the +belt of woods that lies immediately in rear of the position +to be attacked, and with the assistance of a strong +westerly wind succeeded in setting them on fire and +cutting off the most northerly section of the British +defences from reinforcement. This was soon after midnight. +The conflagration not only did us this service, +but it is supposed so attracted the attention of the +partially-trained soldiers of the enemy that they did +not observe the IXth Corps massing for the assault.</p> + +<p>"We then plastered their trenches with shrapnel to +such an extent that they did not dare to show a finger +above them, and finally carried the northern corner +by assault. To give the enemy their due, they fought +well, but we outnumbered them five to one, and it was +impossible for them to resist the onslaught of our well-trained +soldiers. News came to-day that the Saxons +have been making a demonstration before Brentwood +with a view of keeping the British employed down there +so that they cannot send any reinforcements up here. +At the same time they have been steadily bombarding +Kelvedon Hatch from Norton Heath.</p> + +<p>"We hear, too, that the Garde Corps have got down +south, and that their front stretches from Broxbourne to +Little Berkhamsted, while Frölich's Cavalry Division +is in front of them, spread all over the country, from +the River Lea away to the westward, having driven the +whole of the British outlying troops and patrols under +the shelter of their entrenchments. Once we succeed +in rolling up the enemy's troops in this quarter, it will +not be long before we are entering London."</p> + +<p>"<i>Sept. 16.</i>—Fighting went on all yesterday in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +neighbourhood of Skip's Corner. We have taken the +redoubt at North Weald Basset and driven the English +back into the belt of burnt woodland, which they now +hold along its northern edge. All day long, too, our big +guns, hidden away behind the groves and woods above +Epping Upland, poured their heavy projectiles on +Epping and its defences. We set the village on fire +three times, but the British contrived to extinguish the +blaze on each occasion.</p> + +<p>"I fancy Epping itself will be our next point of +attack."</p> + +<p>"<i>Sept. 17.</i>—We are still progressing, fighting is now +all but continuous. How long it may last I have no idea. +Probably there will be no suspension of the struggle +until we are actually masters of the Metropolis. We took +advantage of the darkness to push forward our men to +within three thousand yards of the enemy's line, placing +them as far as possible under cover of the numerous +copses, plantations, and hedgerows which cover the face +of this fertile country. At 4 a.m. the General ordered +his staff to assemble at Latton Park, where he had established +his headquarters. He unfolded to us the general +outline of the attack, which, he now announced, was to +commence at six precisely.</p> + +<p>"I thought myself that it was a somewhat inopportune +time, as we should have the rising sun right in our +eyes; but I imagine that the idea was to have as +much daylight as possible before us. For although we +had employed a night attack against Skip's Corner, and +successfully too, yet the general feeling in our Army +has always been opposed to operations of this kind. +The possible gain is, I think, in no way commensurable +with the probable risks of panic and disorder. The principal +objective was the village of Epping itself; but +simultaneous attacks were to be carried out against +Copped Hall, Fort Obelisk, to the west of it, and Fort +Royston, about a mile north of the village. The IXth +Corps was to co-operate by a determined attempt to +break through the English lining the burnt strip of +woodland and to assault the latter fort in rear. It was +necessary to carry out both these flanking attacks in +order to prevent the main attack from being enfiladed +from right and left. At 5.30 we mounted, and rode off +to Rye Hill about a couple of miles distant, from which +the General intended to watch the progress of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +operations. The first rays of the rising sun were filling +the eastern sky with a pale light as we cantered off, the +long wooded ridge on which the enemy had his position +standing up in a misty silhouette against the growing day.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 472px;"> +<a href="images/i155-hi.png"><img src="images/i155.png" width="472" height="400" alt="GERMAN ATTACK ON +THE LINES of LONDON" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">GERMAN ATTACK ON<br /> +THE LINES of LONDON</span> +</div> + +<p>"As we topped Rye Hill I could see the thickly-massed +lines of our infantry crouching behind every +hedge, bank, or ridge, their rifle-barrels here and there +twinkling in the feeble rays of the early sun, their +shadows long and attenuated behind them. Epping with +its lofty red water-tower was distinctly visible on the +opposite side of the valley, and it is probable that the +movement of the General's cavalcade of officers, with +the escort, attracted the attention of the enemy's lookouts, +for half-way down the hillside on their side of +the valley a blinding violet-white flash blazed out, and +a big shell came screaming along just over our heads, +the loud boom of a heavy gun following fast on its +heels. Almost simultaneously another big projectile +hurtled up from the direction of Fort Obelisk, and burst +among our escort of Uhlans with a deluge of livid flame +and thick volumes of greenish brown smoke. It was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +telling shot, for no fewer than six horses and their riders +lay in a shattered heap on the ground.</p> + +<p>"At six precisely our guns fired a salvo directed on +Epping village. This was the preconcerted signal for +attack, and before the echoes of the thunderous discharge +had finished reverberating over the hills and +forest, our front lines had sprung to their feet and were +moving at a racing pace towards the enemy. For a +moment the British seemed stupefied by the suddenness +of the advance. A few rifle shots crackled out here and +there, but our men had thrown themselves to the ground +after their first rush before the enemy seemed to wake +up. But there was no mistake about it when they did. +Seldom have I seen such a concentrated fire. Gun, +pom-pom, machine gun, and rifle blazed out from right +to left along more than three miles of entrenchments. +A continuous lightning-like line of fire poured forth +from the British trenches, which still lay in shadow. I +could see the bullets raising perfect sand-storms in +places, the little pom-pom shells sparkling about all +over our prostrate men, and the shrapnel bursting all +along their front, producing perfect swathes of white +smoke, which hung low down in the still air in the valley.</p> + +<p>"But our artillery was not idle. The field guns, +pushed well forward, showered shrapnel upon the British +position, the howitzer shells hurtled over our +heads on their way to the enemy in constantly increasing +numbers as the ranges were verified by the trial shots, +while a terrible and unceasing reverberation from the +north-east told of the supporting attack made by the +IXth and Xth Corps upon the blackened woods held +by the English. The concussion of the terrific cannonade +that now resounded from every quarter was deafening; +the air seemed to pulse within one's ears, and it +was difficult to hear one's nearest neighbour speak. +Down in the valley our men appeared to be suffering +severely. Every forward move of the attacking lines left a +perfect litter of prostrate forms behind it, and for +some time I felt very doubtful in my own mind if the +attack would succeed. Glancing to the right, however, I +was encouraged to see the progress that had been made +by the troops detailed for the assault on Copped Hall +and Obelisk Fort, and seeing this, it occurred to me +that it was not intended to push the central attack on +Epping home before its flank had been secured from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +molestation from this direction. Copped Hall itself stood +out on a bare down almost like some mediæval castle, +backed by the dark masses of forest, while to the west of +it the slopes of Fort Obelisk could barely be distinguished, +so flat were they and so well screened by greenery.</p> + +<p>"But its position was clearly defined by the clouds +of dust, smoke, and débris constantly thrown up by +our heavy high-explosive shells, while ever and anon +there came a dazzling flash from it, followed by a detonation +that made itself heard even above the rolling of the +cannonade, as one of its big 7·5 guns was discharged. +The roar of their huge projectiles, too, as they tore +through the air, was easily distinguishable. None of +our epaulments were proof against them, and they did +our heavy batteries a great deal of damage before they +could be silenced.</p> + +<p>"To cut a long story short, we captured Epping after +a tough fight, and by noon were in possession of everything +north of the Forest, including the war-scarred +ruins that now represented the mansion of Copped Hall, +and from which our pom-poms and machine guns were +firing into Fort Obelisk. But our losses had been +awful. As for the enemy, they could hardly have suffered +less severely, for though partially protected by their +entrenchments, our artillery fire must have been utterly +annihilating."</p> + +<p>"<i>Sept. 18.</i>—Fighting went on all last night, the English +holding desperately on to the edge of the Forest, our +people pressing them close, and working round their +right flank. When day broke the general situation was +pretty much like this. On our left the IXth Corps were +in possession of the Fort at Toothill, and a redoubt that +lay between it and Skip's Fort. Two batteries were bombarding +a redoubt lower down in the direction of Stanford +Rivers, which was also subjected to a cross fire from +their howitzers near Ongar.</p> + +<p>"As for the English, their position was an unenviable +one. From Copped Hall—as soon as we have cleared +the edge of the Forest of the enemy's sharpshooters—we +shall be able to take their entrenchments in reverse +all the way to Waltham Abbey. They have, on the +other hand, an outlying fort about a mile or two north +of the latter place, which gave us some trouble with its +heavy guns yesterday, and which it is most important +that we should gain possession of before we advance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +further. The Garde Corps on the western side of the +River Lea is now, I hear, in sight of the enemy's lines, +and is keeping them busily employed, though without +pushing its attack home for the present.</p> + +<p>"At daybreak this morning I was in Epping and saw +the beginning of the attack on the Forest. It is rumoured +that large reinforcements have reached the enemy from +London, but as these must be merely scratch soldiers they +will do them more harm than good in their cramped +position. The Xth Corps had got a dozen batteries in +position a little to the eastward of the village, and at +six o'clock these guns opened a tremendous fire upon the +north-east corner of the Forest, under cover of which +their infantry deployed down in the low ground about +Coopersale, and advanced to the attack. Petrol shells +were not used against the Forest, as Von Kronhelm had +given orders that it was not to be burned if it could possibly +be avoided. The shrapnel was very successful in keeping +down the fire from the edge of the trees, but our troops +received a good deal of damage from infantry and guns +that were posted to the east of the Forest on a hill near +Theydon Bois. But about seven o'clock these troops +were driven from their position by a sudden flank attack +made by the IXth Corps from Theydon Mount. Von +Kleppen followed this up by putting some of his own +guns up there, which were able to fire on the edge of +the Forest after those of the Xth Corps had been +masked by the close advance of their infantry. To make +a long story short, by ten the whole of the Forest, east +of the London Road, as far south as the cross roads +near Jack's Hill, was in our hands. In the meantime +the IVth Corps had made itself master of Fort Obelisk, +and our gunners were hard at work mounting guns in it +with which to fire on the outlying fort at Monkham's +Hall. Von Kleppen was at Copped Hall about this +time, and with him I found General Von Wilberg, commanding +the Xth Corps, in close consultation. The +once fine mansion had been almost completely shot +away down to its lower storey. A large portion of this, +however, was still fairly intact, having been protected to +a certain extent by the masses of masonry that had +fallen all around it, and also by the thick ramparts of +earth that the English had built up against its exposed side.</p> + +<p>"Our men were still firing from its loopholes at the +edge of the woods, which were only about 1,200 yards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +distant, and from which bullets were continually +whistling in by every window. Two of our battalions +had dug themselves in in the wooded park surrounding +the house, and were also exchanging fire with the English +at comparatively close ranges. They had, I was told, +made more than one attempt to rush the edge of the +Forest, but had been repulsed by rifle fire on each +occasion. Away to the west I could see for miles, and +even distinguish our shells bursting all over the enemy's +fort at Monkham's Hall, which was being subjected to a +heavy bombardment by our guns on the high ground +to the north of it. About eleven Frölich's Cavalry Brigade, +whose presence was no longer required in front of +the Garde Corps, passed through Epping, going south-east. +It is generally supposed that it is either to attack +the British at Brentwood in the rear, or, which I think +is more probable, to intimidate the raw levies by its +presence between them and London, and to attack them +in flank should they attempt to retreat.</p> + +<p>"Just after eleven another battalion arrived at +Copped Hall from Epping, and orders were given +that the English position along the edge of the Forest +was to be taken at all cost. Just before the attack began +there was a great deal of firing somewhere in the interior +of the Forest, presumably between the British and the +advanced troops of the Xth Corps. However this may +have been, it was evident that the enemy were holding +our part of the Forest much less strongly and our assault +was entirely successful, with but small loss of men. +Once in the woods, the superior training and discipline +of our men told heavily in their favour. While +the mingled mass of Volunteers and raw free-shooters, +of which the bulk of their garrison was composed, got +utterly disorganised and out of hand under the severe +strain on them that was imposed by the difficulties of +wood fighting, and hindered and broke up the regular +units, our people were easily kept well in hand, and +drove the enemy steadily before them without a single +check. The rattle of rifle and machine gun was continuous +through all the leafy dells and glades of the +wood, but by two o'clock practically the whole Forest +was in the hands of our Xth Corps. It was then the +turn of the IVth Corps, who in the meantime, far from +being idle, had massed a large number of their guns +at Copped Hall, from which, aided by the fire from Fort<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +Obelisk, the enemy's lines were subjected to a bombardment +that rendered them absolutely untenable, and +we could see company after company making their way +to Waltham Abbey.</p> + +<p>"At three the order for a general advance on Waltham +Abbey was issued. As the enemy seemed to have few, +if any, guns at this place, it was determined to make +use of some of the new armoured motors that accompanied +the Army. Von Kronhelm, who was personally +directing the operations from Copped Hall, had caused +each Corps to send its own motors to Epping, so that we +had something like thirty at our disposal. These quaint, +grey monsters came down through the Forest and +advanced on Epping by two parallel roads, one passing +by the south of Warlies Park, the other being the main +road from Epping. It was a weird sight to see these +shore-going armour-clads flying down upon the enemy. +They got within 800 yards of the houses, but the enemy +contrived to block their further advance by various +obstacles which they placed on the roads.</p> + +<p>"There was about an hour's desperate fighting in the +village. The old Abbey Church was set on fire by a +stray shell, the conflagration spreading to the neighbouring +houses, and both British and Germans being too +busy killing each other to put it out, the whole village +was shortly in flames. The British were finally driven +out of it, and across the river by five o'clock. In the +meantime every heavy gun that could be got to bear +was directed on the fort at Monkham's Hall, which, +during the afternoon, was also made the target for the +guns of the Garde Corps, which co-operated with us by +attacking the lines at Cheshunt, and assisting us with +its artillery fire from the opposite side of the river. By +nightfall the fort was a mass of smoking earth, over +which fluttered our black cross flag, and the front of the +IVth Corps stretched from this to Gillwell Park, four +miles nearer London.</p> + +<p>"The Xth Corps was in support in the Forest behind +us, and forming also a front to cover our flank, reaching +from Chingford to Buckhurst Hill. The enemy was +quite demoralised in this direction, and showed no indication +of resuming the engagement. As for the IXth +Corps, its advanced troops were at Lamboume End, in +close communication with General Frölich, who had +established his headquarters at Havering-atte-Bower.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +We have driven a formidable wedge right into the middle +of the carefully elaborated system of defence arranged +by the English generals, and it will now be a miracle if +they can prevent our entry into the capital.</p> + +<p>"We had not, of course, effected this without great loss +in killed and wounded, but you can't make puddings +without breaking eggs, and in the end a bold and forward +policy is more economical of life and limb than +attempting to avoid necessary losses, as our present +opponents did in South Africa, thereby prolonging the +war to an almost indefinite period, and losing many more +men by sickness and in driblets than would have been +the case if they had followed a more determined line in +their strategy and tactics. Just before the sun sank behind +the masses of new houses which the monster city +spreads out to the northward I got orders to carry a +despatch to General von Wilberg, who was stated to be +at Chingford, on our extreme left. I went by the Forest +road, as the parallel one near the river was in most parts +under fire from the opposite bank.</p> + +<p>"He had established his headquarters at the Foresters' +Inn, which stands high up on a wooded mound, and +from which he could see a considerable distance and +keep in touch with his various signal stations. He took +my despatch, telling me that I should have a reply to +take back later on. 'In the meanwhile,' said he, 'if +you will fall in with my staff you will have an opportunity +of seeing the first shots fired into the biggest city +in the world.' So saying, he went out to his horse, which +was waiting outside, and we started off down the hill +with a great clatter. After winding about through a +somewhat intricate network of roads and by-lanes we +arrived at Old Chingford Church, which stands upon a +species of headland, rising boldly up above the flat and, +in some places, marshy land to the westward.</p> + +<p>"Close to the church was a battery of four big howitzers, +the gunners grouped around them silhouetted +darkly against the blood-red sky. From up here the vast +city, spreading out to the south and west, lay like a +grey, sprawling octopus spreading out ray-like to the +northward, every rise and ridge being topped with a +bristle of spires and chimney-pots. An ominous silence +seemed to brood over the teeming landscape, broken only +at intervals by the dull booming of guns from the northward. +Long swathes of cloud and smoke lay athwart<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +the dull, furnace-like glow of the sunset, and lights were +beginning to sparkle out all over the vast expanse which +lay before us mirrored here and there in the canals and +rivers that ran almost at our feet. 'Now,' said Von +Wilberg at length, 'commence fire.' One of the big +guns gave tongue with a roar that seemed to make the +church tower quiver above us. Another and another +followed in succession, their big projectiles hurtling and +humming through the quiet evening air on their errands +of death and destruction in I know not what quarter of +the crowded suburbs. It seemed to me a cruel and +needless thing to do, but I am told that it was done +with the set purpose of arousing such a feeling of alarm +and insecurity in the East End that the mob might try +to interfere with any further measures for defence that +the British military authorities might undertake. I got +my despatch soon afterwards and returned with it to +the General, who was spending the night at Copped Hall. +There, too, I got myself a shakedown and slumbered +soundly till the morning."</p> + +<p>"<i>Sept. 19.</i>—To-day we have, I think, finally broken +down all organised military opposition in the field, +though we may expect a considerable amount of street +fighting before reaping the whole fruits of our victories. +At daybreak we began by turning a heavy fire from +every possible quarter on the wooded island formed by +the river and various back-waters just north of Waltham +Abbey. The poplar-clad islet, which was full of the +enemy's troops, became absolutely untenable under +this concentrated fire, and they were compelled to fall +back over the river. Our Engineers soon began their +bridging operations behind the wood, and our infantry, +crossing over, got close up to a redoubt on the further +side and took it by storm. Again we were able to take +a considerable section of the enemy's lines in reverse, +and as they were driven out by our fire, against which +they had no protection, the Garde Corps advanced, and +by ten were in possession of Cheshunt.</p> + +<p>"In the meanwhile, covered by the fire of the guns +belonging to the IXth and Xth Corps, other bridges had +been thrown across the Lea at various points between +Waltham and Chingford, and in another hour the crossing +began. The enemy had no good positions for his +guns, and seemed to have very few of them. He had +pinned his faith upon the big weapons he had placed in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +his entrenchments, and those were now of no further use +to him. He had lost a number of his field guns, either +from damage or capture, and with our more numerous +artillery firing from the high ground on the eastern +bank of the river we were always able to beat down +any attempt he made to reply to their fire.</p> + +<p>"We had a day of fierce fighting before us. There was +no manœuvring. We were in a wilderness of scattered +houses and occasional streets, in which the enemy contested +our progress foot by foot. Edmonton, Enfield +Wash, and Waltham Cross were quickly captured; our +artillery commanded them too well to allow the British +to make a successful defence; but Enfield itself, lying +along a steepish ridge, on which the British had assembled +what artillery they could scrape together, cost us +dearly. The streets of this not too lovely suburban +town literally ran with blood when at last we made +our way into it. A large part of it was burnt to ashes, +including unfortunately the ancient palace of Queen +Elizabeth, and the venerable and enormous cedar-tree +that overhung it.</p> + +<p>"The British fell back to a second position they had +apparently prepared along a parallel ridge farther to the +westward, their left being between us and New Barnet +and their right at Southgate.</p> + +<p>"We did not attempt to advance farther to-day, but +contented ourselves in reorganising our forces and preparing +against a possible counter-attack, by barricading +and entrenching the farther edge of Enfield Ridge."</p> + +<p>"<i>Sept. 20.</i>—We are falling in immediately, as it has +been decided to attack the British position at once. +Already the artillery duel is in progress. I must continue +to-night, as my horse is at the door."</p> + +<p>The writer, however, never lived to complete his diary, +having been shot half-way up the green slope he had +observed the day previous.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV_II" id="CHAPTER_IV_II"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>BOMBARDMENT OF LONDON.</h3> + + +<p>Day broke. The faint flush of violet away eastward +beyond Temple Bar gradually turned rose, heralding +the sun's coming, and by degrees the streets, filled by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +excited Londoners, grew lighter with the dawn. Fevered +night thus gave place to day—a day that was, alas! +destined to be one of bitter memory for the British +Empire.</p> + +<p>Alarming news had spread that Uhlans had been seen +reconnoitring in Snaresbrook and Wanstead, had ridden +along Forest Road and Ferry Lane at Walthamstow, +through Tottenham High Cross, up High Street, Hornsey, +Priory Road, and Muswell Hill. The Germans were +actually upon London!</p> + +<p>The northern suburbs were staggered. In Fortis +Green, North End, Highgate, Crouch End, Hampstead, +Stamford Hill, and Leyton the quiet suburban houses +were threatened, and many people, in fear of their lives, +had now fled southward into central London. Thus the +huge population of greater London was practically huddled +together in the comparatively small area from Kensington +to Fleet Street, and from Oxford Street to the Thames +Embankment.</p> + +<p>People of Fulham, Putney, Walham Green, Hammersmith, +and Kew had, for the most part, fled away to the +open country across Hounslow Heath to Bedfont and +Staines; while Tooting, Balham, Dulwich, Streatham, Norwood, +and Catford had retreated farther south into Surrey +and Kent.</p> + +<p>For the past three days thousands of willing helpers +had followed the example of Sheffield and Birmingham, +and constructed enormous barricades, obstructing at +various points the chief roads leading from the north +and east into London. Detachments of Engineers had +blown up several of the bridges carrying the main +roads out eastwards—for instance, the bridge at the end +of Commercial Road, East, crossing the Limehouse +Canal, while the six other smaller bridges spanning the +canal between that point and the Bow Road were also +destroyed. The bridge at the end of Bow Road itself was +shattered, and those over the Hackney Cut at Marshall +Hill and Hackney Wick were also rendered impassable.</p> + +<p>Most of the bridges across the Regent's Canal were also +destroyed, notably those in Mare Street, Hackney, the +Kingsland Road, and New North Road, while a similar +demolition took place in Edgware Road and the Harrow +Road. Londoners were frantic, now that the enemy were +really upon them. The accounts of the battles in the +newspapers had, of course, been merely fragmentary, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +they had not yet realised what war actually meant. +They knew that all business was at a standstill, that +the City was in an uproar, that there was no work, and +that food was at famine prices. But not until German +cavalry were actually seen scouring the northern +suburbs did it become impressed upon them that they +were really helpless and defenceless.</p> + +<p>London was to be besieged!</p> + +<p>This report having got about, the people began building +barricades in many of the principal thoroughfares +north of the Thames. One huge obstruction, built mostly +of paving stones from the footways, overturned tramcars, +waggons, railway trollies, and barbed wire, rose in the +Holloway Road, just beyond Highbury Station. Another +blocked the Caledonian Road a few yards north of the +police-station, while another very large and strong pile +of miscellaneous goods, bales of wool and cotton stuffs, +building material, and stones brought from the Great +Northern Railway depôt, obstructed the Camden Road +at the south corner of Hilldrop Crescent. Across High +Street, Camden Town, at the junction of the Kentish +Town and other roads, five hundred men worked with +a will, piling together every kind of ponderous object +they could pillage from the neighbouring shops—pianos, +iron bedsteads, wardrobes, pieces of calico and flannel, +dress stuffs, rolls of carpets, floorboards, even the very +doors wrenched from their hinges—until, when it reached +to the second storey window and was considered of sufficient +height, a pole was planted on top, and from it +hung limply a small Union Jack.</p> + +<p>The Finchley Road, opposite Swiss Cottage Station; in +Shoot Up-hill, where Mill Lane runs into it; across +Willesden Lane where it joins the High Road in Kilburn; +the Harrow Road close to Willesden Junction Station; +at the junction of the Goldhawk and Uxbridge roads; +across the Hammersmith Road in front of the Hospital, +other similar obstructions were placed with a view to +preventing the enemy from entering London. At a hundred +other points, in the narrower and more obscure thoroughfares, +all along the north of London, busy workers were +constructing similar defences, houses and shops being +ruthlessly broken open and cleared of their contents by +the frantic and terrified populace.</p> + +<p>London was in a ferment. Almost without exception +the gunmakers' shops had been pillaged, and every rifle,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +sporting gun, and revolver seized. The armouries at the +Tower of London, at the various barracks, and the factory +out at Enfield had long ago all been cleared of their +contents; for now, in this last stand, every one was desperate, +and all who could obtain a gun did so. Many, +however, had guns but no ammunition; others had +sporting ammunition for service rifles, and others cartridges, +but no gun.</p> + +<p>Those, however, who had guns and ammunition complete +mounted guard at the barricades, being assisted at +some points by Volunteers who had been driven in from +Essex. Upon more than one barricade in North London +a Maxim had been mounted, and was now pointed, ready +to sweep away the enemy should they advance.</p> + +<p>Other thoroughfares barricaded, beside those mentioned, +were the Stroud Green Road, where it joins +Hanley Road; the railway bridge in the Oakfield Road +in the same neighbourhood; the Wightman Road, opposite +Harringay Station, the junction of Archway +Road and Highgate Hill; the High Road, Tottenham, +at its junction with West Green Road, +and various roads around the New River reservoirs, +which were believed to be one of the objectives +of the enemy. These latter were very strongly held by +thousands of brave and patriotic citizens, though the +East London reservoirs across at Walthamstow could +not be defended, situated so openly as they were. The +people of Leytonstone threw up a barricade opposite +the schools in the High Road, while in Wanstead a +hastily-constructed, but perfectly useless, obstruction +was piled across Cambridge Park, where it joins the Blake +Road.</p> + +<p>Of course, all the women and children in the northern +suburbs had now been sent south. Half the houses in +those quiet, newly-built roads were locked up, and their +owners gone; for as soon as the report spread of the +result of the final battle before London, and our crushing +defeat, people living in Highgate, Hampstead, Crouch +End, Hornsey, Tottenham, Finsbury Park, Muswell Hill, +Hendon, and Hampstead saw that they must fly southward, +now the Germans were upon them.</p> + +<p>Think what it meant to those suburban families of +City men! The ruthless destruction of their pretty, +long-cherished homes, flight into the turbulent, noisy, +distracted, hungry city, and the loss of everything they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +possessed. In most cases the husband was already +bearing his part in the defence of the Metropolis with +gun or with spade, or helping to move heavy masses of +material for the construction of the barricades. The +wife, however, was compelled to take a last look at all +those possessions that she had so fondly called "home," +lock her front door, and, with her children, join in those +long mournful processions moving ever southward into +London, tramping on and on—whither she knew not +where.</p> + +<p>Touching sights were to be seen everywhere in the +streets that day.</p> + +<p>Homeless women, many of them with two or three little +ones, were wandering through the less frequented streets, +avoiding the main roads with all their crush, excitement, +and barricade-building, but making their way westward, +beyond Kensington and Hammersmith, which was now +become the outlet of the Metropolis.</p> + +<p>All trains from Charing Cross, Waterloo, London +Bridge, Victoria, and Paddington had for the past three +days been crowded to excess. Anxious fathers struggled +fiercely to obtain places for their wives, mothers, and +daughters—sending them away anywhere out of the city +which must in a few hours be crushed beneath the iron +heel.</p> + +<p>The South Western and Great Western systems carried +thousands upon thousands of the wealthier away to +Devonshire and Cornwall—as far as possible from the +theatre of war; the South Eastern and Chatham took +people into the already crowded Kentish towns and villages, +and the Brighton line carried others into rural +Sussex. London overflowed southward and westward +until every village and every town within fifty miles +was so full that beds were at a premium, and in various +places, notably at Chartham, near Canterbury, at Willesborough, +near Ashford, at Lewes, at Robertsbridge, at +Goodwood Park, and at Horsham, huge camps were +formed, shelter being afforded by poles and rick cloths. +Every house, every barn, every school, indeed every +place where people could obtain shelter for the night, +was crowded to excess, mostly by women and children +sent south, away from the horrors that it was known +must come.</p> + +<p>Central London grew more turbulent with each hour +that passed. There were all sorts of wild rumours, but,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +fortunately, the Press still preserved a dignified calm. +The Cabinet were holding a meeting at Bristol, whither +the Houses of Commons and Lords had moved, and all +depended upon its issue. It was said that Ministers +were divided in their opinions whether we should sue +for an ignominious peace, or whether the conflict should +be continued to the bitter end.</p> + +<p>Disaster had followed disaster, and iron-throated +orators in Hyde and St. James's Parks were now shouting +"Stop the war! Stop the war!" The cry was taken up +but faintly, however, for the blood of Londoners, slow to +rise, had now been stirred by seeing their country slowly +yet completely crushed by Germany. All the patriotism +latent within them was now displayed. The national +flag was shown everywhere, and at every point one heard +"God save the King" sung lustily.</p> + +<p>Two gunmakers' shops in the Strand, which had +hitherto escaped notice, were shortly after noon broken +open, and every available arm and all the ammunition +seized. One man, unable to obtain a revolver, snatched +half a dozen pairs of steel handcuffs, and cried with +grim humour as he held them up: "If I can't shoot any +of the sausage-eaters, I can at least bag a prisoner or +two!"</p> + +<p>The banks, the great jewellers, the diamond merchants, +the safe-deposit offices, and all who had valuables +in their keeping, were extremely anxious as to what +might happen. Below those dark buildings in Lothbury +and Lombard Street, behind the black walls of the Bank +of England, and below every branch bank all over London, +were millions in gold and notes, the wealth of the +greatest city the world has ever known. The strong +rooms were, for the most part, the strongest that modern +engineering could devise, some with various arrangements +by which all access was debarred by an inrush of water, +but, alas! dynamite is a great leveller, and it was +felt that not a single strong room in the whole of +London could withstand an organised attack by German +engineers.</p> + +<p>A single charge of dynamite would certainly make a +breach in concrete upon which a thief might hammer +and chip day and night for a month without making +much impression. Steel doors must give to blasting +force, while the strongest and most complicated locks +would also fly to pieces.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>The directors of most of the banks had met and an +endeavour had been made to co-operate and form a corps +of special guards for the principal offices. In fact, a +small armed corps was formed, and were on duty day +and night in Lothbury, Lombard Street, and the vicinity. +Yet what could they do if the Germans swept into +London? There was but little to fear from the excited +populace themselves, because matters had assumed such +a crisis that money was of little use, as there was practically +very little to buy. But little food was reaching +London from the open ports on the west. It was the +enemy that the banks feared, for they knew that the +Germans intended to enter and sack the Metropolis, just +as they had sacked the other towns that had refused to +pay the indemnity demanded.</p> + +<p>Small jewellers had, days ago, removed their stock +from their windows and carried it away in unsuspicious-looking +bags to safe hiding in the southern and western +suburbs, where people for the most part hid their valuable +plate, jewellery, etc., beneath a floor-board, or +buried them in some marked spot in their small gardens.</p> + +<p>The hospitals were already full of wounded from the +various engagements of the past week. The London, St. +Thomas', Charing Cross, St. George's, Guy's, and Bartholomew's +were overflowing; and the surgeons, with +patriotic self-denial, were working day and night in an +endeavour to cope with the ever-arriving crowd of suffering +humanity. The field hospitals away to the northward +were also reported full.</p> + +<p>The exact whereabouts of the enemy was not known. +They were, it seemed, everywhere. They had practically +over-run the whole country, and the reports from the +Midlands and the North showed that the majority of +the principal towns had now been occupied.</p> + +<p>The latest reverses outside London, full and graphic +details of which were now being published hourly by +the papers, had created an immense sensation. Everywhere +people were regretting that Lord Roberts' solemn +warnings in 1906 had been unheeded, for had we adopted +his scheme for universal service such dire catastrophe +could never have occurred. Many had, alas! declared it +to be synonymous with conscription, which it certainly +was not, and by that foolish argument had prevented +the public at large from accepting it as the only means +for our salvation as a nation. The repeated warnings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +had been disregarded, and we had, unhappily, lived in a +fool's paradise, in the self-satisfied belief that England +could not be successfully invaded.</p> + +<p>Now, alas! the country had realised the truth when +too late.</p> + +<p>That memorable day, September 20, witnessed exasperated +struggles in the northern suburbs of London, +passionate and bloody collisions, an infantry fire of the +defenders overwhelming every attempted assault; and a +decisive action of the artillery, with regard to which +arm the superiority of the Germans, due to their perfect +training, was apparent.</p> + +<p>A last desperate stand had, it appears, been made +by the defenders on the high ridge north-west of New +Barnet, from Southgate to near Potter's Bar, where a +terrible fight had taken place. But from the very first +it was utterly hopeless. The British had fought valiantly +in defence of London, but here again they were outnumbered, +and after one of the most desperate conflicts +in the whole campaign—in which our losses were terrible—the +Germans at length had succeeded in entering +Chipping Barnet. It was a difficult movement, and a +fierce contest, rendered the more terrible by the burning +houses, ensued in the streets and away across the low +hills southward—a struggle full of vicissitudes and alternating +successes, until at last the fire of the defenders +was silenced, and hundreds of prisoners fell into the +German hands.</p> + +<p>Thus the last organised defence of London had been +broken, and the barricades alone remained.</p> + +<p>The work of the German troops on the lines of communication +in Essex had for the past week been fraught +with danger. Through want of cavalry the British had +been unable to make cavalry raids; but, on the other +hand, the difficulty was enhanced by the bands of +sharpshooters—men of all classes from London who +possessed a gun and who could shoot. In one or two of +the London clubs the suggestion had first been mooted +a couple of days after the outbreak of hostilities, and +it had been quickly taken up by men who were in the +habit of shooting game, but had not had a military training.</p> + +<p>Within three days about two thousand men had formed +themselves into bands to take part in the struggle and +assist in the defence of London. They were practically +similar to the Francs-tireurs of the Franco-German War,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +for they went forth in companies and waged a guerilla +warfare, partly before the front and at the flanks of the +different armies, and partly at the communications at +the rear of the Germans. Their position was one of constant +peril in face of Von Kronhelm's proclamation, yet +the work they did was excellent, and only proved that +if Lord Roberts' scheme for universal training had been +adopted the enemy would never have reached the gates of +London with success.</p> + +<p>These brave adventurous spirits, together with "The +Legion of Frontiersmen," made their attacks by surprise +from hiding-places or from ambushes. Their adventures +were constantly thrilling ones. Scattered all over the +theatre of war in Essex and Suffolk, and all along the +German lines of communication, the "Frontiersmen" +rarely ventured on an open conflict, and frequently +changed scene and point of attack. Within one week +their numbers rose to over 8,000, and, being well served +by the villagers, who acted as scouts and spies for them, +the Germans found them very difficult to get at. +Usually they kept their arms concealed in thickets and +woods, where they would lie in wait for the Germans. +They never came to close quarters, but fired at a distance. +Many a smart Uhlan fell by their bullets, and many a +sentry dropped, shot by an unknown hand.</p> + +<p>Thus they harassed the enemy everywhere. At need +they concealed their arms and assumed the appearance +of inoffensive non-combatants. But when caught red-handed +the Germans gave them "short shrift," as the +bodies now swinging from telegraph poles on various +high-roads in Essex testified.</p> + +<p>In an attempt to put a stop to the daring actions of +the "Frontiersmen," the German authorities and troops +along the lines of communication punished the parishes +where German soldiers were shot, or where the destruction +of railways and telegraphs had occurred, by levying +money contributions, or by burning the villages.</p> + +<p>The guerilla war was especially fierce along from +Edgware up to Hertford, and from Chelmsford down to +the Thames. In fact, once commenced, it never +ceased. Attacks were always being made upon small +patrols, travelling detachments, mails of the field post-office, +posts or patrols at stations on the lines of communication, +while field-telegraphs, telephones, and railways +were everywhere destroyed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>In consequence of the railway being cut at Pitsea, +the villages of Pitsea, Bowers Gifford, and Vange had +been burned. Because a German patrol had been +attacked and destroyed near Orsett, the parish was compelled +to pay a heavy indemnity. Upminster, near Romford, +Theydon Bois, and Fyfield, near High Ongar, had +all been burned by the Germans for the same reason; +while at the Cherrytree Inn, near Rainham, five +"Frontiersmen" being discovered by Uhlans in a hayloft +asleep, were locked in and there burned alive. +Dozens were, of course, shot at sight, and dozens more +hanged without trial. But they were not to be deterred. +They were fighting in defence of London, and around +the northern suburbs the patriotic members of the +"Legion" were specially active, though they never +showed themselves in large bands.</p> + +<p>Within London every man who could shoot game was +now anxious to join in the fray, and on the day that the +news of the last disaster reached the Metropolis, hundreds +left for the open country out beyond Hendon.</p> + +<p>The enemy having broken down the defence at Enfield +and cleared the defenders out of the fortified houses, had +advanced and occupied the northern ridges of London +in a line stretching roughly from Pole Hill, a little to +the north of Chingford, across Upper Edmonton, through +Tottenham, Hornsey, Highgate, Hampstead, and Willesden, +to Twyford Abbey. All the positions had been well +reconnoitred, for at grey of dawn the rumbling of artillery +had been heard in the streets of those places already +mentioned, and soon after sunrise strong batteries were +established upon all the available points commanding +London.</p> + +<p>These were at Chingford Green, on the left-hand side +of the road opposite the inn at Chingford; on Devonshire +Hill, Tottenham; on the hill at Wood Green; in +the grounds of the Alexandra Palace; on the high ground +about Churchyard Bottom Wood; on the edge of Bishop's +Wood, Highgate; on Parliament Hill, at a spot close to +the Oaks on the Hendon road; at Dollis Hill, and at a +point a little north of Wormwood Scrubs, and at Neasden, +near the railway works.</p> + +<p>The enemy's chief object was to establish their artillery +as near London as possible, for it was known that +the range of their guns even from Hampstead—the +highest point, 441 feet above London—would not reach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +into the actual city itself. Meanwhile, at dawn, the German +cavalry, infantry, motor-infantry, and armoured +motor-cars—the latter mostly 35-40 h.p. Opel-Darracqs, +with three quick-firing guns mounted in each, and +bearing the Imperial German arms in black—advanced +up the various roads leading into London from the north, +being met, of course, with a desperate resistance at the +barricades.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 462px;"> +<a href="images/i173-hi.png"><img src="images/i173.png" width="462" height="400" alt="THE BOMBARDMENT and DEFENCES of LONDON +on Sept. 20th & 21st" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE BOMBARDMENT and DEFENCES of<br /> +LONDON<br /> +on Sept. 20th & 21st</span> +</div> + +<p>On Haverstock Hill, the three Maxims, mounted upon +the huge construction across the road, played havoc with +the Germans, who were at once compelled to fall back, +leaving piles of dead and dying in the roadway, for the +terrible hail of lead poured out upon the invaders could +not be withstood. Two of the German armoured motor-cars +were presently brought into action by the Germans, +who replied with a rapid fire, this being continued for a +full quarter of an hour without result on either side. +Then the Germans, finding the defence too strong, again +retired into Hampstead, amid the ringing cheers of the +valiant men holding that gate of London. The losses +of the enemy had been serious, for the whole roadway<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +was now strewn with dead; while behind the huge wall +of paving-stones, overturned carts, and furniture, only +two men had been killed and one wounded.</p> + +<p>Across in the Finchley Road a struggle equally as +fierce was in progress; but a detachment of the enemy, +evidently led by some German who had knowledge of +the intricate side-roads, suddenly appeared in the rear +of the barricade, and a fierce and bloody hand-to-hand +conflict ensued. The defenders, however, stood their +ground, and with the aid of some petrol bombs which +they held in readiness, they destroyed the venturesome +detachment almost to a man, though a number of houses +in the vicinity were set on fire, causing a huge conflagration.</p> + +<p>In Highgate Road the attack was a desperate one, the +enraged Londoners fighting valiantly, the men with arms +being assisted by the populace themselves. Here again +deadly petrol bombs had been distributed, and men and +women hurled them against the Germans. Petrol was +actually poured from windows upon the heads of the +enemy, and tow soaked in paraffin and lit flung in +among them, when in an instant whole areas of the +streets were ablaze, and the soldiers of the Fatherland +perished in the roaring flames.</p> + +<p>Every device to drive back the invader was tried. +Though thousands upon thousands had left the northern +suburbs, many thousands still remained bent on defending +their homes as long as they had breath. The +crackle of rifles was incessant, and ever and anon the +dull roar of a heavy field gun and the sharp rattle of a +Maxim mingled with the cheers, yells, and shrieks of +victors and vanquished.</p> + +<p>The scene on every side was awful. Men were fighting +for their lives in desperation.</p> + +<p>Around the barricade in Holloway Road the street +ran with blood; while in Kingsland, in Clapton, in West +Ham, and Canning Town the enemy were making an +equally desperate attack, and were being repulsed everywhere. +London's enraged millions, the Germans were +well aware, constituted a grave danger. Any detachments +who carried a barricade by assault—as, for instance, +they did one in the Hornsey Road near the station—were +quickly set upon by the angry mob and simply +wiped out of existence.</p> + +<p>Until nearly noon desperate conflicts at the barricades<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +continued. The defence was even more effectual than +was expected; yet, had it not been that Von Kronhelm, +the German generalissimo, had given orders that the +troops were not to attempt to advance into London before +the populace were cowed, there was no doubt that +each barricade could have been taken in the rear by +companies avoiding the main roads and proceeding by +the side streets.</p> + +<p>Just before noon, however, it was apparent to Von +Kronhelm that to storm the barricades would entail +enormous losses, so strong were they. The men holding +them had now been reinforced in many cases by regular +troops, who had come in in flight, and a good +many guns were now manned by artillerymen.</p> + +<p>Von Kronhelm had established his headquarters at +Jack Straw's Castle, from which he could survey the +giant city through his field-glasses. Below lay the great +plain of roofs, spires, and domes, stretching away into the +grey mystic distance, where afar rose the twin towers +and double arches of the Crystal Palace roof.</p> + +<p>London—the great London—the capital of the world—lay +at his mercy at his feet.</p> + +<p>The tall, thin-faced General, with the grizzled moustache +and the glittering cross at his throat, standing +apart from his staff, gazed away in silence and in +thought. It was his first sight of London, and its gigantic +proportions amazed even him. Again he swept the +horizon with his glass, and knit his grey brows. He +remembered the parting words of his Emperor as he +backed out of that plainly-furnished little private cabinet +at Potsdam—</p> + +<p>"You must bombard London and sack it. The +pride of those English must be broken at all costs. Go, +Kronhelm—go—and may the best of fortune go with +you!"</p> + +<p>The sun was at the noon causing the glass roof of the +distant Crystal Palace to gleam. Far down in the grey +haze stood Big Ben, the Campanile, and a thousand +church spires, all tiny and, from that distance, insignificant. +From where he stood the sound of crackling +fire at the barricades reached him, and a little behind +him a member of his staff was kneeling on the grass with +his ear bent to the field telephone. Reports were coming +in fast of the desperate resistance in the streets, and +these were duly handed to him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>He glanced at them, gave a final look at the outstretched +city that was the metropolis of the world, and +then gave rapid orders for the withdrawal of the troops +from the assault of the barricades, and the bombardment +of London.</p> + +<p>In a moment the field-telegraphs were clicking, the +telephone bell was ringing, orders were shouted in +German in all directions, and next second, with a deafening +roar, one of the howitzers of the battery in the close +vicinity to him gave tongue and threw its deadly shell +somewhere into St. John's Wood.</p> + +<p>The rain of death had opened! London was surrounded +by a semi-circle of fire.</p> + +<p>The great gun was followed by a hundred others as, +at all the batteries along the northern heights, the +orders were received. Then in a few minutes, from the +whole line from Chingford to Willesden, roughly about +twelve miles, came a hail of the most deadly of modern +projectiles directed upon the most populous parts of the +metropolis.</p> + +<p>Though the Germans trained their guns to carry as far +as was possible, the zone of fire did not at first it seemed +extend farther south than a line roughly taken from +Notting Hill through Bayswater, past Paddington Station, +along the Marylebone and Euston Roads, then up to +Highbury, Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill and Walthamstow.</p> + +<p>When, however, the great shells began to burst in +Holloway, Kentish Town, Camden Town, Kilburn, +Kensal Green, and other places lying within the area +under fire, a frightful panic ensued. Whole streets were +shattered by explosions, and fires were breaking out, the +dark clouds of smoke obscuring the sunlit sky. Roaring +flame shot up everywhere, unfortunate men, women, and +children were being blown to atoms by the awful projectiles, +while others distracted, sought shelter in any +cellar or underground place they could find, while their +houses fell about them like packs of cards.</p> + +<p>The scenes within that zone of terror were indescribable.</p> + +<p>When Paris had been bombarded years ago, artillery +was not at the perfection it now was, and there had +been no such high explosive known as in the present +day. The great shells that were falling everywhere, on +bursting filled the air with poisonous fumes, as well as +with deadly fragments. One bursting in a street would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +wreck the rows of houses on either side, and tear a great +hole in the ground at the same moment. The fronts of +the houses were torn out like paper, the iron railings +twisted as though they were wire, and paving-stones +hurled into the air like straws.</p> + +<p>Anything and everything offering a mark to the +enemy's guns was shattered. St. John's Wood and the +houses about Regent's Park suffered seriously. A shell +from Hampstead, falling into the roof of one of the houses +near the centre of Sussex Place, burst and shattered +nearly all the houses in the row; while another fell in +Cumberland Terrace and wrecked a dozen houses in the +vicinity. In both cases the houses were mostly empty, +for owners and servants had fled southward across the +river as soon as it became apparent that the Germans +actually intended to bombard.</p> + +<p>At many parts in Maida Vale shells burst with +appalling effect. Several of the houses in Elgin Avenue +had their fronts torn out, and in one, a block of flats, +there was considerable loss of life in the fire that broke +out, escape being cut off owing to the stairs having been +demolished by the explosion. Abbey Road, St. John's +Wood Road, Acacia Road, and Wellington Road, were +quickly wrecked.</p> + +<p>In Chalk Farm Road, near the Adelaide, a terrified +woman was dashing across the street to seek shelter +with a neighbour, when a shell burst right in front of +her, blowing her to fragments; while in the early stage +of the bombardment a shell bursting in the Midland +Hotel at St. Pancras caused a fire which in half an +hour resulted in the whole hotel and railway terminus +being a veritable furnace of flame. Through the roof of +King's Cross Station several shells fell, and burst close +to the departure platform. The whole glass roof was +shattered, but beyond that little other material damage +resulted.</p> + +<p>Shots were now falling everywhere, and Londoners +were staggered. In dense, excited crowds they were +flying southwards towards the Thames. Some were caught +in the streets in their flight, and were flung down, +maimed and dying. The most awful sights were to be +witnessed in the open streets; men and women blown +out of recognition, with their clothes singed and torn +to shreds, and helpless, innocent children lying white +and dead, their limbs torn away and missing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>Euston Station had shared the same fate as St. Pancras, +and was blazing furiously, sending up a great +column of black smoke that could be seen by all London. +So many were the conflagrations now breaking out that +it seemed as though the enemy were sending into London +shells filled with petrol, in order to set the streets +aflame. This, indeed, was proved by an eye-witness, +who saw a shell fall in Liverpool Road, close to the +Angel. It burst with a bright red flash, and next second +the whole of the roadway and neighbouring houses were +blazing furiously.</p> + +<p>Thus the air became black with smoke and dust, and +the light of day obscured in Northern London. And +through that obscurity came those whizzing shells in +an incessant hissing stream, each one, bursting in these +narrow, thickly populated streets, causing havoc indescribable, +and a loss of life impossible to accurately calculate. +Hundreds of people were blown to pieces in the +open but hundreds more were buried beneath the <i>débris</i> +of their own cherished homes, now being so ruthlessly +destroyed and demolished.</p> + +<p>On every side was heard the cry: "Stop the war—stop +the war!"</p> + +<p>But it was, alas! too late—too late.</p> + +<p>Never in the history of the civilised world were there +such scenes of reckless slaughter of the innocent and +peace-loving as on that never-to-be-forgotten day when +Von Kronhelm carried out the orders of his Imperial +master, and struck terror into the heart of London's +millions.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V_II" id="CHAPTER_V_II"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>THE RAIN OF DEATH.</h3> + + +<p>Through the whole afternoon the heavy German artillery +roared, belching forth their fiery vengeance upon +London.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour they pounded away, until St. Pancras +Church was a heap of ruins and the Foundling Hospital +a veritable furnace, as well as the Parcel Post Offices and +the University College in Gower Street. In Hampstead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +Road many of the shops were shattered, and in Tottenham +Court Road both Maple's and Shoolbred's suffered +severely, for shells bursting in the centre of the roadway +had smashed every pane of glass in the fronts of +both buildings.</p> + +<p>The quiet squares of Bloomsbury were in some cases +great yawning ruins—houses with their fronts torn out +revealing the shattered furniture within. Streets were +indeed, filled with tiles, chimney pots, fallen telegraph +wires, and <i>débris</i> of furniture, stone steps, paving stones, +and fallen masonry. Many of the thoroughfares, such as +the Pentonville Road, Copenhagen Street, and Holloway +Road, were, at points, quite impassable on account of +the ruins that blocked them. Into the Northern Hospital, +in the Holloway Road, a shell fell, shattering one of +the wards, and killing or maiming every one of the +patients in the ward in question, while the church in +Tufnell Park Road was burning fiercely. Upper Holloway, +Stoke Newington, Highbury, Kingsland, Dalston, +Hackney, Clapton, and Stamford Hill were being swept +at long range by the guns on Muswell Hill and Churchyard +Bottom Hill, and the terror caused in those densely +populated districts was awful. Hundreds upon hundreds +lost their lives, or else had a hand, an arm, a leg +blown away, as those fatal shells fell in never-ceasing +monotony, especially in Stoke Newington and Kingsland. +The many side roads lying between Holloway +Road and Finsbury Park, such as Hornsey Road, Tollington +Park, Andover, Durham, Palmerston, Campbell, +and Forthill Roads, Seven Sisters Road, and Isledon +Road were all devastated, for the guns for a full hour +seemed to be trained upon them.</p> + +<p>The German gunners in all probability neither knew +nor cared where their shells fell. From their position, +now that the smoke of the hundreds of fires was now +rising, they could probably discern but little. Therefore +the batteries at Hampstead Heath, Muswell Hill, Wood +Green, Cricklewood, and other places simply sent their +shells as far distant south as possible into the panic-stricken +city below. In Mountgrove and Riversdale +Roads, Highbury Vale, a number of people were killed, +while a frightful disaster occurred in the church at the +corner of Park Lane and Milton Road, Stoke Newington. +Here a number of people had entered, attending a +special service for the success of the British arms, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +a shell exploded on the roof, bringing it down upon +them and killing over fifty of the congregation, mostly +women.</p> + +<p>The air, poisoned by the fumes of the deadly explosives +and full of smoke from the burning buildings, +was ever and anon rent by explosions as projectiles +frequently burst in mid-air. The distant roar was incessant, +like the noise of thunder, while on every hand +could be heard the shrieks of defenceless women and +children, or the muttered curses of some man who saw +his home and all he possessed swept away with a flash +and a cloud of dust. Nothing could withstand that +awful cannonade. Walthamstow had been rendered untenable +in the first half-hour of the bombardment, while +in Tottenham the loss of life had been very enormous, +the German gunners at Wood Green having apparently +turned their first attention upon that place. Churches, +the larger buildings, the railway station, in fact, anything +offering a mark, was promptly shattered, being +assisted by the converging fire from the batteries at +Chingford.</p> + +<p>On the opposite side of London, Notting Hill, Shepherd's +Bush, and Starch Green, were being reduced to +ruins by the heavy batteries above Park Royal Station, +which, firing across Wormwood Scrubs, put their shots +into Notting Hill, and especially into Holland Park, +where widespread damage was quickly wrought.</p> + +<p>A couple of shells falling into the generating station +of the Central London Railway, or "Tube," as Londoners +usually call it, unfortunately caused a disaster +and loss of life which were appalling. At the first +sign of the bombardment many thousands of people descended +into the "Tube" as a safe hiding-place from the +rain of shell. At first the railway officials closed the +doors to prevent the inrush, but the terrified populace +in Shepherd's Bush, Bayswater, Oxford Street, and +Holborn, in fact, all along the subterranean line, broke +open the doors and descending by the lifts and stairs +found themselves in a place which at least gave them +security against the enemy's fire.</p> + +<p>The trains had long ago ceased running, and every +station was crowded to excess, while many were forced +upon the line itself, and actually into the tunnels. +For hours they waited there in eager breathlessness, +longing to be able to ascend and find the conflict<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +over. Men and women in all stations of life were huddled +together, while children clung to their parents in wonder; +yet as hour after hour went by, the report from above +was still the same—the Germans had not ceased.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden, however, the light failed. The electric +current had been cut off by the explosion of the shells +in the generating station at Shepherd's Bush, and the +lifts were useless! The thousands who, in defiance of +the orders of the company, had gone below at Shepherd's +Bush for shelter, found themselves caught like +rats in a hole. True, there was the faint glimmer of +an oil light here and there, but, alas! that did not prevent +an awful panic.</p> + +<p>Somebody shouted that the Germans were above and +had put out the lights, and when it was found that the +lifts were useless a panic ensued that was indescribable. +The people could not ascend the stairs, as they were +blocked by the dense crowd, therefore they pressed into +the narrow semi-circular tunnels in an eager endeavour +to reach the next station, where they hoped they might +escape; but once in there women and children were +quickly crushed to death, or thrown down and trampled +upon by the press behind.</p> + +<p>In the darkness they fought with each other, pressing +on and becoming jammed so tightly that many were +held against the sloping walls until life was extinct. +Between Shepherd's Bush and Holland Park Stations the +loss of life was worst, for being within the zone of the +German fire the people had crushed in frantically in +thousands, and with one accord a move had unfortunately +been made into the tunnels, on account of the +foolish cry that the German were waiting above.</p> + +<p>The railway officials were powerless. They had done +their best to prevent any one going below, but the public +had insisted, therefore no blame could be laid upon +them for the catastrophe.</p> + +<p>At Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, and Tottenham Court +Road Stations, a similar scene was enacted, and dozens +upon dozens, alas! lost their lives in the panic. Ladies +and gentlemen from Park Lane, Grosvenor Square, and +Mayfair had sought shelter at the Marble Arch Station, +rubbing shoulders with labourers' wives and costerwomen +from the back streets of Marylebone. When the +lights failed, a rush had been made into the tunnel to +reach Oxford Circus, all exit by the stairs being blocked,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +as at Shepherd's Bush, on account of the hundreds +struggling to get down.</p> + +<p>As at Holland Park, the terrified crowd fighting with +each other became jammed and suffocated in the narrow +space. The catastrophe was a frightful one, for it was +afterwards proved that over four hundred and twenty +persons, mostly weak women and children, lost their +lives in those twenty minutes of darkness before the +mains at the generating station, wrecked by the explosions, +could be repaired.</p> + +<p>Then, when the current came up again, the lights revealed +the frightful mishap, and people struggled to +emerge from the burrows wherein they had so narrowly +escaped death.</p> + +<p>Upon the Baker Street and Waterloo and other +"Tubes," every station had also been besieged. The +whole of the first-mentioned line from north to south +was the refuge of thousands, who saw in it a safe place +for retreat. The tunnels of the District Railway, too, +were filled with terror-stricken multitudes, who descended +at every station and walked away into a subterranean +place of safety. No trains had been running for several +days, therefore there was no danger from that cause.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the bombardment continued with unceasing +activity.</p> + +<p>The Marylebone Station of the Great Central Railway, +and the Great Central Hotel, which seemed to be only +just within the line of fire, were wrecked, and about four +o'clock it was seen that the hotel, like that at St. Pancras, +was well alight, though no effort could be made to +save it. At the first two or three alarms of fire the +Metropolitan Fire Brigade had turned out, but now that +fresh alarms were reaching the chief station every +moment, the brigade saw themselves utterly powerless to +even attempt to save the hundred buildings, great and +small, now furiously blazing.</p> + +<p>Gasometers, especially those of the Gas Light and +Coke Company at Kensal Green, were marked by the +German gunners, who sent them into the air; while a +well-directed petrol bomb at Wormwood Scrubs Prison +set one great wing of the place alight, and the prisoners +were therefore released. The rear of Kensington Palace, +and the fronts of a number of houses in Kensington +Palace Gardens were badly damaged, while in the dome +of the Albert Hall was a great, ugly hole.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + +<p>Shortly after five o'clock occurred a disaster which was +of national consequence. It could only have been a +mishap on the part of the Germans, for they would certainly +never have done such irreparable damage willingly, +as they destroyed what would otherwise have been +most valuable of loot.</p> + +<p>Shots suddenly began to fall fast in Bloomsbury, +several of them badly damaging the Hotel Russell and +the houses near, and it was therefore apparent that one +of the batteries which had been firing from near Jack +Straw's Castle had been moved across to Parliament +Hill, or even to some point south of it, which gave a +wider range to the fire.</p> + +<p>Presently a shell came high through the air and +fell full upon the British Museum, striking it nearly in the +centre of the front, and in exploding carried away the +Grecian-Ionic ornament, and shattered a number of the +fine stone columns of the dark façade. Ere people in +the vicinity had realised that the national collection +of antiques was within range of the enemy's destructive +projectiles, a second shell crashed into the rear of the +building, making a great gap in the walls. Then, as +though all the guns of that particular battery had converged +in order to destroy our treasure-house of art and +antiquity, shell after shell crashed into the place in +rapid succession. Before ten minutes had passed, grey +smoke began to roll out from beneath the long colonnade +in front, and growing denser, told its own tale. The +British Museum was on fire.</p> + +<p>Nor was that all. As though to complete the disaster—although +it was certain that the Germans were in ignorance—there +came one of those terrible shells filled with +petrol, which, bursting inside the manuscript room, set +the whole place ablaze. In a dozen different places the +building seemed to be now alight, especially the library, +and thus the finest collection of books, manuscripts, +Greek and Roman and Egyptian antiques, coins, medals, +and prehistoric relics, lay at the mercy of the flames.</p> + +<p>The fire brigade was at once alarmed, and at imminent +risk of their lives, for shells were still falling in the +vicinity, they, with the Salvage Corps and the assistance +of many willing helpers—some of whom, unfortunately, +lost their lives in the flames—saved whatever could be +saved, throwing the objects out into the railed-off quadrangle +in front.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>The left wing of the Museum, however, could not be +entered, although, after most valiant efforts on the part +of the firemen, the conflagrations that had broken out in +other parts of the building were at length subdued. The +damage was, however, irreparable, for many unique collections, +including all the prints and drawings, and +many of the mediæval and historic manuscripts had +already been consumed.</p> + +<p>Shots now began to fall as far south as Oxford Street, +and all along that thoroughfare from Holborn as far as +Oxford Circus, widespread havoc was being wrought. +People fled for their lives back towards Charing Cross +and the Strand. The Oxford Music Hall was a hopeless +ruin, while a shell crashing through the roof of Frascati's +restaurant carried away a portion of the gallery +and utterly wrecked the whole place. Many of the shops +in Oxford Street had their roofs damaged or their fronts +blown out, while a huge block of flats in Great Russell +Street was practically demolished by three shells striking +in rapid succession.</p> + +<p>Then, to the alarm of all who realised it, shots were +seen to be passing high over Bloomsbury, south towards +the Thames. The range had been increased, for, as was +afterwards known, some heavier guns had now been +mounted upon Muswell Hill and Hampstead Heath, +which, carrying to a distance of from six to seven miles, +placed the City, the Strand, and Westminster within +the zone of fire. The zone in question stretched roughly +from Victoria Park through Bethnal Green and Whitechapel, +across to Southwark, the Borough, Lambeth, and +Westminster to Kensington, and while the fire upon +the northern suburbs slackened, great shells now came +flying through the air into the very heart of London.</p> + +<p>The German gunners at Muswell Hill took the dome +of St. Paul's as a mark, for shells fell constantly in +Ludgate Hill, in Cheapside, in Newgate Street, and in +the Churchyard itself. One falling upon the steps of the +Cathedral tore out two of the columns of the front, while +another, striking the clock tower just below the face, +brought down much of the masonry and one of the +huge bells, with a deafening crash, blocking the road +with <i>débris</i>. Time after time the great shells went over the +splendid Cathedral, which the enemy seemed bent upon +destroying, but the dome remained uninjured, though about +ten feet of the top of the second tower was carried away.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the Cannon Street side of St. Paul's a great block +of drapery warehouses had caught fire, and was burning +fiercely, while the drapers and other shops on the +Paternoster Row side all had their windows shattered +by the constant detonations. Within the Cathedral two +shells that had fallen through the roof had wrought +havoc with the beautiful reredos and the choir-stalls, +many of the fine windows being also wrecked by the +explosions.</p> + +<p>Whole rows of houses in Cheapside suffered, while +both the Mansion House, where the London flag was +flying, and the Royal Exchange were severely damaged +by a number of shells which fell in the vicinity. The +equestrian statue in front of the Exchange had been +overturned, while the Exchange itself showed a great +yawning hole in the corner of the façade next Cornhill. +At the Bank of England a fire had occurred, but had +fortunately been extinguished by the strong force of +Guards in charge, though they gallantly risked their +lives in so doing. Lothbury, Gresham Street, Old Broad +Street, Lombard Street, Gracechurch Street, and Leadenhall +Street were all more or less scenes of fire, havoc, and +destruction. The loss of life was not great in this neighbourhood, +for most people had crossed the river or gone +westward, but the high explosives used by the Germans +were falling upon shops and warehouses with appalling +effect.</p> + +<p>Masonry was torn about like paper, ironwork twisted +like wax, woodwork shattered to a thousand splinters +as, time after time, a great projectile hissed in the air +and effected its errand of destruction. A number of the +wharves on each side of the river were soon alight, and +both Upper and Lower Thames Streets were soon impassable +on account of huge conflagrations. A few shells +fell in Shoreditch, Houndsditch, and Whitechapel, and +these, in most cases, caused loss of life in those densely +populated districts.</p> + +<p>Westward, however, as the hours went on, the howitzers +at Hampstead began to drop high explosive shells +into the Strand, around Charing Cross, and in Westminster. +This weapon had a calibre of 4.14 inches, and +threw a projectile of 35 lbs. The tower of St. Clement +Dane's Church crashed to the ground and blocked the +roadway opposite Milford Lane; the pointed roof of +the clock-tower of the Law Courts was blown away, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +the granite fronts of the two banks opposite the Law +Courts entrance were torn out by a shell which exploded +in the footpath before them.</p> + +<p>Shells fell time after time, in and about the Law +Courts themselves, committing immense damage to the +interior, while a shell bursting upon the roof of Charing +Cross Station, rendered it a ruin as picturesque as +it had been in December, 1905. The National Liberal +Club was burning furiously; the Hotel Cecil and the +Savoy did not escape, but no material damage was done +to them. The Garrick Theatre had caught fire; a shot +carried away the globe above the Coliseum, and the +Shot Tower beside the Thames crashed into the river.</p> + +<p>The front of the Grand Hotel in Trafalgar Square +showed, in several places, great holes where the shell +had struck, and a shell bursting at the foot of Nelson's +Monument turned over one of the lions—overthrowing +the emblem of Britain's might!</p> + +<p>The clubs in Pall Mall were, in one or two instances, +wrecked, notably the Reform, the Junior Carlton, and the +Athenæum, into each of which shells fell through the +roof and exploded within.</p> + +<p>From the number of projectiles that fell in the vicinity +of the Houses of Parliament, it was apparent that the +German gunners could see the Royal Standard flying +from the Victoria Tower, and were making it their +mark. In the west front of Westminster Abbey several +shots crashed, doing enormous damage to the grand old +pile. The hospital opposite was set alight, while the +Westminster Palace Hotel was severely damaged, and +two shells falling into St. Thomas's Hospital created +a scene of indescribable terror in one of the overcrowded +casualty wards.</p> + +<p>Suddenly one of the German high explosive shells +burst on the top of the Victoria Tower, blowing away all +four of the pinnacles, and bringing down the flagstaff. +Big Ben served as another mark for the artillery at +Muswell Hill and several shots struck it, tearing out +one of the huge clock faces and blowing away the +pointed apex of the tower. Suddenly, however, two +great shells struck it right in the centre, almost simultaneously, +near the base, and made such a hole in the +huge pile of masonry that it was soon seen to have been +rendered unsafe, though it did not fall.</p> + +<p>Shot after shot struck other portions of the Houses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +of Parliament, breaking the windows and carrying away +pinnacles.</p> + +<p>One of the twin towers of Westminster Abbey fell a +few moments later, and another shell, crashing into the +choir, completely wrecked Edward the Confessor's shrine, +the Coronation Chair, and all the objects of antiquity in +the vicinity.</p> + +<p>The old Horse Guards escaped injury, but one of the +cupolas of the new War Office opposite was blown away, +while shortly afterwards a fire broke out in the new +Local Government Board and Education Offices. Number +10, Downing Street, the chief centre of the Government, +had its windows all blown in—a grim accident, no +doubt—the same explosion shattering several windows +in the Foreign Office.</p> + +<p>Many shells fell in St. James's and Hyde Parks, exploding +harmlessly, but others, passing across St. +James's Park, crashed into that high building, Queen +Anne's Mansions, causing fearful havoc. Somerset +House, Covent Garden Market, Drury Lane Theatre, and +the Gaiety Theatre and Restaurant all suffered more +or less, and two of the bronze footguards guarding +the Wellington Statue at Hyde Park Corner were blown +many yards away. Around Holborn Circus immense +damage was being caused, and several shells bursting on +the Viaduct itself blew great holes in the bridge.</p> + +<p>So widespread, indeed, was the havoc, that it is impossible +to give a detailed account of the day's terrors. If +the public buildings suffered, the damage to property +of householders and the ruthless wrecking of quiet English +homes may well be imagined. The people had been +driven out from the zone of fire, and had left their possessions +to the mercy of the invaders.</p> + +<p>South of the Thames very little damage was done. +The German howitzers and long-range guns could not +reach so far. One or two shots fell in York Road, Lambeth, +and in the Waterloo and Westminster Bridge +Roads, but they did little damage beyond breaking all +the windows in the vicinity.</p> + +<p>When would it end? Where would it end?</p> + +<p>Half the population of London had fled across the +bridges, and from Denmark Hill, Champion Hill, Norwood, +and the Crystal Palace they could see the smoke +issuing from the hundred fires.</p> + +<p>London was cowed. These northern barricades, still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +held by bodies of valiant men, were making a last desperate +stand, though the streets ran with blood. Every +man fought well and bravely for his country, though +he went to his death. A thousand acts of gallant heroism +on the part of Englishmen were done that day, but +alas! all to no purpose. The Germans were at our gates, +and were not to be denied.</p> + +<p>As daylight commenced to fade the dust and smoke +became suffocating. And yet the guns pounded away +with a monotonous regularity that appalled the helpless +populace. Overhead there was a quick whizzing in the +air, a deafening explosion, and as the masonry came +crashing down the atmosphere was filled with poisonous +fumes that half asphyxiated all those in the vicinity.</p> + +<p>Hitherto the enemy had treated us, on the whole, +humanely, but finding that desperate resistance in the +northern suburbs, Von Kronhelm was carrying out +the Emperor's parting injunction. He was breaking +the pride of our own dear London, even at the sacrifice +of thousands of innocent lives.</p> + +<p>The scenes in the streets within that zone of awful +fire baffled description. They were too sudden, too +dramatic, too appalling. Death and destruction were +everywhere, and the people of London now realised for +the first time what the horrors of war really meant.</p> + +<p>Dusk was falling. Above the pall of smoke from +burning buildings the sun was setting with a blood-red +light. From the London streets, however, this evening +sky was darkened by the clouds of smoke and dust. Yet +the cannonade continued, each shell that came hurtling +through the air exploding with deadly effect and spreading +destruction on all hands.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the barricades at the north had not +escaped Von Kronhelm's attention. About four o'clock +he gave orders by field telegraph for certain batteries to +move down and attack them.</p> + +<p>This was done soon after five o'clock, and when the +German guns began to pour their deadly rain of shell +into those hastily improvised defences there commenced +a slaughter of the gallant defenders that was horrible. +At each of the barricades shell after shell was directed, +and very quickly breaches were made. Then upon the +defenders themselves the fire was directed—a withering, +awful fire from quick-firing guns which none could withstand. +The streets, with their barricades swept away,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +were strewn with mutilated corpses. Hundreds upon +hundreds had attempted to make a last stand, rallied by +the Union Jack they waved above, but a shell exploding +in their midst had sent them to instant eternity.</p> + +<p>Many a gallant deed was done that day by patriotic +Londoners in defence of their homes and loved ones—many +a deed that should have earned the V.C.—but in +nearly all cases the patriot who had stood up and faced +the foe had gone to straight and certain death.</p> + +<p>Till seven o'clock the dull roar of the guns in the north +continued, and people across the Thames knew that +London was still being destroyed, nay, pulverised. Then +with accord came a silence—the first silence since the +hot noon.</p> + +<p>Von Kronhelm's field telegraph at Jack Straw's Castle +had ticked the order to cease firing.</p> + +<p>All the barricades had been broken.</p> + +<p>London lay burning—at the mercy of the German eagle.</p> + +<p>And as the darkness fell the German Commander-in-Chief +looked again through his glasses, and saw the red flames +leaping up in dozens of places, where whole blocks of +shops and buildings, public institutions, whole streets in +some cases, were being consumed.</p> + +<p>London—the proud capital of the world, the "home" +of the Englishman—was at last ground beneath the iron +heel of Germany!</p> + +<p>And all, alas! due to one cause alone—the careless +insular apathy of the Englishman himself!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI_II" id="CHAPTER_VI_II"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>FALL OF LONDON.</h3> + + +<p>Outside London the September night had settled down +on the blood-stained field of battle. With a pale light +the moon had risen, partly hidden by chasing clouds, +her white rays mingling with the lurid glare of the fires +down in the great terrified Metropolis below. Northward, +from Hampstead across to Barnet—indeed, over +that wide district where the final battle had been so +hotly fought—the moonbeams shone upon the pallid +faces of the fallen.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>Along the German line of investment there had now +followed upon the roar of battle an uncanny silence.</p> + +<p>Away to the west, however, there was still heard the +growling of distant conflict, now mounting into a low +crackling of musketry fire, and again dying away in +muffled sounds. The last remnant of the British Army +was being hotly pursued in the direction of Staines.</p> + +<p>London was invested and bombarded, but not yet +taken.</p> + +<p>For a long time the German Field Marshal had stood +alone upon Hampstead Heath apart from his staff, +watching the great tongues of flame leaping up here and +there in the distant darkness. His grey, shaggy brows +were contracted, his thin aquiline face thoughtful, his +hard mouth twitching nervously, unable to fully conceal +the strain of his own feelings as conqueror of the English. +Von Kronhelm's taciturnity had long ago been proverbial. +The Kaiser had likened him to Moltke, and +had declared that "he could be silent in seven languages." +His gaze was one of musing, and yet he was the most +active of men, and perhaps the cleverest strategist in +all Europe. Often during the campaign he had astonished +his aides-de-camp by his untiring energy, for sometimes +he would even visit the outposts in person. On +many occasions he had actually crept up to the most +advanced posts at great personal risk to himself, so +anxious had he been to see with his own eyes. Such +visits from the Field Marshal himself were not always +welcome to the German outposts, who, as soon as they +showed the least sign of commotion consequent upon the +visit, were at once swept by a withering English fire.</p> + +<p>Yet he now stood there the conqueror. And while +many of his officers were installing themselves in comfortable +quarters in houses about North End, North +Hill, South Hill, Muswell Hill, Roslyn Hill, Fitzjohn's +Avenue, Netherhall, and Maresfield Gardens, and other +roads in that vicinity, the great Commander was still +alone upon the Heath, having taken nothing save a nip +from his flask since his coffee at dawn.</p> + +<p>Time after time telegraphic despatches were handed +to him from Germany, and telephonic reports from his +various positions around London, but he received them +all without comment. He read, he listened, but he said +nothing.</p> + +<p>For a full hour he remained there, strolling up and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +down alone in quick impatience. Then, as though suddenly +making up his mind, he called three members of +his staff, and gave orders for an entry into London.</p> + +<p>This, as he knew, was the signal for a terrible and +bloody encounter. Bugles sounded. Men and officers, +who had believed that the storm and stress of the day +were over, and that they were entitled to rest, found +themselves called upon to fight their way into the city +that they knew would be defended by an irate and +antagonistic populace.</p> + +<p>Still, the order had been given, and it must be obeyed. +They had expected that the advance would be at least +made at dawn, but evidently Von Kronhelm feared that +six hours' delay might necessitate more desperate fighting. +He intended, now that London was cowed, that she +should be entirely crushed. The orders of his master the +Kaiser were to that effect.</p> + +<p>Therefore, shortly before nine o'clock the first detachments +of German infantry marched along Spaniards +Road, and down Roslyn Hill to Haverstock Hill, where +they were at once fired upon from behind the <i>débris</i> of +the great barricade across the junction of Prince of +Wales Road and Haverstock Hill. This place was held +strongly by British Infantry, many members of the +Legion of Frontiersmen—distinguished only by the little +bronze badge in their buttonholes—and also by hundreds +of citizens armed with rifles.</p> + +<p>Twenty Germans dropped at the first volley, and next +instant a Maxim, concealed in the first floor of a neighbouring +house, spat forth its fire upon the invaders with +deadly effect. The German bugle sounded the "Advance +rapidly," and the men emulously ran forward, shouting +loud hurrahs. Major van Wittich, who had distinguished +himself very conspicuously in the fighting round +Enfield Chase, fell, being shot through the lung when +just within a few yards of the half-ruined barricade. +Londoners were fighting desperately, shouting and cheering. +The standard-bearer of the 4th Battalion of the +Brunswick Infantry Regiment, No. 92, fell severely +wounded, and the standard was instantly snatched from +him in the awful hand-to-hand fighting which that +moment ensued.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later the streets were running with +blood, for hundreds, both Germans and British, lay +dead and dying. Every Londoner struggled valiantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +until shot down; yet the enemy, always reinforced, +pressed forward, until ten minutes later, the defenders +were driven out of their position, and the house from +which the Maxim was sending forth its deadly hail had +been entered and the gun captured. Volley after volley +was still, however, poured out on the heads of the +storming party, but already the pioneers were at work +clearing a way for the advance, and very soon the Germans +had surmounted the obstruction and were within +London.</p> + +<p>For a short time the Germans halted, then, at a signal +from their officers, they moved along both roads, again +being fired upon from every house in the vicinity, many +of the defenders having retired to continue their defence +from the windows. The enemy therefore turned their +attention to these houses, and after desperate struggles +house after house was taken, those of the defenders not +wearing uniform being shot down without mercy. To +such no quarter was given.</p> + +<p>The contest now became a most furious one. Britons +and Germans fought hand to hand. A battalion of the +Brunswick Infantry with some riflemen of the Guard +took several houses by rush in Chalk Farm Road; but +in many cases the Germans were shot by their own +comrades. Quite a number of the enemy's officers were +picked off by the Frontiersmen, those brave fellows who +had seen service in every corner of the world, and who +were now in the windows and upon roofs. Thus the +furious fight from house to house proceeded.</p> + +<p>This exciting conflict was practically characteristic of +what was at that moment happening in fifty other spots +along the suburbs of North London. The obstinate resistance +which we made against the Germans was met +with equally obstinate aggression. There was no surrender. +Londoners fell and died fighting to the very +last.</p> + +<p>Against those well-trained Teutons in such overwhelming +masses we, however, could have no hope of success. +The rushes of the infantry and rifles of the Guards were +made skilfully, and slowly but surely broke down all +opposition.</p> + +<p>The barricade in the Kentish Town Road was defended +with valiant heroism. The Germans were, as in Chalk +Farm Road, compelled to fight their way foot by foot, +losing heavily all the time. But here, at length, as at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +other points, the barricade was taken, and the defenders +chased, and either taken prisoner or else ruthlessly +shot down. A body of citizens armed with rifles +were, after the storming of the barricades in question, +driven back into Park Street, and there, being caught +between two bodies of Germans, slaughtered to a man. +Through those unlit side streets between the Kentish +Town and Camden Roads—namely, the Lawford, Bartholomew, +Rochester, Caversham, and Leighton Roads—there +was much skirmishing, and many on both sides +fell in the bloody encounter. A thousand deeds of +bravery were done that night, but were unrecorded. +Before the barricade in Holloway Road—which had been +strongly repaired after the breach made in it by the +German shells—the enemy lost very heavily, for the +three Maxims which had there been mounted did awful +execution. The invaders, however, seeing the strong +defence, fell back for full twenty minutes, and then, +making another rush, hurled petrol bombs into the +midst of our men.</p> + +<p>A frightful holocaust was the result. Fully a hundred +of the poor fellows were literally burned alive; while +the neighbouring houses, being set in flames, compelled +the citizen free-shooters to quickly evacuate their position. +Against such terrible missiles even the best trained troops +cannot stand, therefore no wonder that all opposition +at that point was soon afterwards swept away, and the +pioneers quickly opened the road for the victorious +legions of the Kaiser.</p> + +<p>And so in that prosaic thoroughfare, the Holloway +Road, brave men fought gallantly and died, while a +Scotch piper paced the pavement sharply, backwards +and forwards, with his colours flying. Then, alas! came +the red flash, the loud explosions in rapid succession, +and the next instant the whole street burst into a veritable +sea of flame.</p> + +<p>High Street, Kingsland, was also the scene of several +fierce conflicts; but here the Germans decidedly got the +worst of it. The whole infuriated population seemed to +emerge suddenly from the side streets of the Kingsland +Road on the appearance of the detachment of the enemy, +and the latter were practically overwhelmed, notwithstanding +the desperate fight they made. Then ringing +cheers went up from the defenders.</p> + +<p>The Germans were given no quarter by the populace,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +all of whom were armed with knives or guns, the women +mostly with hatchets, crowbars, or edged tools.</p> + +<p>Many of the Germans fled through the side streets +towards Mare Street, and were hotly pursued, the +majority of them being done to death by the maddened +mob. The streets in this vicinity were literally a +slaughterhouse.</p> + +<p>The barricades in Finchley Road, and in High Road, +Kilburn, were also very strongly held, and at the first-named +it was quite an hour before the enemy's pioneers +were able to make a breach. Indeed, then only after +a most hotly contested conflict, in which there were +frightful losses on both sides. Petrol bombs were here +also used by the enemy with appalling effect, the road +being afterwards cleared by a couple of Maxims.</p> + +<p>Farther towards Regent's Park the houses were, however, +full of sharpshooters, and before these could be dislodged +the enemy had again suffered severely. The entry into +London was both difficult and perilous, and the enemy +suffered great losses everywhere.</p> + +<p>After the breaking down of the defences in High Road, +Kilburn, the men who had held them retired to the +Town Hall, opposite Kilburn Station, and from the +windows fired at the passing battalions, doing much +execution. All efforts to dislodge them proved unavailing, +until the place was taken by storm, and a fearful +hand to hand fight was the outcome. Eventually the +Town Hall was taken, after a most desperate resistance, +and ten minutes later wilfully set fire to and burned.</p> + +<p>In the Harrow Road and those cross streets between +Kensal Green and Maida Vale the advancing Germans +shared much the same fate as about Hackney. Surrounded +by the armed populace, hundreds upon hundreds +of them were killed, struck down by hatchets, +stabbed by knives, or shot with revolvers, the crowd +shouting, "Down with the Germans! Kill them! Kill +them!"</p> + +<p>Many of the London women now became perfect furies. +So incensed were they at the wreck of their homes and +the death of their loved ones that they rushed wildly +into the fray with no thought of peril, only of bitter +revenge. A German whenever caught was at once killed. +In those bloody street fights the Teutons got separated +from their comrades and were quickly surrounded and +done to death.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 494px;"> +<a href="images/i195-hi.png"><img src="images/i195.png" width="494" height="400" alt="LONDON AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">LONDON AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT.</span> +</div> + +<p>Across the whole of the northern suburbs the scenes of +bloodshed that night were full of horror, as men fought +in the ruined streets, climbing over the smouldering +<i>débris</i>, over the bodies of their comrades, and shooting +from behind ruined walls. As Von Kronhelm had +anticipated, his Army was compelled to fight its way +into London.</p> + +<p>The streets all along the line of the enemy's advance +were now strewn with dead and dying. London was +doomed.</p> + +<p>The Germans now coming on in increasing, nay, unceasing +numbers, were leaving behind them everywhere +the trail of blood. Shattered London stood +staggered.</p> + +<p>Though the resistance had been long and desperate, +the enemy had again triumphed by reason of his sheer +weight of numbers.</p> + +<p>Yet, even though he were actually in our own dear +London, our people did not mean that he should establish +himself without any further opposition. Therefore, +though the barricades had been taken, the Germans +found in every unexpected corner men who shot at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +them, and Maxims which spat forth their leaden showers +beneath which hundreds upon hundreds of Teutons +fell.</p> + +<p>Yet they advanced, still fighting. The scenes of +carnage were awful and indescribable, no quarter being +given to any armed citizens not in uniform, be they men, +women, or children.</p> + +<p>The German Army was carrying out the famous proclamation +of Field Marshal von Kronhelm to the letter!</p> + +<p>They were marching on to the sack of the wealthiest +city of the world.</p> + +<p>It wanted still an hour of midnight. London was a +city of shadow, of fire, of death. The silent streets, +whence all the inhabitants had fled in panic, echoed to +the heavy tread of German infantry, the clank of arms, +and the ominous rumble of guns. Ever and anon an +order was shouted in German as the Kaiser's legions +went forward to occupy the proud capital of the world. +The enemy's plans appeared to have been carefully prepared. +The majority of the troops coming from the +direction of Hampstead and Finchley entered Regent's +Park, whence preparations were at once commenced for +encampment; while the remainder, together with those +who came down the Camden, Caledonian, and Holloway +Roads, turned along Euston Road and Oxford Street to +Hyde Park, where a huge camp was formed, stretching +from the Marble Arch right along the Park Lane side +away to Knightsbridge.</p> + +<p>Officers were very soon billeted in the best houses in +Park Lane and about Mayfair—houses full of works of +art and other valuables that had only that morning been +left to the mercy of the invaders. From the windows +and balconies of their quarters in Park Lane they could +overlook the encampment—a position which had evidently +been purposely chosen.</p> + +<p>Other troops who came in never-ending procession by +the Bow Road, Roman Road, East India Dock Road, +Victoria Park Road, Mare Street, and Kingsland Road +all converged into the City itself, except those who had +come from Edmonton down the Kingsland Road, and +who, passing along Old Street and Clerkenwell, occupied +the Charing Cross and Westminster districts.</p> + +<p>At midnight a dramatic scene was enacted when, in +the blood-red glare of some blazing buildings in the +vicinity, a large body of Prince Louis Ferdinand of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +Prussia's 2nd Magdeburg Regiment suddenly swept up +Threadneedle Street into the great open space before the +Mansion House, whereon the London flag was still flying +aloft in the smoke-laden air. They halted across the +junction of Cheapside with Queen Victoria Street when, +at the same moment, another huge body of the Uhlans +of Altmark and Magdeburg Hussars came clattering along +Cornhill, followed a moment later by battalion after +battalion of the 4th and 8th Thuringen Infantry out of +Moorgate Street, whose uniforms showed plain traces of +the desperate encounters of the past week.</p> + +<p>The great body of Germans had halted before the +Mansion House, when General von Kleppen, the commander +of the IVth Army Corps—who, it will be remembered, +had landed at Weybourne—accompanied by +Lieutenant-General von Mirbach, of the 8th Division, +and Frölich, commander of the cavalry brigade, ascended +the steps of the Mansion House and entered.</p> + +<p>Within, Sir Claude Harrison, the Lord Mayor, who +wore his robes and jewel of office, received them in that +great, sombre room wherein so many momentous questions +concerning the welfare of the British Empire had +been discussed. The representative of the City of London, +a short, stout, gray-haired man, was pale and agitated. +He bowed, but he could not speak.</p> + +<p>Von Kleppen, however, a smart, soldierly figure in his +service uniform and many ribbons, bowed in response, +and in very fair English said:—</p> + +<p>"I regret, my Lord Mayor, that it is necessary for us +to thus disturb you, but as you are aware, the British +Army has been defeated, and the German Army has +entered London. I have orders from Field Marshal von +Kronhelm to place you under arrest, and to hold you +as hostage for the good behaviour of the City during +the progress of the negotiations for peace."</p> + +<p>"Arrest!" gasped the Lord Mayor. "You intend to +arrest me?"</p> + +<p>"It will not be irksome, I assure you," smiled the +German commander grimly. "At least, we shall make +it as comfortable as possible. I shall place a guard +here, and the only restriction I place upon you is that +you shall neither go out nor hold any communication +with any one outside these walls."</p> + +<p>"But my wife?"</p> + +<p>"If her ladyship is here I would advise that she leave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +the place. It is better that, for the present, she should +be out of London."</p> + +<p>The civic officials, who had all assembled for the +dramatic ceremonial, looked at each other in blank +amazement. The Lord Mayor was a prisoner!</p> + +<p>Sir Claude divested himself of his jewel of office, and +handed it to his servant to replace in safe keeping. Then +he took off his robe, and having done so, advanced +closer to the German officers, who, treating him with +every courtesy, consulted with him, expressing regret +at the terrible loss of life that had been occasioned by +the gallant defence of the barricades.</p> + +<p>Von Kleppen gave the Lord Mayor a message from +Von Kronhelm, and urged him to issue a proclamation +forbidding any further opposition on the part of the +populace of London. With the three officers Sir Claude +talked for a quarter of an hour, while into the Mansion +House there entered a strong guard of men of the 2nd +Magdeburg, who quickly established themselves in the +most comfortable quarters. German double sentries +stood at every exit and in every corridor, and when a +few minutes later the flag was hauled down and the +German Imperial Standard run up, wild shouts of triumph +rang from every throat of the densely packed body of +troops assembled outside.</p> + +<p>The joyous "hurrahs!" reached the Lord Mayor, still +in conversation with Von Kleppen, Von Mirbach, and +Frölich, and in an instant he knew the truth. The +Teutons were saluting their own standard. The civic +flag had, either accidentally or purposely, been flung +down into the roadway below, and was trampled in the +dust. A hundred enthusiastic Germans, disregarding the +shouts of their officers, fought for the flag, and it was +instantly torn to shreds, and little pieces preserved as +souvenirs.</p> + +<p>Shout after shout in German went up from the wildly +excited troops of the Kaiser when the light wind caused +their own flag to flutter out, and then, as with one voice, +the whole body of troops united in singing the German +National Hymn.</p> + +<p>The scene was weird and most impressive. London +had fallen.</p> + +<p>Around were the wrecked buildings, some still smouldering, +some emitting flame. Behind lay the Bank of +England with untold wealth locked within: to the right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +the damaged façade of the Royal Exchange was illuminated +by a flickering light, which also shone upon the +piled arms of the enemy's troops, causing them to flash +and gleam.</p> + +<p>In those silent, narrow City streets not an Englishman +was to be seen. Every one save the Lord Mayor and his +official attendants had fled.</p> + +<p>The Government Offices in Whitehall were all in the +hands of the enemy. In the Foreign Office, the India +Office, the War Office, the Colonial Office, the Admiralty, +and other minor offices were German guards. Sentries +stood at the shattered door of the famous No. 10, Downing +Street, and all up Whitehall was lined with infantry.</p> + +<p>German officers were in charge of all our public offices, +and all officials who had remained on duty were firmly +requested to leave. Sentries were stationed to guard the +archives of every department, and precautions were taken +to guard against any further outbreaks of fire.</p> + +<p>Across at the Houses of Parliament, with their damaged +towers, the whole great pile of buildings was surrounded +by triumphant troops, while across at the fine +old Abbey of Westminster was, alas! a different scene. +The interior had been turned into a temporary hospital, +and upon mattresses placed upon the floor were hundreds +of poor maimed creatures, some groaning, some +ghastly pale in the last moments of agony, some silent, +their white lips moving in prayer.</p> + +<p>On one side in the dim light lay the men, some in +uniform, others inoffensive citizens, who had been struck +by cruel shells or falling <i>débris</i>; on the other side lay +the women, some mere girls, and even children.</p> + +<p>Flitting everywhere in the half light were nurses, +charitable ladies, and female helpers, with numbers of +doctors, all doing their best to alleviate the terrible +sufferings of that crowded place, the walls of which +showed plain traces of the severe bombardment. In +places the roof was open to the angry sky, while many +of the windows were gaunt and shattered.</p> + +<p>A clergyman's voice somewhere was repeating a prayer +in a low, distinct voice, so that all could hear, yet above +all were the sighs and groans of the sufferers, and as +one walked through that prostrate assembly of victims +more than one was seen to have already gone to that +land that lies beyond the human ken.</p> + +<p>The horrors of war were never more forcibly illustrated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +than in Westminster Abbey that night, for the grim +hand of death was there, and men and women lying with +their faces to the roof looked into Eternity.</p> + +<p>Every hospital in London was full, therefore the overflow +had been placed in the various churches. From +the battlefields along the northern defences, Epping, +Edmonton, Barnet, Enfield, and other places where the +last desperate stand had been made, and from the barricades +in the northern suburbs ambulance waggons were +continually arriving full of wounded, all of whom were +placed in the churches and in any large public buildings +which had remained undamaged by the bombardment.</p> + +<p>St. George's, Hanover Square, once the scene of many +smart weddings, was now packed with unfortunate +wounded soldiers, British and German lying side by +side, while in the Westminster Cathedral and the Oratory +at Brompton the Roman Catholic priests made hundreds +of poor fellows as comfortable as they could, +many members of the religious sisterhoods acting as +nurses. St. James's Church in Piccadilly, St. Pancras +Church, Shoreditch Church, and St. Mary Abbotts', Kensington, +were all improvised hospitals, and many grim +and terrible scenes of agony were witnessed during that +long eventful night.</p> + +<p>The light was dim everywhere, for there were only +paraffin lamps, and by their feeble illumination many a +difficult operation had to be performed by those London +surgeons who one and all had come forward, and were +now working unceasingly. Renowned specialists from +Harley Street, Cavendish Square, Queen Ann Street, +and the vicinity were directing the work in all the improvised +hospitals, men whose names were world-famous +kneeling and performing operations upon poor unfortunate +private soldiers or upon some labourer who had taken up +a gun in defence of his home.</p> + +<p>Of lady helpers there were hundreds. From Mayfair +and Belgravia, from Kensington and Bayswater, ladies +had come forward offering their services, and their devotion +to the wounded was everywhere apparent. In St. +Andrew's, Wells Street, St. Peter's, Eaton Square, in +the Scottish Church in Crown Court, Covent Garden, in +the Temple Church, in the Union Chapel in Upper Street, +in the Chapel Royal, Savoy, in St. Clement Danes in +the Strand, and in St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, there were +wounded in greater or less numbers, but the difficulties<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +of treating them were enormous owing to the lack of +necessaries for the performance of operations.</p> + +<p>Weird and striking were the scenes within those hallowed +places, as, in the half darkness with the long, +deep shadows, men struggled for life or gave to the +women kneeling at their side their name, their address, +or a last dying message to one they loved.</p> + +<p>London that night was a city of shattered homes, of +shattered hopes, of shattered lives.</p> + +<p>The silence of death had fallen everywhere. The only +sounds that broke the quiet within those churches were +the sighs, groans, and faint murmurings of the dying.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII_II" id="CHAPTER_VII_II"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>GERMANS SACKING THE BANKS.</h3> + + +<p>Day dawned dismally and wet on September the 21st.</p> + +<p>Over London the sky was still obscured by the smoke-pall, +though as the night passed many of the raging fires +had spent themselves.</p> + +<p>Trafalgar Square was filled with troops who had piled +arms and were standing at their ease. The men were +laughing and smoking, enjoying a rest after the last +forward movement and the street fighting of that night +of horrors.</p> + +<p>The losses on both sides during the past three days +had been enormous; of the number of London citizens +killed and wounded it was impossible to calculate. There +had, in the northern suburbs, been wholesale butchery +everywhere, so gallantly had the barricades been defended.</p> + +<p>Great camps had now been formed in Hyde Park, in +the Green Park between Constitution Hill and Piccadilly, +and in St. James's Park. The Magdeburg Fusiliers +were being formed up on the Horse Guards Parade, and +from the flagstaff there now fluttered the ensign of the +commander of an army corps, in place of the British +flag. A large number of Uhlans and Cuirassiers were +encamped at the west end of the Park, opposite Buckingham +Palace, and both the Wellington Barracks and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +Cavalry Barracks at Knightsbridge were occupied by +Germans.</p> + +<p>Many officers were already billeted in the Savoy, the +Cecil, the Carlton, the Grand, and Victoria hotels, while +the British Museum, the National Gallery, the South +Kensington Museum, the Tower, and a number of other +collections of pictures and antiques were all guarded +strongly by German sentries. The enemy had thus +seized our national treasures.</p> + +<p>London awoke to find herself a German city.</p> + +<p>In the streets lounging groups of travel-worn sons of +the Fatherland were everywhere, and German was heard +on every hand. Every ounce of foodstuff was being +rapidly commandeered by hundreds of foraging parties, +who went to each grocer's, baker's, or provision shop +in the various districts, seized all they could find, valued +it, and gave official receipts for it.</p> + +<p>The price of food in London that morning was absolutely +prohibitive, as much as two shillings being asked +for a twopenny loaf. The Germans had, it was afterwards +discovered, been all the time, since the Sunday when +they landed, running over large cargoes of supplies +of all sorts to the Essex, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk +coasts, where they had established huge supply bases, +well knowing that there was not sufficient food in the +country to feed their armed hordes in addition to the +population.</p> + +<p>Shops in Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Edgware +Road, Oxford Street, Camden Road, and Harrow Road +were systematically visited by the foraging parties, who +commenced their work at dawn. Those places that were +closed and their owners absent were at once broken +open, and everything seized and carted to either Hyde +Park or St. James's Park, for though Londoners might +starve, the Kaiser's troops intended to be fed.</p> + +<p>In some cases a patriotic shopkeeper attempted to resist. +Indeed, in more than one case a tradesman wilfully +set his shop on fire rather than its contents should fall +into the enemy's hands. In other cases the tradesmen +who received the official German receipts burned them in +contempt before the officer's eyes.</p> + +<p>The guidance of these foraging parties was, in very +many cases, in the hands of Germans in civilian clothes, +and it was now seen how complete and helpful the +enemy's system of espionage had been in London. Most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +of these men were Germans who, having served in the +army, had come over to England and obtained employment +as waiters, clerks, bakers, hairdressers, and private +servants, and being bound by their oath to the Fatherland +had served their country as spies. Each man, when +obeying the Imperial command to join the German arms, +had placed in the lapel of his coat a button of a peculiar +shape, with which he had long ago been provided, and +by which he was instantly recognised as a loyal subject +of the Kaiser.</p> + +<p>This huge body of German soldiers, who for years had +passed in England as civilians, was, of course, of enormous +use to Von Kronhelm, for they acted as guides not +only on the march and during the entry to London, but +materially assisted in the victorious advance in the +Midlands. Indeed, the Germans had for years kept a +civilian army in England, and yet we had, ostrich-like, +buried our heads in the sand, and refused to turn our +eyes to the grave peril that had for so long threatened.</p> + +<p>Systematically, the Germans were visiting every shop +and warehouse in the shopping districts, and seizing +everything eatable they could discover. The enemy were +taking the food from the mouths of the poor in East and +South London, and as they went southward across the +river, so the populace retired, leaving their homes at the +mercy of the ruthless invader.</p> + +<p>Upon all the bridges across the Thames stood German +guards, and none were allowed to cross without permits.</p> + +<p>Soon after dawn Von Kronhelm and his staff rode +down Haverstock Hill with a large body of cavalry, and +made his formal entry into London, first having an interview +with the Lord Mayor, and an hour afterwards +establishing his headquarters at the new War Office in +Whitehall, over which he hoisted his special flag as +Commander-in-Chief. It was found that, though a good +deal of damage had been done externally to the building, +the interior had practically escaped, save one or two +rooms. Therefore the Field Marshal installed himself +in the private room of the War Minister, and telegraphic +and telephonic communication was quickly established, +while a wireless telegraph apparatus was placed upon the +ruined summit of Big Ben for the purpose of communicating +with Germany, in case the cables were interrupted +by being cut at sea.</p> + +<p>The day after the landing a similar apparatus had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +been erected on the Monument at Yarmouth, and it had +been daily in communication with the one at Bremen. +The German left nothing to chance.</p> + +<p>The clubs in Pall Mall were now being used by German +officers, who lounged in easy chairs, smoking and +taking their ease, German soldiers being on guard outside. +North of the Thames seemed practically deserted, +save for the invaders who swarmed everywhere. South +of the Thames the cowed and terrified populace were +asking what the end was to be. What was the Government +doing? It had fled to Bristol and left London to +its fate, they complained.</p> + +<p>What the German demands were was not known until +the "Daily Telegraph" published an interview with Sir +Claude Harrison, the Lord Mayor, which gave authentic +details of them.</p> + +<p>They were as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1. Indemnity of £300,000,000, paid in ten annual +instalments.</p> + +<p>2. Until this indemnity is paid in full, German troops +to occupy Edinburgh, Rosyth, Chatham, Dover, +Portsmouth, Devonport, Pembroke, Yarmouth, +Hull.</p> + +<p>3. Cession to Germany of the Shetlands, Orkneys, +Bantry Bay, Malta, Gibraltar, and Tasmania.</p> + +<p>4. India, north of a line drawn from Calcutta to +Baroda, to be ceded to Russia.</p> + +<p>5. The independence of Ireland to be recognised.</p></div> + +<p>Of the claim of £300,000,000, fifty millions was demanded +from London, the sum in question to be paid +within twelve hours.</p> + +<p>The Lord Mayor had, it appeared, sent his secretary +to the Prime Minister at Bristol bearing the original +document in the handwriting of Von Kronhelm. The +Prime Minister had acknowledged its receipt by telegraph +both to the Lord Mayor and to the German Field +Marshal, but there the matter had ended.</p> + +<p>The twelve hours' grace was nearly up, and the German +Commander, seated in Whitehall, had received no +reply.</p> + +<p>In the corner of the large, pleasant, well-carpeted room +sat a German telegraph engineer with a portable instrument, +in direct communication with the Emperor's +private cabinet at Potsdam, and over that wire messages +were continually passing and repassing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>The grizzled old soldier paced the room impatiently. +His Emperor had only an hour ago sent him a message +of warm congratulation, and had privately informed him +of the high honours he intended to bestow upon him. +The German Eagle was victorious, and London—the +great unconquerable London—lay crushed, torn, and +broken.</p> + +<p>The marble clock upon the mantelpiece shelf chimed +eleven upon its silvery bells, causing Von Kronhelm to +turn from the window to glance at his own watch.</p> + +<p>"Tell His Majesty that it is eleven o'clock, and that +there is no reply to hand," he said sharply in German to +the man in uniform seated at the table in the corner.</p> + +<p>The instrument clicked rapidly, and a silence followed.</p> + +<p>The German Commander waited anxiously. He stood +bending slightly over the green tape in order to read +the Imperial order the instant it flashed from beneath +the sea.</p> + +<p>Five minutes—ten minutes passed. The shouting of +military commands in German came up from Whitehall +below. Nothing else broke the quiet.</p> + +<p>Von Kronhelm, his face more furrowed and more +serious, again paced the carpet.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the little instrument whirred, and clicked +as its thin green tape rolled out.</p> + +<p>In an instant the Generalissimo of the Kaiser's army +sprang to the telegraphist's side and read the Imperial +command.</p> + +<p>For a moment he held the piece of tape between his +fingers, then crushed it in his hand and stood motionless.</p> + +<p>He had received orders which, though against his desire, +he was compelled to obey.</p> + +<p>Summoning several members of his staff who had +installed themselves in other comfortable rooms in the +vicinity, he held a long consultation with them.</p> + +<p>In the meantime telegraphic despatches were received +from Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, and other +German headquarters, all telling the same story—the +complete investment and occupation of the big cities and +the pacification of the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>One hour's grace was, however, allowed to London—till +noon.</p> + +<p>Then orders were issued, bugles rang out across the +parks, and in the main thoroughfares, where arms were +piled, causing the troops to fall in, and within a quarter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +of an hour large bodies of infantry and engineers were +moving along the Strand, in the direction of the City.</p> + +<p>At first the reason of all this was a mystery, but very +shortly it was realised what was intended when a detachment +of the 5th Hanover Regiment advanced to the +gate of the Bank of England opposite the Exchange, and, +after some difficulty, broke it open and entered, followed +by some engineers of Von Mirbach's Division. The +building was very soon occupied, and, under the direction +of General Von Kleppen himself, an attempt was made +to open the strong rooms, wherein was stored that vast +hoard of England's wealth. What actually occurred +at that spot can only be imagined, as the commander +of the IVth Army Corps and one or two officers and men +were the only persons present. It is surmised, however, +that the strength of the vaults was far greater than they +had imagined, and that, though they worked for hours, +all was in vain.</p> + +<p>While this was in progress, however, parties of engineers +were making organised raids upon the banks in +Lombard Street, Lothbury, Moorgate Street, and Broad +Street, as well as upon branch banks in Oxford Street, +the Strand, and other places in the West End.</p> + +<p>At one bank on the left-hand side of Lombard Street, +dynamite being used to force the strong room, the first +bullion was seized, while at nearly all the banks sooner +or later the vaults were opened, and great bags and +boxes of gold coin were taken out and conveyed in carefully +guarded carts to the Bank of England, now in the +possession of Germany.</p> + +<p>In some banks—those of more modern construction—the +greatest resistance was offered by the huge steel doors +and concrete and steel walls and other devices for security. +But nothing could, alas! resist the high explosives used, +and in the end breaches were made, in all cases, and +wealth uncounted and untold extracted and conveyed +to Threadneedle Street for safe keeping.</p> + +<p>Engineers and infantry handled those heavy boxes +and those big bundles of securities gleefully, officers +carefully counting each box or bag or packet as it was +taken out to be carted or carried away by hand.</p> + +<p>German soldiers under guard struggled along Lothbury +beneath great burdens of gold, and carts, requisitioned +out of the East End, rumbled heavily all the +afternoon, escorted by soldiers. Hammersmith, Camberwell,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +Hampstead, and Willesden yielded up their quota of +the great wealth of London; but though soon after +four o'clock a breach was made in the strong rooms of +the Bank of England by means of explosives, nothing in +the vaults was touched. The Germans simply entered +there and formally took possession.</p> + +<p>The coin collected from other banks was carefully +kept, each separate from another, and placed in various +rooms under strong guards, for it seemed to be their intention +simply to hold London's wealth as security.</p> + +<p>That afternoon very few banks—except the German +ones—escaped notice. Of course, there were a few small +branches in the suburbs which remained unvisited, yet +by six o'clock Von Kronhelm was in possession of enormous +quantities of gold.</p> + +<p>In one or two quarters there had been opposition on +the part of the armed guards established by the banks +at the first news of the invasion. But any such resistance +had, of course, been futile, and the man who had +dared to fire upon the German soldiers had in every +case been shot down.</p> + +<p>Thus, when darkness fell, Von Kronhelm, from the +corner of his room in the War Office, was able to report +to his Imperial Master that not only had he occupied +London, but that, receiving no reply to his demand for +indemnity, he had sacked it and taken possession not +only of the Bank of England, but of the cash deposits +in most of the other banks in the metropolis.</p> + +<p>That night the evening papers described the wild happenings +of the afternoon, and London saw herself not +only shattered, but ruined. The frightened populace +across the river stood breathless. What was now to happen?</p> + +<p>Though London lay crushed and occupied by the +enemy, though the Lord Mayor was a prisoner of war +and the banks in the hands of the Germans, though the +metropolis had been wrecked and more than half its inhabitants +had fled southward and westward into the +country, yet the enemy received no reply to their demand +for an indemnity and the cession of British territory.</p> + +<p>Von Kronhelm, ignorant of what had occurred in the +House of Commons at Bristol, sat in Whitehall and +wondered. He knew well that the English were no fools, +and their silence, therefore, caused him considerable uneasiness. +He had lost in the various engagements over +50,000 men, yet nearly 200,000 still remained. His army +of invasion was a no mean responsibility, especially +when at any moment the British might regain command +of the sea. His supplies and reinforcements would +then be at once cut off. It was impossible for him to +live upon the country, and his food bases in Suffolk and +Essex were not sufficiently extensive to enable him to +make a prolonged campaign. Indeed, the whole scheme +of operations which had been so long discussed and perfected +in secret in Berlin was more of the nature of a raid +than a prolonged siege.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> +<h3>CITY OF LONDON.</h3> +<h2>CITIZENS OF LONDON.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>WE, the GENERAL COMMANDING the German Imperial Army occupying +London, give notice that:</p> + +<p>(1) THE STATE OF WAR AND OF SIEGE continues to exist, and all +categories of crime, more especially the contravention of all orders already issued, +will be judged by Councils of War, and punished in conformity with martial law.</p> + +<p>(2) THE INHABITANTS OF LONDON and its suburbs are ordered to +instantly deliver up all arms and ammunition of whatever kind they possess. The +term arms includes firearms, sabres, swords, daggers, revolvers, and sword-canes. +Landlords and occupiers of houses are charged to see that this order is carried out, +but in the case of their absence the municipal authorities and officials of the London +County Council are charged to make domiciliary visits, minute and searching, being +accompanied by a military guard.</p> + +<p>(3) ALL NEWSPAPERS, JOURNALS, GAZETTES, AND PROCLAMATIONS, +of whatever description, are hereby prohibited, and until further notice +nothing further must be printed, except documents issued publicly by the military +commander.</p> + +<p>(4) ANY PRIVATE PERSON OR PERSONS taking arms against the +German troops after this notice will be EXECUTED.</p> + +<p>(5) ON THE CONTRARY, the Imperial German troops will respect private +property, and no requisition will be allowed to be made unless it bears the authorisation +of the Commander-in-Chief.</p> + +<p>(6) ALL PUBLIC PLACES are to be closed at 8 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> All persons found in +the streets of London after 8 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> will be arrested by the patrols. There is no +exception to this rule except in the case of German Officers, and also in the case of +doctors visiting their patients. Municipal officials will also be allowed out, providing +they obtain a permit from the German headquarters.</p> + +<p>(7) MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES MUST provide for the lighting of the +streets. In cases where this is impossible, each householder must hang a lantern +outside his house from nightfall until 8 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span></p> + +<p>(8) AFTER TO-MORROW morning, at 10 o'clock, the women and children of +the population of London will be allowed to pass without hindrance.</p> + +<p>(9) MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES MUST, with as little delay as possible, +provide accommodation for the German troops in private dwellings, in fire-stations, +barracks, hotels, and houses that are still habitable.</p> + +<div class="right"> +<b>VON KRONHELM,<br /> +Commander-in-Chief.</b> +</div> +<p> +<span class="smcap">German Military Headquarters,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Whitehall, London</span>, <i>September</i> 21, 1910. +</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 428px;"> +<a href="images/i208-hi.png"><img src="images/i208.png" width="428" height="600" alt="VON KRONHELM'S PROCLAMATION TO THE +CITIZENS OF LONDON." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">VON KRONHELM'S PROCLAMATION TO THE +CITIZENS OF LONDON.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +The German Field Marshal sat alone and reflected. +Had he been aware of the true state of affairs he would +certainly have had considerable cause for alarm. True, +though Lord Byfield had made such a magnificent stand, +considering the weakness of the force at his disposal, and +London was occupied, yet England was not conquered.</p> + +<p>No news had leaked out from Bristol. Indeed, Parliament +had taken every precaution that its deliberations +were in secret.</p> + +<p>The truth, however, may be briefly related. On the +previous day the House had met at noon in the Colston +Hall—a memorable sitting, indeed. The Secretary of +State for War had, after prayers, risen in the hall and +read an official despatch he had just received from Lord +Byfield, giving the news of the last stand made by the +British north of Enfield, and the utter hopelessness of +the situation. It was received by the assembled House +in ominous silence.</p> + +<p>During the past week through that great hall the +Minister's deep voice, shaken by emotion, had been +daily heard as he was compelled to report defeat after +defeat of the British arms. Both sides of the House had, +after the first few days, been forced to recognise Germany's +superiority in numbers, in training, in organisation—in +fact in everything appertaining to military +power. Von Kronhelm's strategy had been perfect. He +knew more of Eastern England than the British Commander +himself, and his marvellous system of spies and +advance agents—Germans who had lived for years in +England—had assisted him forward, until he had now +occupied London, the city declared to be impregnable.</p> + +<p>Through the whole of September 20 the Minister constantly +received despatches from the British Field Marshal +and from London itself, yet each telegram communicated +to the House seemed more hopeless than its predecessor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>The debate, however, proceeded through the afternoon. +The Opposition were bitterly attacking the Government +and the Blue Water School for its gross negligence in +the past, and demanding to know the whereabouts of the +remnant of the British Navy. The First Lord of the +Admiralty flatly refused to make any statement. The +whereabouts of our Navy at that moment was, he said, a +secret, which must, at all hazards, be withheld from our +enemy. The Admiralty were not asleep, as the country +believed, but were fully alive to the seriousness of the +crisis. He urged the House to remain patient, saying +that as soon as he dared he would make a statement.</p> + +<p>This was greeted by loud jeers from the Opposition, +from whose benches, members, one after another, rose, +and, using hard epithets, blamed the Government for the +terrible disaster. The cutting down of our defences, the +meagre naval programmes, the discouragement of the +Volunteers and of recruiting, and the disregard of Lord +Roberts' scheme in 1906 for universal military training +were, they declared, responsible for what had occurred. +The Government had been culpably negligent, and Mr. +Haldane's scheme had been all insufficient. Indeed, it +had been nothing short of criminal to mislead the Empire +into a false sense of security which did not exist.</p> + +<p>For the past three years Germany, while sapping our +industries, had sent spies into our midst, and laughed at +us for our foolish insular superiority. She had turned +her attention from France to ourselves, notwithstanding +the <i>entente cordiale</i>. She remembered how the much-talked-of +Franco-Russian alliance had fallen to pieces, and +relied upon a similar outcome of the friendship between +France and Great Britain.</p> + +<p>The aspect of the House, too, was strange; the Speaker +in his robes looked out of place in his big uncomfortable +chair, and members sat on cane-bottomed chairs instead +of their comfortable benches at Westminster. As far as +possible the usual arrangement of the House was adhered +to, except that the Press were now excluded, official +reports being furnished to them at midnight.</p> + +<p>The clerks' table was a large plain one of stained wood, +but upon it was the usual array of despatches, while the +Serjeant-at-Arms, in his picturesque dress, was still one +of the most prominent figures. The lack of committee +rooms, of an adequate lobby, and of a refreshment department +caused much inconvenience, though a temporary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +post and telegraph office had been established within the +building, and a separate line connected the Prime Minister's +room with Downing Street.</p> + +<p>If the Government were denounced in unmeasured +terms, its defence was equally vigorous. Thus, through +that never-to-be-forgotten afternoon the sitting continued +past the dinner hour on to late in the evening.</p> + +<p>Time after time the despatches from London were placed +in the hands of the War Minister, but, contrary to the +expectation of the House, he vouchsafed no further statement. +It was noticed that just before ten o'clock he consulted +in an earnest undertone with the Prime Minister, +the First Lord of the Admiralty, and the Home Secretary, +and that a quarter of an hour later all four went out and +were closeted in one of the smaller rooms with other +members of the Cabinet for nearly half an hour.</p> + +<p>Then the Secretary of State for War re-entered the +House and resumed his seat in silence.</p> + +<p>A few minutes afterwards Mr. Thomas Askern, member +of one of the Metropolitan boroughs, and a well-known +newspaper proprietor, who had himself received several +private despatches, rose and received leave to put a +question to the War Minister.</p> + +<p>"I would like to ask the Right Honourable the Secretary +of State for War," he said, "whether it is not a fact +that soon after noon to-day the enemy, having moved +his heavy artillery to certain positions commanding +North London, and finding the capital strongly barricaded, +proceeded to bombard it? Whether that bombardment, +according to the latest despatches, is not still +continuing at this moment; whether it is not a fact that +enormous damage has already been done to many of the +principal buildings of the metropolis, including the +Government Offices at Whitehall, and whether great loss +of life has not been occasioned?"</p> + +<p>The question produced the utmost sensation. The +House during the whole afternoon had been in breathless +anxiety as to what was actually happening in London; +but the Government held the telegraphs and telephone, +and the only private despatches that had come to Bristol +were the two received by some roundabout route known +only to the ingenious journalists who had despatched +them. Indeed, the despatches had been conveyed the +greater portion of the way by motor-car.</p> + +<p>A complete silence fell. Every face was turned towards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +the War Minister, who, seated with outstretched legs, +was holding a fresh despatch he had just received.</p> + +<p>He rose, and, in his deep bass voice, said:—</p> + +<p>"In reply to the honourable member for South-East +Brixton, the statement he makes appears, from information +which has just reached me, to be correct. The Germans +are, unfortunately, bombarding London. Von +Kronhelm, it is reported, is at Hampstead, and the zone +of the enemy's artillery reaches, in some cases, as far +south as the Thames itself. It is true, as the honourable +member asserts, an enormous amount of damage has +already been done to various buildings, and there has +undoubtedly been great loss of life. My latest information +is that the non-combatant inhabitants—old persons, +women, and children—are in flight across the Thames, +and that the barricades in the principal roads leading +in from the north are held strongly by the armed populace, +driven back into London."</p> + +<p>He sat down without further word.</p> + +<p>A tall, thin, white-moustached man rose at that moment +from the Opposition side of the House. Colonel Farquhar, +late of the Royal Marines, was a well-known military +critic, and represented West Bude.</p> + +<p>"And this," he said, "is the only hope of England! +The defence of London by an armed mob, pitted against +the most perfectly equipped and armed force in the +world! Londoners are patriotic, I grant. They will +die fighting for their homes, as every Englishman will +when the moment comes; yet, what can we hope, when +patriotism is ranged against modern military science? +There surely is patriotism in the savage negro races of +Central Africa, a love of country perhaps as deep as in +the white man's heart; yet a little strategy, a few +Maxims, and all defence is quickly at an end. And so +it must inevitably be with London. I contend, Mr. +Speaker," he went on, "that by the ill-advised action +of the Government from the first hour of their coming +into power, we now find ourselves conquered. It only +remains for them now to make terms of peace as honourable +to themselves as the unfortunate circumstances +will admit. Let the country itself judge their actions +in the light of events of to-day, and let the blood of the +poor murdered women and children of London be upon +their heads. (Shame.) To resist further is useless. +Our military organisation is in chaos, our miserably<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +weak army is defeated and in flight. I declare to this +House that we should sue at this very moment for peace—a +dishonourable peace though it be; but the bitter +truth is too plain—England is conquered!"</p> + +<p>As he sat down amid the "hear, hears," and the loud +applause of the Opposition there rose a keen-faced, dark-haired, +clean-shaven man of thirty-seven or so. He was +Gerald Graham, younger son of an aristocratic house, +the Yorkshire Grahams, who sat for North-East Rutland. +He was a man of brilliant attainments at Oxford, a +splendid orator, a distinguished writer and traveller, +whose keen brown eye, lithe upright figure, quick activity, +and smart appearance, rendered him a born leader of +men. For the past five years he had been marked out +as a "coming man."</p> + +<p>As a soldier he had seen hard service in the Boer War, +being mentioned twice in despatches; as an explorer he +had led a party through the heart of the Congo and +fought his way back to civilisation through an unexplored +land with valiant bravery that had saved the lives +of his companions. He was a man who never sought +notoriety. He hated to be lionised in society, refused +the shoals of cards of invitation which poured in upon +him, and stuck to his Parliamentary duties, and keeping +faith with his constituents to the very letter.</p> + +<p>As he stood up silent for a moment, gazing around +him fearlessly, he presented a striking figure and in his +navy serge suit he possessed the unmistakable cut of +the smart, well-groomed Englishman who was also a +man of note.</p> + +<p>The House always listened to him, for he never spoke +without he had something of importance to say. And +the instant he was up a silence fell.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Speaker," he said, in a clear, ringing voice, "I +entirely disagree with my honourable friend the member +for West Bude. England is not conquered! She is not +beaten!"</p> + +<p>The great hall rang with loud and vociferous cheers.</p> + +<p>"London may be invested and bombarded. She may +even be sacked, but Englishmen will still fight for their +homes and fight valiantly. If we have a demand for +indemnity let us refuse to pay it. Let us civilians—let +the civilians in every corner of England—arm themselves +and unite to drive out the invader! (Loud cheers.) +I contend, Mr. Speaker, that there are millions of able-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>bodied +men in this country who, if properly organised, +will be able to gradually exterminate the enemy. Organisation +is all that is required. Our vast population will +rise against the Germans, and before the tide of popular +indignation and desperate resistance the power of the +invader must soon be swept away. Do not let us sit +calmly here in security, and acknowledge that we are +beaten. Remember, we have at this moment to uphold +the ancient tradition of the British race, the honour of +our forefathers, who have never been conquered. Shall +we acknowledge ourselves conquered in this the twentieth +century?"</p> + +<p>"No!" rose from hundreds of voices, for the House +was now carried away by young Graham's enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"Then let us organise!" he urged. "Let us fight on. +Let every man who can use a sword or gun come forward, +and we will commence hostilities against the Kaiser's +forces that shall either result in their total extermination +or in the power of England being extinguished. +Englishmen will die hard. I myself will, with the +consent of this House, head the movement, for I know +that in the country we have millions who will follow +me and will be equally ready to die for our country +if necessary. Let us withdraw this statement that we +are conquered. The real, earnest fight is now to commence," +he shouted, his voice ringing clearly through +the hall. "Let us bear our part, each one of us. If +we organise and unite, we shall drive the Kaiser's hordes +into the sea. They shall sue us for peace, and be made +to pay us an indemnity, instead of us paying one +to them. I will lead!" he shouted; "who will follow +me?"</p> + +<p>In London the Lord Mayor's patriotic proclamations +were now obliterated by a huge bill bearing the German +Imperial arms, the text of which told its own grim tale.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the news of the fall of London was +being circulated by the Germans to every town throughout +the kingdom, their despatches being embellished by +lurid descriptions of the appalling losses inflicted upon +the English. In Manchester, a great poster, headed by +the German Imperial arms, was posted up on the Town +Hall, the exchange, and other places, in which Von +Kronhelm announced the occupation of London; while +in Leeds, Bradford, Stockport, and Sheffield similarly +worded official announcements were also posted. The +Press in all towns occupied by the Germans had been +suppressed, papers only appearing in order to publish +the enemy's orders. Therefore this official intelligence +was circulated by proclamation, calculated to impress +upon the inhabitants of the country how utterly powerless +they were.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> +<h2>NOTICE AND ADVICE.</h2> +<h3>TO THE CITIZENS OF LONDON.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>I ADDRESS YOU SERIOUSLY.</p> + +<p>We are neighbours, and in time of peace cordial relations have always +existed between us. I therefore address you from my heart in the cause +of humanity.</p> + +<p>Germany is at war with England. We have been forced to penetrate +into your country.</p> + +<p>But each human life spared, and all property saved, we regard as in the +interests of both religion and humanity.</p> + +<p>We are at war, and both sides have fought a loyal fight.</p> + +<p>Our desire is, however, to spare disarmed citizens and the inhabitants +of all towns and villages.</p> + +<p>We maintain a severe discipline, and we wish to have it known that +punishment of the severest character will be inflicted upon any who are +guilty of hostility to the Imperial German arms, either open or in +secret.</p> + +<p>To our regret any incitements, cruelties, or brutalities we must judge +with equal severity.</p> + +<p>I therefore call upon all local mayors, magistrates, clergy, and schoolmasters +to urge upon the populace, and upon the heads of families, to +urge upon those under their protection, and upon their domestics, to +refrain from committing any act of hostility whatsoever against my +soldiers.</p> + +<p>All misery avoided is a good work in the eye of our Sovereign Judge, +who sees all men.</p> + +<p>I earnestly urge you to heed this advice, and I trust in you.</p> + +<p>Take notice!</p> +</div> + +<div class="right"> +<b>VON KRONHELM,<br /> +Commanding the Imperial German Army.</b> +</div> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">German Military Headquarters,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Whitehall, London</span>, <i>September</i> 20, 1910. +</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 383px;"> +<a href="images/i215-hi.png"><img src="images/i215.png" width="383" height="600" alt="NOTICE AND ADVICE." title="" /></a> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>While<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> Von Kronhelm sat in that large sombre room +in the War Office, with his telegraph instrument to +Potsdam ever ticking, and the wireless telegraphy constantly +in operation, he wondered, and still wondered, +why the English made no response to his demands. He +was in London. He had carried out his Emperor's instructions +to the letter, he had received the Imperial +thanks, and he held all the gold coin he could discover +in London as security. Yet, without some reply from +the British Government, his position was an insecure +one. Even his thousand and one spies who had served +him so well ever since he had placed foot upon English +soil could tell him nothing. The deliberations of the +House of Commons at Bristol were a secret.</p> + +<p>In Bristol the hot, fevered night had given place to a +gloriously sunny morning with a blue and cloudless sky. +Above Leigh Woods the lark rose high in the sky, trilling +his song, and the bells of Bristol rang out as merrily as +they ever did, and above the Colston Hall still floated +the Royal Standard—a sign that the House had not yet +adjourned.</p> + +<p>While Von Kronhelm held London, Lord Byfield and +the remnant of the British Army, who had suffered such +defeat in Essex and north of London, had, four days +later, retreated to Chichester and Salisbury, where reorganisation +was in rapid progress. One division of the +defeated troops had encamped at Horsham. The survivors +of those who had fought the battle of Charnwood +Forest, and had acted so gallantly in the defence of +Birmingham, were now encamped on the Malvern Hills, +while the defenders of Manchester were at Shrewsbury. +Speaking roughly, therefore, our vanquished troops were +massing at four points, in an endeavour to make a last +attack upon the invader. The Commander-in-Chief, Lord +Byfield, was near Salisbury, and at any hour he knew +that the German legions might push westward from +London to meet him and to complete the <i>coup</i>.</p> + +<p>The League of Defenders formed by Gerald Graham +and his friends was, however, working independently.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +The wealthier classes, who, driven out of London, were +now living in cottages and tents in various parts of +Berks, Wilts, and Hants, worked unceasingly on behalf +of the League, while into Plymouth, Exmouth, Swanage, +Bristol, and Southampton more than one ship had +already managed to enter laden with arms and ammunition +of all kinds, sent across by the agents of the League +in France. The cargoes were of a very miscellaneous +character, from modern Maxims to old-fashioned rifles +that had seen service in the war of 1870. There were +hundreds of modern rifles, sporting guns, revolvers, +swords—in fact, every weapon imaginable, modern and +old-fashioned. These were at once taken charge of +by the local branches of the League, and to those men +who presented their tickets of identification the arms +were served out, and practice conducted in the open +fields. Three shiploads of rifles were known to have +been captured by German warships, one off Start Point, +another a few miles outside Padstow, and a third within +sight of the coastguard at Selsey Bill. Two other ships +were blown up in the Channel by drifting mines. The +running of arms across from France and Spain was a +very risky proceeding; yet the British skipper is nothing +if not patriotic, and every man who crossed the Channel +on those dangerous errands took his life in his hand.</p> + +<p>Into Liverpool, Whitehaven, and Milford weapons +were also coming over from Ireland, even though several +German cruisers, who had been up to Lamlash to cripple +the Glasgow trade, had now come south, and were believed +still to be in the Irish Sea.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII_II" id="CHAPTER_VIII_II"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>DEFENCES OF SOUTH LONDON.</h3> + + +<p>Preparations were being continued night and day to +place the working-class districts in Southwark and Lambeth +in a state of strong defence, and the constant +meetings convened in public halls and chapels by the +newly-formed League of Defenders incited the people to +their work. Everybody lent a willing hand, rich and +poor alike. People who had hitherto lived in comfort in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +Regent's Park, Hampstead, or one or other of the better-class +northern suburbs, now found themselves herded +among all sorts and conditions of men and women, and +living as best they could in those dull, drab streets of +Lambeth, Walworth, Battersea, and Kennington. It was, +indeed, a strange experience for them. In the sudden +flight from the north, parents had become separated +from their children and husbands from their wives, so +that in many cases haggard and forlorn mothers were +in frantic search of their little ones, fearing that they +might have already died of starvation or been trampled +underfoot by the panic-stricken multitudes. The dense +population of South London had already been trebled. +They were penned in by the barricades in many instances, +for each district seemed to be now placing itself +in a state of defence, independent of any other.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 524px;"> +<a href="images/i218-hi.png"><img src="images/i218.png" width="524" height="400" alt="THE DEFENCES OF SOUTH LONDON on Sept 26th" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE DEFENCES OF<br /> +SOUTH LONDON<br /> +on Sept 26th</span> +</div> + +<p>Kennington, for instance, was practically surrounded by +barricades, tons upon tons of earth being dug from the +"Oval" and the "Park." Besides the barricades in +Harleyford Road and Kennington Lane, all the streets +converging on the "Oval" were blocked up, a huge +defence arm just being completed across the junction of +Kennington and Kennington Park Roads, and all the +streets running into the latter thoroughfare from that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +point to the big obstruction at the "Elephant" were +blocked by paving-stones, bags of sand, barrels of cement, +bricks, and such-like odds and ends impervious to +bullets. In addition to this, there was a double fortification +in Lambeth Road—a veritable redoubt—as well as +the barricade at Lambeth Bridge, while all the roads +leading from Kennington into the Lambeth Road, such +as St. George's Road, Kennington Road, High Street, +and the rest, had been rendered impassable and the +neighbouring houses placed in a state of defence. Thus +the whole district of Kennington became therefore a +fortress in itself.</p> + +<p>This was only a typical instance of the scientific +methods of defence now resorted to. Mistakes made in +North London were not now repeated. Day and night +every able-bodied man, and woman too, worked on with +increasing zeal and patriotism. The defences in Haverstock +Hill, Holloway Road, and Edgware Road, which +had been composed of overturned tramcars, motor 'buses, +household furniture, etc., had been riddled by the enemy's +bullets. The lesson had been heeded, and now earth, +sand, tiles, paving-stones, and bricks were used.</p> + +<p>From nearly all the principal thoroughfares south of +the river the paving-stones were being rapidly torn up +by great gangs of men, and whenever the artillery +brought up a fresh Maxim or field-gun the wildest demonstrations +were made. The clergy held special +services in churches and chapels, and prayer meetings +for the emancipation of London were held twice daily +in the Metropolitan Tabernacle at Newington. In Kennington +Park, Camberwell Green, the Oval, Vauxhall +Park, Lambeth Palace Gardens, Camberwell Park, Peckham +Rye and Southwark Park a division of Lord Byfield's +army was encamped. They held the Waterloo terminus +of the South-Western Railway strongly, the Chatham +Railway from the Borough Road Station—now the +terminus—the South-Eastern from Bricklayers' Arms, +which had been converted into another terminus, as well +as the Brighton line, at Battersea Park and York Road.</p> + +<p>The lines destroyed by the enemy's spies in the early +moments of the invasion had long ago been repaired, +and up to the present railway and telegraphic communication +south and west remained uninterrupted. The +"Daily Telegraph" had managed to transfer some of its +staff to the offices of a certain printer's in Southwark,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +and there, under difficulties, published several editions +daily despite the German censorship. While northern +London was without any news except that supplied from +German sources, South London was still open to the +world, the cables from the south coast being, as yet, +in the hands of the British, and the telegraphs intact +to Bristol and to all places in the West.</p> + +<p>Thus, during those stifling and exciting days following +the occupation, while London was preparing for its great +uprising, the "South London Mirror," though a queer, unusual-looking +sheet, still continued to appear, and was read +with avidity by the gallant men at the barricades.</p> + +<p>Contrary to expectation, Von Kronhelm was leaving +South London severely alone. He was, no doubt, wise. +Full well he knew that his men, once within those narrow, +tortuous streets beyond the river, would have no opportunity +to manœuvre, and would, as in the case of the +assault of Waterloo Bridge, be slaughtered to a man. +His spies reported that each hour that passed rendered +the populace the stronger, yet he did nothing, devoting +his whole time, energy, and attention to matters in that +half of London he was now occupying.</p> + +<p>Everywhere the walls of South London were placarded +with manifestoes of the League of Defenders. Day +after day fresh posters appeared, urging patience and +courage, and reporting upon the progress of the League. +The name of Graham was now upon every one's lips. +He had, it seemed, arisen as saviour of our beloved +country. Every word of his inspired enthusiasm, and +this was well illustrated at the mass meeting on Peckham +Rye, when, beneath the huge flag of St. George, the white +banner with the red cross—the ancient standard of +England—which the League had adopted as theirs, he +made a brilliant and impassioned appeal to every Londoner +and every Englishman.</p> + +<p>Report had it that the Germans had set a price upon +his head, and that he was pursued everywhere by German +spies—mercenaries who would kill him in secret if they +could. Therefore he was compelled to go about with +an armed police guard, who arrested any suspected person +in his vicinity. The Government, who had at first +laughed Graham's enthusiasm to scorn, now believed in +him. Even Lord Byfield, after a long council, declared +that his efforts to inspire enthusiasm had been amazingly +successful, and it was now well known that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +"Defenders" and the Army had agreed to act in unison +towards one common end—the emancipation of England +from the German thraldom.</p> + +<p>Some men of the Osnabrück Regiment, holding Canning +Town and Limehouse, managed one night, by strategy, +to force their way through the Blackwall Tunnel and +break down its defences on the Surrey side in an attempt +to blow up the South Metropolitan Gas Works.</p> + +<p>The men holding the tunnel were completely overwhelmed +by the number that pressed on, and were compelled +to fall back, twenty of their number being killed. +The assault was a victorious one, and it was seen that +the enemy were pouring out, when, of a sudden, there +was a dull, heavy roar, followed by wild shouts and terrified +screams, as there rose from the centre of the river +a great column of water, and next instant the tunnel +was flooded, hundreds of the enemy being drowned like +rats in a hole.</p> + +<p>The men of the Royal Engineers had, on the very day +previous, made preparations for destroying the tunnel +if necessary, and had done so ere the Germans were +aware of their intention. The exact loss of life is unknown, +but it is estimated that over 400 men must have +perished in that single instant, while those who had +made the sudden dash towards the Gas Works were all +taken prisoners, and their explosives confiscated.</p> + +<p>The evident intention of the enemy being thus seen, +General Sir Francis Bamford, from his headquarters at +the Crystal Palace, gave orders for the tunnels at Rotherhithe +and that across Greenwich Reach, as well as the +several "tube" tunnels and subways, to be destroyed, +a work which was executed without delay, and was witnessed +by thousands, who watched for the great disturbances +and upheavals in the bed of the river.</p> + +<p>In the Old Kent Road the bridge over the canal, as +well as the bridges in Wells Street, Sumner Road, Glengall +Road, and Canterbury Road, were all prepared for +demolition in case of necessity, the canal from the +Camberwell Road to the Surrey Dock forming a moat +behind which the defenders might, if necessary, retire. +Clapham Common and Brockwell Park were covered with +tents, for General Bamford's force, consisting mostly of +auxiliaries, were daily awaiting reinforcements.</p> + +<p>Lord Byfield, now at Windsor, was in constant communication +by wireless telegraphy with the London<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +headquarters at the Crystal Palace, as well as with +Hibbard on the Malvern Hills and Woolmer at Shrewsbury. +To General Bamford at Sydenham came constant +news of the rapid spread of the national movement of +defiance, and Lord Byfield, as was afterwards known, +urged the London commander to remain patient, and +invite no attack until the League were strong enough +to act on the offensive.</p> + +<p>Affairs of outpost were, of course, constantly recurring +along the river bank between Windsor and Egham, and +the British Free-shooters and Frontiersmen were ever +harassing the Saxons.</p> + +<p>Very soon Von Kronhelm became aware of Lord +Byfield's intentions, but his weakness was apparent when +he made no counter-move. The fact was that the various +great cities he now held required all his attention and +all his troops. From Manchester, from Birmingham, +from Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, and Hull came similar +replies. Any withdrawal of troops from either city would +be the signal for a general rising of the inhabitants. +Therefore, having gained possession, he could only now +sit tight and watch.</p> + +<p>From all over Middlesex, and more especially from +the London area, came sensational reports of the drastic +measures adopted by the Germans to repress any sign +of revolt. In secret, the agents of the League of Defenders +were at work, going from house to house, enrolling men, +arranging for secret meeting-places, and explaining +in confidence the programme as put forward by +the Bristol committee. Now and then, however, these +agents were betrayed, and their betrayal was in every +case followed by a court-martial at Bow Street, death +outside in the yard of the police station, and the publication +in the papers of their names, their offence, and +the hour of the execution.</p> + +<p>Yet, undaunted and defiantly, the giant organisation +grew as no other society had ever grown, and its agents +and members quickly developed into fearless patriots. +It being reported that the Saxons were facing Lord +Byfield with the Thames between them, the people of +West London began in frantic haste to construct barricades. +The building of obstructions had, indeed, now +become a mania north of the river as well as south. +The people, fearing that there was to be more fighting +in the streets of London, began to build huge defences<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +all across West London. The chief were across King +Street, Hammersmith, where it joins Goldhawk Road, +across the junction of Goldhawk and Uxbridge Roads, +in the Harrow Road where it joins Admiral Road, and +Willesden Lane, close to the Paddington Cemetery, and +the Latimer Road opposite St. Quintin Park Station. All +the side streets leading into the Goldhawk Road, +Latimer Road, and Ladbroke Grove Road were also +blocked up, and hundreds of houses placed in a state of +strong defence.</p> + +<p>With all this Von Kronhelm did not interfere. The +building of such obstructions acted as a safety-valve +to the excited populace, therefore he rather encouraged +than discountenanced it. The barricades might, he +thought, be of service to his army if Lord Byfield +really risked an attack upon London from that direction.</p> + +<p>Crafty and cunning though he was, he was entirely +unaware that those barricades were being constructed +at the secret orders of the League of Defenders, and he +never dreamed that they had actually been instigated by +the British Commander-in-Chief himself.</p> + +<p>Thus the Day of Reckoning hourly approached, and +London, though crushed and starving, waited in patient +vigilance.</p> + +<p>At Enfield Chase was a great camp of British prisoners +in the hands of the Germans, amounting to several +thousands. Contrary to report, both officers and men +were fairly well treated by the Germans, though with +his limited supplies Von Kronhelm was already beginning +to contemplate releasing them. Many of the +higher-grade officers who had fallen into the hands of +the enemy, together with the Lord Mayor of London, the +Mayors of Hull, Goole, Lincoln, Norwich, Ipswich, and +the Lord Mayors of Manchester and Birmingham, had +been sent across to Germany, where, according to their +own reports, they were being detained in Hamburg and +treated with every consideration. Nevertheless, all this +greatly incensed Englishmen. Lord Byfield, with Hibbard +and Woolmer, was leaving no stone unturned in order to +reform our shattered Army, and again oppose the invaders. +All three gallant officers had been to Bristol, +where they held long consultation with the members of +the Cabinet, with the result that the Government still +refused to entertain any idea of paying the indemnity. +The Admiralty were confident now that the command of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +the sea had been regained, and in Parliament itself a +little confidence was also restored.</p> + +<p>Yet we had to face the hard facts that nearly two +hundred thousand Germans were upon British soil, and +that London was held by them. Already parties of +German commissioners had visited the National Gallery, +the Wallace Collection, the Tate Gallery, and the British +and South Kensington Museums, deciding upon and +placing aside certain art treasures and priceless antiques +ready for shipment to Germany. The Raphaels, the +Titians, the Rubenses, the Fra Angelicos, the Velasquezes, +the Elgin Marbles, the best of the Egyptian, Assyrian, +and Roman antiques, the Rosetta Stone, the early Biblical +and classical manuscripts, the historic charters of England, +and such-like treasures which could never be replaced, +were all catalogued and prepared for removal. The +people of London knew this; for though there had been +no newspapers, information ran rapidly from mouth +to mouth. German sentries guarded our world-famous +collections, which were now indeed entirely in the enemy's +hands, and which the Kaiser intended should enrich +the German galleries and museums.</p> + +<p>One vessel flying the British flag had left the Thames +laden with spoil, in an endeavour to reach Hamburg, +but off Harwich she had been sighted and overhauled +by a British cruiser, with the result that she had been +steered to Dover. Therefore our cruisers and destroyers, +having thus obtained knowledge of the enemy's intentions, +were keeping a sharp lookout about the coast for +any vessels attempting to leave for German ports.</p> + +<p>Accounts of fierce engagements in the Channel between +British and German ships went the rounds, but all were +vague and unconvincing. The only solid facts were that +the Germans held the great cities of England, and that +the millions of Great Britain were slowly but surely +preparing to rise in an attempt to burst asunder the +fetters that now held them.</p> + +<p>Government, Army, Navy, and Parliament had all +proved rotten reeds. It was now every man for himself—to +free himself and his loved ones—or to die in the +attempt.</p> + +<p>Through the south and west of England Graham's +clear, manly voice was raised everywhere, and the whole +population were now fast assembling beneath the banner +of the Defenders, in readiness to bear their part in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +the most bloody and desperate encounter of the whole +war.</p> + +<p>The swift and secret death being meted out to the +German sentries—or, in fact, to any German caught +alone in a side street—having been reported to Von +Kronhelm, he issued another of his now famous proclamations, +which was posted upon half the hoardings in +London; but the populace at once amused themselves +by tearing it down wherever it was discovered. Von +Kronhelm was the arch-enemy of London, and it is +believed that there were at that moment no fewer +than five separate conspiracies to encompass his death. +Londoners detested the Germans, but with a hatred +twenty times the more intense did they regard those men +who, having engaged in commercial pursuits in England, +had joined the colours and were now acting as spies.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX_II" id="CHAPTER_IX_II">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2> + +<h3>REVOLTS IN SHOREDITCH AND ISLINGTON.</h3> + + +<p>On the night of September 27, a very serious conflict, +entailing much loss of life on both the London civilian +and German side, occurred at the point where Kingsland +Road joins Old Street, Hackney Road, and High Street. +Across both Hackney and Kingsland Roads the barricades +built before the bombardment still remained in +a half-ruined state, any attempt at clearing them away +being repulsed by the angry inhabitants. Dalston, +Kingsland, Bethnal Green, and Shoreditch were notably +antagonistic to the invaders, and several sharp encounters +had taken place. Indeed, those districts were discovered +by the enemy to be very unsafe.</p> + +<p>The conflict in question, however, commenced at the +corner of Old Street at about 9.30 in the evening, by +three German tailors from Cambridge Road being insulted +by two men, English labourers. The tailors +appealed in German to four Westphalian infantrymen +who chanced to be passing, and who subsequently fired +and killed one of the Englishmen. This was the signal +for a local uprising. The alarm given, hundreds of men +and women rushed from their houses, many of them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +armed with rifles and knives, and, taking cover behind +the ruined barricades, opened fire upon a body of fifty +Germans, who very quickly ran up. The fire was returned, +when from the neighbouring houses a perfect +hail of lead was suddenly rained upon the Germans, who +were then forced to retire down High Street towards +Liverpool Street Station, leaving many dead.</p> + +<p>Very quickly news was sent over the telephone, which +the Germans had now established in many quarters of +London, and large reinforcements were soon upon the +scene. The men of Shoreditch had, however, obtained +two Maxim guns, which had been secreted ever since +the entry of the Germans into the Metropolis, and as the +enemy endeavoured to storm their position they swept +the street with a deadly fire. Quickly the situation became +desperate, but the fight lasted over an hour. The +sound of firing brought hundreds upon hundreds of +Londoners upon the scene. All these took arms against +the Germans, who, after many fruitless attempts to +storm the defences, and being fired upon from every +side, were compelled to fall back again.</p> + +<p>They were followed along High Street into Bethnal +Green Road, up Great Eastern Street into Hoxton Square +and Pitfield Street, and there cut up, being given no +quarter at the hands of the furious populace. In those +narrow thoroughfares they were powerless, and were +therefore simply exterminated.</p> + +<p>The victory for the men of Shoreditch was complete, +over three hundred and fifty Germans being killed, while +our losses were only about fifty.</p> + +<p>The conflict was at once reported to Von Kronhelm, +and the very fact that he did not send exemplary punishment +into that quarter was sufficient to show that he +feared to arouse further the hornets' nest in which he +was living, and more especially that portion of the populace +north of the City.</p> + +<p>News of the attack, quickly spreading, inspired courage +in every other part of the oppressed Metropolis.</p> + +<p>The successful uprising against the Germans in Shoreditch +incited Londoners to rebel, and in various other +parts of the Metropolis there occurred outbreaks.</p> + +<p>Von Kronhelm had found to his cost that London +was not to be so easily cowed after all. The size and +population of the Metropolis had not been sufficiently +calculated upon. It was as a country in itself, while the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +intricacies of its by-ways formed a refuge for the conspirators, +who were gradually completing their preparations +to rise <i>en masse</i> and strike down the Germans +wherever found. In the open country his great army +could march, manœuvre, and use strategy, but here in +the maze of narrow London streets it was impossible to +know in one thoroughfare what was taking place in the +next.</p> + +<p>Supplies, too, were now running very short. The +distress among our vanquished populace was most severe; +while Von Kronhelm's own army was put on meagre +rations. The increasing price of food and consequent +starvation had not served to improve the relations between +the invaders and the citizens of London, who, +though they were assured by various proclamations that +they would be happier and more prosperous under German +rule, now discovered that they were being slowly starved +to death.</p> + +<p>Their only hope, therefore, was in the efforts of that +now gigantic organisation, the League of Defenders.</p> + +<p>A revolt occurred in Pentonville Road, opposite King's +Cross Underground Station, which ended in a fierce and +terrible fray. A company of the Bremen Infantry Regiment +No. 75, belonging to the IXth Corps, were marching +from the City Road towards Regent's Park, when several +shots were fired at them from windows of shops almost +opposite the station. Five Germans fell dead, including +one lieutenant, a very gorgeous person who wore a +monocle. Another volley rang out before the infantrymen +could realise what was happening, and then it was +seen that the half-ruined shops had been placed in such +a state of defence as to constitute a veritable fortress.</p> + +<p>The fire was returned, but a few moments later a +Maxim spat its deadly fire from a small hole in a wall, +and a couple of dozen of the enemy fell upon the granite +setts of the thoroughfare. The rattle of musketry quickly +brought forth the whole of that populous neighbourhood—or +all, indeed, that remained of them—the working-class +district between Pentonville Road and Copenhagen +Street.</p> + +<p>Quickly the fight became general. The men of Bremen +endeavoured to take the place by assault, but found +that it was impossible. The strength of the defences +was amazing, and showed only too plainly that Londoners +were in secret preparing for the great uprising that was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +being planned. In such a position were the houses +held by the Londoners, that their fire commanded +both the Pentonville and King's Cross Roads; but very +soon the Germans were reinforced by another company of +the same regiment, and these being attacked in the rear +from Rodney Street, Cumming Street, Weston Street, +York Street, Winchester Street, and other narrow turnings +leading into the Pentonville Road, the fighting +quickly became general.</p> + +<p>The populace came forth in swarms, men and women, +armed with any weapon or article upon which they could +lay their hands, and all fired with the same desire.</p> + +<p>Hundreds of men who came forth were armed with +rifles which had been carefully secreted on the entry of +the enemy into the Metropolis. The greater part of +those men, indeed, had fought at the barricades in North +London, and had subsequently taken part in the street +fighting as the enemy advanced. Some of the arms had +come from the League of Defenders, smuggled into the +Metropolis nobody exactly knew how.</p> + +<p>Up and down the King's Cross, Pentonville, and Caledonian +Roads the crowd swayed and fought. The Germans +against that overwhelming mass of angry civilians +seemed powerless. Small bodies of the troops were +cornered in the narrow by-streets, and then given no +quarter. Brave-hearted Londoners, though they knew +well what dire punishment they must inevitably draw +upon themselves, had taken the law into their own hands, +and were shooting or stabbing every German who fell +into their hands.</p> + +<p>The scene of carnage in that hour of fighting was +awful. The "Daily Chronicle" described it as one of the +most fiercely contested encounters in the whole history +of the siege. Shoreditch had given courage to King's +Cross, for, unknown to Von Kronhelm, houses in all +quarters were being put in a state of defence, their position +being carefully chosen by those directing the secret +operations of the League of Defenders.</p> + +<p>For over an hour the houses in question gallantly held +out, sweeping the streets constantly with their Maxim. +Presently, however, on further reinforcements arriving, +the German colonel directed his men to enter the houses +opposite. In an instant a door was broken in, and presently +glass came tumbling down as muzzles of rifles +were poked through the panes, and soon sharp crackling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +showed that the Germans had settled down to their +work.</p> + +<p>The defence of the Londoners was most obstinate. In +the streets, Londoners attacked the enemy with utter +disregard for the risks they ran. Women, among them +many young girls, joined in the fray, armed with pistols +and knives.</p> + +<p>After a while a great body of reinforcements appeared +in the Euston Road, having been sent hurriedly along +from Regent's Park. Then the option was given to +those occupying the fortified house to surrender, the +colonel promising to spare their lives. The Londoners +peremptorily refused. Everywhere the fighting became +more desperate and spread all through the streets leading +out of St. Pancras, York, and Caledonian Roads, +until the whole of that great neighbourhood became the +scene of a fierce conflict, in which both sides lost heavily. +Right across Islington the street fighting spread, and +many were the fatal traps set for the unwary German +who found himself cut off in that maze of narrow streets +between York Road and the Angel. The enemy, on the +other hand, were shooting down women and girls as well +as the men, even the non-combatants—those who came +out of their homes to ascertain what was going on—being +promptly fired at and killed.</p> + +<p>In the midst of all this somebody ignited some petrol +in a house a few doors from the chapel in Pentonville +Road, and in a few moments the whole row of buildings +were blazing furiously, belching forth black smoke and +adding to the terror and confusion of those exciting +moments. Even that large body of Germans now upon +the scene were experiencing great difficulty in defending +themselves. A perfect rain of bullets seemed directed +upon them on every hand, and to-day's experience certainly +proves that Londoners are patriotic and brave, and in +their own districts they possess a superiority over the +trained troops of the Kaiser.</p> + +<p>At length, after a most sanguinary struggle, the +Londoners' position was carried, the houses were entered, +and twenty-two brave patriots, mostly of the working-class, +taken prisoners. The populace now realising that +the Germans had, after all, overpowered their comrades, +in their fortress, fell back; but being pursued northward +towards the railway line between Highbury and Barnsbury +stations, many of them were despatched on the spot.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + +<p>What followed was indeed terrible. The anger of the +Germans now became uncontrollable. Having in view +Von Kronhelm's proclamation—which sentenced to death +all who, not being in uniform, fired upon German troops—they +decided to teach the unfortunate populace a +lesson. As a matter of fact, they feared that such revolts +might be repeated in other quarters.</p> + +<p>So they seized dozens of prisoners, men and women, +and shot them down. Many of these summary executions +took place against the wall of the St. Pancras Station at +the corner of Euston Road. Men and women were +pitilessly sent to death. Wives, daughters, fathers, sons +were ranged up against that wall, and, at signal from the +colonel, fell forward with bullets through them.</p> + +<p>Of the men who so gallantly held the fortified house +not a single one escaped. Strings of men and women +were hurried to their doom in one day, for the troops were +savage with the lust of blood, and Von Kronhelm, though +he was aware of it by telephone, lifted not a finger to +stop those arbitrary executions.</p> + +<p>But enough of such details. Suffice it to say that the +stones of Islington were stained with the blood of innocent +Londoners, and that those who survived took a fierce +vow of vengeance. Von Kronhelm's legions had the +upper hand for the moment, yet the conflict and its +bloody sequel had the effect of arousing the fiercest anger +within the heart of every Briton in the metropolis.</p> + +<p>What was in store for us none could tell. We were +conquered, oppressed, starved; yet hope was still within +us. The League of Defenders were not idle, while South +London was hourly completing her strength.</p> + +<p>It seems that after quelling the revolt at King's Cross +wholesale arrests were made in Islington. The guilt or +innocence of the prisoners did not seem to matter. Von +Kronhelm dealing out to them summary punishment.</p> + +<p>Terror reigns in London. One newspaper correspondent—whose +account is published this morning in South +London, having been sent across the Thames by carrier +pigeon, many of which were now being employed by the +newspapers—had an opportunity of witnessing the wholesale +executions which took place yesterday afternoon +outside Dorchester House, where Von Kleppen has established +his quarters. Von Kleppen seems to be the most +pitiless of the superior officers. The prisoners, ranged +up for inspection in front of the big mansion, were mostly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +men from Islington, all of whom knew only too well +the fate in store for them. Walking slowly along and +eyeing the ranks of these unfortunate wretches, the +German General stopped here and there, tapping a man +on the shoulder or beckoning him out of the rear ranks. +In most cases, without further word, the individual +thus selected was marched into the Park at Stanhope +Gate, where a small supplementary column was soon +formed.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h2>LEAGUE OF DEFENDERS</h2> +<h3>DAILY BULLETIN</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>The League of Defenders of the British Empire publicly +announce to Englishmen, although the North of London is +held by the enemy:</p> + +<p>(1) That England will soon entirely regain command of the +sea, and that a rigorous blockade of the German ports will +be established.</p> + +<p>(2) That three of the vessels of the North German Lloyd +Transatlantic passenger service have been captured, together +with a number of minor German ships in the +Channel and Mediterranean.</p> + +<p>(3) That four German cruisers and two destroyers have +fallen into the hands of the British.</p> + +<p>(4) That</p> + +<div class="center"> +ENGLAND'S MILLIONS ARE READY<br /> +TO RISE!<br /> +Therefore<br /> +WE ARE NOT YET BEATEN!<br /> +BE PREPARED, AND WAIT. +</div> +<p>League of Defenders.</p> +<div class="right">Central Office: Bristol.</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 453px;"> +<a href="images/i231-hi.png"><img src="images/i231.png" width="453" height="300" alt="COPY OF THE "DAILY BULLETIN" OF THE +LEAGUE OF DEFENDERS." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">COPY OF THE "DAILY BULLETIN" OF THE +LEAGUE OF DEFENDERS.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Those chosen knew that their last hour had come. +Some clasped their hands and fell upon their knees, +imploring pity, while others remained silent and stubborn +patriots. One man, his face covered with blood +and his arm broken, sat down and howled in anguish, +and others wept in silence. Some women—wives and +daughters of the condemned men—tried to get within +the Park to bid them adieu and to urge courage, but +the soldiers beat them back with their rifles. Some of +the men laughed defiantly, others met death with a stony +stare. The eye-witness saw the newly-dug pit that +served as common grave, and he stood by and saw them +shot and their corpses afterwards flung into it.</p> + +<p>One young fair-haired woman, condemned by Von +Kleppen, rushed forward to that officer, threw herself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +upon her knees, imploring mercy, and protested her +innocence wildly. But the officer, callous and pitiless, +simply motioned to a couple of soldiers to take her within +the Park, where she shared the same fate as the men.</p> + +<p>How long will this awful state of affairs last? We +must die, or conquer. London is in the hands of a legion +of assassins—Bavarians, Saxons, Würtembergers, Hessians, +Badeners—all now bent upon prolonging the reign of +terror, and thus preventing the uprising that they know +is, sooner or later, inevitable.</p> + +<p>Terrible accounts are reaching us of how the Germans +are treating their prisoners on Hounslow Heath, at +Enfield, and other places; of the awful sufferings of the +poor unfortunate fellows, of hunger, of thirst, and of +inhuman disregard for either their comfort or their lives.</p> + +<p>At present we are powerless, hemmed in by our barricades. +Behind us, upon Sydenham Hill, General Bamford +is in a strong position, and his great batteries are +already defending any attack upon London from the +south. From the terrace in front of the Crystal Palace +his guns can sweep the whole range of southern suburbs. +Through Dulwich, Herne Hill, Champion Hill, and Denmark +Hill are riding British cavalry, all of whom show +evident traces of the hard and fierce campaign. We see +from Sydenham constant messages being heliographed, +for General Bamford and Lord Byfield are in hourly +communication by wireless telegraphy or by other means.</p> + +<p>What is transpiring at Windsor is not known, save +that every night there are affairs of outposts with the +Saxons, who on several occasions have attempted to cross +the river by pontoons, and have on each occasion been +driven back.</p> + +<p>It was reported to Parliament at its sitting at Bristol +yesterday that the Cabinet had refused to entertain any +idea of paying the indemnity demanded by Germany, and +that their reply to Von Kronhelm is one of open defiance. +The brief summary of the speeches published shows that +the Government are hopeful, notwithstanding the present +black outlook. They believe that when the hour comes +for the revenge, London will rise as a man, and that +Socialists, Nonconformists, Labour agitators, Anarchists, +and demagogues will unite with us in one great national +patriotic effort to exterminate our conquerors as we would +exterminate vermin.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gerald Graham has made another great speech<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +in the House, in which he reported the progress of the +League of Defenders and its wide-spread ramifications. +He told the Government that there were over seven +millions of able-bodied men in the country ready to +revolt the instant the word went forth. That there would +be terrible bloodshed he warned them, but that the +British would eventually prove the victors he was assured. +He gave no details of the organisation, for to a great +measure it was a secret one, and Von Kronhelm was already +taking active steps to combat its intentions; but he +declared that there was still a strong spirit of patriotism +in the country, and explained how sturdy Scots were +daily making their way south, and how men from Wales +were already massing in Oxford.</p> + +<p>The speech was received on both sides of the House +with ringing cheers when, in conclusion, he promised +them that, within a few days, the fiat would go forth, +and the enemy would find himself crushed and powerless.</p> + +<p>"South London," he declared, "is our stronghold, our +fortress. To-day it is impregnable, defended by a million +British patriots, and I defy Von Kronhelm—indeed, I +dare him to attack it!"</p> + +<p>Von Kronhelm was, of course, well aware of the formation +of the Defenders, but treated the League with contempt. +If there was any attempt at a rising, he would shoot down +the people like dogs. He declared this openly and +publicly, and he also issued a warning to the English +people in the German official "Gazette," a daily periodical +printed in one of the newspaper offices in Fleet Street +in both German and English.</p> + +<p>The German commander fully believed that England +was crushed; yet, as the days went on, he was puzzled +that he received no response to his demand for indemnity. +Twice he had sent special despatch-bearers to Bristol, +but on both occasions the result was the same.</p> + +<p>Diplomatic representations had been made in Berlin +through the Russian Ambassador, who was now in charge +of British interests in Germany, but all to no purpose. +Our Foreign Minister simply acknowledged receipt of +the various despatches. On the Continent the keenest +interest was manifested at what was apparently a deadlock. +The British had, it was known, regained command +of the sea. Von Kronhelm's supplies were already cut +off. The cables in direct communication between England +and Germany had been severed, and the Continental<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +Press, especially the Paris journals, gleefully recounted +how two large Hamburg-American liners attempting to +reach Hamburg by passing north of Scotland had been +captured by British cruisers.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h2>ENGLISHMEN!</h2> +<div class="center"> +Your Homes are Desecrated!<br /> +Your Children are Starving!<br /> +Your Loved Ones are Dead!<br /> +<br /> +WILL YOU REMAIN IN COWARDLY INACTIVITY? +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>The German Eagle flies over London. Hull, Newcastle and +Birmingham are in ruins. Manchester is a German +City. Norfolk, Essex, and Suffolk form a German colony.</p> + +<p>The Kaiser's troops have brought death, ruin, and starvation +upon you.</p> +</div> + +<div class="center"><b>WILL YOU BECOME GERMANS?</b></div> +<h2>NO!</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Join THE DEFENDERS and fight for England.</p> + +<p>You have England's Millions beside you.</p> +</div> + +<h2>LET US RISE!</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Let us drive back the Kaiser's men.</p> + +<p>Let us shoot them at sight.</p> + +<p>Let us exterminate every single man who has desecrated +English soil.</p> + +<p>Join the New League of Defenders.</p> + +<p>Fight for your homes. Fight for your wives. Fight for +England.</p> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<b>FIGHT FOR YOUR KING!</b><br /> +<br /> +The National League of Defenders' Head Offices.<br /> +Bristol, September 21st, 1910.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 426px;"> +<a href="images/i234-hi.png"><img src="images/i234.png" width="426" height="400" alt="A COPY OF THE MANIFESTO OF THE LEAGUE OF +DEFENDERS ISSUED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1910." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">A COPY OF THE MANIFESTO OF THE LEAGUE OF +DEFENDERS ISSUED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1910.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>In the Channel, too, a number of German vessels had +been seized, and one that showed fight off the North +Foreland was fired upon and sunk. The public at home, +however, were more interested in supremacy on land. +It was all very well to have command of the sea, they +argued, but it did not appear to alleviate perceptibly +the hunger and privations on land. The Germans occupied +London, and while they did so all freedom in England was +at an end.</p> + +<p>A great poster headed "Englishmen," here reproduced, +was seen everywhere. The whole country was flooded +with it, and thousands upon thousands of heroic Britons,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +from the poorest to the wealthiest, clamoured to enrol +themselves. The movement was an absolutely national +one in every sense of the word. The name of Gerald +Graham, the new champion of England's power, was +upon every one's tongue. Daily he spoke in the various +towns in the West of England, in Plymouth, Taunton, +Cardiff, Portsmouth, and Southampton, and, assisted +by the influential committee among whom were many +brilliant speakers and men whose names were as household +words, he aroused the country to the highest pitch +of hatred against the enemy. The defenders, as they +drilled in various centres through the whole of the West +of England, were a strange and incongruous body. Grey-bearded +Army pensioners ranged side by side with +keen, enthusiastic youths, advised them and gave them +the benefit of their expert knowledge. Volunteer officers +in many cases assumed command, together with retired +drill sergeants. The digging of trenches and the making +of fortifications were assigned to navvies, bricklayers, +platelayers, and agricultural labourers, large bodies of +whom were under railway gangers, and were ready to +perform any excavation work.</p> + +<p>The Maxims and other machine guns were mostly +manned by Volunteer artillery; but instruction in the +working of the Maxim was given to select classes in +Plymouth, Bristol, Portsmouth, and Cardiff. Time was +of utmost value, therefore the drilling was pushed forward +day and night. It was known that Von Kronhelm +was already watchful of the movements of the League, +and was aware daily of its growth.</p> + +<p>In London, with the greatest secrecy, the defenders +were banding together. In face of the German proclamation +posted upon the walls, Londoners were holding meetings +in secret and enrolling themselves.</p> + +<p>Though the German eagle flew in Whitehall and from +the summit of St. Stephen's Tower, and though the +heavy tramp of German sentries echoed in Trafalgar +Square, in the quiet, trafficless streets in the vicinity, +England was not yet vanquished.</p> + +<p>The valiant men of London were still determined to +sell their liberty dearly, and to lay down their lives for +the freedom of their country and honour of their King.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_III" id="BOOK_III"></a>BOOK III.</h2> + +<h3>THE REVENGE.</h3> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I_III" id="CHAPTER_I_III"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>A BLOW FOR FREEDOM.</h3> + + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">'Daily Telegraph' Office.</span><br /> +"<i>Oct.</i> 1, 2 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>"Three days have passed since the revolt at King's +Cross, and each day, both on the Horse Guards' Parade +and in the Park, opposite Dorchester House, there have +been summary executions. Von Kronhelm is in evident +fear of the excited London populace, and is endeavouring +to cow them by his plain-spoken and threatening proclamations, +and by these wholesale executions of any +person found with arms in his or her possession. But +the word of command does not abolish the responsibility +of conscience, and we are now awaiting breathlessly for +the word to strike the blow in revenge.</p> + +<p>"The other newspapers are reappearing, but all that is +printed each morning is first subjected to a rigorous +censorship, and nothing is allowed to be printed before +it is passed and initialled by the two gold-spectacled +censors who sit and smoke their pipes in an office to +themselves. Below, we have German sentries on guard, +for our journal is one of the official organs of Von Kronhelm, +and what now appears in it is surely sufficient to +cause our blood to boil."</p> + +<p>"To-day, there are everywhere signs of rapidly increasing +unrest. Londoners are starving, and are now refusing +to remain patient any longer. The "Daily Bulletin" +of the League of Defenders, though the posting of it is +punishable by imprisonment, and it is everywhere torn +down where discovered by the Germans, still gives daily +brief news of what is in progress, and still urges the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +people to wait in patience, for 'the action of the Government,' +as it is sarcastically put.</p> + +<p>"Soon after eleven o'clock this morning a sudden and +clearly premeditated attack was made upon a body of +the Bremen infantry, who were passing along Oxford +Street from Holborn to the Marble Arch. The soldiers +were suddenly fired upon from windows of a row of shops +between Newman Street and Rathbone Place, and before +they could halt and return the fire they found themselves +surrounded by a great armed rabble, who were emerging +from all the streets leading into Oxford Street.</p> + +<p>"While the Germans were manœuvring, some unknown +hand launched from a window a bomb into the centre +of them. Next second there was a red flash, a loud report, +and twenty-five of the enemy were blown to atoms. +For a few moments the soldiers were demoralised, but +orders were shouted loudly by their officers, and they +began a most vigorous defence. In a few seconds the +fight was as fierce as that at King's Cross; for out of +every street in that working-class district lying between +the Tottenham Court Road and Great Portland Street on +the north, and out of Soho on the South, poured thousands +upon thousands of fierce Londoners, all bent upon +doing their utmost to kill their oppressors. From almost +every window along Oxford Street a rain of lead was +now being poured upon the troops, who vainly strove to +keep their ground. Gradually, however, they were, by +slow degrees, forced back into the narrow side-turnings +up Newman Street, and Rathbone Place into Mortimer +Street, Foley Street, Goodge Street, and Charlotte Street; +and there they were slaughtered almost to a man.</p> + +<p>"Two officers were captured by the armed mob in +Tottenham Street and, after being beaten, were stood up +and shot in cold blood as vengeance for those shot during +the past three days at Von Kleppen's orders at Dorchester +House.</p> + +<p>"The fierce fight lasted quite an hour; and though +reinforcements were sent for, yet curiously none arrived.</p> + +<p>"The great mob, however, were well aware that very +soon the iron hand of Germany would fall heavily upon +them; therefore, in frantic haste, they began soon after +noon to build barricades and block up the narrow streets +in every direction. At the end of Rathbone Place, Newman +Street, Berners Street, Wells Street, and Great +Tichfield Street, huge obstructions soon appeared, while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +on the east all by-streets leading into Tottenham Court +Road were blocked up, and the same on the west in +Great Portland Street, and on the north where the district +was flanked by the Euston Road. So that by two o'clock +the populous neighbourhood bounded by the four great +thoroughfares was rendered a fortress in itself.</p> + +<p>"Within that area were thousands of armed men and +women from Soho, Bloomsbury, Marylebone, and even +from Camden Town. There they remained in defiance of +Von Kronhelm's newest proclamation, which stared one +in the face from every wall."</p> + +<div class="right">"<i>Later.</i></div> + +<p>"The enemy were unaware of the grave significance +of the position of affairs, because Londoners betrayed +no outward sign of the truth. Now, however, nearly +every man and woman wore pinned upon their breasts +a small piece of silk about two inches square, printed +as a miniature Union Jack—the badge adopted by the +League of Defenders. Though Von Kronhelm was unaware +of it, Lord Byfield, in council with Greatorex and +Bamford, had decided that, in order to demoralise the +enemy and give him plenty of work to do, a number of +local uprisings should take place north of the Thames. +These would occupy Von Kronhelm, who would experience +great difficulty in quelling them, and would no +doubt eventually recall the Saxons from West Middlesex +to assist. If the latter retired upon London they would +find the barricades held by Londoners in their rear and +Lord Byfield in their front, and be thus caught between +two fires.</p> + +<p>"In each district of London there is a chief of the +Defenders, and to each chief these orders had been conveyed +in strictest confidence. Therefore, to-day, while +the outbreak occurred in Oxford Street, there were fully a +dozen others in various parts of the metropolis, each of +a more or less serious character. Every district has +already prepared its own secret defences, its fortified +houses, and its barricades in hidden by-ways. Besides +the quantity of arms smuggled into London, every dead +German has had his rifle, pistol, and ammunition stolen +from him. Hundreds of the enemy have been surreptitiously +killed for that very reason. Lawlessness is +everywhere, Government and Army have failed them, and +Londoners are now taking the law into their own hands.</p> + +<p>"In King Street, Hammersmith; in Notting Dale, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +Forest Road, Dalston; in Wick Road, Hackney; in +Commercial Road East, near Stepney Station; and in +Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town, the League of +Defenders this morning—at about the same hour—first +made their organisation public by displaying our national +emblem, together with the white flags, with the scarlet +St. George's Cross, the ancient battle flag of England.</p> + +<p>"For that reason, then, no reinforcements were sent +to Oxford Street. Von Kronhelm was far too busy in +other quarters. In Kentish Town, it is reported, the +Germans gained a complete and decisive victory, for +the people had not barricaded themselves strongly; besides, +there were large reinforcements of Germans ready +in Regent's Park, and these came upon the scene before +the Defenders were sufficiently prepared. The flag was +captured from the barricade in Prince of Wales Road, +and the men of Kentish Town lost over four hundred +killed and wounded.</p> + +<p>"At Stepney, the result was the reverse. The enemy, +believing it to be a mere local disturbance and easily +quelled, sent but a small body of men to suppress it. +But very quickly, in the intricate by-streets off Commercial +Road, these were wiped out, not one single man +surviving. A second and third body were sent, but so +fiercely was the ground contested that they were at +length compelled to fall back and leave the men of +Stepney masters of their own district. In Hammersmith +and in Notting Dale the enemy also lost heavily, though +in Hackney they were successful after hard fighting.</p> + +<p>"Every one declares that this secret order issued by +the League means that England is again prepared to give +battle, and that London is commencing by her strategic +movement of local rebellions. The gravity of the situation +cannot now, for one moment, be concealed. London +north of the Thames is destined to be the scene of the +fiercest and most bloody warfare ever known in the history +of the civilised world. The Germans will, of course, +fight for their lives, while we shall fight for our homes +and for our liberty. But right is on our side, and right +will win.</p> + +<p>"Reports from all over the metropolis tell the same +tale. London is alert and impatient. At a word she will +rise to a man, and then woe betide the invader! Surely +Von Kronhelm's position is not a very enviable one. +Our two censors in the office are smoking their pipes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +very gravely. Not a word of the street fighting is to be +published. They will write their own account of it.</p> + +<div class="right">"10 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span></div> + +<p>"There has been a most frightful encounter at the +Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road barricades—a +most stubborn resistance and gallant defence on the part +of the men of Marylebone and Bloomsbury.</p> + +<p>"From the lips of one of our correspondents who was +within the barricade I have just learned the details. It +appears that just about four o'clock General Von Wilberg +sent from the City a large force of the 19th Division +under Lieutenant General Frankenfeld, and part of +these, advancing through the squares of Bloomsbury into +Gower Street, attacked the Defenders' position from the +Tottenham Court Road, while others coming up Holborn +and New Oxford Street entered Soho from Charing Cross +Road and threw up counter-barricades at the end of Dean +Street, Wardour Street, Berwick, Poland, Argyll, and the +other streets, all of which were opposite the defences of +the populace. In Great Portland Street, too, they adopted +a similar line, and without much ado the fight, commenced +in a desultory fashion, soon became a battle.</p> + +<p>"Within the barricades was a dense body of armed and +angry citizens, each with his little badge, and every +single one of them was ready to fight to the death. There +is no false patriotism now, no mere bravado. Men make +declarations, and carry them out. The gallant Londoners, +with their several Maxims, wrought havoc among the +invaders, especially in the Tottenham Court Road, where +hundreds were maimed or killed.</p> + +<p>"In Oxford Street, the enemy being under cover of +their counter-barricades, little damage could be done on +either side. The wide, open, deserted thoroughfare was +every moment swept by a hail of bullets, but no one was +injured. On the Great Portland Street side the populace +made a feint of giving way at the Mortimer Street barricade, +and a body of the enemy rushed in, taking the +obstruction by storm. But next moment they regretted +it, for they were set upon by a thousand armed men +and wild haired women, so that every man paid for his +courage with his life. The women, seizing the weapons +and ammunition of the dead Germans, now returned to +the barricade to use them.</p> + +<p>"The Mortimer Street defences were at once repaired, +and it was resolved to relay the fatal trap at some other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +point. Indeed, it was repeated at the end of Percy +Street, where about fifty more Germans, who thought +themselves victorious, were set upon and exterminated.</p> + +<p>"Until dusk the fight lasted. The Germans, finding +their attack futile, began to hurl petrol bombs over the +barricades and these caused frightful destruction among +our gallant men, several houses in the vicinity being set +on fire. Fortunately, there was still water in the street +hydrants, and two fire engines had already been brought +within the beleaguered area in case of necessity.</p> + +<p>"At last, about seven o'clock, the enemy, having lost +very heavily in attempting to take the well-chosen position +by storm, brought down several light field-guns from +Regent's Park; and, placing them at their counter-barricades—where, +by the way, they had lost many men +in the earlier part of the conflict while piling up their +shelters—suddenly opened fire with shell at the huge +obstructions before them.</p> + +<p>"At first they made but little impression upon the +flagstones, etc., of which the barricades were mainly +composed. But before long their bombardment began +to tell; for slowly, here and there, exploding shells made +great breaches in the defences that had been so heroically +manned. More than once a high explosive shell burst +right among the crowd of riflemen behind a barricade, +sweeping dozens into eternity in a single instant. +Against the fortified houses each side of the barricades +the German artillery trained their guns, and very quickly +reduced many of those buildings to ruins. The air now +became thick with dust and smoke; and mingled with +the roar of artillery at such close quarters came the +screams of the injured and the groans of the dying. The +picture drawn by the eye-witness who described this was +a truly appalling one. Gradually the Londoners were being +overwhelmed, but they were selling their lives dearly, fully +proving themselves worthy sons of grand old England.</p> + +<p>"At last the fire from the Newman Street barricade +of the Defenders was silenced, and ten minutes later, a +rush being made across from Dean Street, it was taken +by storm. Then ensued fierce and bloody hand-to-hand +fighting right up to Cleveland Street, while almost at +the same moment the enemy broke in from Great Portland +Street.</p> + +<p>"A scene followed that is impossible to describe. +Through all those narrow, crooked streets the fighting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +became general, and on either side hundreds fell. The +Defenders in places cornered the Germans, cut them +off, and killed them. Though it was felt that now the +barricades had been broken the day was lost, yet every +man kept courage, and fought with all his strength.</p> + +<p>"For half an hour the Germans met with no success. +On the contrary, they found themselves entrapped amid +thousands of furious citizens, all wearing their silken +badges, and all sworn to fight to the death.</p> + +<p>"While the Defenders still struggled on, loud and +ringing cheers were suddenly raised from Tottenham +Court Road. The people from Clerkenwell, joined by +those in Bloomsbury, had arrived to assist them. They +had risen, and were attacking the Germans in the rear.</p> + +<p>"Fighting was now general right across from Tottenham +Court Road to Gray's Inn Road, and by nine o'clock, +though Von Wilberg sent reinforcements, a victory was +gained by the Defenders. Over two thousand Germans +are lying dead and wounded about the streets and squares +of Bloomsbury and Marylebone. The League had struck +its first blow for Freedom.</p> + +<p>"What will the morrow bring us? Dire punishment—or +desperate victory?"</p> + +<div class="right"> +"'<span class="smcap">Daily Chronicle' Office</span>,<br /> +"<i>Oct.</i> 4, 6 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> +</div> + +<p>"The final struggle for the possession of London is +about to commence. Through all last night there were +desultory conflicts between the soldiers and the people, +in which many lives have, alas! been sacrificed.</p> + +<p>"Von Wilberg still holds the City proper, with the +Mansion House as his headquarters. Within the area +already shown upon the map there are no English, all +the inhabitants having been long ago expelled. The +great wealth of London is in German hands, it is true, +but it is Dead Sea fruit. They are unable either to make +use of it or to deport it to Germany. Much has been +taken away to the base at Southminster and other bases +in Essex, but the greater part of the bullion still remains +in the Bank of England.</p> + +<p>"The most exciting stories have been reaching us +during the last twenty-four hours, none of which, however, +have passed the censor. For that reason I, one of +the sub-editors, am keeping this diary, as a brief record +of events during the present dreadful times.</p> + +<p>"After the terrific struggle in Marylebone three days +ago,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> Von Kronhelm saw plainly that if London were to +rise <i>en masse</i> she would at once assume the upper hand. +The German Commander-in-Chief had far too many +points to guard. On the west of London he was +threatened by Lord Byfield and hosts of auxiliaries, mostly +sworn members of the National League of Defenders; on +the south, across the river, Southwark, Lambeth, and +Battersea formed an impregnable fortress, containing +over a million eager patriots ready to burst forth and +sweep away the vain, victorious army; while within +central London itself the people were ready to rise.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h2>LEAGUE OF DEFENDERS.</h2> +<div class="center"> +CITIZENS OF LONDON AND LOYAL PATRIOTS. +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>The hour has come to show your strength, and to +wreak your vengeance.</p> + +<p>TO-NIGHT, OCT. 4, AT 10 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, rise, and strike +your blow for freedom.</p> + +<p>A MILLION MEN are with Lord Byfield, already +within striking distance of London; a million follow +them, and yet another million are ready in South London.</p> + +<p>RISE, FEARLESS AND STERN. Let "England for +Englishmen" be your battle-cry, and avenge the blood of +your wives and your children.</p> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +AVENGE THIS INSULT TO YOUR<br /> +NATION.<br /> +REMEMBER: TEN O'CLOCK TO-NIGHT! +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 437px;"> +<a href="images/i243-hi.png"><img src="images/i243.png" width="437" height="550" alt="LEAGUE OF DEFENDERS. +CITIZENS OF LONDON AND LOYAL PATRIOTS." title="" /></a> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Reports<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> reaching us to-day from Lord Byfield's headquarters +at Windsor are numerous, but conflicting. As +far as can be gathered, the authentic facts are as follows: +Great bodies of the Defenders, including many women, +all armed, are massing at Reading, Sonning, Wokingham, +and Maidenhead. Thousands have arrived, and are +hourly arriving by train, from Portsmouth, Plymouth, +Exeter, Bristol, Gloucester, and, in fact, all the chief +centres of the West of England, where Gerald Graham's +campaign has been so marvellously successful. Sturdy +Welsh colliers are marching shoulder to shoulder with +agricultural labourers from Dorset and Devon, and clerks +and citizens from the towns of Somerset, Cornwall, +Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire are taking arms beside +the riff-raff of their own neighbourhoods. Peer and +peasant, professional man and pauper, all are now united +with one common object—to drive back the invader, and +to save our dear old England.</p> + +<p>"Oxford has, it seems, been one of the chief points of +concentration, and the undergraduates who re-assembled +there to defend their colleges now form an advance-guard +of a huge body of Defenders on the march, by way of +Henley and Maidenhead, to follow in the rear of Lord +Byfield. The latter holds Eton and the country across +to High Wycombe, while the Saxon headquarters are +still at Staines. Frölich's Cavalry Division are holding +the country across from Pinner through Stanmore and +Chipping Barnet to the prison camp at Enfield Chase. +These are the only German troops outside West London, +the Saxons being now barred from entering by the huge +barricades which the populace of West London have +during the past few days been constructing. Every road +leading into London from West Middlesex is now either +strongly barricaded or entirely blocked up. Kew, Richmond, +and Kingston Bridges have been destroyed, and +Lord Byfield, with General Bamford at the Crystal +Palace, remains practically in possession of the whole of +the south of the Thames.</p> + +<p>"The conflict which is now about to begin will be one +to the death. While, on the one hand, the Germans are +bottled up among us, the fact must not be overlooked +that their arms are superior, and that they are trained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +soldiers. Yet the two or three local risings of yesterday +and the day previous have given us courage, for they +show that the enemy cannot manœuvre in the narrow +streets, and soon become demoralised. In London we +fail because we have so few riflemen. If every man who +now carries a gun could shoot, we could compel the +Germans to fly a flag of truce within twenty-four hours. +Indeed, if Lord Roberts' scheme of universal training in +1906 had been adopted, the enemy would certainly never +have been suffered to approach our capital.</p> + +<p>"Alas! apathy has resulted in this terrible and crushing +disaster, and we have only now to bear our part, each +one of us, in the blow to avenge this desecration of our +homes and the massacre of our loved ones.</p> + +<p>"To-day I have seen the white banners with the red +cross—the ensign of the Defenders—everywhere. Till +yesterday it was not openly displayed, but to-day it is +actually hung from windows or flown defiantly from +flagstaffs in full view of the Germans.</p> + +<p>"In Kilburn, or, to be more exact, in the district +lying between the Harrow Road and the High Road, +Kilburn, there was another conflict this morning between +some of the German Garde Corps and the populace. The +outbreak commenced by the arrest of some men who +were found practising with rifles in Paddington Recreation +Ground. One man who resisted was shot on the spot, +whereupon the crowd who assembled attacked the German +picket, and eventually killed them to a man. This was +the signal for a general outbreak in the neighbourhood, +and half an hour later, when a force was sent to quell +the revolt, fierce fighting became general all through the +narrow streets of Kensal Green, especially at the big +barricade that blocks the Harrow Road where it is joined +by Admiral Road. Here the bridges over the Grand +Junction Canal have already been destroyed, for the +barricades and defences have been scientifically constructed +under the instruction of military engineers.</p> + +<p>"From an early hour to-day it has been apparent that +all these risings were purposely ordered by the League of +Defenders to cause Von Kronhelm's confusion. Indeed, +while the outbreak at Kensal Green was in progress, we +had another reported from Dalston, a third from Limehouse, +and a fourth from Homerton. Therefore, it is +quite certain that the various centres of the League are +acting in unison upon secret orders from headquarters.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indeed, South London also took part in the fray this +morning, for the Defenders at the barricade at London +Bridge have now mounted several field guns, and have +started shelling Von Wilberg's position in the City. It +is said that the Mansion House, where the General had +usurped the apartments of the deported Lord Mayor, has +already been half reduced to ruins. This action is, no +doubt, only to harass the enemy, for surely General +Bamford has no desire to destroy the City proper any +more than it has already been destroyed. Lower Thames +Street, King William Street, Gracechurch Street, and +Cannon Street have at any rate, been found untenable +by the enemy, upon whom some losses have been inflicted.</p> + +<p>"South London is every moment anxious to know the +truth. Two days after the bombardment we succeeded +at night in sinking a light telegraph cable in the river +across from the Embankment at the bottom of Temple +Avenue, and are in communication with our temporary +office in Southwark Street.</p> + +<p>"An hour ago there came, through secret sources, information +of another naval victory to our credit, several +German warships being sunk and captured. Here we +dare not print it, so I have just wired it across to the +other side, where they are issuing a special edition.</p> + +<p>"Almost simultaneously with the report of the British +victory, namely, at five o'clock, the truth—the great and +all-important truth—became revealed. The mandate has +gone forth from the headquarters of the League of +Defenders that London is to rise in her might at ten o'clock +to-night, and that a million men are ready to assist us. +Placards and bills on red paper are everywhere.</p> + +<p>"Frantic efforts are being made by the Germans all +over London to suppress both posters and handbills.</p> + +<p>"It is now six o'clock. In four hours it is believed that +London will be one huge seething conflict. Night has +been chosen, I suppose, in order to give the populace +the advantage. The by-streets are for the most part still +unlit, save for oil-lamps, for neither gas nor electric light +are yet in proper working order after the terrible dislocation +of everything. The scheme of the Defenders is, as +already proved, to lure the Germans into the narrower +thoroughfares, and then exterminate them. Surely +in the history of the world there has never been such a +bitter vengeance as that which is now inevitable. London, +the greatest city ever known, is about to rise!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + +<div class="right">"<i>Midnight.</i></div> + +<p>"London has risen! How can I describe the awful +scenes of panic, bloodshed, patriotism, brutality, and +vengeance that are at this moment in progress? As I +write, through the open window I can hear the roar of +voices, the continual crackling of rifles, and the heavy +booming of guns. I walked along Fleet Street at nine +o'clock, and I found, utterly disregarding the order that +no unauthorised persons are to be abroad after nightfall, +hundreds upon hundreds of all classes, all wearing +their little silk Union Jack badges pinned to their coats, +on the way to join in their particular districts. Some +carried rifles, others revolvers, while others were unarmed. +Yet not a German did I see in the streets. It +seemed as though, for the moment, the enemy had +vanished. There was only the strong cordon across the +bottom of Ludgate Hill, men who looked on in wonder, +but without bestirring themselves.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that Von Kronhelm's strategy is to +remain inactive, and refuse to fight?</p> + +<p>"The first shot I heard fired, just after ten o'clock, was +at the Strand end of Fleet Street, at the corner of Chancery +Lane. There, I afterwards discovered, a party of forty +German infantrymen had been attacked, and all of +them killed. Quickly following this, I heard the distant +booming of artillery, and then the rattle of musketry +and pom-poms became general, but not in the neighbourhood +where I was. For nearly half an hour I remained +at the corner of Aldwych; then, on going farther along +the Strand, I found that the defenders from the Waterloo +Road had made a wild sortie into the Strand, but could +find no Germans there.</p> + +<p>"The men who had for a fortnight held that barricade +at the bridge were more like demons than human beings; +therefore I retired, and in the crush made my way back +to the office to await reports.</p> + +<p>"They were not long in arriving. I can only give a +very brief <i>résumé</i> at the moment, for they are so numerous +as to be bewildering.</p> + +<p>"Speaking generally, the whole of London has obeyed +the mandate of the League, and, rising, are attacking the +Germans at every point. In the majority of cases, however, +the enemy hold strong positions, and are defending +themselves, inflicting terrible losses upon the unorganised +populace. Every Londoner is fighting for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +himself, without regard for orders or consequences. In +Bethnal Green the Germans, lured into the maze of by-streets, +have suffered great losses, and again in Clerkenwell, +St. Luke's, Kingsland, Hackney and Old Ford. +Whitechapel too, devoid of its alien population, who +have escaped into Essex, has held its own, and the enemy +have had some great losses in the streets off Cable and +Leman Streets.</p> + +<p>"With the exception of the sortie across Waterloo +Bridge, South London is, as yet, remaining in patience, +acting under the orders of General Bamford.</p> + +<p>"News has come in ten minutes ago of a fierce and +sudden attack upon the Saxons by Lord Byfield from +Windsor, but there are, as yet, no details.</p> + +<p>"From the office across the river I am being constantly +asked for details of the fight, and how it is progressing. +In Southwark the excitement is evidently +most intense, and it requires all the energy of the local +commanders of the Defenders to repress another sortie +across that bridge.</p> + +<p>"There has just occurred an explosion so terrific that +the whole of this building has been shaken as though +by an earthquake.</p> + +<p>"London has struck her first blow of revenge. What +will be its sequel?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II_III" id="CHAPTER_II_III"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>SCENES AT WATERLOO BRIDGE.</h3> + + +<p>The following is the personal narrative of a young +chauffeur named John Burgess, who assisted in the defence +of the barricade at Waterloo Bridge.</p> + +<p>The statement was made to a reporter at noon on +October 5, while he was lying on a mattress in the Church +of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, so badly wounded in the +chest that the surgeons had given him up.</p> + +<p>He related his story in the form of a farewell letter +to his sister. The reporter chanced to be passing, and, +hearing him asking for some one to write for him, volunteered +to do so.</p> + +<p>"We all did our best," he said, "every one of us.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +Myself, I was at the barricade for thirteen days—thirteen +days of semi-starvation, sleeplessness, and constant +tension, for we knew not, from one moment to another, +when a sudden attack might be made upon us. At +first our obstruction was a mere ill-built pile of miscellaneous +articles, half of which would not stop bullets; +but on the third day our men, superintended by several +non-commissioned officers in uniform, began to put +the position in a proper state of defence, to mount +Maxims in the neighbouring houses, and to place explosives +in the crown of two of the arches of the bridge, +so that we could instantly demolish it if necessity +arose.</p> + +<p>"Fully a thousand men were holding the position, but +unfortunately few of them had ever handled a rifle. As +regards myself, I had learned to shoot rooks when a +boy in Shropshire, and now that I had obtained a gun +I was anxious to try my skill. When the League of Defenders +was started, and a local secretary came to us, we +all eagerly joined, each receiving, after he had taken his +oath and signed his name, a small silk Union Jack, the +badge of the League, not to be worn till the word went +forth to rise.</p> + +<p>"Then came a period—long, dreary, shadeless days of +waiting—when the sun beat down upon us mercilessly +and our vigilance was required to be constant both night +and day. So uncertain were the movements of the +enemy opposite us that we scarcely dared to leave our +positions for a moment. Night after night I spent +sleeping in a neighbouring doorway, with an occasional +stretch upon somebody's bed in some house in the +vicinity. Now and then, whenever we saw Germans +moving in Wellington Street, we sent a volley into +them, in return receiving a sharp reply from their +pom-poms. Constantly our sentries were on the alert +along the wharves, and in the riverside warehouses, +watching for the approach of the enemy's spies in boats. +Almost nightly some adventurous spirits among the +Germans would try and cross. On one occasion, while +doing sentry duty in a warehouse backing on Commercial +Road, I was sitting with a comrade at a window overlooking +the river. The moon was shining, for the night was a +balmy and beautiful one, and all was quiet. It was about +two o'clock in the morning, and as we sat smoking our +pipes, with our eyes fixed upon the glittering water, we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +suddenly saw a small boat containing three men stealing +slowly along in the shadow.</p> + +<p>"For a moment the rowers rested upon their oars, as +if undecided, then pulled forward again in search of a +landing-place. As they passed below our window I +shouted a challenge. At first there was no response. +Again I repeated it, when I heard a muttered imprecation +in German.</p> + +<p>"'Spies!' I cried to my comrade, and with one accord +we raised our rifles and fired. Ere the echo of the first +shot had died away I saw one man fall into the water, +while at the next shot a second man half rose from his +seat, threw up his hands, and staggered back wounded.</p> + +<p>"The firing gave the alarm at the barricade, and ere +the boat could approach the bridge, though the survivor +pulled for dear life, a Maxim spat forth its +red fire, and both boat and oarsman were literally +riddled.</p> + +<p>"Almost every night similar incidents were reported. +The enemy were doing all in their power to learn the +exact strength of our defences, but I do not think their +efforts were very successful. The surface of the river, +every inch of it, was under the careful scrutiny of a +thousand watchful eyes.</p> + +<p>"Each day the 'Bulletin' of our national association +brought us tidings of what was happening outside.</p> + +<p>"At last, however, the welcome word came to us on +the morning of October 4, that at ten that night we were +to make a concerted attack upon the Germans. A scarlet +bill was thrust into my hand, and as soon as the report +was known we were all highly excited, and through the +day prepared ourselves for the struggle.</p> + +<p>"A gun sounded from the direction of Westminster. +We looked at our watches, and found it was ten o'clock. +Our bugles sounded and we sprang to our positions, as we +had done dozens, nay, hundreds of times before. I +felt faint, for I had only had half a pint of weak soup +all day, for the bread did not go round. Nevertheless, +the knowledge that we were about to strike the blow +inspired me with fresh life and strength. Our officer +shouted a brief word of command, and next moment we +opened a withering fire upon the enemy's barricade in +Wellington Street.</p> + +<p>"In a moment a hundred rifles and several Maxims +spat their red fire at us, but as usual the bullets flattened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +themselves harmlessly before us. Then the battery of +artillery which Sir Francis Bamford had sent us three +days before got into position, and in a few moments began +hurling great shells upon the German defences.</p> + +<p>"Behind us was a great armed multitude ready and +eager to get at the foe, a huge, unorganised body of +fierce, irate Londoners, determined upon having blood +for blood. From over the river the sound of battle was +rising, a great roaring like the sound of a distant sea, +with ever and anon the crackling of rifles and the boom +of guns, while above the night sky grew a dark blood-red +with the glare of a distant conflagration.</p> + +<p>"For half an hour we pounded away at the barricade +in Wellington Street with our siege guns, Maxims, and +rifles, until a well-directed shell exploded beneath the +centre of the obstruction, blowing open a great gap and +sending fragments high into the air. Then it seemed +that all resistance suddenly ceased. At first we were +surprised at this; but on further scrutiny we found that +it was not our fire that had routed the enemy, but that +they were being attacked in their rear by hosts of armed +citizens surging down from Kingsway and the Strand.</p> + +<p>"We could plainly discern that the Germans were +fighting for their lives. Into the midst of them we sent +one or two shells; but fearing to cause casualties among +our own comrades, we were compelled to cease firing.</p> + +<p>"The armed crowd behind us, finding that we were +again inactive, at once demanded that our barricade +should be opened, so that they might cross the bridge +and assist their comrades by taking the Germans in the +rear. For ten minutes our officer in charge refused, for +the order of General Greatorex, Commander-in-Chief of +the League, was that no sortie was to be made at present. +However, the South Londoners became so infuriated +that our commander was absolutely forced to give way, +though he knew not into what trap we might fall, as +he had no idea of the strength of the enemy in the +neighbourhood of the Strand. A way was quickly +opened in the obstruction, and two minutes later we +were pouring across Waterloo Bridge in thousands, +shouting and yelling in triumph as we passed the ruins +of the enemy's barricade, and fell upon him with merciless +revenge. With us were many women, who were, perhaps, +fiercer and more unrelenting than the men. Indeed, +many a woman that night killed a German with her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +own hands, firing revolvers in their faces, striking with +knives, or even blinding them with vitriol.</p> + +<p>"The scene was both exciting and ghastly. At the +spot where I first fought—on the pavement outside the +Savoy—we simply slaughtered the Germans in cold +blood. Men cried for mercy, but we gave them no +quarter. London had risen in its might, and as our +comrades fought all along the Strand and around Aldwych, +we gradually exterminated every man in German +uniform. Soon the roadways of the Strand, Wellington +Street, Aldwych, Burleigh Street, Southampton Street, +Bedford Street, and right along to Trafalgar Square, were +covered with dead and dying. The wounded of both +nationalities were trodden underfoot and killed by the +swaying, struggling thousands. The enemy's loss must +have been severe in our particular quarter, for of the +great body of men from Hamburg and Lübeck holding +their end of Waterloo Bridge I do not believe a single +one was spared, even though they fought for their lives +like veritable devils.</p> + +<p>"Our success intoxicated us, I think. That we were +victorious at that point cannot be doubted, but with +foolish disregard for our own safety, we pressed forward +into Trafalgar Square, in the belief that our comrades +were similarly making an attack upon the enemy there. +The error was, alas! a fatal one for many of us. To fight +an organised force in narrow streets is one thing, but to +meet him in a large open space with many inlets, like +Trafalgar Square, is another.</p> + +<p>"The enemy were no doubt awaiting us, for as we +poured out from the Strand at Charing Cross we were met +with a devastating fire from German Maxims on the +opposite side of the square. They were holding Whitehall—to +protect Von Kronhelm's headquarters—the +entrances to Spring Gardens, Cockspur Street, and Pall +Mall East, and their fire was converged upon the great +armed multitude which, being pressed on from behind, +came out into the open square only to fall in heaps beneath +the sweeping hail of German lead.</p> + +<p>"The error was one that could not be rectified. We +all saw it when too late. There was no turning back +now, I struggled to get into the small side-street that +runs down by the bar of the Grand Hotel, but it was +blocked with people already in refuge there.</p> + +<p>"Another instant and I was lifted from my legs by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +great throng going to their doom, and carried right in the +forefront to the square. Women screamed when they +found themselves facing the enemy's fire.</p> + +<p>"The scene was awful—a massacre, nothing more or +less. For every German's life we had taken, a dozen of +our own were now being sacrificed.</p> + +<p>"A woman was pushed close to me, her grey hair +streaming down her back, her eyes starting wildly from +her head, her bony hands smeared with blood. Suddenly +she realised that right before her red fire was spitting +from the German guns.</p> + +<p>"Screaming in despair, she clung frantically to me.</p> + +<p>"I felt next second a sharp burning pain in my chest.... +We fell forward together upon the bodies of our +comrades.... When I came to myself I found myself +here, in this church, close to where I fell."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>On that same night desperate sorties were made from +the London, Southwark, and Blackfriars Bridges, and +terrible havoc was committed by the Defenders.</p> + +<p>The German losses were enormous, for the South +Londoners fought like demons and gave no quarter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III_III" id="CHAPTER_III_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> + +<h3>GREAT BRITISH VICTORY.</h3> + + +<p>The following despatch from the war correspondent of +the "Times" with Lord Byfield was received on the morning +of October 5, but was not published in that journal till +some days later, owing to the German censorship, which +necessitated its being kept secret:—</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Willesden</span>, <i>October</i> 4 (Evening). +</div> + +<p>"After a bloody but successful combat lasting from +early dawn till late in the afternoon, the country to the +immediate west of the metropolis has been swept clear +of the hated invaders, and the masses of the 'League +of Defenders' can be poured into the West of London +without let or hindrance. In the desperate street fighting +which is now going on they will be much more formidable +than they were ever likely to be in the open<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +field, where they were absolutely incapable of manœuvring. +As for the Saxons—what is left of them—and Frölich's +Cavalry Division, with whom we have been engaged all +day, they have now fallen back on Harrow and Hendon, +it is said; but it is currently reported that a constant +movement towards the high ground near Hampstead +is going on. These rumours come by way of London, +since the enemy's enormous force of cavalry is still strong +enough to prevent us getting any first-hand intelligence of +his movements.</p> + +<p>"As has been previously reported, the XIIth Saxon +Corps, under the command of Prince Henry of Würtemberg, +had taken up a position intended to cover +the metropolis from the hordes of 'Defenders' which, +supported by a small leaven of Regulars, with a proportion +of cavalry and guns, were known to be slowly +rolling up from the west and south. Their front, facing +west, extended from Staines on the south, to Pinner on +the north, passing through Stanwell, West Drayton, and +Uxbridge. In addition they had a strong reserve in +the neighbourhood of Hounslow, whose business it was +to cover their left flank by keeping watch along the +line of the Thames. They had destroyed all bridges +over the river between Staines and Hammersmith. Putney +Bridge, however, was still intact, as all attacks on it +had been repulsed by the British holding it on the south +side. Such was the general state of affairs when Lord +Byfield, who had established his headquarters at Windsor, +formed his plan of attack.</p> + +<p>"As far as I have been able to ascertain, its general +idea was to hold the Saxons to their position by the +threat of 300,000 Defenders that were assembled and +were continually increasing along a roughly parallel +line to that occupied by the enemy at about ten miles' +distance from it, while he attacked their left flank with +what Regular and Militia regiments he could rapidly +get together near Esher and Kingston. By this time the +southern lines in the neighbourhood of London were all +in working order, the damage that had been done here +and there by small parties of the enemy who had made +raids across the river having been repaired. It was, +therefore, not a very difficult matter to assemble troops +from Windsor and various points on the South of London +at very short notice.</p> + +<p>"General Bamford, to whom had been entrusted the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +defence of South London, and who had established +his headquarters at the Crystal Palace, also contributed +every man he could spare from the remnant of the +Regular troops under his command.</p> + +<p>"It was considered quite safe now that the Germans +in the City were so hardly pressed to leave the defence +of the Thames bridges to the masses of Irregulars who +had all along formed the bulk of their defenders. The +risk that Prince Henry of Würtemberg would take the +bull by the horns, and by a sudden forward move +attack and scatter the inert and invertebrate mass of +'Defenders' who were in his immediate front had, of +course, to be taken; but it was considered that in the +present state of affairs in London he would hardly dare +to increase the distance between the Saxon Corps and +the rest of the German Army. Events proved the correctness +of this surmise; but owing to unforeseen circumstances, +the course of the battle was somewhat different +from that which had been anticipated.</p> + +<p>"Despite the vigilance of the German spies our plans +were kept secret till the very end, and it is believed +that the great convergence of Regular troops that began +as soon as it was dark from Windsor and from along the +line occupied by the Army of the League on the west, +right round to Greenwich on the east, went on without +any news of the movement being carried to the enemy.</p> + +<p>"Before dawn this morning every unit was in the +position to which it had been previously detailed, and, +everything being in readiness, the Royal Engineers began +to throw a pontoon bridge over the Thames at the point +where it makes a bend to the south just above the site +of Walton Bridge. The enemy's patrols and pickets +in the immediate neighbourhood at once opened a heavy +fire on the workers, but it was beaten down by that +which was poured upon them from the houses in Walton-on-Thames, +which had been quietly occupied during the +night. The enemy in vain tried to reinforce them, but +in order to do this their troops had to advance into a +narrow peninsula which was swept by a cross-fire of +shells from batteries which had been placed in position +on the south side of the river for this very purpose.</p> + +<p>"By seven o'clock the bridge was completed, and the +troops were beginning to cross over covered by the fire +of the artillery and by an advance guard which had +been pushed over in boats. Simultaneously very much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +the same thing had been going on at Long Ditton, and +fierce fighting was going on in the avenues and gardens +round Hampton Court. Success here, too, attended the +British arms. As a matter of fact, a determined attempt +to cross the river in force had not at all been anticipated +by the Germans. They had not credited their opponents +with the power of so rapidly assembling an army and +assuming an effective and vigorous offensive so soon +after their terrible series of disasters.</p> + +<p>"What they had probably looked for was an attempt to +overwhelm them by sheer force of numbers. They +doubtless calculated that Lord Byfield would stiffen his +flabby masses of 'Defenders' with what trained troops +he could muster, and endeavour to attack their lines +along their whole length, overlapping them on the flank.</p> + +<p>"They realised that to do this he would have to sacrifice +his men in thousands upon thousands, but they knew +that to do so would be his only possible chance of success +in this eventuality, since the bulk of his men could neither +manœuvre nor deploy. Still they reckoned that in the +desperate situation of the British, he would make up his +mind to do this.</p> + +<p>"On their part, although they fully realised the possibility +of being overwhelmed by such tactics, they felt +pretty confident that, posted as they were behind a perfect +network of small rivers and streams which ran +down to join the Thames, they would at least succeed +in beating off the attack with heavy loss, and stood no +bad chance of turning the repulse into a rout by skilful +use of Frölich's Cavalry Division, which would be irresistible +when attacking totally untrained troops after +they had been shattered and disorganised by artillery +fire. This, at least, is the view of those experts with +whom I have spoken.</p> + +<p>"What, perhaps, tended rather to confirm them in +their theories as to the action of the British was the +rifle firing that went on along the whole of their front +all night through. The officers in charge of the various +units which conglomerated together formed the forces +facing the Saxons, had picked out the few men under +their command who really had some little idea of using +a rifle, and, supplied with plenty of ammunition, had +sent them forward in numerous small parties with general +orders to approach as near the enemy's picket line as +possible, and as soon as fired on to lie down and open fire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +in return. So a species of sniping engagement went +on from dark to dawn. Several parties got captured or +cut up by the German outlying troops and many others +got shot by neighbouring parties of snipers. But, although +they did not in all probability do the enemy much damage, +yet they kept them on the alert all night, and led them +to expect an attack in the morning. One way and +another luck was entirely on the side of the patriots that +morning.</p> + +<p>"When daylight came the British massed to the westward +of Staines had such a threatening appearance +from their immense numbers, and their fire from their +batteries of heavy guns and howitzers on the south +side of the river, which took the German left flank in, +was so heavy that Prince Henry, who was there in +person, judged an attack to be imminent, and would +not spare a man to reinforce his troops at Shepperton +and Halliford, who were, numerically, totally inadequate +to resist the advance of the British once they got across +the river.</p> + +<p>"He turned a deaf ear to the most imploring requests +for assistance, but ordered the officer in command at +Hounslow to move down at once and drive the British +into the river. So it has been reported by our prisoners. +Unluckily for him this officer had his hands quite full +enough at this time; for the British, who had crossed +at Long Ditton, had now made themselves masters of +everything east of the Thames Valley branch of the +London and South-Western Railway, were being continually +reinforced, and were fast pushing their right +along the western bank of the river.</p> + +<p>"Their left was reported to be at Kempton Park, where +they joined hands with those who had effected a crossing +near Walton-on-Thames. More bridges were being built +at Platt's Eyot, Tagg's Eyot, and Sunbury Lock, while +boats and wherries in shoals appeared from all creeks +and backwaters and hiding-places as soon as both banks +were in the hands of the British.</p> + +<p>"Regulars, Militia, and, lastly, Volunteers, were now +pouring across in thousands. Forward was still the word. +About noon a strong force of Saxons was reported to be +retreating along the road from Staines to Brentford. +They had guns with them, which engaged the field batteries +which were at once pushed forward by the British to +attack them. These troops, eventually joining hands<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +with those at Hounslow, opposed a more determined +resistance to our advance than we had hitherto encountered.</p> + +<p>"According to what we learned subsequently from +prisoners and others, they were commanded by Prince +Henry of Würtemberg in person. He had quitted his +position at Staines, leaving only a single battalion and +a few guns as a rearguard to oppose the masses of the +'Defenders' who threatened him in that direction, and +had placed his troops in the best position he could to +cover the retreat of the rest of his corps from the line +they had been occupying. He had, it would appear, +soon after the fighting began, received the most urgent +orders from Von Kronhelm to fall back on London and +assist him in the street fighting that had now been +going on without intermission for the best part of two +days. Von Kronhelm probably thought that he would +be able to draw off some of his numerous foes to the +westward. But the message was received too late. +Prince Henry did his best to obey it, but by this time +the very existence of the XIIth Corps was at stake on +account of the totally unexpected attack on his left rear +by the British regular troops.</p> + +<p>"He opposed such a stout resistance with the troops +under his immediate command that he brought the +British advance to a temporary standstill, while in his +rear every road leading Londonward was crowded with +the rest of his army as they fell back from West Drayton, +Uxbridge, Ruislip and Pinner. Had they been facing +trained soldiers they would have found it most difficult, +if not impossible, to do this; but as it was the undisciplined +and untrained masses of the League of +Defenders lost a long time in advancing, and still longer in +getting over a series of streams and dykes that lay between +them and the abandoned Saxon position.</p> + +<p>"They lost heavily, too, from the fire of the small rearguards +that had been left at the most likely crossing-places. +The Saxons were therefore able to get quite +well away from them, and when some attempt was being +made to form up the thousands of men who presently +found themselves congregated on the heath east of +Uxbridge, before advancing farther, a whole brigade of +Frölich's heavy cavalry suddenly swept down upon them +from behind Ickenham village. The <i>débâcle</i> that followed +was frightful. The unwieldy mass of 'Leaguers'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +swayed this way and that for a moment in the panic +occasioned by the sudden apparition of the serried +masses of charging cavalry that were rushing down on +them with a thunder of hoofs that shook the earth. A +few scattered shots were fired, without any perceptible +effect, and before they could either form up or fly the +German Reiters were upon them. It was a perfect +massacre. The 'Leaguers' could oppose no resistance +whatever. They were ridden down and slaughtered with +no more difficulty than if they had been a flock of +sheep. Swinging their long, straight swords, the cavalrymen +cut them down in hundreds and drove thousands +into the river. The 'Defenders' were absolutely pulverised +and fled westwards in a huge scattered crowd. +But if the Germans had the satisfaction of scoring a +local victory in this quarter, things were by no means +rosy for them elsewhere. Prince Henry, by desperate +efforts, contrived to hold on long enough in his covering +position to enable the Saxons from the central portion +of his abandoned line to pass through Hounslow and +move along the London road, through Brentford.</p> + +<p>"Here disaster befell them. A battery of 4.7 guns was +suddenly unmasked on Richmond Hill, and, firing at a +range of 5,000 yards, played havoc with the marching +column. The head of it also suffered severe loss from +riflemen concealed in Kew Gardens, and the whole force +had to extend and fall back for some distance in a +northerly direction. Near Ealing they met the Uxbridge +brigade, and a certain delay and confusion occurred. +However, trained soldiers such as these are not difficult +to reorganise, and while the latter continued its march +along the main road the remainder moved in several +small parallel columns through Acton and Turnham +Green. Before another half-hour had elapsed there came +a sound of firing from the advanced guard. Orders to +halt followed, then orders to send forward reinforcements.</p> + +<p>"During all this time the rattle of rifle fire waxed +heavier and heavier. It soon became apparent that +every road and street leading into London was barricaded +and that the houses on either side were crammed +with riflemen. Before any set plan of action could be +determined on, the retiring Saxons found themselves +committed to a very nasty bout of street fighting. Their +guns were almost useless, since they could not be placed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +in positions from which they could fire on the barricades +except so close as to be under effective rifle fire. +They made several desperate assaults, most of which +were repulsed. In Goldhawk Road a Jäegar battalion +contrived to rush a big rampart of paving-stones which +had been improvised by the British; but, once over, +they were decimated by the fire from the houses on +either side of the street. Big high explosive shells from +Richmond Hill, too, began to drop among the Saxons. +Though the range was long, the gunners were evidently +well informed of the whereabouts of the Saxon troops +and made wonderfully lucky shooting.</p> + +<p>"For some time the distant rumble of the firing to +the south-west had been growing more distinct in their +ears, and about four o'clock it suddenly broke out comparatively +near by. Then came an order from Prince +Henry to fall back on Ealing at once. What had happened? +It will not take long to relate this. Prince +Henry's covering position had lain roughly between East +Bedfont and Hounslow, facing south-east. He had contrived +to hold on to the latter place long enough to allow +his right to pivot on it and fall back to Cranford +Bridge. Here they were, to a certain extent, relieved +from the close pressure they had been subjected to by +the constantly advancing British troops, by the able and +determined action of Frölich's Cavalry Brigade.</p> + +<p>"But in the meantime his enemies on the left, constantly +reinforced from across the river—while never +desisting from their so far unsuccessful attack on Hounslow—worked +round through Twickenham and Isleworth +till they began to menace his rear. He must abandon +Hounslow, or be cut off. With consummate generalship +he withdrew his left along the line of the Metropolitan +and District Railway, and sent word to the troops on +his right to retire and take up a second position at Southall +Green. Unluckily for him, there was a delay in transmission, +resulting in a considerable number of these +troops being cut off and captured. Frölich's cavalry +were unable to aid them at this juncture, having their +attention drawn away by the masses of 'Leaguers' who +had managed to get over the Colne and were congregating +near Harmondsworth.</p> + +<p>"They cut these up and dispersed them, but afterwards +found that they were separated from the Saxons by a +strong force of British regular troops who occupied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +Harlington and opened a fire on the Reiters that emptied +numerous saddles. They, therefore, made off to the +northward. From this forward nothing could check the +steady advance of the English, though fierce fighting +went on till dark all through Hanwell, Ealing, Perivale, +and Wembley, the Saxons struggling gamely to the last, +but getting more and more disorganised. Had it not +been for Frölich's division on their right they would have +been surrounded. As it was, they must have lost half +their strength in casualties and prisoners.</p> + +<p>"At dark, however, Lord Byfield ordered a general +halt of his tired though triumphant troops, and bivouacked +and billeted them along a line reaching from Willesden on +the right through Wembley to Greenford. He established +his headquarters at Wembley.</p> + +<p>"I have heard some critics say that he ought to have +pushed on his freshest troops towards Hendon to prevent +the remnant of our opponents from re-entering +London; but others, with reason, urge that he is right +to let them into the metropolis, which they will now +find to be merely a trap."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Extracts from the diary of General Von Kleppen, +Commander of the IVth German Army Corps, occupying +London:—</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Dorchester House, Park Lane</span>, <i>Oct.</i> 6. +</div> + +<p>"We are completely deceived. Our position, much as +we are attempting to conceal it, is a very grave one. We +believed that if we reached London the British spirit +would be broken. Yet the more drastic our rule, the +fiercer becomes the opposition. How it will end I fear +to contemplate. The British are dull and apathetic, but, +once roused, they fight like fiends.</p> + +<p>"Last night we had an example of it. This League +of Defenders, which Von Kronhelm has always treated +with ridicule, is, we have discovered too late, practically +the whole of England. Von Bistram, commanding the +VIIth Corps, and Von Haeslen, of the VIIIth Corps, have +constantly been reporting its spread through Manchester, +Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Birmingham and the other +great towns we now occupy; but our Commander-in-Chief +has treated the matter lightly, declaring it to be a +kind of offshoot of some organisation they have in England, +called the Primrose League....</p> + +<p>"Yesterday, at the Council of War, however, he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +compelled to acknowledge his error when I handed +him a scarlet handbill calling upon the British to make +a concerted attack upon us at ten o'clock. Fortunately, +we were prepared for the assault, otherwise I verily believe +that the honours would have rested with the populace +in London. As it is, we suffered considerable reverses +in various districts, where our men were lured into +the narrow side-streets and cut up. I confess I am +greatly surprised at the valiant stand made everywhere +by the Londoners. Last night they fought to the very +end. A disaster to our arms in the Strand was followed +by a victory in Trafalgar Square, where Von Wilberg +had established defences for the purpose of preventing +the joining of the people of the East End with those +of the West...."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV_III" id="CHAPTER_IV_III">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> + +<h3>MASSACRE OF GERMANS IN LONDON.</h3> + + +<div class="right"> +"'<span class="smcap">Daily Telegraph' Office</span>,<br /> +"<i>Oct.</i> 12, 6 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Through the whole of last week the Germans occupying +London suffered great losses. They are now hemmed in +on every side.</p> + +<p>"At three o'clock this morning, Von Kronhelm, having +withdrawn the greater part of the troops from the defence +of the bridges, in an attempt to occupy defensive positions +in North London, the South Londoners, impatient with +long waiting, broke forth and came across the river in +enormous multitudes, every man bent upon killing a +German wherever seen.</p> + +<p>"The night air was rent everywhere by the hoarse, +exultant shouts as London—the giant, all-powerful city—fell +upon the audacious invader. Through our office +windows came the dull roar of London's millions swelled +by the 'Defenders' from the west and south of England, +and by the gallant men from Canada, India, the Cape, +and other British colonies who had come forward to fight +for the Mother Country as soon as her position was known +to be critical.</p> + +<p>"In the streets are to be seen Colonial uniforms side +by side with the costermonger from Whitechapel or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +Walworth, and dark-faced Indians in turbans are fighting +out in Fleet Street and the Strand. In the great struggle +now taking place many of our reporters and correspondents +have unfortunately been wounded, and, alas! four of +them killed.</p> + +<p>"In these terrible days a man's life is not safe from +one moment to another. Both sides seem to have now +lost their heads completely. Among the Germans all +semblance of order has apparently been thrown to the +winds. It is known that London has risen to a man, +and the enemy are therefore fully aware of their imminent +peril. Already they are beaten. True, Von Kronhelm +still sits in the War Office directing operations—operations +he knows too well are foredoomed to failure.</p> + +<p>"The Germans have, it must be admitted, carried on +the war in a chivalrous spirit, until those drastic executions +exasperated the people. Then neither side gave +quarter, and now to-day, all through Islington, Hoxton, +Kingsland, and Dalston, right out eastwards to Homerton, +a perfect massacre of Germans is in progress.</p> + +<p>"Lord Byfield has issued two urgent proclamations, +threatening the people of London with all sorts of +penalties if they kill instead of taking an enemy prisoner, +but they seem to have no effect. London is starved and +angered to such a pitch, that her hatred knows no bounds, +and only blood will atone for the wholesale slaughter +of the innocent since the bombardment of the metropolis +began.</p> + +<p>"The Kaiser has, we hear, left the 'Belvedere,' at +Scarborough, where he has been living incognito. A +confidential report, apparently well founded, has reached +us that he embarked upon the steam-trawler <i>Morning +Star</i> at Scarborough yesterday, and set out across the +Dogger, with Germany, of course, as his destination. +Surely he must now regret his ill-advised policy of +making an attack upon England. He had gauged our +military weakness very accurately, but he had not +counted upon the patriotic spirit of our Empire. It +may be that he has already given orders to Von Kronhelm, +but it is nevertheless a very significant fact that +the German wireless telegraph apparatus on the summit +of Big Ben is in constant use by the German Commander-in-Chief. +He is probably in hourly communication with +Bremen, or with the Emperor himself upon the trawler +<i>Morning Star</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Near Highbury Fields about noon to-day some British +cavalry surprised a party of Germans, and attempted +to take them prisoners. The latter showed fight, whereupon +they were shot down to a man. The British held +as prisoners by the Germans near Enfield have now +been released, and are rejoining their comrades along +the northern heights. Many believe that another and +final battle will be fought north of London, but military +men declare that the German power is already broken. +Whether Von Kronhelm will still continue to lose his +men at the rate he is now doing, or whether he will sue +for peace, is an open question. Personally, he was +against the bombardment of London from the very first, +yet he was compelled to carry out the orders of his +Imperial master. The invasion, the landing, and the +successes in the north were, in his opinion, quite sufficient +to have paralysed British trade and caused such panic +that an indemnity would have been paid. To attack +London was, in his opinion, a proceeding far too dangerous, +and his estimate is now proved to have been the correct +one. Now that they have lost command of the sea, and +are cut off from their bases in Essex, the enemy's situation +is hopeless. They may struggle on, but assuredly the +end can only be an ignominious one.</p> + +<p>"Yet the German eagle still flies proudly over the +War Office, over St. Stephen's, and upon many other +public buildings, while upon others British Royal Standards +and Union Jacks are commencing to appear, each one +being cheered by the excited Londoners, whose hearts +are now full of hope. Germany shall be made to bite +the dust. That is the war-cry everywhere. Many a +proud Uhlan and Cuirassier has to-day ridden to his +death amid the dense mobs, mad with the lust of blood. +Some of the more unfortunate of the enemy have been +lynched, and torn limb from limb, while others have died +deaths too horrible to here describe in detail.</p> + +<p>"Each hour brings to us further news showing how, +by slow degrees, the German army of occupation is being +wiped out. People are jeering at the audacious claim +for indemnity presented to the British Government when +the enemy entered London, and are asking whether we +will not now present a claim to Germany. Von Kronhelm +is not blamed so much as his Emperor. He has been +the cat's paw, and has burned his fingers in endeavouring +to snatch the chestnuts from the fire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p> + +<p>"As a commander, he has acted justly, fully observing +the international laws concerning war. It was only +when faced by the problem of a national uprising that +he countenanced anything bordering upon capital punishment. +An hour ago our censors were withdrawn. They +came and shook hands with many members of the staff, +and retired. This surely is a significant fact that Von +Kronhelm hopes to regain the confidence of London +by appearing to treat her with a fatherly solicitude. +Or is it that he intends to sue for peace at any price?</p> + +<p>"An hour ago another desperate attempt was made +on the part of the men of South London, aided by a large +body of British regulars, to regain possession of the +War Office. Whitehall was once more the scene of a +bloody fight, but so strongly does Von Kronhelm hold +the place and all the adjacent thoroughfares—he apparently +regarding it as his own fortress—that the attack +was repulsed with heavy loss on our side.</p> + +<p>"All the bridges are now open, the barricades are in +most cases being blown up, and people are passing and +repassing freely for the first time since the day following +the memorable bombardment. London streets are, however, +in a most deplorable condition. On every hand +is ruin and devastation. Whole streets of houses rendered +gaunt and windowless by the now spent fires meet the +eye everywhere. In certain places the ruins were still +smouldering, and in one or two districts the conflagrations +spread over an enormous area. Even if peace be +declared, can London ever recover from this present +wreck? Paris recovered, and quickly too. Therefore +we place our faith in British wealth, British industry, +and British patriotism.</p> + +<p>"Yes. The tide has turned. The great revenge now +in progress is truly a mad and bloody one. In Kilburn +this afternoon there was a wholesale killing of a company +of German infantry, who, while marching along the +High Road, were set upon by the armed mob, and practically +exterminated. The smaller thoroughfares, Brondesbury +Road, Victoria Road, Glendall Road, and Priory +Park Road, across to Paddington Cemetery, were the +scene of a frightful slaughter. The Germans died hard, +but in the end were completely wiped out. German-baiting +is now, indeed, the Londoner's pastime, and on +this dark and rainy afternoon hundreds of men of the +Fatherland have died upon the wet roads.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sitting here, in a newspaper office, as we do, and +having fresh reports constantly before us, we are able to +review the whole situation impartially. Every moment, +through the various news-agencies and our own correspondents +and contributors, we are receiving fresh facts—facts +which all combine to show that Von Kronhelm +cannot hold out much longer. Surely the Commander-in-Chief +of a civilised army will not allow his men to +be massacred as they are now being! The enemy's +troops, mixed up in the maze of London streets as they +are, are utterly unable to cope with the oncoming multitudes, +some armed with rifles, and others with anything +they can lay their hands upon.</p> + +<p>"Women—wild, infuriated women—have now made +their reappearance north of the Thames. In more than +one instance, where German soldiers have attempted to +take refuge in houses, these women have obtained petrol, +and, with screams of fiendish delight, set the houses in +question on fire. Awful dramas are being enacted in +every part of the metropolis. The history of to-day is +written in German blood.</p> + +<p>"Lord Byfield has established temporary headquarters +at Jack Straw's Castle, where Von Kronhelm was during +the bombardment, and last night we could see the +signals exchanged between Hampstead and Sydenham +Hill, from whence General Bamford has not yet moved. +Our cavalry in Essex are, it is said, doing excellent work. +Lord Byfield has also sent a body of troops across from +Gravesend to Tilbury, and these have regained Maldon +and Southminster after some hard fighting. Advices from +Gravesend state that further reinforcements are being +sent across the river to operate against the East of +London and hem in the Germans on that side.</p> + +<p>"So confident is London of success that several +of the railways are commencing to reorganise their +traffic. A train left Willesden this afternoon for +Birmingham, the first since the bombardment—while +another has left Finsbury Park for Peterborough, to +continue to York if possible. So wrecked are the +London termini, however, that it must be some weeks +before trains can arrive or be despatched from either +Euston, King's Cross, Paddington, Marylebone, or St. +Pancras. In many instances the line just north of the +terminus is interrupted by a blown-up tunnel or a fallen +bridge, therefore the termination of traffic must, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +the present, be at some distance north on the outskirts +of London.</p> + +<p>"Shops are also opening in South London, though +they have but little to sell. Nevertheless, this may be +regarded as a sign of renewed confidence. Besides, +supplies of provisions are now arriving, and the London +County Council and the Salvation Army are distributing +free soup and food in the lower-class districts. Private +charity, everywhere abundant during the trying days of +dark despair, is doing inestimable good among every +class. The hard, grasping employer and the smug +financier, who had hitherto kept scrupulous accounts, +and have been noteworthy on account of their uncharitableness, +have now, in the hour of need, come forward +and subscribed liberally to the great Mansion House +Fund, opened yesterday by the Deputy Lord Mayor of +London. The subscription list occupies six columns of +the issue of to-morrow's paper, and this, in itself, speaks +well for the openheartedness of the moneyed classes of +Great Britain.</p> + +<p>"No movement has yet been made in the financial +world. Bankers still remain with closed doors. The +bullion seized at Southminster and other places is now +under strong British guard, and will, it is supposed, +be returned to the Bank immediately. Only a comparatively +small sum has yet been sent across to Germany. +Therefore all Von Kronhelm's strategy has utterly failed. +By the invasion, Germany has, up to the present moment, +gained nothing. She has made huge demands at which +we can afford to jeer. True, she has wrecked London, +but have we not sent the greater part of her fleet to the +bottom of the North Sea, and have we not created havoc +in German ports?</p> + +<p>"The leave-taking of our two gold-spectacled censors +was almost pathetic. We had come to regard them as +necessities to puzzle and to play practical jokes of +language upon. To-day for the first time we have received +none of those official notices in German, with +English translations, which of late have appeared so +prominently in our columns. The German Eagle is +gradually disentangling his talons from London, and +means to escape us—if he can."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="right"> +10.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Private information has just reached us from a most +reliable source that a conference has been arranged between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +Von Kronhelm and Lord Byfield. This evening the +German Field Marshal sent a messenger to the British +headquarters at Hampstead under a flag of truce. He +bore a despatch from the German Commander asking +that hostilities should be suspended for twenty-four +hours, and that they should make an appointment for a +meeting during that period.</p> + +<p>"Von Kronhelm has left the time and place of meeting +to Lord Byfield, and has informed the British Commander +that he has sent telegraphic instruction to the German +military governors of Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, +Bradford, Leeds, Northampton, Stafford, Oldham, +Wigan, Bolton, and other places, giving notice of +his suggestion to the British, and ordering that for the +present hostilities on the part of the Germans shall be +suspended.</p> + +<p>"It seems more than likely that the German Field +Marshal has received these very definite instructions by +wireless telegraph from the Emperor at Bremen or +Potsdam.</p> + +<p>"We understand that Lord Byfield, after a brief consultation +by telegraph with the Government at Bristol, +has sent a reply. Of its nature, however, nothing is +known, and at the moment of writing hostilities are still +in progress.</p> + +<p>"In an hour's time we shall probably know whether +the war is to continue, or a truce is to be proclaimed."</p> + +<div class="right"> +"Midnight. +</div> + +<p>"Lord Byfield has granted a truce, and hostilities +have now been suspended.</p> + +<p>"London has gone mad with delight, for the German +yoke is cast off. Further information which has just +reached us from private sources states that thousands +of prisoners have been taken by Lord Byfield to-day, +and that Von Kronhelm has acknowledged his position +to be absolutely hopeless.</p> + +<p>"The great German Army has been defeated by our +British patriots, who have fought so valiantly and so +well. It is not likely that the war will be resumed. +Von Kronhelm received a number of British officers at +the War Office half an hour ago, and it is said that he is +already making preparations to vacate the post he has +usurped.</p> + +<p>"Lord Byfield has issued a reassuring message to +London, which we have just received with instructions to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +print. It declares that although for the moment only +a truce is proclaimed, yet this means the absolute cessation +of all hostilities.</p> + +<p>"The naval news of the past few days may be briefly +summarised. The British main fleet entered the North +Sea, and our submarines did most excellent work in the +neighbourhood of the Maas Lightship. Prince Stahlberger +had concentrated practically the whole of his +naval force off Lowestoft, but a desperate battle was +fought about seventy miles from the Texel, full details +of which are not yet to hand. All that is known is that, +having now regained command of the sea, we were +enabled to inflict a crushing defeat upon the Germans, +in which the German flagship was sunk. In the end +sixty-one British ships were concentrated against seventeen +German, with the result that the German fleet has +practically been wiped out, there being 19,000 of the +enemy's officers and men on the casualty list, the greatest +recorded in any naval battle.</p> + +<p>"Whatever may be the demands for indemnity on +either side, one thing is absolutely certain, namely, that +the invincible German Army and Navy are completely +vanquished. The Eagle's wings are trailing in the dust."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V_III" id="CHAPTER_V_III"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>HOW THE WAR ENDED.</h3> + + +<p>Days passed—weary, waiting, anxious days. A whole +month went by. What had really happened at sea was +unknown. After the truce, London very gradually began +to resume her normal life, though the gaunt state of the +streets was indescribably weird.</p> + +<p>Shops began to open, and as each day passed, food +became more plentiful and consequently less dear. The +truce meant the end of the war, therefore thanksgiving +services were held in every town and village throughout +the country.</p> + +<p>There were great prison-camps of Germans at Hounslow, +Brentwood, and Barnet, while Von Kronhelm and his +chief officers were also held as prisoners until some +decision through diplomatic channels could be arrived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +at. Meanwhile a little business began to be done; +thousands began to resume their employment, bankers +reopened their doors, and within a week the distress and +suffering of the poor became perceptibly alleviated. The +task of burying the dead after the terrible massacre of the +Germans in the London streets had been a stupendous +one, but so quickly had it been accomplished that an +epidemic was happily averted.</p> + +<p>Parliament moved back to Westminster, and daily +meetings of the Cabinet were being held in Downing +Street. These resulted in the resignation of the Ministry, +and with a fresh Cabinet, in which Mr. Gerald Graham, +the organiser of the Defenders, was given a seat, a settlement +was at last arrived at.</p> + +<p>To further describe the chaotic state of England occasioned +by the terrible and bloody war would serve no +purpose. The loss and suffering which it had caused the +country had been incalculable; statisticians estimated that +in one month of hostilities it had amounted to £500,000,000, +a part of which represented money transferred from British +pockets to German, as the enemy had carried off some of +the securities upon which the German troops had laid their +hands in London.</p> + +<p>Let us for a moment take a retrospective glance. Consols +were at 50; bread was still 1<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> per loaf; and +the ravages of the German commerce-destroyers had sent +up the cost of insurance on British shipping sky-high. +Money was almost unprocurable; except for the manufacture +of war material, there was no industry; and the +suffering and distress among the poor could not be exaggerated. +In all directions men, women, and children had +been starving.</p> + +<p>The mercantile community were loud in their outcry +for "peace at any price," and the pro-German and Stop-the-War +Party were equally vehement in demanding a +cessation of the war. They found excuses for the enemy, +and forgot the frightful devastation and loss which the +invasion had caused to the country.</p> + +<p>They insisted that the working class gained nothing, +even though the British fleet was closely blockading the +German coast, and their outcry was strengthened when +a few days after the blockade of the Elbe had begun, +two British battleships were so unfortunate as to strike +German mines, and sink with a large part of their crews. +The difficulty of borrowing money for the prosecution<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +of the war was a grave obstacle in the way of the +party of action, and preyed upon the mind of the British +Government.</p> + +<p>Socialism, with its creed of "Thou shalt have no other +god but Thyself," and its doctrine, "Let us eat and +drink, for to-morrow we die," had replaced the religious +beliefs of a generation of Englishmen taught to suffer +and to die sooner than surrender to wrong. In the hour +of trial, amidst smoking ruins, among the holocausts of +dead which marked the prolonged, bloody, and terrible +battles on land and at sea, the spirit of the nation quailed, +and there was really no great leader to recall it to ways +of honour and duty.</p> + +<p>The wholesale destruction of food, and particularly of +wheat and meat, removed from the world's market +a large part of its supplies, and had immediately sent +up the cost of food everywhere, outside the United +Kingdom as well as in it. At the same time, the attacks +upon shipping laden with food increased the cost of +insurance to prohibitive prices upon vessels freighted for +the United Kingdom. The underwriters after the first +few captures by the enemy would not insure at all except +for fabulous rates.</p> + +<p>The withdrawal of all the larger British cruisers for the +purpose of defeating the main German fleets in the North +Sea left the commerce-destroyers a free hand, and there +was no force to meet them. The British liners commissioned +as commerce-protectors were too few and too +slow to be able to hold their adversaries in check.</p> + +<p>Neutral shipping was molested by the German cruisers.</p> + +<p>Whenever raw cotton or food of any kind was discovered +upon a neutral vessel bound for British ports, the vessel +was seized and sent into one or other of the German +harbours on the West Coast of Africa.</p> + +<p>The United Kingdom, indeed, might have been reduced +to absolute starvation had it not been for the fact that +the Canadian Government interfered in Canada to prevent +similar German tactics from succeeding, and held the +German contracts for the cornering of Canadian wheat, +contrary to public policy.</p> + +<p>The want of food, the high price of bread and meat in +England, and the greatly increased cost of the supplies +of raw material sent up the expenditure upon poor relief +to enormous figures. Millions of men were out of employment, +and in need of assistance. Mills and factories<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +in all directions had closed down, either because of the +military danger from the operations of the German +armies, or because of the want of orders, or, again, because +raw materials were not procurable.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, when the invasion began, many rich +foreigners who had lived in England collected what portable +property they possessed and retired abroad to +Switzerland, Italy, and the United States. Their +example was followed by large numbers of British subjects +who had invested abroad, and now, in the hour of distress, +were able to place their securities in a handbag and +withdraw them to happier countries.</p> + +<p>They may justly be blamed for this want of patriotism, +but their reply was that they had been unjustly and +mercilessly taxed by men who derided patriotism, misused +power, and neglected the real interests of the +nation in the desire to pander to the mob. Moreover, +with the income-tax at 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> in the pound, and with the +cost of living enormously enhanced, they declared that +it was a positive impossibility to live in England, while +into the bargain their lives were exposed to danger from +the enemy.</p> + +<p>As a result of this wholesale emigration, in London +and the country the number of empty houses inordinately +increased, and there were few well-to-do people left +to pay the rates and taxes. The fearful burden of the +extravagant debts which the British municipalities +had heaped up was cruelly felt, since the nation had to +repudiate the responsibility which it had incurred for +the payment of interest on the local debts. The Socialist +dream, in fact, might almost be said to have been +realised. There were few rich left, but the consequences +to the poor, instead of being beneficial, were utterly +disastrous.</p> + +<p>Under the pressure of public opinion, constrained by +hunger and financial necessities, and with thousands of +German prisoners in their hands, the British Government +acceded to the suggested conference to secure peace.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Peace was finally signed on January 13, 1911. The +British Empire emerged from the conflict outwardly +intact, but internally so weakened that only the most +resolute reforms accomplished by the ablest and boldest +statesmen, could have restored it to its old position.</p> + +<p>Germany, on the other hand, emerged with an additional<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +21,000 miles of European territory, with an extended +seaboard on the North Sea, fronting the United Kingdom +at Rotterdam and the Texel, and, it was calculated, with +a slight pecuniary advantage. Practically the entire cost +of the war had been borne by England.</p> + +<p>As is always the case, the poor suffered most. The +Socialists, who had declared against armaments, were +faithless friends of those whom they professed to champion. +Their dream of a golden age proved utterly delusive. +But the true authors of England's misfortunes escaped +blame for the moment, and the Army and Navy were +made the scapegoats of the great catastrophe.</p> + +<p>When success did come, it came too late, and could +not be utilised without a great British Army capable of +carrying the war into the enemy's country, and thus +compelling a satisfactory peace.</p> + +<div class="center"><br /><br />THE END.</div> + +<div class="center"><br /><br />PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p> </p> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> + +<p>A table of contents with links has been added at the beginning of the book.</p> + +<p>Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.</p> + +<p>High-resolution images can be accessed by clicking on the images in the text.</p> + +<p>Hyphens removed: +"hill[-]side" (page 152), +"look[-]out" (page 221), +"mid[-]day" (page 149), +"night[-]fall" (page 157), +"rear[-]guard" (page 142), +"sharp[-]shooters" (page 191), +"wide[-]spread (page 230).</p> + +<p>Hyphen added: "by[-]ways" (page 224).</p> + +<p>The following words appear both with and without hyphens and have not +been changed: "back[-]waters", "motor[-]omnibuses", +"pickel[-]haubes".</p> + +<p>Page 43: the double quotation mark after "Well, Mr. Mayor," was changed to a single quotation mark.</p> + +<p>Page 50: "communciation" changed to "communication" (established direct communication).</p> + +<p>Page 60: "to" changed to "the" (came the VIIth Army Corps).</p> + +<p>Page 76: "thei" changed to "their" (some of their field batteries).</p> + +<p>Page 85: "Aryglls" changed to "Argylls".</p> + +<p>Page 89: "squardon" changed to "squadron" (squadron after squadron).</p> + +<p>Page 143: "fellow" changed to "fellows" (hundreds of poor fellows).</p> + +<p>Page 166: "fo" changed to "for" (for our salvation).</p> + +<p>Page 178: "Shepheard's Bush" changed to "Shepherd's Bush".</p> + +<p>Page 187: "Rosyln Hill" changed to "Roslyn Hill".</p> + +<p>Page 253: added "as" (and as soon as fired on).</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INVASION***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 36155-h.txt or 36155-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/6/1/5/36155">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/1/5/36155</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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