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diff --git a/37470.txt b/37470.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a9e23e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/37470.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11715 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Great War in England in 1897, by William Le Queux + +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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Great War in England in 1897 + +Author: William Le Queux + +Illustrator: Cyril Field + +Release Date: September 18, 2011 [EBook #37470] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND IN 1897 *** + + + + +Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive.) + + + + + + + + + + THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND IN 1897 + + + + + _First Edition_ _July 1894._ + _Second Edition_ _July 1894._ + _Edition de Luxe_ _July 1894._ + _Third Edition_ _August 1894._ + _Fourth Edition_ _August 1894._ + _Fifth Edition_ _September 1894._ + _Sixth Edition_ _October 1894._ + _Seventh Edition_ _November 1894._ + _Eighth Edition_ _December 1894._ + + + + +[Illustration: BOMBARDMENT OF LONDON: "IN LUDGATE HILL THE SCENE +WAS AWFUL."] + + + + + THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND IN 1897 + + BY + WILLIAM LE QUEUX, F.R.G.S. + + AUTHOR OF + "GUILTY BONDS" "STRANGE TALES OF A NIHILIST" "CONDEMNED TO SILENCE" + "THE STOLEN SOUL" ETC. + + _ILLUSTRATED BY CAPTAIN CYRIL FIELD, R.M.L.I. + AND T. S. C. CROWTHER_ + + ELEVENTH EDITION + + LONDON + TOWER PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED + 95, MINORIES, E.C. + 1895 + + [_All Rights Reserved_] + + + + + TO + MY FRIEND + ALFRED CHARLES HARMSWORTH + A GENEROUS EDITOR AND PATRIOTIC ENGLISHMAN + I INSCRIBE THIS FORECAST + OF + THE COMING WAR + + + + +PREFACE TO NINTH EDITION + + +In writing this book it was my endeavour to bring vividly before the +public the national dangers by which we are surrounded, and the absolute +necessity which lies upon England to maintain her defences in an +adequate state of efficiency. That my effort has been successful, is +proved alike by the fact that eight editions of the work have already +been exhausted, and by the commendatory and highly gratifying terms in +which it has been criticised by prominent statesmen and leading naval +and military experts, including the Commander-in-Chief of the British +Army. Some professional critics have, it is true, questioned certain +prophetic details concerning naval warfare, but I think the best +possible answer to them is furnished by the results of recent battles in +Chinese waters, which, it is admitted, present to us very serious +object-lessons. A few passages I have revised in order to bring the +events more thoroughly up to date, and in sending my forecast forth +again it is accompanied by a devout hope that ere it be too late our +present insecurity will be remedied, that a national disaster may thus +be prevented, and that England may ever retain her supremacy upon the +sea. + + WILLIAM LE QUEUX. + LONDON, _March_ 1895. + + + + +CRITICISM BY LORD ROBERTS + + + UNITED SERVICE CLUB, + PALL MALL, W. + +DEAR SIR,--I have read with considerable interest your vivid account of +the dangers to which the loss of our naval supremacy may be expected to +expose us, and the means by which you think we should be able to +extricate ourselves from those dangers. I hardly like to criticise a +work which, to be effective, must to a great extent be imaginative, but +on one or two points I would venture to offer a few remarks:-- + +_First_, You refer to the assistance the Home Army might receive from +India and the Colonies. I feel confident that in such an emergency as +you portray, the Colonies and Dependencies of the Empire would be most +anxious to assist the Mother Country; but unless our sea power were +assured, it appears to me that they would be unable to do so. Until our +command of the sea had been regained, we should be powerless to move a +soldier either from or to the United Kingdom. + +_Secondly_, You very properly lay stress on the part which might be +taken by the Volunteers in the defence of the United Kingdom. No one can +appreciate more fully than I do the gallant and patriotic spirit which +animates the Volunteer Force, and I most thoroughly agree with you as to +the value it might be under such serious circumstances as you depict. In +fact, the _raison d'etre_ of the Force is to be able to defend the +country in the event of an invasion. But to enable our Volunteers to do +all that is expected of them, they must be made thoroughly efficient. +Much has been done of late years to this end, but much more is required +before our citizen soldiers can be depended upon to hold their own +against foreign troops whose training is continually being carried on, +and whose organisation is believed to be nearly perfect. It is very +penny-wise and pound-foolish of us not to do all in our power to render +the Volunteers the serviceable body they might be. + +_Thirdly_, You take but little account of the Militia, which the Duke of +Wellington considered to be our mainstay in the event of a threatened +invasion. The Militia would seem to be rather out of fashion at present, +but still it is a very useful force, which only needs encouragement and +development to convert it into a reliable fighting body, capable of +reinforcing and co-operating with our small regular Army. + +You will gather from what I have said that, under the conditions +specified by you, I should be inclined to regard your forecast of the +result of the supposed conflict as being unduly favourable. I can only +add that I trust such conditions may never arise, and that your estimate +of the means immediately available for repelling foreign attack may be +more correct than my own.--Believe me, yours very truly, + + ROBERTS. + + + + +PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. + + +GENERAL LORD ROBERTS, V.C., on reading this forecast of the Coming War, +wrote as follows:-- + + Grove Park, Kingsbury, + Middlesex, March 26, 1894. + + DEAR SIR,--I entirely concur with you in thinking it most + desirable to bring home to the British public in every possible + way the dangers to which the nation is exposed, unless it + maintains a Navy and Army sufficiently strong and well organised + to meet the defensive requirements of the Empire.--Believe me, + yours faithfully, + +[Illustration: Signature of Roberts] + +Field-Marshal Viscount Wolseley, K.P., in his _Life of Marlborough_, +speaks plainly when he says-- + + The last battle fought in England was fought to secure James his + crown. If through the folly and parsimony of our people we + should ever see another, it will be fought in defence of London. + The struggle will be, not for a dynasty, but for our own very + existence as an independent nation. Are we prepared to meet it? + The politician says Yes; the soldier and the sailor say No. + +Such outspoken expressions of opinion from two of our chief military +authorities should cause the British public to pause and reflect. On all +hands it is admitted by both naval and military experts, that, +notwithstanding the increase of our Navy by the Spencer programme, our +country is inadequately defended and totally unprepared for war. The +extraordinary preparations now going forward in France and Russia are +being made in view of an attack upon England, and it is ominous that the +downfall of our Empire is a perpetual subject of discussion in the Paris +press. Although a Briton, I have lived long enough in France to know +that the French, while hating the Germans, despise the English, and are +looking forward to a day not far hence when their battleships will +bombard our south coast towns, and their legions advance over the Surrey +Hills to London. When the Great War does come, it will come swiftly, and +without warning. We are accustomed to scoff at the idea of an invasion +of Britain. We feel secure in our sea-girt island home; we have +confidence in our brave sailor defenders, in our gallant Army, and our +enthusiastic Volunteers, and we entertain a supreme contempt for "mere +foreigners." It is this national egotism, this insular conviction that +foreign engines of war are inferior to our own, that may cause our ruin. +Everything we possess, everything we hold dear, our position among +nations, our very life, depends for its safety, firstly, upon the +undoubted predominance of our Navy over any likely or possible +combination of the Navies of Continental Powers; and, secondly, upon an +Army properly equipped and ready to take the field on receipt of the +momentous word "Mobilise"! + +Is our Navy, even strengthened by the recent programme, in a +sufficiently efficient state to retain the supremacy of the seas? Let us +face the situation boldly, and allow a well-known and distinguished +officer to reply to that question. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas +Symonds, G.C.B., writing to me, says-- + + Our weak Navy, with its inefficient _personnel_, has now to + perform an enormously increased duty, such as defending + increased commerce, food, and coals. Our guns are the worst in + the world in forty-seven vessels, mounting 350 muzzleloaders, + where the French and all foreign Navies use _only + breechloaders_. Dimensions, expense, and very many other reasons + are given for this ruinous custom, but all other Navies mount + breechloaders on vessels of the same dimensions as our own. As + to expenses, such economy (so-called) means the most execrable + parsimony--to ruthlessly murder men and disgrace our flag and + Navy. Our forty-seven feeble vessels, weak in armament, and all + composing them, reduce our Navy to comparative insignificance, + and are a preparation for disgrace and ruin when at war. + +Yet we are content to sit idly by, confident in a strength which two +foreign Powers are slowly but surely undermining! Russia and France, +both barely able to sustain their gigantic Armies, are to-day straining +every nerve to enlarge their naval forces, preparatory to a swift +descent upon our shores. This alarming fact we wilfully disregard, +affecting to find humour in the Franco-Muscovite preparations. Thus, +unless we maintain a Navy of sufficient strength to prevent invasion, +War, with its attendant horrors, is inevitable, and the scene of battle +will be England's smiling fields. + +Turning to our Army, what do we find? Even the civilian writer who +studies it is amazed at the muddle of insufficiency in which it is +steeped. Our Home Defence Scheme is a very elaborate paper problem, but +as our forces have never been mobilised, its many glaring defects must, +alas! remain unremedied until our highways echo to the tramp of an +enemy. Upon this point a volume might be written, but a few plain facts +must suffice. Military experts will, I think, agree when I assert that +the 2nd Corps, as planned by this grotesque scheme, does not and cannot +exist; and while the 3rd Corps may possibly stand as regards infantry, +because its infantry are all Militia, yet it will have neither Regular +cavalry nor guns. Every one of the staffs is a myth, and the equipment +and commissariat arrangements are a complete guarantee of collapse at +the outset of mobilisation. What, for instance, can be said of a system +in which one unit of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade "mobilises," and obtains +its "personal" and part of its "regimental" equipment at Plymouth; the +other part of its regimental paraphernalia, including munitions, at +Aldershot; and its horses--at Dublin? Practically, half our cavalry at +home are to-day, however, incapable of mobilisation, for, according to +the latest return available, I find that over six thousand cavalry men +have no horses! Again, the Volunteers, upon whom we must depend for the +defence of London, have no transport, and the ammunition columns for +the 3rd Army Corps and the Regular cavalry do not exist. Such staggering +deficits as these are in themselves sufficient to show how critical +would be our position if England were invaded, and in order to give an +adequate idea of what we may expect during that reign of terror, I have +penned the narrative which follows. Some, no doubt, believe that our +enemies will treat us with more mercy than I have shown, but I firmly +anticipate that in the desperate struggle for the supremacy of the +world, towns will be bombarded and international law set at naught where +our invaders see a chance of success. Consequently, the ruin must be +widespread, and the loss of life enormous. + +In the various strategical and tactical problems involved, I have +received assistance from a number of well-known naval and military +officers on the active list, whose names I am, however, not at liberty +to divulge. Suffice it to say that, in addition to personally going over +the whole of the ground where battles are fought, I have also obtained +information from certain official documents not made public, and have +endeavoured to bring this forecast up to date by introducing the latest +inventions in guns, and showing the relative strength of Navies as they +will appear in 1897. In this latter I have been compelled to bestow +names upon many ships now building. + +To Lieut. J. G. Stevens, 17th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers, who supplied +me with many details regarding the Volunteers; to Mr. Alfred C. +Harmsworth, F.R.G.S., whose suggestion prompted me to write this +narrative; and to Mr. Harold Harmsworth, who on several occasions +assisted me, I hereby acknowledge my thanks. While many readers will no +doubt regard this book chiefly as an exciting piece of fiction, I trust +that no small proportion will perceive the important lesson underlying +it, for the French are laughing at us, the Russians presume to imitate +us, and the Day of Reckoning is hourly advancing. + + WILLIAM LE QUEUX. + + PRINCE OF WALES'S CLUB, + COVENTRY STREET, W. + + + + + CONTENTS + + + _BOOK I_ + THE INVASION + + CHAP. PAGE + I. THE SHADOW OF MOLOCH 13 + II. A TOTTERING EMPIRE 19 + III. ARMING FOR THE STRUGGLE 23 + IV. THE SPY 28 + V. BOMBARDMENT OF NEWHAVEN 35 + VI. LANDING OF THE FRENCH IN SUSSEX 40 + VII. BOMB OUTRAGES IN LONDON 44 + VIII. FATEFUL DAYS FOR THE OLD FLAG 49 + IX. COUNT VON BEILSTEIN AT HOME 56 + X. A DEATH DRAUGHT 61 + XI. THE MASSACRE AT EASTBOURNE 65 + XII. IN THE EAGLE'S TALONS 70 + XIII. FIERCE FIGHTING IN THE CHANNEL 75 + XIV. BATTLE OFF BEACHY HEAD 85 + + _BOOK II_ + THE STRUGGLE + + XV. THE DOOM OF HULL 99 + XVI. TERROR ON THE TYNE 110 + XVII. HELP FROM OUR COLONIES 125 + XVIII. RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN THE MIDLANDS 137 + XIX. FALL OF BIRMINGHAM 150 + XX. OUR REVENGE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 162 + XXI. A NAVAL FIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES 174 + XXII. PANIC IN LANCASHIRE 186 + XXIII. THE EVE OF BATTLE 193 + XXIV. MANCHESTER ATTACKED BY RUSSIANS 200 + XXV. GALLANT DEEDS BY CYCLISTS 208 + XXVI. GREAT BATTLE ON THE MERSEY 213 + XXVII. THE FATE OF THE VANQUISHED 218 + + _BOOK III_ + THE VICTORY + + XXVIII. A SHABBY WAYFARER 229 + XXIX. LANDING OF THE ENEMY AT LEITH 235 + XXX. ATTACK ON EDINBURGH 243 + XXXI. "THE DEMON OF WAR" 248 + XXXII. FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER OUTSIDE GLASGOW 256 + XXXIII. MARCH OF THE FRENCH ON LONDON 268 + XXXIV. LOOTING IN THE SUBURBS 279 + XXXV. LONDON BOMBARDED 284 + XXXVI. BABYLON BURNING 291 + XXXVII. FIGHTING ON THE SURREY HILLS 299 + XXXVIII. NAVAL BATTLE OFF DUNGENESS 304 + XXXIX. THE DAY OF RECKONING 312 + XL. "FOR ENGLAND!" 324 + XLI. DAWN 328 + + + + +_BOOK I_ + +_THE INVASION_ + + + + + THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND + IN 1897. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE SHADOW OF MOLOCH. + + +War! _War in England!_ + +Growled by thoughtful, stern-visaged men, gasped with bated breath by +pale-faced, terrified women, the startling news passed quickly round the +Avenue Theatre from gallery to boxes. The crisis was swift, complete, +crushing. Actors and audience were appalled. + +Though it was a gay comic opera that was being performed for the first +time, entertainers and entertained lost all interest in each other. They +were amazed, dismayed, awestricken. Amusement was nauseating; War, with +all its attendant horrors, was actually upon them! The popular tenor, +one of the idols of the hour, blundered over his lines and sang terribly +out of tune, but the hypercritical first-night audience passed the +defect unnoticed. They only thought of what might happen; of the dark +cavernous future that lay before. + +War had been declared against Britain--Britain, the Empire that had so +long rested in placid sea-girt security, confident of immunity from +attack, was to be invaded! The assertion seemed preposterous. + +Some, after reading eagerly the newspapers still damp from the press, +smiled incredulously, half inclined to regard the startling intelligence +as a mere fabrication by alarmists, or a perfected phase of the +periodical war-scare which sensational journalists annually launch upon +the world during what is technically known as the "gooseberry" season. + +Other readers, however, recollecting the grave political crises on the +Continent, set their teeth firmly, silent and dumfounded. Upon many +merchants and City men the news fell like a thunderbolt, for financial +ruin stared them in the face. + +Evidently a desperate attempt would be made by the enemy to land on +English soil. Already the startled playgoers could hear in their excited +imagination the clash of arms mingling with the triumphant yell of the +victor, and the stifled, despairing cry of the hapless victim. But who, +they wondered, would be the victim? Would Britannia ever fall to the +dust with broken trident and shattered shield? Would her neck ever lie +under the heel of the foreign invader? No, never--while Britons could +fight. + +The theatre, in its garish blaze of electricity, and crowded with +well-dressed men and women, presented a brilliant appearance, which had +suddenly become strangely incongruous with the feelings of the audience. +In the boxes, where youth and beauty smiled, the bouquets which had been +provided by the management gave to the theatre a bright, artistic touch +of colour. Yet the pungent odour they diffused had become sickening. +Intermingled with other flowers there were many tuberoses. They are +funereal blossoms, ineffably emblematic of the grave. There is death in +their breath. + +When the astounding news fell upon the house the performance was drawing +to a close. A moment before, every one had been silent and motionless, +listening with rapt attention to the tenor's plaintive love song, and +admiring the grace of the fair heroine, but as the terrible truth dawned +upon them they rose, amid a scene of the wildest excitement. The few +papers that had been purchased at fabulous prices at the doors were +eagerly scanned, many of the sheets being torn into shreds in the mad +struggle to catch a glimpse of the alarming telegrams they contained. +For a few moments the agitation nearly approached a panic, while above +the hum and din the hoarse, strident voices of running newsmen could be +heard outside, yelling, "War declared against England! Expected landing +of the enemy! Extrur-speshal!" + +There was a hidden terror in the word "War" that at first held the +amazed playgoers breathless and thoughtful. Never before had its +significance appeared so grim, so fatal, so fraught with appalling +consequences. + +War had been actually declared! There was no averting it! It was a stern +reality. + +No adroit diplomatic negotiations could stem the advancing hordes of +foreign invaders; Ministers and ambassadors were as useless pawns, for +two great nations had had the audacity to combine in the projected +attack upon Great Britain. + +It seemed incredible, impossible. True, a Great War had long been +predicted, forecasts had been given of coming conflicts, and European +nations had for years been gradually strengthening their armies and +perfecting their engines of war, in the expectation of being plunged +into hostilities. Modern improvements in arms and ammunition had so +altered the conditions of war, that there had long been a feeling of +insecurity even among those Powers who, a few years before, had felt +themselves strong enough to resist any attack, however violent. +War-scares had been plentiful, crises in France, Germany, and Russia of +frequent occurrence; still, no one dreamed that Moloch was in their +midst--that the Great War, so long foreshadowed, had in reality +commenced. + +Yet on this hot, oppressive Saturday night in August the extra-special +editions of the papers contained news that startled the world. It ran as +follows:-- + + INVASION OF ENGLAND. + WAR DECLARED BY FRANCE AND RUSSIA. + HOSTILE FLEETS ADVANCING. + EXTRAORDINARY MANIFESTO BY THE TSAR. + [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] + + St. Petersburg, _August 14th_, 4 P.M. + + The most intense excitement has been caused here by a totally + unexpected and amazing announcement made this afternoon by the + Minister of Foreign Affairs to the French Ambassador. It appears + that the Minister has addressed to the French representative a + short note in which the following extraordinary passage + occurs:-- + + "The earnest negotiations between the Imperial Government and + Great Britain for a durable pacification of Bosnia not having + led to the desired accord, His Majesty the Tsar, my august + master, sees himself compelled, to his regret, to have recourse + to force of arms. Be therefore so kind as to inform your + Government that from to-day Russia considers herself in a state + of war with Great Britain, and requests that France will + immediately comply with the obligations of the alliance signed + by President Carnot on February 23rd, 1892." + + A circular note has also been addressed by the Russian Foreign + Office to its ambassadors at the principal Courts of Europe, + stating that, for reasons assigned, the Tsar has resolved to + commence hostilities against Great Britain, and has given his + Armies and Navy orders to commence the invasion. + + This declaration has, no doubt, been contemplated by the Russian + Government for several days. During the past week the French + Ambassador has twice had private audience of the Tsar, and soon + after 11 A.M. to-day he had a long interview at the Ministry of + Foreign Affairs. It is understood that the Minister of War was + also present. + + No official notification of the Declaration of War has been + given to the British Ambassador. This has created considerable + surprise. + + 5.30 P.M. + + Large posters, headed "A Manifesto of His Majesty the Emperor of + Russia," and addressed to his subjects, are being posted up in + the Nevski Prospekt. In this document the Tsar says-- + + "Our faithful and beloved subjects know the strong interest + which we have constantly felt in the destinies of our Empire. + Our desire for the pacification of our western frontier has been + shared by the whole Russian nation, which now shows itself ready + to bear fresh sacrifices to alleviate the position of those + oppressed by British rule. The blood and property of our + faithful subjects have always been dear to us, and our whole + reign attests our constant solicitude to preserve to Russia the + benefits of peace. This solicitude never failed to actuate my + father during events which occurred recently in Bulgaria, + Austro-Hungary, and Bosnia. Our object, before all, was to + effect an amelioration in the position of our people on the + frontier by means of pacific negotiations, and in concert with + the great European Powers, our allies and friends. Having, + however, exhausted our pacific efforts, we are compelled by the + haughty obstinacy of Great Britain to proceed to more decisive + acts. A feeling of equity and of our own dignity enjoins it. By + her recent acts Great Britain places us under the necessity of + having recourse to arms. Profoundly convinced of the justice of + our cause, we make known to our faithful subjects that we + declare war against Great Britain. In now invoking a blessing + upon our valiant armies, we give the order for an invasion of + England." + + This manifesto has excited the greatest enthusiasm. The news has + spread rapidly, and dense crowds have assembled in the Nevski, + the Izak Platz, and on the English Quay, where the posters are + being exhibited. + + The British Ambassador has not yet received any communication + from the Imperial Government. + + Fontainebleau, _Aug. 14th_, 4.30 P.M. + + President Felix Faure has received a telegram from the French + representative at St. Petersburg, stating that Russia has + declared war against Great Britain. The President left + immediately for Paris by special train. + + Paris, _Aug. 14th_, 4.50 P.M. + + An astounding piece of intelligence has this afternoon been + received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is no less than + a Declaration of War by Russia against Britain. The telegram + containing the announcement was received at the Ministry from + the French Ambassador at St. Petersburg soon after three + o'clock. The President was at once informed, and the Cabinet + immediately summoned. A meeting is now being held for the + purpose of deciding upon the course to be pursued with regard to + the obligations of France contracted by the Treaty of Alliance + made after the Cronstadt incident in 1891. The news of impending + hostilities has just been published in a special edition of the + _Soir_, and has created the wildest excitement on the + Boulevards. Little doubt is entertained that France will join + the invading forces, and the result of the deliberations of the + Cabinet is anxiously awaited. President Felix Faure has returned + from Fountainebleau. + + [BY TELEPHONE THROUGH DALZIEL'S AGENCY.] + + 6 P.M. + + The meeting of the Cabinet has just concluded. It has been + resolved that France shall unreservedly render assistance to + Russia. There is great activity at the War Office, and troops + are already being ordered on active service. The excitement in + the streets is increasing. + + [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] + + Berlin, _Aug. 14th_, 5.30 P.M. + + Telegrams received here from St. Petersburg report that Russia + has unexpectedly declared war against Great Britain, and called + upon France to aid her in a combined attack. The report is + scarcely credited here, and further details are being eagerly + awaited. The Emperor, who was to have left for Bremen this + afternoon, has abandoned his journey, and is now in consultation + with the Chancellor. + + Christiansand, _Aug. 14th_, 7.30 P.M. + + The French Channel Squadron, which has been manoeuvring for the + past fortnight off the western coast of Norway, anchored outside + the fjord here last night. This morning, according to rumour, + the Russian Squadron arrived suddenly, and lay about thirty + miles off land. Secret telegraphic orders were received at 6 + P.M. by the Admirals of both fleets almost simultaneously, and + the whole of the vessels left in company half an hour later. + They sailed in a southerly direction, but their destination is + unknown. + + Dieppe, _Aug. 14th_, 8 P.M. + + Ten transport vessels are embarking troops for England. Four + regiments of cavalry, including the 4th Chasseurs and 16th + Guards, are--[1] + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] The conclusion of this message has not reached us, all the wires +connecting this country with France having been cut. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A TOTTERING EMPIRE. + + +The excitement in the theatre had increased, and the curtain had been +rung down. Death shadows, grimly apparent, had fallen upon the house, +and the scene was an extraordinary and unprecedented one. No such wild +restlessness and impetuous agitation had ever before been witnessed +within those walls. Some enthusiast of the pit, springing to his feet, +and drawing a large red handkerchief from his pocket, waved it, +shouting-- + +"Three cheers for good Old England!" to which, after a moment's silence, +the audience responded lustily. + +Then, almost before the last sound had died away, another patriot of the +people mounted upon his seat, crying-- + +"No one need fear. The British Lion will quickly hold the French Eagle +and the Russian Bear within his jaws. Let the enemy come; we will mow +them down like hay." + +This raised a combined laugh and cheer, though it sounded forced and +hollow. Immediately, however, some buoyant spirits in the gallery +commenced singing "Rule, Britannia," the chorus of which was taken up +vigorously, the orchestra assisting by playing the last verse. + +Outside, the scene in the streets was one of momentarily increasing +excitement. The news had spread with marvellous rapidity, and the whole +city was agog. An elbowing, waving, stormy crowd surged down the Strand +to Trafalgar Square, where an impromptu demonstration was being held, +the Government being denounced by its opponents, and spoken of with +confidence by its supporters. The Radical, the Socialist, the Anarchist, +each aired his views, and through the throng a hoarse threatening murmur +condensed into three words, "Down with Russia! Down with France!" The +cry, echoed by a thousand throats, mingled weirdly with the shouts of +the newsmen and the snatches of patriotic songs. + +London was anxious, fevered, and turbulent, that hot, moonless August +night. At that hour all the shops were closed, and the streets only +lighted by the lamps. From the unlighted windows the indistinct shapes +of heads looking out on the scene could be distinguished. + +On the pavements of Piccadilly and Knightsbridge knots of people stood +arguing and wrangling over the probable turn of events. From uncouth +Whitechapel to artistic Kensington, from sylvan Highgate to the villadom +of Dulwich, the amazing intelligence had been conveyed by the presses of +Fleet Street, which were still belching forth tons of damp news-sheets. +At first there was confidence among the people; nevertheless little by +little this confidence diminished, and curiosity gave place to surprise. +But what could it be? All was shrouded in the darkest gloom. In the +atmosphere was a strange and terrible oppression that seemed to weigh +down men and crush them. London was, it appeared, walled in by the +unknown and the unexpected. + +But, after all, England was strong; it was the mighty British Empire; it +was the world. What was there to fear? Nothing. So the people continued +to shout, "Down with France! Down with the Autocrat! Down with the +Tsar!" + +A young man, who had been sitting alone in the stalls, had risen, +electrified at the alarming news, and rushing out, hailed a passing cab, +and drove rapidly away up Northumberland Avenue. This conduct was +remarkable, for Geoffrey Engleheart was scarcely the man to flinch when +danger threatened. He was a tall, athletic young fellow of twenty-six, +with wavy brown hair, a dark, smartly-trimmed moustache, and handsome, +well-cut features. He was happy and easy-going, always overflowing with +genuine _bonhomie_. As the younger son of a very distinguished officer, +he contrived to employ himself for a couple of hours a day at the +Foreign Office, where, although a clerk, he held a very responsible +position. Belonging to a rather good set, he was a member of several +fashionable clubs, and lived in cosy, well-furnished chambers in St. +James's Street. + +Driving first to the house of his _fiancee_, Violet Vayne, at Rutland +Gate, he informed her family of the startling intelligence; then, +re-entering the conveyance, he subsequently alighted before the door of +his chambers. As he paid the cabman, an ill-clad man pushed a newspaper +into his face, crying, "'Ere y'are, sir. Extrur-special edition o' the +_People_. Latest details. Serious scandal at the Forrin' Office." + +Geoffrey started. He staggered, his heart gave a bound, and his face +blanched. Thrusting half a crown into the man's dirty palm, he grasped +the paper, and rushing upstairs to his sitting-room, cast himself into a +chair. In breathless eagerness he glanced at the front page of the +journal, and read the following:-- + + SCANDAL AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE. + A STATE SECRET DIVULGED. + + An extraordinary rumour is going the round of the Service clubs + to-night. It is alleged that the present Declaration of War + would have been impossible but for the treachery of some person + through whose hands the transcript of a secret treaty between + England and Germany passed to-day. + + A prominent Cabinet Minister, on being questioned by our + reporter on the subject, admitted that he had heard the rumour, + but declined to make any definite statement whether or not it + was true. + + There must be a good deal behind the rumour of treachery, + inasmuch as none of the prominent men who have already been + interviewed gave a denial to the statement. + +Geoffrey sat pale and motionless, with eyes fixed upon the printed +words. He read and re-read them until the lines danced before his gaze, +and he crushed the paper in his hands, and cast it from him. + +The little French clock on the mantelshelf chimed the hour of one upon +its silvery bell; the lamp spluttered and burned dim. Still he did not +move; he was dumfounded, rooted to the spot. + +Blacker and blacker grew the crowd outside. The density of the cloud +that hung over all portended some direful tragedy. The impending +disaster made itself felt. An alarming sense of calmness filled the +streets. A silence had suddenly fallen, and was becoming complete and +threatening. What was it that was about to issue from these black +storm-clouds? Who could tell? + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ARMING FOR THE STRUGGLE. + + +London was amazed. + +The provinces were awestricken, paralysed by the startling suddenness +with which the appalling news of the invasion had been flashed to them. +Bewildered, the people could not believe it. + +Only slowly did the vivid and terrible truth dawn individually upon the +millions north and south, and then, during the Day of Rest, they crowded +to the newspaper and telegraph offices, loudly clamouring for further +details of the overwhelming catastrophe that threatened. They sought for +information from London; they expected London, the mighty, all-powerful +capital, to act. + +Through the blazing Sunday the dust rose from the impatient, perspiring +crowds in towns and cities, and the cool night brought no rest from a +turmoil now incessant. Never before were such scenes of intense +enthusiasm witnessed in England, Wales, and Scotland, for this was the +first occasion on which the public felt the presence of invaders at +their very doors. + +A mighty force was on its way to ruin their homes, to sweep from them +their hard-earned savings, to crush, to conquer--to kill them! + +Fierce antagonism rose spontaneously in every Briton's heart, and during +that never-to-be-forgotten day, at every barracks throughout the +country, recruiting-sergeants were besieged by all sorts and conditions +of men eager to accept the Queen's shilling, and strike for their +country's honour. Heedless of danger, of hardship, of the fickle fortune +of the fight, the determination to assist in the struggle rose instantly +within them. + +At York, Chester, Edinburgh, and Portsmouth, volunteers came forward by +hundreds. All were enthusiastic, undrilled, but ready to use their +guns--genuinely heroic patriots of our land, such as are included in no +other nation than the British. Pluck, zeal for the public safety, and an +intense partisanship towards their fellows induced thousands to join the +colours--many, alas! to sink later beneath a foeman's bullet, unknown, +unhonoured heroes! + +Already the Cabinet had held a hurried meeting, at which it had been +decided to call out the whole of the Reserves. Of this the War Office +and Admiralty had been notified, and the Queen had given her sanction to +the necessary proclamations, with the result that telegraphic orders had +been issued to general officers commanding and to officers commanding +Reservists to mobilise instantly. + +The posters containing the proclamation, which are always kept in +readiness in the hands of officers commanding Regimental Districts, were +issued immediately, and exhibited on all public places throughout the +kingdom. On the doors of town halls, churches, chapels, police stations, +military barracks, and in the windows of post offices, these notices +were posted within a few hours. Crowds everywhere collected to read +them, and the greatest enthusiasm was displayed. Militia, Yeomanry, +Volunteers, all were called out, and men on reading the Mobilisation +Order lost no time in obtaining their accoutrements and joining their +depots. The national danger was imminent, and towards their "places of +concentration" all categories of Her Majesty's forces were already +moving. In every Regimental District the greatest activity was +displayed. No country maintains in peace the full complement, or +anything approaching the full complement of transport which its Armies +require; hence vehicles and horses to complete the Army Service Corps +companies, and for the supplemental service, were being immediately +requisitioned from far and near. + +One of the many anomalies discovered during this critical period was, +that while transport could thus be rapidly requisitioned, yet the +impressment of civilians as drivers and caretakers of the animals was +not permitted by the law; therefore on all hands the organisation of +this requisitioned transport was fraught with the utmost difficulty, the +majority of owners and employees refusing to come forward voluntarily. +Registered horses were quickly collected, but they were far from +sufficient for the requirements, and the want of animals caused loud +outcries from every Regimental District. + +The general scheme was the constitution of a Field Army of four cavalry +brigades and three army corps, with behind them a semi-mobile force made +up of thirty-three Volunteer infantry brigades and eighty-four Volunteer +batteries of position. The garrisons having been provided for, the four +cavalry brigades and the 1st and 2nd Army Corps were to be composed +entirely of Regulars, the 3rd Army Corps being made up of Regulars, +Militia, and Volunteers. Organised in brigades, the Yeomanry were +attached to the various infantry brigades or divisions of the Field +Army, and the Regular Medical Staff Corps being much too weak, was +strengthened from companies of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps. In +brief, the scheme was the formation of a composite Field Army, backed by +a second line of partially trained Auxiliaries. + +Such a general scheme to set in battle order our land forces for home +defence was, no doubt, well devised. Nevertheless, from the first moment +the most glaring defects in the working out of details were everywhere +manifested. Stores were badly disposed, there was a sad want of +clothing, camp equipment, and arms, and the arrangements for the joining +of Reservists were throughout defective. Again, the whole Reserve had +been left totally untrained from the day the men left the colours; and +having in view the fact that all leading authorities in Europe had, +times without number, told us that the efficiency of an Army depended +on drill, discipline, and shooting, what could be expected from a system +which relied in great part for the safety of the country on a Reserve, +the members of which were undisciplined, undrilled, and unpractised in +shooting for periods ranging from nine years in the Guards to five years +in the case of the Line? + +On the day of mobilisation not a single regiment in the United Kingdom +was ready to move forward to the front as it stood on parade! Not an +officer, not a man, was prepared. England had calmly slept for years, +while military reforms had been effected in every other European +country. Now she had been suddenly and rudely awakened! + +Everywhere it was commented upon that no practical peace trial of the +mobilisation scheme had ever been made. Little wonder was there, then, +that incomplete details hampered rapid movements, or that the carrying +out of the definite and distinct programme was prevented by gaps +occurring which could not be discovered until the working of the system +had been tested by actual experiment. + +It was this past apathy of the authorities, amounting to little less +than criminal negligence, that formed the text of the vehement +outpourings of Anarchists, Socialists, and "No War" partisans. A +practical test of the efficiency of the scheme to concentrate our forces +should have taken place even at the risk of public expenditure, instead +of making the experiment when the enemy were actually at our doors. + +Another anomaly which, in the opinion of the public, ought long ago to +have been removed, was the fact that the billeting of troops on the +march on the inhabitants of the United Kingdom, other than owners of +hotels, inns, livery stables, and public-houses, is illegal, while +troops when not on the march cannot be billeted at all! At many points +of concentration this absurd and antiquated regulation, laid down by the +Army Act in 1881, was severely felt. Public buildings, churches, and +schools had to be hired for the accommodation of the troops, and those +others who could not find private persons hospitable enough to take them +in were compelled to bivouac where they could. Of tents they had +scarcely any, and many regiments were thus kept homeless and badly fed +several days before moving forward! + +Was there any wonder, then, that some men should lose heart? Did not +such defects portend--nay, invite disaster? + +Strange though it may seem, Geoffrey Engleheart was one of but two +persons in England who had on that Saturday anticipated this sudden +Declaration of War. + +Through the hot night, without heed of the wild turbulence outside, +regardless of the songs of patriots, of gleeful shouts of Anarchists, +that, mingling into a dull roar, penetrated the heavy curtains before +the window of his room, he sat with brows knit and gaze transfixed. + +Words now and then escaped his compressed lips. They were low and +ominous; utterances of blank despair. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SPY. + + +Count von Beilstein was a polished cosmopolitan. He was in many ways a +very remarkable man. + +In London society he was as popular as he had previously been in Paris +and in Berlin. Well-preserved and military-looking, he retained the +vigour, high spirits, and spruce step of youth, spent his money freely, +and led the almost idyllic life of a careless bachelor in the Albany. + +Since his partnership with Sir Joseph Vayne, the well-known shipowner, +father of Geoffrey's _fiancee_, he had taken up a prominent position in +commercial circles, was a member of the London Chamber of Commerce, took +an active part in the various deliberations of that body, and in the +City was considered a man of considerable importance. + +How we of the world, however shrewd, are deceived by outward +appearances! + +Of the millions in London there were but two men who knew the truth; who +were aware of the actual position held by this German landed proprietor. +Indeed, the Count's friends little dreamed that under the outward cloak +of careless ease induced by wealth there was a mind endowed with a +cunning that was extraordinary, and an ingenuity that was marvellous. +Truth to tell, Karl von Beilstein, who posed as the owner of the great +Beilstein estates, extending along the beautiful valley of the +Moselle, between Alf and Cochem, was not an aristocrat at all, and +possessed no estate more tangible than the proverbial chateau in Spain. + +[Illustration: "COUNT VON BEILSTEIN WAS A SPY!"] + +Count von Beilstein was a _spy_! + +His life had been a strangely varied one; few men perhaps had seen more +of the world. His biography was recorded in certain police registers. +Born in the Jews' quarter at Frankfort, he had, at an early age, turned +adventurer, and for some years was well known at Monte Carlo as a +successful gamester. But the Fickle Goddess at last forsook him, and +under another name he started a bogus loan office in Brussels. This, +however, did not last long, for the police one night made a raid on the +place, only to discover that Monsieur had flown. An extensive robbery of +diamonds in Amsterdam, a theft of bonds while in transit between Hanover +and Berlin, and the forgery of a large quantity of Russian rouble notes, +were events which followed in quick succession, and in each of them the +police detected the adroit hand of the man who now called himself the +Count von Beilstein. At last, by sheer ill-luck, he fell into the grip +of the law. + +He was in St. Petersburg, where he had opened an office in the Bolshaia, +and started as a diamond dealer. After a few genuine transactions he +obtained possession of gems worth nearly L20,000, and decamped. + +But the Russian police were quickly at his heels, and he was arrested in +Riga, being subsequently tried and condemned by the Assize Court at St. +Petersburg to twelve years' exile in Siberia. In chains, with a convoy +of convicts he crossed the Urals, and tramped for weeks on the +snow-covered Siberian Post Road. + +His name still appears on the register at the forwarding prison of +Tomsk, with a note stating that he was sent on to the silver mines of +Nertchinsk, the most dreaded in Asiatic Russia. + +Yet, strangely enough, within twelve months of his sentence he appeared +at Royat-les-Bains, in Auvergne, posing as a Count, and living +expensively at one of the best hotels. + +There was a reason for all this. The Russian Government, when he was +sentenced, were well aware of his perfect training as a cosmopolitan +adventurer, of his acquaintance with persons of rank, and of his cool +unscrupulousness. Hence it was that one night while on the march along +the Great Post Road to that bourne whence few convicts return, it was +hinted to him by the captain of Cossacks, that he might obtain his +liberty, and a good income in addition, if he consented to become a +secret agent of the Tsar. + +The authorities desired him to perform a special duty; would he consent? +He could exchange a life of heavy toil in the Nertchinsk mines for one +of comparative idleness and ease. The offer was tempting, and he +accepted. + +That same night it was announced to his fellow-convicts that the Tsar +had pardoned him; his leg-fetters were thereupon struck off, and he +started upon his return to St. Petersburg to receive instructions as to +the delicate mission he was to perform. + +It was then, for the first time, that he became the Count von Beilstein, +and his subsequent actions all betrayed the most remarkable daring, +forethought, and tact. With one object in view he exercised an amount of +patience that was almost incredible. One or two minor missions were +entrusted to him by his official taskmasters on the banks of the Neva, +and in each he acquitted himself satisfactorily. Apparently he was a +thoroughly patriotic subject of the Kaiser, with tastes strongly +anti-Muscovite, and after his partnership with Sir Joseph Vayne he +resided in London, and mixed a good deal with military men, because he +had, he said, held a commission in a Hussar regiment in the Fatherland, +and took the liveliest interest in all military matters. + +Little did those officers dream that the information he gained about +improvements in England's defences was forwarded in regular and +carefully-written reports to the Russian War Office, or that the Tsar's +messenger who carried weekly despatches between the Russian Ambassador +in London and his Government frequently took with him a packet +containing plans and tracings which bore marginal notes in the angular +handwriting of the popular Count von Beilstein! + +Early in the morning of this memorable day when the startling news of +the Declaration of War had reached England, a telegram had been handed +to the Tsar's secret agent while he was still in bed. + +He read it through; then stared thoughtfully up at the ceiling. + +The message, in code, from Berlin, stated that a draft of a most +important treaty between Germany and England had been despatched from +the German Foreign Office, and would arrive in London that day. The +message concluded with the words, "It is imperative that we should have +a copy of this document, or at least a summary of its contents, +immediately." + +Although sent from Berlin, the Count was well aware that it was an order +from the Foreign Minister in St. Petersburg, the message being +transmitted to Berlin first, and then retransmitted to London, in order +to avoid any suspicion that might arise in the case of messages +exchanged direct with the Russian capital. Having read the telegram +through several times, he whistled to himself, rose quickly, dressed, +and breakfasted. While having his meal, he gave some instructions to +Grevel, his valet, and sent him out upon an errand, at the same time +expressing his intention of waiting in until his return. + +"Remember," the Count said, as his man was going out, "be careful to +arouse no suspicion. Simply make your inquiries in the proper quarter, +and come back immediately." + +At half-past twelve o'clock, as Geoffrey Engleheart was busy writing +alone in his room at the Foreign Office, he was interrupted by the +opening of the door. + +"Hulloa, dear boy! I've found my way up here by myself. Busy, as usual, +I see!" cried a cheery voice as the door slowly opened, and Geoffrey +looking up saw it was his friend the Count, well groomed and fashionably +attired in glossy silk hat, perfect-fitting frock coat, and varnished +boots. He called very frequently upon Engleheart, and had long ago +placed himself on excellent terms with the messengers and doorkeepers, +who looked upon him as a most generous visitor. + +"Oh, how are you?" Engleheart exclaimed, rising and shaking his hand. +"You must really forgive me, Count, but I quite forgot my appointment +with you to-day." + +"Oh, don't let me disturb you, pray. I'll have a glance at the paper +till you've finished," and casting himself into a chair near the window +he took up the _Times_ and was soon absorbed in it. + +A quarter of an hour went by in silence, while Engleheart wrote on, +calmly unconscious that there was a small rent in the newspaper the +Count was reading, and that through it he could plainly see each word of +the treaty as it was transcribed from the secret code and written down +in plain English. + +"Will you excuse me for ten minutes?" Geoffrey exclaimed presently. "The +Cabinet Council is sitting, and I have to run over to see Lord Stanbury +for a moment. After I return I must make another copy of this paper, and +then I shall be free." + +The Count, casting the newspaper wearily aside, glanced at his watch. + +"It's half-past one," he said. "You'll be another half-hour, if not +more. After all, I really think, old fellow, I'll go on down to +Hurlingham. I arranged to meet the Vaynes at two o'clock." + +"All right. I'll run down in a cab as soon as I can get away," answered +Engleheart. + +"Good. Come on as soon as you can. Violet will be expecting you, you +know." + +"Of course I shall," replied his unsuspicious friend, and they shook +hands, after which the Count put on his hat and sauntered jauntily out. + +In Parliament Street he jumped into his phaeton, but instead of driving +to Hurlingham gave his man orders to proceed with all speed to the +General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand. Within half an hour from the +time he had shaken the hand of his unsuspecting friend, a message in +code--to all intents and purposes a commercial despatch--was on its way +to "Herr Brandt, 116 Friedrich Strasse, Berlin." + +That message contained an exact transcript of the secret treaty! + +[Illustration: THE RUSSIAN SPY'S TELEGRAM.] + +Almost immediately after the Count had left, Geoffrey made a discovery. +From the floor he picked up a small gold pencil-case which he knew +belonged to von Beilstein. + +Engleheart was sorely puzzled to know why the Count should require a +pencil if not to write, and it momentarily flashed across his mind that +he might have copied portions of the treaty. But the next minute he +dismissed the suspicion as ungrounded and preposterous, and placing the +pencil in his pocket went in search of Lord Stanbury. + +It was only the statement he read in the _People_ later, alleging +treachery at the Foreign Office, that recalled the incident to his mind. +Then the horrible truth dawned upon him. He saw how probable it was that +he had been tricked. + +He knew that the mine was already laid; that the only thing that had +prevented an explosion that would shake the whole world had been the +absence of definite knowledge as to the exact terms of the alliance +between England, Germany, Italy, and Austria. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +BOMBARDMENT OF NEWHAVEN. + + +At sea the night was dark and moonless. A thick mist hung near the land. +The Coastguard and Artillery on our southern and eastern shores spent a +terribly anxious time, peering from their points of vantage out into the +cavernous darkness where no light glimmered. The Harbour Defence +Flotilla was in readiness, and under the black cliffs sentinels kept +watch with every nerve strained to its highest tension, for the safety +of England now depended upon their alertness. The great waves crashed +and roared, and the mist, obscuring the light of vessels passing up and +down the Channel, seemed to grow more dense as the hours wore on. + +In the midst of the feverish excitement that had spread everywhere +throughout the length and breadth of the land, the troops were, a couple +of hours after the receipt of the alarming news in London, already being +mobilised and on their way south and east by special trains. Men, arms, +ammunition, and stores were hurried forward to repel attack, and in the +War Office and Admiralty, where the staffs had been suddenly called +together, the greatest activity prevailed. Messages had been flashed +along the wires in every direction giving orders to mobilise and +concentrate at certain points, and these instructions were being obeyed +with that promptness for which British soldiers and sailors are +proverbial. + +Yet the high officials at the War Office looked grave, and although +affecting unconcern, now and then whispered ominously together. They +knew that the situation was critical. An immediate and adequate naval +defence was just possible, but the Channel Squadron was manoeuvring off +the Irish coast, and both the Coastguard Squadron and the Steam Reserve +at the home ports were very weak. It was to our land army that we had to +trust, and they were divided in opinion as to the possibility to +mobilise a sufficient force in time to bar the advance. + +Military experts did not overlook the fact that to Dunkirk, Calais, +Boulogne, Dieppe, Fecamp, Havre, Honfleur, and Cherbourg ran excellent +lines of railway, with ample rolling-stock, all Government property, and +at the beck and call of the French War Minister. In the various ports +there was adequate wharf accommodation and plenty of steam tonnage. From +the brief official despatches received from Paris before the cutting of +the wires, it was apparent that the French War Office had laid its plans +with much forethought and cunning, and had provided against any +_contretemps_. An army of carpenters and engineers had been put to work +in the ports to alter the fittings of such of the merchant steamers as +were destined to convey horses, and these fittings, prepared beforehand, +were already in position. Four army corps had for several weeks been +manoeuvring in Normandy, so that the Reservists had become accustomed to +their work, and in excellent condition for war; therefore these facts, +coupled with the strong support certain to be rendered by the warships +of the Tsar, led experts to regard the outlook as exceedingly gloomy. + +For years military and naval men had discussed the possibilities of +invasion, haggled over controversial points, but had never arrived at +any definite opinion as to the possibility of an enemy's success. Now, +however, the defences of the country were to be tested. + +Our great Empire was at stake. + +The power of steam to cause rapid transit by land and sea, the +uncertainty of the place of disembarkment, and the great weight of +modern naval artillery, combined to render the defences of England on +the coast itself most uncertain and hazardous, and to cause grave doubts +to arise in the minds of those who at that critical moment were +directing the forward movement of the forces. + +The British public, whose national patriotism found vent in expressions +of confidence in the Regular Army and Volunteers, were ignorant of the +facts. They knew that two great Powers had combined to crush our island +stronghold, and were eager that hostilities should commence in order +that the enemy should be taught a severe lesson for their presumption. + +They, however, knew nothing of the plain truth, that although the 1st +Army Corps at Aldershot would be ready to move at a few hours' notice, +yet it was hopeless to try and prevent the disembarkation of the French +army corps along a long line of unprotected coast by the action of a +land force only one-third of their strength. + +So, by the water's edge, the lonely posts were kept through the night by +patient, keen-sighted sentinels, ready at any moment to raise the alarm. +But the dense mist that overhung everything was tantalising, hiding +friend and foe alike, and no sound could be heard above the heavy roar +of the waters as they rolled in over the rocks. + +London, infuriated, enthusiastic, turbulent, knew no sleep that night. +The excitement was at fever-heat. At last, soon after daybreak, there +came the first news of the enemy. A number of warships had suddenly +appeared through the fog off the Sussex coast, and had lost no time in +asserting their presence and demanding a large sum from the Mayor of +Newhaven. + +The French first-class battery cruiser _Tage_, the _Devastation_, the +_Pothuau_, the _Arethuse_ and others, finding that their demand was +unheeded, at once commenced shelling the town. Although our Coastguard +Squadron and first-class Steam Reserve had mobilised, yet they had +received orders and sailed away no one knew whither. The forts replied +vigorously, but the fire of the enemy in half an hour had wrought +terrible havoc both in the town and in the forts, where several of the +guns had been rendered useless and a number of men had been killed. +Hostilities had commenced. + +Never during the century had such scenes been witnessed in the streets +of London as on that memorable Sunday morning. The metropolis was +thrilled. + +Dawn was spreading, saffron tints were in the sky heralding the sun's +coming. Yet Regent Street, Piccadilly, and the Strand, usually entirely +deserted at that hour on a Sabbath morning, were crowded as if it were +midday. + +Everywhere there was excitement. Crowds waited in front of the newspaper +offices in Fleet Street, boys with strident voices sold the latest +editions of the papers, men continued their snatches of patriotic +ballads, while women were blanched and scared, and children clung to +their mothers' skirts timidly, vaguely fearing an unknown terror. + +The shadow of coming events was black and dim, like a funeral pall. The +fate of our Empire hung upon a thread. + +Twenty-four hours ago England was smiling, content in the confidence of +its perfect safety and immunity from invasion; yet all the horrors of +war had, with a startling, appalling suddenness, fallen and bewildered +it. The booming of French cannon at Newhaven formed the last salute of +many a brave Briton who fell shattered and lifeless. + +As the sun rose crimson from the grey misty sea, the work of destruction +increased in vigour. From the turrets of the floating monsters smoke and +flame poured forth in continuous volume, while shot and shell were +hurled into the town of Newhaven, which, it was apparent, was the centre +of the enemy's attack, and where, owing to the deepening of the harbour, +troops could effect a landing under cover of the fire from the +ironclads. + +Frightful havoc was wrought by the shells among the houses of the little +town, and one falling on board the Brighton Railway Company's mail +steamer _Paris_, lying alongside the station quay, set her on fire. In +half an hour railway station and quays were blazing furiously, while the +flames leaped up about the ship, wrapping themselves about the two +white funnels and darting from every porthole. + +The Custom House opposite quickly ignited, and the inflammable nature of +its contents caused the fire to assume enormous proportions. Meanwhile +the bombardment was kept up, the forts on shore still replying with +regularity, steadiness, and precision, and the armoured coast train of +the 1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers, under Captain Brigden, rendering +excellent service. In one of the forts a man was standing in front of a +small camera-obscura, on the glass of which were a number of mysterious +marks. This glass reflected the water and the ships; and as he stood by +calmly with his hand upon a keyboard, he watched the reflections of the +hostile vessels moving backwards and forwards over the glass. Suddenly +he saw a French gunboat, after a series of smartly-executed manoeuvres, +steaming straight over one of the marks, and, quick as lightning, his +finger pressed one of the electric keys. A terrific explosion followed, +and a column of green water shot up at the same instant. The gunboat +_Lavel_ had been suddenly blown almost out of the water by a submarine +mine! Broken portions of her black hull turned over and sank, and +mangled remains of what a second before had been a crew of enthusiastic +Frenchmen floated for a few moments on the surface, then disappeared. +Not a soul on board escaped. + +Along the telegraph line from the signal-station on Beachy Head news of +the blowing up of the enemy's gunboat was flashed to London, and when, +an hour later, it appeared in the newspapers, the people went half mad +with excitement. Alas, how they miscalculated the relative strength of +the opposing forces! + +They were unaware that our Channel Fleet, our Coastguard Squadron, and +our Reserve were steaming away, leaving our southern shores _practically +unprotected_! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +LANDING OF THE FRENCH IN SUSSEX. + + +The Briton is, alas! too prone to underrate his adversary. It is this +national egotism, this fatal over-confidence, that has led to most of +the reverses we have sustained in recent wars. + +The popular belief that one Briton is as good as half a dozen +foreigners, is a fallacy which ought to be at once expunged from the +minds of every one. The improved and altered conditions under which +international hostilities are carried on nowadays scarcely even admit of +a hand-to-hand encounter, and the engines of destruction designed by +other European Powers being quite as perfect as our own, tact and +cunning have now taken the place of pluck and perseverance. The strong +arm avails but little in modern warfare; strategy is everything. + +Into Brighton, an hour after dawn, the enemy's vessels were pouring +volley after volley of deadly missiles. A party had landed from the +French flagship, and, summoning the Mayor, had demanded a million +pounds. This not being forthcoming, they had commenced shelling the +town. The fire was, for the most part, directed against the long line of +shops and private residences in King's Road and at Hove, and in half an +hour over a hundred houses had been demolished. The palatial Hotel +Metropole stood a great gaunt ruin. Shells had carried large portions of +the noble building away, and a part of the ruin had caught fire and was +burning unchecked, threatening to consume the whole. Church steeples +had been knocked over like ninepins, and explosive missiles dropped in +the centre of the town every moment, sweeping the streets with deadly +effect. The enemy met with little or no opposition. Our first line of +defence, our Navy, was missing! The Admiralty were unaware of the +whereabouts of three whole Fleets that had mobilised, and the ships +remaining in the Channel, exclusive of the Harbour Defence Flotilla, +were practically useless. + +At Eastbourne, likewise, where a similar demand had been made, shot fell +thick as hail, and shells played fearful havoc with the handsome +boarding-houses and hotels that line the sea front. From the redoubt, +the Wish Tower, and a battery on the higher ground towards Beachy Head, +as well as a number of other hastily constructed earthworks, a reply was +made to the enemy's fire, and the guns in the antiquated martello +towers, placed at intervals along the beach, now and then sent a shot +towards the vessels. But such an attempt to keep the great ironclads at +bay was absurdly futile. One after another shells from the monster guns +of the Russian ship _Pjotr Velikij_, and the armoured cruisers _Gerzog +Edinburskij_, _Krejser_, and _Najezdnik_, crashed into these out-of-date +coast defences, and effectually silenced them. In Eastbourne itself the +damage wrought was enormous. Every moment shells fell and exploded in +Terminus and Seaside Roads, while the aristocratic suburb of Upperton, +built on the hill behind the town, was exposed to and bore the full +brunt of the fray. The fine modern Queen Anne and Elizabethan residences +were soon mere heaps of burning debris. Every moment houses fell, +burying their occupants, and those people who rushed out into the roads +for safety were, for the most part, either overwhelmed by debris, or had +their limbs shattered by flying pieces of shell. + +The situation was awful. The incessant thunder of cannon, the screaming +of shells whizzing through the air, to burst a moment later and send a +dozen or more persons to an untimely grave, the crash of falling walls, +the clouds of smoke and dust, and the blazing of ignited wreckage, +combined to produce a scene more terrible than any witnessed in England +during the present century. + +And all this was the outcome of one man's indiscretion and the cunning +duplicity of two others! + +At high noon Newhaven fell into the hands of the enemy. + +The attack had been so entirely unexpected that the troops mobilised and +sent there had arrived too late. The town was being sacked, and the +harbour was in the possession of the French, who were landing their +forces in great numbers. From Dieppe and Havre transports were arriving, +and discharging their freights of fighting men and guns under cover of +the fire from the French warships lying close in land. + +Notwithstanding all the steps taken during the last twenty years to +improve the condition of our forces on land and sea, this outbreak of +hostilities found us far from being in a state of preparedness for war. +England, strangely enough, has never yet fully realised that the +conditions of war have entirely changed. In days gone by, when troops +and convoys could move but slowly, the difficulty of providing for +armies engaged in operations necessarily limited their strength. It is +now quite different. Improved communications have given to military +operations astonishing rapidity, and the facilities with which large +masses of troops, guns, and stores can now be transported to great +distances has had the effect of proportionately increasing numbers. As a +result of this, with the exception of our own island, Europe was armed +to the teeth. Yet a mobilisation arrangement that was faulty and not +clearly understood by officers or men, was the cause of the enemy being +allowed to land. It is remarkable that the military authorities had not +acted upon the one principle admitted on every side, namely, that the +only effective defence consists of attack. The attack, to succeed, +should have been sudden and opportune, and the Army should have been so +organised that on the occurrence of war a force of adequate strength +would have been at once available. + +In a word, we missed our chance to secure this inestimable advantage +afforded by the power of striking the first blow. + +There was an old and true saying, that "England's best bulwarks were her +wooden walls." They are no longer wooden, but it still remains an +admitted fact that England's strongest bulwarks should be her Navy, and +that any other nation may be possessed of an equally good one; also that +our best bulwark should be equal to, or approach, the fighting power of +the bulwarks owned by any two possible hostile nations. + +To be strong is to stave off war; to be weak is to invite attack. It was +our policy of _laissez faire_, a weak Navy and an Army bound up with red +tape, that caused this disastrous invasion of England. Had our Fleet +been sufficient for its work, invasion would have remained a threat, and +nothing more. Our Navy was not only our first, but our last line of +defence from an Imperial point of view; for, as a writer in the _Army +and Navy Gazette_ pointed out in 1893, it was equally manifest and +unquestionable that without land forces to act as the spearhead to the +Navy's over-sea shaft, the offensive tactics so essential to a thorough +statesmanlike defensive policy could not be carried out. Again, the +mobility and efficiency of our Regular Army should have been such that +the victory of our Fleet could be speedily and vigorously followed by +decisive blows on the enemy's territory. + +Already the news of the landing of the enemy had--besides causing a +thrill such as had never before been known in our "tight little +island"--produced its effect upon the price of food in London as +elsewhere. In England we had only five days' bread-stuffs, and as the +majority of our supplies came from Russia the price of bread trebled +within twelve hours, and the ordinary necessaries of life were +proportionately dearer. + +But the dice had been thrown, and the sixes lay with Moloch. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +BOMB OUTRAGES IN LONDON. + + +On that never-to-be-forgotten Sunday, scenes were witnessed in the +metropolis which were of the most disgraceful character. The teeming +city, from dawn till midnight, was in a feverish turmoil, the throngs in +its streets discussing the probable turn of affairs, singing patriotic +songs, and giving vent to utterances of heroic intentions interspersed +with much horse play. + +In Trafalgar Square, the hub of London, a mass meeting of Anarchists and +Socialists was held, at which the Government and military authorities +were loudly denounced for what was termed their criminal apathy to the +interests and welfare of the nation. The Government, it was contended, +had betrayed the country by allowing the secret of the German alliance +to fall into the hands of its enemies, and the Ministers, adjudged +unworthy the confidence of the nation, were by the resolutions adopted +called upon to resign immediately. The crisis was an excuse for +Anarchism to vent its grievances against law and order, and, unshackled, +it had spread with rapidity through the length and breadth of the land. +In "The Square" the scarlet flag and the Cap of Liberty were everywhere +in evidence, and, notwithstanding the presence of the police, the +leaders of Anarchy openly advocated outrage, incendiarism, and murder. +At length the police resolved to interfere, and this was the signal for +a terrible uprising. The huge mob, which in the mellow sunset filled +the great Square and blocked all its approaches, became a seething, +surging mass of struggling humanity. The attack by the police, who were +ordered to disperse them, only incensed them further against the +authorities, whom they blamed for the catastrophe that had befallen our +country. Angry and desperate they fought with the police, using both +revolvers and knives. + +The scene was terrible. The scum of the metropolis had congregated to +wage war against their own compatriots whom they classed among enemies, +and for an hour in the precincts of the Square the struggle was for +life. Dozens of constables were shot dead, hundreds of Anarchists and +Socialists received wounds from batons, many succumbing to their +injuries, or being trampled to death by the dense mob. It was a +repetition of that historic day known as "Bloody Sunday," only the fight +was more desperate and the consequences far worse, and such as would +disgrace any civilised city. + +Before sundown the police had been vanquished; and as no soldiers could +be spared, Anarchism ran riot in the Strand, Pall Mall, St. Martin's +Lane, Northumberland Avenue, and Parliament Street. Pale, determined +men, with faces covered with blood, and others with their clothes in +shreds, shouted hoarse cries of victory, as, headed by a torn red flag, +they rushed into Pall Mall and commenced breaking down the shutters of +shops and looting them. Men were knocked down and murdered, and the +rioters, freed from all restraint, commenced sacking all establishments +where it was expected spoil could be obtained. At one bank in Pall Mall +they succeeded, after some difficulty, in breaking open the strong room +with explosives, and some forty or fifty of the rebels with eager +greediness shared the gold and notes they stole. + +At the Strand corner of the Square a squad of police was being formed, +in order to co-operate with some reinforcements which were arriving, +when suddenly there was a terrific explosion. + +A bomb filled with picric acid had been thrown by an Anarchist, and when +the smoke cleared, the shattered remains of thirty-four constables lay +strewn upon the roadway! + +This was but the first of a series of dastardly outrages. The advice of +the Anarchist leaders in their inflammatory speeches had been acted +upon, and in half an hour a number of bomb explosions had occurred in +the vicinity, each doing enormous damage, and killing numbers of +innocent persons. After the petard had been thrown in Trafalgar Square a +loud explosion was almost immediately afterwards heard in Parliament +Street, and it was soon known that a too successful attempt had been +made to blow up the Premier's official residence in Downing Street. The +programme of the outrages had apparently been organised, for almost +before the truth was known another even more disastrous explosion +occurred in the vestibule of the War Office in Pall Mall, which wrecked +the lower part of the building, and blew to atoms the sentry on duty, +and killed a number of clerks who were busy at their important duties in +the apartments on the ground floor. + +Through Pall Mall and along Whitehall the mob ran, crying "Down with the +Government! Kill the traitors! Kill them!" About three thousand of the +more lawless, having looted a number of shops, rushed to the Houses of +Parliament, arriving there just in time to witness the frightful havoc +caused by the explosion of two terribly powerful bombs that had been +placed in St. Stephen's Hall and in Westminster Abbey. + +A section of the exultant rioters had gained access to the National +Gallery, where they carried on ruthless destruction among the priceless +paintings there. Dozens of beautiful works were slashed with knives, +others were torn down, and many, cut from their frames, were flung to +the howling crowd outside. Suddenly some one screamed, "What do we want +with Art? Burn down the useless palace! Burn it! Burn it!" + +This cry was taken up by thousands of throats, and on every hand the +rebels inside the building were urged to set fire to it. Intoxicated +with success, maddened by anger at the action of the police, and +confident that they had gained a signal victory over the law, they piled +together a number of historic paintings in one of the rooms, and then +ignited them. The flames leaped to the ceiling, spread to the woodwork, +and thence, with appalling rapidity, to the other apartments. The +windows cracked, and clouds of smoke and tongues of fire belched forth +from them. + +It had now grown dusk. The furious, demoniacal rabble surging in the +Square set up loud, prolonged cheering when they saw the long dark +building burning. In delight they paused in their work of destruction, +watching the flames growing brighter as they burst through the roof, +licking the central dome; and while the timber crackled and the fire +roared, casting a lurid glare upon the tall buildings round and lighting +up the imposing facade of the Grand Hotel, they cheered vociferously and +sang the "Marseillaise" until the smoke half choked them and their +throats grew hoarse. + +These denizens of the slums, these criminal crusaders against the law, +were not yet satiated by their wild reckless orgies. Unchecked, they had +run riot up and down the Strand, and there was scarcely a man among them +who had not in his pocket some of the spoils from jewellers' or from +banks. In the glare of the flames the white bloodstained faces wore a +determined expression as they stood collecting their energies for some +other atrocious outrage against their so-called enemies, the rich. + +At the first menace of excesses, dwellers in the locality had left their +houses and fled headlong for safety to other parts of the city. The +majority escaped, but many fell into the hands of the rioters, and were +treated with scant humanity. Men and women were struck down and robbed, +even strangled or shot if they resisted. The scene was frightful--a +terrible realisation of Anarchist prophecies that had rendered the +authorities absolutely helpless. On the one hand, an enemy had landed on +our shores with every chance of a successful march to London, while on +the other the revolutionary spirit had broken out unmistakably among the +criminal class, and lawlessness and murder were everywhere rife. + +The homes of the people were threatened by double disaster--by the +attack of both enemy and "friend." The terrible bomb outrages and their +appalling results had completely disorganised the police, and although +reinforcements had been telegraphed for from every division in London, +the number of men mustered at Scotland Yard was not yet sufficient to +deal effectually with the irate and rapidly increasing mob. + +As evening wore on the scenes in the streets around the Square were +terrible. Pall Mall was congested by the angry mob who were wrecking the +clubs, when suddenly the exultant cries were succeeded by terrified +shrieks mingled with fierce oaths. Each man fought with his neighbour, +and many men and women, crushed against iron railings, stood half +suffocated and helpless. The National Gallery was burning fiercely, +flames from the great burning pile shot high in the air, illuminating +everything with their flood of crimson light, and the wind, blowing down +the crowded thoroughfare, carried smoke, sparks, and heat with it. + +Distant shrieks were heard in the direction of the Square, and suddenly +the crowd surged wildly forward. Gaol-birds from the purlieus of Drury +Lane robbed those who had valuables or money upon them, and committed +brutal assaults upon the unprotected. A moment later, however, there was +a flash, and the deafening sound of firearms at close quarters was +followed by the horrified shrieks of the yelling mob. Again and again +the sound was repeated. Around them bullets whistled, and men and women +fell forward dead and wounded with terrible curses upon their lips. + +The 10th Hussars had just arrived from Hounslow, and having received +hurried orders to clear away the rioters, were shooting them down like +dogs, without mercy. On every hand cries of agony and despair rose above +the tumult. Then a silence followed, for the street was thickly strewn +with corpses. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +FATEFUL DAYS FOR THE OLD FLAG. + + +A cloudy moonless night, with a gusty wind which now and then swept the +tops of the forest trees, causing the leaves to surge like a summer sea. + +Withered branches creaked and groaned, and a dog howled dismally down in +Flimwell village, half a mile away. Leaning with his back against the +gnarled trunk of a giant oak on the edge of the forest, his ears alert +for the slightest sound, his hand upon his loaded magazine rifle, +Geoffrey Engleheart stood on outpost duty. Dressed in a rough shooting +suit, with a deerstalker hat and an improvised kit strapped upon his +back, he was half hidden by the tall bracken. Standing motionless in the +deep shadow, with his eyes fixed upon the wide stretch of sloping +meadows, he waited, ready, at the slightest appearance of the enemy's +scouts, to raise the alarm and call to arms those who were sleeping in +the forest after their day's march. + +The City Civilian Volunteer Battalion which he had joined was on its way +to take part in the conflict, which every one knew would be desperate. +Under the command of Major Mansford, an experienced elderly officer who +had long since retired from the Lancashire Regiment, but who had at once +volunteered to lead the battalion of young patriots, they had left +London by train for Maidstone, whence they marched by way of Linton, +Marden, and Goudhurst to Frith Wood, where they had bivouacked for the +night on the Sussex border. + +It was known that Russian scouts had succeeded in getting as far as +Wadhurst, and it was expected that one of the French reconnoitring +parties must, in their circuitous survey, pass the border of the wood on +their way back to their own lines. Up to the present they had been +practically unmolested. The British army was now mobilised, and Kent, +Sussex, and Hampshire were overrun with soldiers. Every household gave +men accommodation voluntarily, every hostelry, from the aristocratic +hotels of the watering-places to the unassuming Red Lions of the +villages, was full of Britain's brave defenders. The echoes of old-world +village streets of thatched houses with quaint gables were awakened +night and day by the rumbling of heavy artillery, the shouts of the +drivers as they urged along their teams, and the rattle of ammunition +carts and of ambulance waggons, while on every high road leading south +battalions were on the march, and eager to come within fighting range of +the audacious foreigners. + +At first the peaceful people of the villages gazed, wondered, and +admired, thinking some manoeuvres were about to take place--for military +manoeuvres always improve village trade. But they were very quickly +disillusioned. When they knew the truth--that the enemy was actually at +their doors, that the grey-coated masses of the Russian legions were +lying like packs of wolves in the undulating country between Heathfield, +Etchingham, and the sea--they were panic-stricken and appalled. They +watched the stream of redcoats passing their doors, cheering them, while +those who were their guests were treated to the best fare their hosts +could provide. + +Tommy Atkins was now the idol of the hour. + +Apparently the enemy, having established themselves, were by no means +anxious to advance with undue haste. Having landed, they were, it was +ascertained, awaiting the arrival of further reinforcements and +armaments from both Powers; but nothing definite was known of this, +except some meagre details that had filtered through the American +cables, all direct telegraphic communication with the Continent having +now been cut off. + +Alas! Moloch had grinned. He had sharpened his sickle for the terrible +carnage that was to spread through Albion's peaceful land. + +Terrible was the panic that the invasion had produced in the North. + +Food had risen to exorbitant prices. In the great manufacturing centres +the toiling millions were already feeling the pinch of starvation, for +with bread at ninepence a small loaf, meat at a prohibitive figure, and +the factories stopped, they were compelled to remain with empty stomachs +and idle hands. + +Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, and the larger towns +presented a gloomy, sorry aspect. Business was suspended, the majority +of the shops were closed, the banks barred and bolted, and the only +establishments where any trade flourished were the taverns and music +halls. These were crowded. Drink flowed, gold jingled, and the laughter +at wild jest or the thunder of applause which greeted dancing girls and +comic vocalists was still as hearty as of old. Everywhere there was a +sordid craving for amusement which was a reflex of the war fever. The +people made merry, for ere long they might be cut down by a foeman's +steel. + +Restless impatience thrilled the community from castle to cottage, +intensified by the vain clamourings of Anarchist mobs in the greater +towns. As in London, these shock-headed agitators held high revel, +protesting against everything and everybody--now railing, now +threatening, but always mustering converts to their harebrained +doctrines. In Manchester they were particularly strong. A number of +serious riots had occurred in Deansgate and in Market Street. The mob +wrecked the Queen's Hotel, smashed numbers of windows in Lewis's great +emporium, looted the _Guardian_ office, and set fire to the Town Hall. A +portion of the latter only was burned, the fire brigade managing to +subdue the flames before any very serious damage was occasioned. +Although the police made hundreds of arrests, and the stipendiary sat +from early morning until late at night, Anarchist demonstrations were +held every evening in the city and suburbs, always resulting in +pillage, incendiarism, and not unfrequently in murder. In grey, +money-making Stockport, in grimy Salford, in smoky Pendleton, and even +in aristocratic Eccles, these demonstrations were held, and the +self-styled "soldiers of the social revolution" marched over the granite +roads, headed by a dirty scarlet flag, hounding down the Government, and +crying shame upon them for the apathy with which they had regarded the +presence of the bearded Caucasian Tcherkesses of the White Tsar. + +The kingdom was in wild turmoil, for horror heaped upon horror. Outrages +that commenced in London were repeated with appalling frequency in the +great towns in the provinces. An attempt had been made to assassinate +the Premier while speaking in the Town Hall, Birmingham, the bomb which +was thrown having killed two hard-working reporters who were writing +near; but the Prime Minister, who seemed to lead a charmed existence, +escaped without a scratch. + +In Liverpool, where feeling against the War Office ran high, there were +several explosions, two of which occurred in Bold Street, and were +attended by loss of life, while a number of incendiary fires occurred at +the docks. At Bradford the Town Hall was blown up, and the troops were +compelled to fire on a huge mob of rioters, who, having assembled at +Manningham, were advancing to loot the town. + +The cavalry barracks at York was the scene of a terrific explosion, +which killed three sentries and maimed twenty other soldiers; while at +Warwick Assizes, during the hearing of a murder trial, some unknown +scoundrel threw a petard at the judge, killing him instantly on the +bench. + +These, however, were but few instances of the wild lawlessness and +terrible anarchy that prevailed in Britain, for only the most flagrant +cases of outrage were reported in the newspapers, their columns being +filled with the latest intelligence from the seat of war. + +It must be said that over the border the people were more law-abiding. +The Scotch, too canny to listen to the fiery declamations of hoarse and +shabby agitators, preferred to trust to British pluck and the strong arm +of their brawny Highlanders. In Caledonia the seeds of Anarchy fell on +stony ground. + +In Northern and Midland towns, however, the excitement increased hourly. +It extended everywhere. From Ventnor to the Pentlands, from Holyhead to +the Humber, from Scilly to the Nore, every man and every woman existed +in fearfulness of the crash that was impending. + +It was now known throughout the breadth of our land that the Government +policy was faulty, that War Office and Admiralty organisation was a +rotten make-believe, and, worst of all, that what critics had long ago +said as to the inadequacy of our naval defence, even with the ships +built under the programme of 1894, had now, alas! proved to be true. + +The suspense was awful. Those who were now living in the peaceful +atmospheres of their homes, surrounded by neighbours and friends in the +centre of a great town, and feeling a sense of security, might within a +few days be shot down by French rifles, or mowed down brutally by +gleaming Cossack _shushkas_. The advance of the enemy was expected +daily, hourly; and the people in the North waited, staggered, +breathless, and terrified. Men eagerly scanned the newspapers; women +pressed their children to their breasts. + +In the mining districts the shock had not inspired the same amount of +fear as at the ports and in the manufacturing centres. Possibly it was +because work was still proceeding in the pits, and constant work +prevents men from becoming restless, or troubling themselves about a +nation's woes. Toilers who worked below knew that foreign invaders had +landed, and that the Militia and Volunteers had been called out, but +they vaguely believed that, the seat of war being away down south--a +very long distance in the imagination of most of them--everything would +be over before they could be called upon to take part in the struggle. +In any case coal and iron must be got, they argued, and while they had +work they had little time for uneasiness. Nevertheless, great numbers of +stalwart young miners enrolled themselves in the local Volunteer corps, +and burned to avenge the affront to their country and their sovereign. + +Those were indeed fateful, ever-to-be-remembered days. + +Amid this weary, anxious watching, this constant dread of what might +next occur, an item of news was circulated which caused the greatest +rejoicing everywhere. Intelligence reached New York, by cable from +France, that Germany had combined with England against the +Franco-Russian alliance, that her vast army had been mobilised, and that +already the brave, well-drilled legions of the Emperor William had +crossed the Vosges, and passed the frontier into France. A sharp battle +had been fought near Givet, and that, as well as several other French +frontier towns which fell in 1870, were again in the hands of the +Germans. + +How different were German methods to those of the British! + +With a perfect scheme of attack, every detail of which had been long +thought out, and which worked without a hitch, the Kaiser's forces were +awaiting the word of command to march onward--to Paris. For years--ever +since they taught France that severe lesson in the last disastrous +war--it had been the ambition of every German cavalryman to clink his +spurs on the asphalte of the Boulevards. Now they were actually on their +way towards their goal! + +The papers were full of these latest unexpected developments, the +details of which, necessarily meagre owing to the lack of direct +communication, were eagerly discussed. It was believed that Germany +would, in addition to defending her Polish frontier and attacking +France, also send a naval squadron from Kiel to England. + +The Tsar's spy had been foiled, and Russia and France now knew they had +made a false move! Russia's rapid and decisive movement was intended to +prevent the signing of the secret alliance, and to bar England and +Germany from joining hands. But happily the sly machinations of the +Count von Beilstein, the released convict and adventurer, had in a +measure failed, for Germany had considered it diplomatic to throw in +her fortune with Great Britain in this desperate encounter. + +A feeling of thankfulness spread through the land. Nevertheless, it was +plain that if Germany intended to wield the double-handled sword of +conquest in France, she would have few troops to spare to send to +England. + +But those dark days, full of agonising suspense, dragged on slowly. The +French well knew the imminent danger that threatened their own country, +yet they could not possibly withdraw. Mad enthusiasts always! + +It must be war to the death, they decided. The conflict could not be +averted. So Britons unsheathed their steel, and held themselves in +readiness for a fierce and desperate fray. + +The invasion had indeed been planned by our enemies with marvellous +forethought and cunning. There was treachery in the Intelligence +Department of the British Admiralty, foul treachery which placed our +country at the mercy of the invader, and sacrificed thousands of lives. +On the morning following the sudden Declaration of War, the officer in +charge of the telegraph bureau at Whitehall, whose duty it had been to +send the telegrams ordering the naval mobilisation, was found lying dead +beside the telegraph instrument--stabbed to the heart! Inquiries were +made, and it was found that one of the clerks, a young Frenchman who had +been taken on temporarily at a low salary, was missing. It was further +discovered that the murder had been committed hours before, immediately +the Mobilisation Orders had been sent; further, that fictitious +telegrams had been despatched cancelling them, and ordering the Channel +Fleet away to the Mediterranean, the Coastguard Squadron to Land's End, +and the first-class Reserve ships to proceed to the North of Scotland in +search of the enemy! Thus, owing to these orders sent by the murderer, +England was left unprotected. + +Immediately the truth was known efforts were made to cancel the forged +orders. But, alas! it was too late. Our Fleets had already sailed! + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +COUNT VON BEILSTEIN AT HOME. + + +Karl von Beilstein sat in his own comfortable saddlebag-chair, in his +chambers in the Albany, lazily twisting a cigarette. + +On a table at his elbow was spread sheet 319 of the Ordnance Survey Map +of England, which embraced that part of Sussex where the enemy were +encamped. With red and blue pencils he had been making mystic marks upon +it, and had at last laid it aside with a smile of satisfaction. + +"She thought she had me in her power," he muttered ominously to himself. +"The wolf! If she knew everything, she could make me crave again at her +feet for mercy. Happily she is in ignorance; therefore that trip to a +more salubrious climate that I anticipated is for the present postponed. +I have silenced her, and am still master of the situation--still the +agent of the Tsar!" Uttering a low laugh, he gave his cigarette a final +twist, and then regarded it critically. + +The door opened to admit his valet, Grevel. + +"A message from the Embassy. The man is waiting," he said. + +His master opened the note which was handed to him, read it with +contracted brows, and said-- + +"Tell him that the matter shall be arranged as quickly as possible." + +"Nothing else?" + +"Nothing. I am leaving London, and shall not be back for a week--perhaps +longer." + +With a slight yawn he rose and passed into his dressing-room, while his +servant went to deliver his message to the man in waiting. The note had +produced a marked effect upon the spy. It was an order from his +taskmasters in St. Petersburg. He knew it must be obeyed. Every moment +was of vital consequence in carrying out the very delicate mission +intrusted to him, a mission which it would require all his tact and +cunning to execute. + +In a quarter of an hour he emerged into his sitting-room again, so +completely disguised that even his most intimate acquaintances would +have failed to recognise him. Attired in rusty black, with clean shaven +face and walking with a scholarly stoop, he had transformed himself from +the foppish man-about-town to a needy country parson, whose cheap boots +were down at heel, and in the lappel of whose coat was displayed a piece +of worn and faded blue. + +"Listen, Pierre," he said to his man, who entered at his summons. "While +I am away keep your eyes and ears open. If there is a shadow of +suspicion in any quarter, burn all my papers, send me warning through +the Embassy, and clear out yourself without delay. Should matters assume +a really dangerous aspect, you must get down to the Russian lines, where +they will pass you through, and put you on board one of our ships." + +"Has the Ministry at Petersburg promised us protection at last?" + +"Yes; we have nothing to fear. When the game is up among these lambs, we +shall calmly go over to the other side and witness the fun." + +"In what direction are you now going?" + +"I don't know," replied the spy, as he unlocked a drawer in a small +cabinet in a niche by the fireplace and took from it a long Circassian +knife. Drawing the bright blade from its leathern sheath, he felt its +keen double edge with his fingers. + +It was like a razor. + +"A desperate errand--eh?" queried the valet, with a grin, noticing how +carefully the Count placed the murderous weapon in his inner pocket. + +"Yes," he answered. "Desperate. A word sometimes means death." + +And the simple rural vicar strode out and down the stairs, leaving the +crafty Pierre in wonderment. + +"Bah!" the latter exclaimed in disgust, when the receding footsteps had +died away. "So you vainly imagine, my dear Karl, that you have your heel +upon my neck, do you? It is good for me that you don't give me credit +for being a little more wideawake, otherwise you would see that you are +raking the chestnuts from the fire for me. _Bien!_ I am silent, docile, +obedient; I merely wait for you to burn your fingers, then the whole of +the money will be mine to enjoy, while you will be in the only land +where the Tsar does not require secret agents. Vain, avaricious fool! +_You'll be in your grave!_" + +Von Beilstein meanwhile sped along down the Haymarket and Pall Mall to +Whitehall. The clock on the stone tower of the Horse Guards showed it +was one o'clock, and, with apparently aimless purpose, he lounged about +on the broad pavement outside Old Scotland Yard, immediately opposite +the dark facade of the Admiralty. His hawk's eye carefully scrutinised +every single person of the busy throng entering or leaving the building. +There was great activity at the naval headquarters, and the courtyard +was crowded with persons hurrying in and out. Presently, after a short +but vigilant watch, he turned quickly so as to be unobserved, and moved +slowly away. + +The cause of this sudden manoeuvre was the appearance of a well-dressed, +dark-bearded man of about forty, having the appearance of a naval +officer in mufti, who emerged hastily from the building with a handbag +in his hand, and crossed the courtyard to the kerb, where he stood +looking up and down the thoroughfare. + +"My man!" exclaimed von Beilstein, under his breath. "He wants a cab. I +wonder where he's going?" + +Five minutes later the naval officer was in a hansom, driving towards +Westminster Bridge, while, at a little distance behind, the Tsar's agent +was following in another conveyance. Once on the trail, the Count never +left his quarry. Crossing the bridge, they drove on rapidly through the +crowded, turbulent streets of South London to the Elephant and Castle, +and thence down the Old Kent Road to the New Cross Station of the +South-Eastern Railway. + +As a protest against the action of the Government, and in order to +prevent the enemy from establishing direct communication with London in +case of British reverses, the lines from the metropolis to the south had +been wrecked by the Anarchists. On the Chatham and Dover Railway, Penge +tunnel had been blown up, on the Brighton line two bridges near Croydon +had been similarly treated, and on the South-Eastern four bridges in +Rotherhithe and Bermondsey had been broken up and rendered impassable by +dynamite, while at Haysden, outside Tunbridge, the rails had also been +torn up for a considerable distance. Therefore traffic to the south from +London termini had been suspended, and the few persons travelling were +compelled to take train at the stations in the remoter southern suburbs. + +As the unsuspecting officer stepped into the booking-office, his +attention was not attracted by the quiet and seedy clergyman who lounged +near enough to overhear him purchase a first-class ticket for Deal. When +he had descended to the platform the spy obtained a third-class ticket +to the same destination, and leisurely followed him. Travelling by the +same train, they were compelled to alight at Haysden and walk over the +wrecked permanent way into Tunbridge, from which place they journeyed to +Deal, arriving there about six o'clock. Throughout, it was apparent to +the crafty watcher that the man he was following was doing his utmost to +escape observation, and this surmise was strengthened by his actions on +arriving at the quaint old town, now half ruined; for, instead of going +to a first-class hotel, he walked on until he came to Middle Street,--a +narrow little thoroughfare, redolent of fish, running parallel with the +sea,--and took up quarters at the Mariners' Rest Inn. It was a low, +old-fashioned little place, with sanded floors, a smoke-blackened +taproom, a rickety time-mellowed bar, with a comfortable little parlour +beyond. + +In this latter room, used in common by the guests, on the following day +the visitor from London first met the shabby parson from Canterbury. The +man from the Admiralty seemed in no mood for conversation; nevertheless, +after a preliminary chat upon the prospect of the invasion, they +exchanged cards, and the vicar gradually became confidential. With a +pious air he related how he had been to Canterbury to conduct a revival +mission which had turned out marvellously successful, crowds having to +be turned away at every service, and how he was now enjoying a week's +vacation before returning to his poor but extensive parish in +Hertfordshire. + +"I came to this inn, because I am bound to practise a most rigid +economy," he added. "I am charmed with it. One sees so much character +here in these rough toilers of the sea." + +"Yes," replied his friend, whose card bore the words "Commander Yerbery, +R.N." "Being a sailor myself, I prefer this homely little inn, with its +fisher folk as customers, to a more pretentious and less comfortable +establishment." + +"Are you remaining here long?" asked his clerical friend. + +"I--I really don't know," answered the officer hesitatingly. "Possibly a +day or so." + +The spy did not pursue the subject further, but conducted himself with +an amiability which caused his fellow-traveller to regard him as "a real +good fellow for a parson." Together they smoked the long clays of the +hostelry, they sat in the taproom of an evening and conversed with the +fishermen who congregated there, and frequently strolled along by the +shore to Walmer, or through the fields to Cottingham Court Farm, or +Sholden. Constantly, however, Commander Yerbery kept his eyes seaward. +Was he apprehensive lest Russian ironclads should return, and again +bombard the little town; or was he expecting some mysterious signal from +some ship in the Downs? + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A DEATH DRAUGHT. + + +On several occasions the spy had, with artful ingenuity, endeavoured to +discover the object of Commander Yerbery's sojourn, but upon that point +he preserved a silence that was impenetrable. In their wanderings about +the town they saw on every side the havoc caused by the bombardment +which had taken place three days previously. Whole rows of houses facing +the sea had been carried away by the enemy's shells, and the once +handsome church spire was now a mere heap of smouldering debris. The +barracks, which had been one of the objects of attack, had suffered most +severely. Melinite had been projected into them, exploding with +devastating effect, and demolishing the buildings, which fell like packs +of cards. Afterwards, the enemy had sailed away, apparently thinking the +strategical position of the place worthless. + +And all this had been brought about by this despicable villain--the man +who had now wrapped himself in the cloak of sanctity, and who, beaming +with well-feigned good fellowship, walked arm-in-arm with the man upon +whom he was keeping the most vigilant observation! By night sleep +scarcely came to his eyes, but in his little room, with its clean +old-fashioned dimity blinds and hangings, he lay awake,--scheming, +planning, plotting, preparing for the master-stroke. + +One morning, after they had been there three days, he stood alone in +his bedroom with the door closed. From his inner pocket he drew forth +the keen Circassian blade that reposed there, and gazed thoughtfully +upon it. + +"No," he muttered, suddenly rousing himself, as if a thought had +suddenly occurred to him. "He is strong. He might shout, and then I +should be caught like a rat in a trap." + +Replacing the knife in his pocket, he took from his vest a tiny phial he +always carried; then, after noiselessly locking the door, he took from +the same pocket a small cube of lump sugar. Standing by the window he +uncorked the little bottle, and with steady hand allowed one single drop +of the colourless liquid to escape and fall upon the sugar, which +quickly absorbed it, leaving a small darkened stain. This sugar he +placed in a locked drawer to dry, and, putting away the phial, descended +to join his companion. + +That night they were sitting together in the private parlour behind the +bar, smoking and chatting. It was an old-fashioned, smoke-begrimed room, +with low oak ceiling and high wainscot,--a room in which many a seafarer +had found rest and comfort after the toils and perils of the deep, a +room in which many a stirring tale of the sea has been related, and in +which one of our best-known nautical writers has gathered materials for +his stirring ocean romances. + +Although next the bar, there is no entrance on that side, neither is +there any glass, therefore the apartment is entirely secluded from the +public portion of the inn. At midnight the hearty Boniface and his wife +and servant had retired, and the place was silent, but the officer and +his fellow-guest still sat with their pipes. The parson, as became one +who exhibited the blue pledge of temperance in his coat, sipped his +coffee, while the other had whisky, lemon, and a small jug of hot water +beside him. The spy had been using the sugar, and the basin was close to +his hand. + +His companion presently made a movement to reach it, when the +pleasant-spoken vicar took up the tongs quickly, saying-- + +"Allow me to assist you. One lump?" + +"Yes, thanks," replied the other, holding his glass for the small cube +to be thrown in. Then he added the lemon, whisky, and hot water. +Beilstein, betraying no excitement, continued the conversation, calmly +refilled his pipe, and watched his companion sip the deadly potion. + +Karl von Beilstein had reduced poisoning to a fine art. + +Not a muscle of his face contracted, though his keen eyes never left the +other's countenance. + +They talked on, the Commander apparently unaffected by the draught; his +friend smilingly complacent and confident. + +Suddenly, without warning, the officer's face grew ashen pale and +serious. A violent tremor shook his stalwart frame. + +"I--I feel very strange," he cried, with difficulty. "A most curious +sensation has come over me--a sensation as if--as if--ah! heavens! Help, +help!--I--I can't breathe!" + +The mild-mannered parson jumped to his feet, and stood before his +friend, watching the hideous contortions of his face. + +"Assistance!" his victim gasped, sinking inertly back in the high-backed +Windsor arm-chair. "Fetch me a doctor--quick." + +But the man addressed took no heed of the appeal. He stood calmly by, +contemplating with satisfaction his villainous work. + +"Can't you see--I'm ill?" the dying man cried in a feeble, piteous +voice. "My throat and head are burning. Give me water--_water_!" + +Still the spy remained motionless. + +"You--you refuse to assist me--you scoundrel! Ah!" he cried hoarsely, in +dismay. "Ah! I see it all now! _God! You've poisoned me!_" + +With a frantic effort he half-raised himself in his chair, but fell back +in a heap; his arms hanging helplessly at his side. His breath came and +went in short hard gasps; the death-rattle was already in his throat, +and with one long deep-drawn sigh the last breath left the body, and the +light gradually died out of the agonised face. + +Quick as thought the Count unbuttoned the dead man's coat, and +searching his pockets took out a large white official envelope bearing +in the corner the blue stamp of the Admiralty. It was addressed to "Sir +Michael Culme-Seymour, Admiral commanding the Channel Squadron," and was +marked "Private." + +"Good!" ejaculated the spy, as he tore open the envelope. "I was not +mistaken, after all! He was waiting until the flagship came into the +Downs to deliver it." + +The envelope contained a letter accompanied by a chart of the South +Coast, upon which were certain marks at intervals in red with minute +directions, as well as a copy of the code of secret signals in which +some slight alterations had lately been made. + +"What fortune!" cried the Count gleefully, after reading the note. +"Their plans and the secret of their signals, too, are now ours! The +Embassy were correct in their surmise. With these the French and Russian +ships will be able to act swiftly, and sweep the British from the sea. +Now for London as quickly as possible, for the information will be +absolutely invaluable." + +Without a final glance at the corpse, huddled up in its chair, he put on +his hat, and stealing noiselessly from the house, set out in the +moonlight to walk swiftly by way of Great Mongeham and Waldershare to +Shepherd's Well station, whence he could get by train to London. + +The immense importance of these secret documents he had not overrated. +Their possession would enable the Russian ships to decipher many of the +hitherto mysterious British signals. + +The spy had accomplished his mission! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MASSACRE AT EASTBOURNE. + + +Hourly the most alarming reports were being received at the War Office, +and at newspaper offices throughout the country, of the +rapidly-increasing forces of the invaders, who were still landing in +enormous numbers. Vague rumours were also afloat of desperate encounters +at sea between our Coastguard Squadron that had returned and the French +and Russian ironclads. + +Nothing definite, however, was known. News travelled slowly, and was +always unreliable. + +Mobilisation was being hurried forward with all possible speed. +Nevertheless, so sudden had been the descent of the enemy, that +Eastbourne, Newhaven, and Seaford had already fallen into their hands. +Into the half-wrecked town of Eastbourne regiment after regiment of +Russian infantry had been poured by the transports _Samojed_ and +_Artelscik_, while two regiments of dragoons, one of Cossacks, and many +machine-gun sections had also been landed, in addition to a quantity of +French infantry from the other vessels. The streets of the usually +clean, well-ordered town were strewn with the debris of fallen houses +and shops that had been wrecked by Russian shells. The Queen's Hotel at +Splash Point, with its tiers of verandahs and central spire, stood out a +great gaunt blackened ruin. + +Along Terminus Road the grey-coated hordes of the Great White Tsar +looted the shops, and showed no quarter to those who fell into their +hands. The Grand Hotel, the Burlington, the Cavendish, and others, were +quickly transformed into barracks, as well as the half-ruined Town Hall, +and the Floral Hall at Devonshire Park. + +Robbery, outrage, and murder ran riot in the town, which only a few days +before had been a fashionable health resort, crowded by aristocratic +idlers. Hundreds of unoffending persons had been killed by the merciless +fire from the enemy's battleships, and hundreds more were being shot +down in the streets for attempting a feeble resistance. The inhabitants, +surrounded on all sides by the enemy, were powerless. + +The huge guns of the _Pamyat Azova_, the _Imperator Nicolai I._, the +_Pjotr Velikij_, the _Krejser_, the _Najezdnik_, and others, had belched +forth their death-dealing missiles with an effect that was appalling. + +The thunder of cannon had ceased, but was now succeeded by the sharp +cracking of Russian rifles, as those who, desperately guarding their +homes and their loved ones, and making a stand against the invaders, +were shot down like dogs. A crowd of townspeople collected in the open +space outside the railway station, prepared to bar the advance of the +Russians towards the Old Town and Upperton. Alas! it was a forlorn hope +for an unarmed mob to attempt any such resistance. + +A Russian officer suddenly shouted a word of command that brought a +company of infantry to the halt, facing the crowd. Another word and a +hundred rifles were discharged. Again and again they flashed, and the +volley was repeated until the streets were covered with dead and dying, +and the few who were not struck turned and fled, leaving the invaders to +advance unopposed. + +Horrible were the deeds committed that night. English homes were +desecrated, ruined, and burned. Babes were murdered before the eyes of +their parents, many being impaled by gleaming Russian bayonets; fathers +were shot down in the presence of their wives and children, and sons +were treated in a similar manner. + +[Illustration: LANDING OF RUSSIANS, AND MASSACRE IN TERMINUS ROAD, +EASTBOURNE.] + +The massacre was frightful. Ruin and desolation were on every hand. + +The soldiers of the Tsar, savage and inhuman, showed no mercy to the +weak and unprotected. They jeered and laughed at piteous appeal, and +with fiendish brutality enjoyed the destruction which everywhere they +wrought. + +Many a cold-blooded murder was committed, many a brave Englishman fell +beneath the heavy whirling sabres of Circassian Cossacks, the bayonets +of French infantry, or the deadly hail of machine guns. Battalion after +battalion of the enemy, fierce and ruthless, clambered on over the +debris in Terminus Road, enthusiastic at finding their feet upon English +soil. The flames of the burning buildings in various parts of the town +illuminated the place with a bright red glare that fell upon dark +bearded faces, in every line of which was marked determination and +fierce hostility. Landing near Langney Point, many of the battalions +entered the town from the east, destroying all the property they came +across on their line of advance, and, turning into Terminus Road, then +continued through Upperton and out upon the road leading to Willingdon. + +The French forces, who came ashore close to Holywell, on the other side +of the town, advanced direct over Warren Hill, and struck due north +towards Sheep Lands. + +At about a mile from the point where the road from Eastdean crosses that +to Jevington, the force encamped in a most advantageous position upon +Willingdon Hill, while the Russians who advanced direct over St. +Anthony's Hill, and those who marched through Eastbourne, united at a +point on the Lewes Road near Park Farm, and after occupying Willingdon +village, took up a position on the high ground that lies between it and +Jevington. + +From a strategic point of view the positions of both forces were +carefully chosen. The commanding officers were evidently well acquainted +with the district, for while the French commanded Eastbourne and a wide +stretch of the Downs, the Russians also had before them an extensive +tract of country extending in the north to Polegate, in the west to the +Fore Down and Lillington, and in the east beyond Willingdon over +Pevensey Levels to the sea. + +During the night powerful search-lights from the French and Russian +ships swept the coast continually, illuminating the surrounding hills +and lending additional light to the ruined and burning town. Before the +sun rose, however, the majority of the invading vessels had rounded +Beachy Head, and had steamed away at full speed down Channel. + +[Illustration: MAP SHOWING THE POINTS WHERE THE INVADERS LANDED.] + +Daylight revealed the grim realities of war. It showed Eastbourne with +its handsome buildings scorched and ruined, its streets blocked by +fallen walls, and trees which had once formed shady boulevards torn up +and broken, its shops looted, its tall church steeples blown away, its +railway station wrecked, and its people massacred. Alas! their +life-blood was wet upon the pavements. + +The French and Russian legions, ever increasing, covered the hills. The +heavy guns of the French artillery and the lighter but more deadly +machine guns of the Russians had already been placed in position, and +were awaiting the order to move north and commence the assault on +London. + +It was too late! Nothing could now be done to improve the rotten state +of our defences. The invasion had begun, and Britain, handicapped alike +on land and on sea, must arm and fight to the death. + +By Tuesday night, three days after the Declaration of War, two French +and half a Russian army corps, amounting to 90,000 officers and men, +with 10,000 horses and 1500 guns and waggons, had landed, in addition to +which reinforcements constantly arrived from the French Channel and +Russian Baltic ports, until the number of the enemy on English soil was +estimated at over 300,000. + +The overwhelming descent on our shores had been secretly planned by the +enemy with great forethought, every detail having been most carefully +arranged. The steam tonnage in the French harbours was ample and to +spare, for many of the vessels, being British, had been at once seized +on the outbreak of hostilities. The sudden interruption of the mail and +telegraphic services between the two countries left us in total +ignorance of the true state of affairs. Nevertheless, for weeks an army +of carpenters and engineers had been at work preparing the necessary +fittings, which were afterwards placed in position on board the ships +destined to convey horses and men to England. + +In order to deceive the other Powers, a large number of military +transport vessels had been fitted out at Brest for a bogus expedition to +Dahomey. These ships actually put to sea on the day previous to the +Declaration of War, and on Saturday night, at the hour when the news +reached Britain, they had already embarked guns, horses, and waggons at +the Channel ports. Immediately after the Tsar's manifesto had been +issued the Russian Volunteer Fleet was mobilised, and transports which +had long been held in readiness in the Baltic harbours embarked men and +guns, and, one after another, steamed away for England without the +slightest confusion or any undue haste. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +IN THE EAGLE'S TALONS. + + +Many British military and naval writers had ridiculed the idea of a +surprise invasion without any attempt on the part of the enemy to gain +more than a partial and temporary control of the Channel. Although an +attack on territory without having previously command of the sea had +generally been foredoomed to failure, it had been long ago suggested by +certain military officers in the course of lectures at the United +Service Institution, that under certain conditions such invasion was +possible, and that France might ere long be ruled by some ambitious +soldier who might be tempted to try a sudden dash on _le perfide +Albion_. They pointed out that at worst it would entail on France the +loss of three or four army corps, a loss no greater than she would +suffer in one short land campaign. But alas! at that time very little +notice was taken of such criticisms and illustrations, for Britons had +always been prone to cast doubts upon the power of other nations to +convey troops by sea, to embark them, or to land them. Thus the many +suggestions directed towards increasing the mobility and efficiency of +the Army were, like other warnings, cast aside, the prevailing opinion +in the country being that sudden invasion was an absolute impossibility. + +Predictions of prophets that had so long been scorned, derided, and +disregarded by an apathetic British public were rapidly being fulfilled. +Coming events had cast dark shadows that had been unheeded, and now the +unexpected bursting of the war cloud produced panic through our land. + +General Sir Archibald Alison struck an alarming note of warning when he +wrote in _Blackwood_ in December 1893: "No one can look carefully into +the present state of Europe without feeling convinced that it cannot +continue long in its present condition. Every country is maintaining an +armed force out of all proportion to its resources and population, and +the consequent strain upon its monetary system and its industrial +population is ever increasing, and must sooner or later become +unbearable." + +It had never been sufficiently impressed upon the British public, that +when mobilised for war, and with all the Reserves called out, Russia had +at her command 2,722,000 officers and men, while France could put +2,715,000 into the field, making a total force of the Franco-Russian +Armies of 5,437,000 men, with 9920 field guns and 1,480,000 horses. + +This well-equipped force was almost equal to the combined Armies of the +Triple Alliance, Germany possessing 2,441,000, Austria 1,590,000, and +Italy 1,909,000, a total of 5,940,000 officers and men, with 8184 field +guns and 813,996 horses. + +Beside these enormous totals, how ridiculously small appeared the +British Army, with its Regular forces at home and abroad amounting to +only 211,600 of all ranks, 225,400 Volunteers, and 74,000 Reserves, or +511,000 fighting men! Of these, only 63,000 Regulars remained in England +and Wales, therefore our Reserves and Volunteers were the chief +defenders of our homes. + +What a mere handful they appeared side by side with these huge European +Armies! + +Was it not surprising that in such circumstances the constant warnings +regarding the weakness of our Navy--the force upon which the very life +of our Empire depended--should have been unheeded by the too confident +public? + +When we were told plainly by a well-known authority that the number of +our war vessels was miserably inadequate, that we were 10,000 men and +1000 officers short, and, among other things, that a French cruiser +had, for all practical purposes, three times the fighting efficiency of +an English cruiser, no one troubled. Nor was any one aroused from his +foolishly apathetic confidence in British supremacy at sea. True, our +Navy was strengthened to a certain extent in 1894, but hard facts, +solemn warnings, gloomy forebodings, all were, alas! cast aside among +the "scares" which crop up periodically in the press during a +Parliamentary recess, and which, on the hearing of a murder trial, or a +Society scandal, at once fizzle out and are dismissed for ever. + +On this rude awakening to the seriousness of the situation, Service men +now remembered distinctly the prophetic words of the few students of +probable invasion. Once they had regarded them as based on wild +improbabilities, but now they admitted that the facts were as +represented, and that critics had foreseen catastrophe. + +Already active steps had been taken towards the defence of London. + +Notwithstanding the serious defects in the mobilisation scheme, the 1st +Army Corps, formed at Aldershot under Sir Evelyn Wood, and three cavalry +brigades, were now in the field, while the other army corps were being +rapidly conveyed southwards. + +Independently of the Field Army, the Volunteers had mobilised, and were +occupying the lines north and south of the metropolis. This force of +Volunteer infantry consisted of 108,300 officers and men, of whom +73,000, with 212 guns, were placed on the line south of the Thames. + +It stretched along the hills from Guildford in Surrey to Halstead in +Kent, with intermediate concentration points at Box Hill and Caterham. +At the latter place an efficient garrison had been established, +consisting of 4603 of all ranks of the North London Brigade, 4521 of the +West London, 5965 of the South London, 5439 of the Surrey, and 6132 of +the Lancashire and Cheshire. This force was backed by eleven 16-pounder +batteries of the 1st Norfolk from Yarmouth, the 1st Sussex from +Brighton, the 1st Newcastle and the 2nd Durham from Seaham, and ten +40-pounder batteries of the 3rd and 6th Lancashire from Liverpool, the +9th Lancashire from Bolton, the 1st Cheshire from Chester, the 1st +Cinque Ports from Dover, and the 2nd Cinque Ports from St. Leonards. At +Halstead, on the left flank, there were massed about 20,470 Volunteer +infantry, these being made up of the South Wales Brigade 4182, Welsh +Border 5192, the North Midland 5225, and the South Midland 5970. The +eleven 16-pounder batteries came from the Woolwich Arsenal, Monmouth, +Shropshire, and Stafford Corps, and five 40-pounder batteries from the +Preston Corps. + +To Guildford 4471 infantry in the Home Counties Brigade and 4097 in the +Western Counties were assigned, while the guns consisted of four +40-pounder batteries from the York and Leeds Corps, the 16-pounder +batteries of the Fife, Highland, and Midlothian Corps being unable, as +yet, to get south on account of the congested state of all the northern +railways. + +For this same reason, too, the force at Box Hill, the remaining post in +the south line of defence, was a very weak one. To this the Volunteers +assigned were mostly Scottish. + +Of the Glasgow Brigade 8000 of all ranks arrived, with 4000 from the +South of Scotland Brigade; but the Highland Brigade of 4400 men, all +enthusiastically patriotic, and the 16-pounder batteries from Ayr and +Lanark, were compelled, to their chagrin, to wait at their headquarters +for several days before the railways--every resource of which was +strained to their utmost limits--could move them forward to the seat of +war. + +The five heavy batteries of the Aberdeen and North York Corps succeeded +in getting down to their place of concentration early, as likewise did +the 16-pounder battery from Galloway. Volunteers also undertook the +defences north of the metropolis, and a strong line, consisting of a +number of provincial brigades, stretched from Tilbury to Brentwood and +Epping. + +The British Volunteer holds no romantic notions of "death or glory," but +is none the less prepared to do his duty, and is always ready "to do +anything, and to go anywhere." Every officer and every man of this great +force which had mounted guard north and south of the Thames was resolved +to act his part bravely, and, if necessary, lay down his life for his +country's honour. + +At their posts on the Surrey Hills, ready at any moment to go into +action, and firmly determined that no invader should enter the vast +Capital of the World, they impatiently awaited the development of the +situation, eager to face and annihilate their foreign foe. + +Britannia had always been justly proud of her Volunteer forces, although +their actual strength in time of invasion had never before been +demonstrated. Now, however, the test which had been applied showed that, +with an exception of rarest occurrence, every man had responded to this +hasty call to arms, and that on active service they were as fearless and +courageous as any body of Regulars ever put in the field. + +Every man was alive to Britain's danger; every man knew well how +terrible would be the combat--the struggle that must result in either +victory or death. + +The double-headed Eagle had set his talons in British soil! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +FIERCE FIGHTING IN THE CHANNEL. + + +In the Channel disastrous events of a most exciting character were now +rapidly occurring. + +Outside Seaford Bay, Pevensey Bay, and off Brighton and the Mares at +Cuckmere Haven, the enemy's transports, having landed troops and stores, +rode at anchor, forming a line of retreat in case of reverses, while +many fast French cruisers steamed up and down, keeping a sharp lookout +for any British merchant or mail steamers which, ignorant of the +hostilities, entered the Channel. + +The officers and crews of these steamers were in most cases so utterly +surprised that they fell an easy prey to the marauding vessels, many +being captured and taken to French ports without a shot being fired. +Other vessels, on endeavouring to escape, were either overhauled or sunk +by the heavy fire of pursuing cruisers. One instance was that of the +fast mail steamer _Carpathian_, belonging to the Union Steamship +Company, which, entering the Channel on a voyage from Cape Town to +Southampton, was attacked off the Eddystone by the Russian armoured +cruiser _Gerzog Edinburskij_. The panic on board was indescribable, over +a hundred steerage passengers being killed or mutilated by the shells +from the bow guns of the cruiser, and the captain himself being blown to +atoms by an explosion which occurred when a shot struck and carried away +the forward funnel. After an exciting chase, the _Carpathian_ was sunk +near Start Point, and of the five hundred passengers and crew scarcely a +single person survived. + +This terrible work of destruction accomplished, the Russian cruiser +turned westward again to await further prey. As she steamed away, +however, another ship rounded the Start following at full speed in her +wake. This vessel, which was flying the British flag, was the +barbette-ship _Centurion_. Already her captain had witnessed the attack +and sinking of the _Carpathian_, but from a distance too great to enable +him to assist the defenceless liner, and he was now on his way to attack +the Tsar's cruiser. Almost immediately she was noticed by the enemy. +Half an hour later she drew within range, and soon the two ships were +engaged in a most desperate encounter. The gunners on the _Centurion_, +seeing the Russian cross flying defiantly, and knowing the frightful +havoc already wrought on land by the enemy, worked with that pluck and +indomitable energy characteristic of the Britisher. Shot after shot was +exchanged, but hissed and splashed without effect until the ships drew +nearer, and then nearly every shell struck home. The rush of flame from +the quick-firing guns of the _Centurion_ was continuous, and the firing +was much more accurate than that of her opponent, nevertheless the +latter was manipulated with remarkable skill. + +The roar of the guns was deafening. Clouds of smoke rose so thickly that +the vessels could scarcely distinguish each other. But the firing was +almost continuous, until suddenly a shell struck the _Centurion_ abaft +the funnel, and for a moment stilled her guns. + +This, however, was not for long, for in a few moments she recovered from +the shock, and her guns were again sending forth shells with regularity +and precision. Again a shell struck the _Centurion_, this time carrying +away one of her funnels and killing a large number of men. + +The British captain, still as cool as if standing on the hearthrug of +the smoking-room of the United Service Club, took his vessel closer, +continuing the fire, heedless of the fact that the Russian shells +striking his ship were playing such fearful havoc with it. Every +preparation had been made for a desperate fight to the death, when +suddenly a shot struck the vessel, causing her to reel and shiver. + +So well had the Russians directed their fire that the British vessel +could not reply. One of her 29-tonners had been blown completely off its +carriage, and lay shattered with men dead all around, while two of her +quick-firing broadside guns had been rendered useless, and she had +sustained other injuries of a very serious character, besides losing +nearly half her men. + +She was silent, riding to the swell, when wild exultant shouts in +Russian went up from the enemy's ship, mingling with the heavy fire they +still kept up. + +At that moment, however, even while the victorious shouts resounded, the +captain of the _Centurion_, still cool and collected, swung round his +vessel, and turning, touched one of the electric knobs at his hand. As +he did so a long silvery object shot noiselessly from the side of the +ship, and plunged with a splash into the rising waves. + +Seconds seemed hours. For a whole three minutes the captain waited; +then, disappointed, he turned away with an expression of impatience. The +torpedo had missed its mark, and every moment lost might determine their +fate. With guns still silent he again adroitly manoeuvred his ship. Once +again he touched the electric knob, and again a torpedo, released from +its tube, sped rapidly through the water. + +Suddenly a dull and muffled explosion from the Russian cruiser sounded. +Above the dense smoke a flame shot high, with great columns of spray, as +the guns suddenly ceased their thunder. + +There was a dead stillness, broken only by the wash of the sea. + +Then the smoke clearing showed the debris of the _Gerzog Edinburskij_ +fast sinking beneath the restless waters. Some splinters precipitated +into the air had fallen with loud splashes in every direction, and amid +the victorious shouts of the British bluejackets the disabled ship, with +its fluttering Russian cross, slowly disappeared for ever, carrying down +every soul on board. + +The torpedo, striking her amidships, had blown an enormous hole right +through her double bottom, and torn her transverse bulkheads away so +much that her watertight doors were useless for keeping her afloat, even +for a few minutes. + +Partially crippled as she was, the _Centurion_ steamed slowly westward, +until at noon on the following day she fell in with a division of the +Coastguard Squadron, which, acting under the fictitious telegraphic +orders of the French spy, had been to Land's End, but which, now the +enemy had landed, had received genuine orders from the Admiralty. + +Compared with the number and strength of the French and Russian vessels +mustered in the Channel, this force was so small as to appear ludicrous. +To send this weak defending division against the mighty power of the +invaders was sheer madness, and everybody on board knew it. The vessels +were weaker in every detail than those of the enemy. + +At full speed the British vessels steamed on throughout that day, until +at 8 P.M., when about twenty miles south of Selsey Bill, they were +joined by forces from the Solent. These consisted of the turret-ship +_Monarch_, the turret-ram _Rupert_, the barbette-ship _Rodney_, the +belted cruiser _Aurora_, and the coast defence armour-clads _Cyclops_ +and _Gorgon_, together with a number of torpedo boats. The night was +calm, but moonless, and without delay the vessels all continued the +voyage up Channel silently, with lights extinguished. + +Two hours later the officers noticed that away on the horizon a light +suddenly flashed twice and then disappeared. + +One of the enemy's ships had signalled the approach of the defenders! + +This caused the British Admiral to alter his course slightly, and the +vessels steamed along in the direction the light had shown. + +In turrets and in broadside batteries there was a deep hush of +expectation. Officers and men standing at their quarters scarcely spoke. +All felt the fight must be most desperate. + +Presently, in the far distance a small patch of light in the sky showed +the direction of Brighton, and almost immediately the Admiral signalled +to the cruisers _Aurora_, _Galatea_, and _Narcissus_, and the new +battleship _Hannibal_, built under the 1894 programme, to detach +themselves with six torpedo boats, and take an easterly course, in order +to carry out instructions which he gave. These tactics caused +considerable comment. + +The orders were to make straight for Eastbourne, and to suddenly attack +and destroy any of the hostile transports that were lying there, the +object being twofold--firstly, to cut off the enemy's line of retreat, +and secondly, to prevent the vessels from being used for the purpose of +landing further reinforcements. + +Soon after 2 A.M. this gallant little division had, by careful +manoeuvring, and assisted by a slight mist which now hung over the sea, +rounded Beachy Head without being discovered, and had got outside +Pevensey Bay about eight miles from land. Here a number of Russian +transports and service steamers were lying, among them being the +_Samojed_ and _Olaf_, _Krasnaya Gorka_ and _Vladimir_, with two smaller +ones--the _Dnepr_ and the _Artelscik_. + +Silently, and without showing any lights, a British torpedo boat sped +quickly along to where the dark outline of a ship loomed through the +mist, and, having ascertained that it was the _Olaf_, drew up quickly. + +A few minutes elapsed, all being quiet. Then suddenly a bright flash was +followed by a fearful explosion, and the bottom of the Tsar's vessel +being completely ripped up by the torpedo, she commenced to settle down +immediately, before any of those on board could save themselves. The +enemy had scarcely recovered from their surprise and confusion when +three other loud explosions occurred, and in each case transport vessels +were blown up. British torpedo boats, darting hither and thither between +the Russian ships, were dealing terrible blows from which no vessel +could recover. So active were they, indeed, that within the space of +fifteen minutes six transports had been blown up, as well as the +first-class torpedo boat _Abo_. The loss of life was terrible. + +Simultaneously with the first explosion, the guns of the _Aurora_, +_Galatea_, and _Narcissus_ thundered out a terrible salute. The bright +search-lights of the Russian cruisers and of the battleship _Navarin_ +immediately swept the sea, and through the mist discerned the British +ships. The lights served only to show the latter the exact position of +the enemy, and again our guns belched forth shot and shell with +disastrous effect. + +Quickly, however, the Russian vessels replied. Flame flashed +continuously from the turret of the _Navarin_ and the port guns of the +_Opricnik_ and the _Najezdnik_, while the search-lights were at the same +time shut off. + +At first the fire was very ineffectual, but gradually as the vessels +crept closer to each other the encounter became more and more desperate. + +The Russian torpedo boats _Vzryv_, _Vindava_, and _Kotlinj_ were +immediately active, and the _Narcissus_ had a very narrow escape, a +Whitehead torpedo passing right under her bows, while one British +torpedo boat, which at the same moment was endeavouring to launch its +deadly projectile at the _Navarin_, was sent to the bottom by a single +shot from the _Najezdnik_. + +The combat was desperate and terrible. That the British had been already +successful in surprising and sinking a torpedo boat and six of the +hostile transports was true; nevertheless the number of Russian ships +lying there was much greater than the British Admiral had anticipated, +and, to say the least, the four vessels now found themselves in a most +critical position. + +The _Navarin_ alone was one of the most powerful of the Tsar's +battleships, and, in addition to the seven cruisers and nine torpedo +boats, comprised an overwhelming force. + +Yet the English warships held their own, pouring forth an incessant +fire. Each gun's crew knew they were face to face with death, but, +inspired by the coolness of their officers, they worked on calmly and +indefatigably. Many of their shots went home with frightful effect. One +shell which burst over the magazine of the _Lieut. Iljin_ ripped up her +deck and caused severe loss of life, while in the course of half an hour +one of the heavy turret guns of the _Navarin_ had been disabled, and +two more Russian torpedo boats sunk. Our torpedo boat destroyers +operating on the Channel seaboard were performing excellent work, the +_Havock_, _Shark_, _Hornet_, _Dart_, _Bruiser_, _Hasty_, _Teaser_, +_Janus_, _Surly_, and _Porcupine_ all being manoeuvred with splendid +success. Several, however, were lost while sweeping out the enemy's +torpedo boat shelters, including the _Ardent_, _Charger_, _Boxer_, and +_Rocket_. + +[Illustration: SINKING OF H.M.S. "AURORA" BY A TORPEDO: "THE CRUISER +ROSE AS IF SHE HAD RIDDEN OVER A VOLCANO."] + +But the British vessels were now suffering terribly, hemmed in as they +were by the enemy, with shells falling upon them every moment, and their +decks swept by the withering fire of machine guns. Suddenly, after a +shell had burst in the stern of the _Aurora_, she ceased firing and +swung round, almost colliding with the _Narcissus_. Her steam +steering-gear had, alas! been broken by the shot, and for a few moments +her officers lost control over her. + +A Russian torpedo boat in shelter behind the _Navarin_, now seeing its +chance, darted out and launched its projectile. + +The officers of the _Aurora_, aware of their danger, seemed utterly +powerless to avert it. It was a terrible moment. A few seconds later the +torpedo struck, the cruiser rose as if she had ridden over a volcano, +and then, as she gradually settled down, the dark sea rolled over as +gallant a crew as ever sailed beneath the White Ensign. + +Immediately afterwards the _Navarin_ exchanged rapid signals with a +number of ships which were approaching with all speed from the direction +of Hastings, and the captains of the three remaining British vessels saw +that they had fallen into a trap. + +The _Narcissus_ had been drawn between two fires. Both her funnels had +been shot away, two of her broadside guns were useless, and she had +sustained damage to her engines; nevertheless, her captain, with the +dogged perseverance of a British sailor, continued the desperate combat. +With the first flush of dawn the fog had lifted, but there was scarcely +sufficient wind to spread out the British ensign, which still waved with +lazy defiance. + +On one side of her was the ponderous _Navarin_, from the turret of which +shells were projected with monotonous regularity, while on the other the +British cruiser was attacked vigorously by the _Najezdnik_. The +_Narcissus_, however, quickly showed the Russians what she could do +against such overwhelming odds, for presently she sent a shot from one +of her 20-ton guns right under the turret of the _Navarin_, causing a +most disastrous explosion on board that vessel, while, at the same time, +her 6-inch breechloaders pounded away at her second antagonist, and sank +a torpedo boat manoeuvring near. + +Both the _Galatea_ and the _Hannibal_ were in an equally serious +predicament. The enemy's torpedo boats swarmed around them, while the +cruisers _Opricnik_, _Admiral Korniloff_, _Rynda_, and several other +vessels, kept up a hot, incessant fire, which was returned energetically +by the British vessels. + +The sight was magnificent, appalling! In the spreading dawn, the great +ships manoeuvring smartly, each strove to obtain points of vantage, and +vied with each other in their awful work of destruction. The activity of +the British torpedo boats, darting here and there, showed that those who +manned them were utterly reckless of their lives. As they sped about, it +was indeed marvellous how they escaped destruction, for the Russians had +more than double the number of boats, and their speed was quite equal to +our own. + +Nevertheless the British boats followed up their successes by other +brilliant deeds of daring, for one of them, with a sudden dash, took the +_Rynda_ off her guard, and sent a torpedo at her with awful result, +while a few moments later two terrific explosions sounded almost +simultaneously above the thunder of the guns, and it was then seen that +the unprotected cruiser _Asia_, and the last remaining transport the +_Krasnaya Gorka_, were both sinking. + +It was a ghastly spectacle. + +Hoarse despairing shrieks went up from hundreds of Russian sailors who +fought and struggled for life in the dark rolling waters, and three +British torpedo boats humanely rescued a great number of them. Many, +however, sank immediately with their vessels, while some strong swimmers +struck out for the distant shore. Yet, without exception, all these +succumbed to exhaustion ere they could reach the land, and the long +waves closed over them as they threw up their arms and sank into the +deep. + +During the first few minutes following this sudden disaster to the enemy +the firing ceased, and the _Navarin_ ran up signals. This action +attracted the attention of the officers of the British vessels to the +approaching ships, and to their amazement and dismay they discovered +that they were a squadron of the enemy who had returned unexpectedly +from the direction of Dover. + +The British ships, in their half-crippled condition, could not possibly +withstand such an onslaught as they knew was about to be made upon them, +for the enemy's reinforcements consisted of the steel barbette-ships +_Gangut_, _Alexander II._, and _Nicolai I._, of the Baltic Fleet, the +great turret-ship _Petr Veliky_, the _Rurik_, a very powerful +central-battery belted cruiser of over ten thousand tons, two new +cruisers of the same type that had been recently completed, the _Enara_ +and _Ischma_, with three other cruisers and a large flotilla of torpedo +boats. Accompanying them were the French 10,000-ton armoured +barbette-ship _Magenta_, the central-battery ship _Richelieu_, the +armoured turret-ship _Tonnerre_, and the _Hoche_, one of the finest +vessels of our Gallic neighbour's Navy, as well as the torpedo cruisers +_Hirondelle_ and _Fleurus_, and a number of swift torpedo boats and +"catchers." + +The captains of the British vessels saw that in the face of such a force +defeat was a foregone conclusion; therefore they could do nothing but +retreat hastily towards Newhaven, in the hope of finding the division of +the British Coastguard Squadron which had gone there for the same +purpose as they had rounded Beachy Head, namely, to destroy the enemy's +transports. + +Without delay the three vessels swung round with all speed and were +quickly headed down Channel, while the remaining attendant torpedo +boats, noticing this sudden retreat, also darted away. This manoeuvre +did not, of course, proceed unchecked, the enemy being determined they +should not escape. Signals were immediately made by the _Alexander II._, +the flagship, and the _Petr Veliky_ and _Enara_, being within range, +blazed forth a storm of shell upon the fugitives. The shots, however, +fell wide, and ricochetted over the water, sending up huge columns of +spray; whereupon the _Narcissus_ and _Galatea_ replied steadily with +their 6-inch guns, while the heavy guns of the _Hannibal_ were also +quickly brought into play. + +In a few minutes the _Magenta_ and _Tonnerre_ with the _Alger_, +_Cecille_, and _Sfax_, started in pursuit, and an intensely exciting +chase commenced. The engines of the British vessels were run at the +highest possible pressure, but the French ships proved several knots +swifter. As they steamed at full speed around Beachy Head towards +Seaford Bay the enemy gradually overhauled them. The brisk fire which +was being kept up soon began to tell, for all three retreating ships had +lost many men, and the scenes of bloodshed on board were frightful. + +Eagerly the officers swept the horizon with their glasses to discover +signs of friendly aid, but none hove in sight. All three ships were +weak, their guns disabled, with whole guns' crews lying dead around, and +many of the officers had fallen. In strength, in speed, in armaments--in +fact, in everything--they were inferior to their opponents, and they saw +it was a question of sheer force, not one of courage. + +They would either be compelled to surrender to the Tricolor, or +deliberately seek the grave. With such a force bearing down upon them, +escape seemed absolutely impossible. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BATTLE OFF BEACHY HEAD. + + +The sun at last broke forth brilliantly, betokoning another blazing day. + +Having regard to the fact that both the Channel Fleet and the reserve +had been sent on futile errands by our enemy's secret agent, and the +superior forces against which the British had all along had to fight, +they had most assuredly shown what tact and courage could effect. + +Opposite the Belle Tout lighthouse a disaster occurred to the +_Narcissus_. During the fight one of her engines had been injured, and +this being now strained to its utmost limit had suddenly broken down +altogether, with the result that the vessel gradually slackened speed, +and the _Sfax_ and _Alger_ bore down quickly upon her, pouring into her +a heavy fire from their 5-tonners. The reply was a weak one from her +quick-firing guns, her heavy arms having nearly all been disabled. + +Onward steamed the _Galatea_ and _Hannibal_, keeping up a running fire +with the four vessels pursuing them, while the two cruisers engaging the +_Narcissus_ continued their strenuous endeavours to silence her guns. +The British sailors, however, still undaunted, quickly showed their +opponents that all the arms workable would be brought into play by +directing a most vigorous fire upon their pursuers, blowing away one of +the funnels of the _Alger_, and disabling one of her large bow guns. + +Just then, however, while the _Narcissus_ was discharging a broadside, a +torpedo boat crept under her stern and sent forth its submerged +projectile. For a moment there was a hush of expectation, then a dull +explosion sounded as the cruiser, apparently rent in twain, plunged +stern foremost into the sea, and with her ensign still flying gradually +disappeared without a soul on board being able to save himself. + +Meanwhile the _Galatea_ and _Hannibal_, with their torpedo boats, were +sustaining serious injuries from the heavy bow fire, and there seemed +every possibility that they too would share the same terrible fate as +the _Narcissus_, when suddenly one of the officers of the _Galatea_ +discovered three vessels approaching. The "demand" was immediately +hoisted, and responded to by both vessels running up private signals. +With an expression of satisfaction he directed the attention of the +captain to the fact, for the flags of the first-named vessel showed her +to be the British turret-ship _Monarch_, and those of the second the +great barbette-ship _Rodney_, while a moment later it was discerned that +the third vessel was the _Gorgon_. + +Even as they looked, other masts appeared upon the horizon, and then +they knew relief was at hand. Both vessels ran up signals, while the +men, encouraged by the knowledge that some powerful British ironclads +were bearing down to their aid in indented line ahead, worked with +increased vigour to keep the enemy at bay. + +It was a fierce, sanguinary fight. Fire vomited from all the vessels' +battered works, and the scuppers ran with blood. The French vessels, +having apparently also noticed the relief approaching, did not seem +inclined to fight, but were nevertheless compelled, and not for a single +instant did the firing from the attacked vessels cease. Their guns +showed constant bursts of flame. + +Soon, however, the _Rodney_ drew within range. A puff of white smoke +from her barbette, and the _Cecille_ received a taste of her +quick-firing guns, the shots from which struck her amidships, killing a +large number of her men, and tearing up her deck. This was followed by +deafening discharges from the four 25-ton guns of the _Monarch_, while +the _Gorgon_ and a number of other vessels as they approached all took +part in the conflict, the engagement quickly becoming general. With +great precision the British directed their fire, and the French vessels +soon prepared to beat a retreat, when, without warning, a frightful +explosion occurred on board the _Hirondelle_, and wreckage mingled with +human limbs shot into the air amid a great sheet of flame. + +The magazine had exploded! The scene on board the doomed vessel, even as +witnessed from the British ships, was awful. Terrified men left their +guns, and, rushing hither and thither, sought means of escape. But the +boats had already been smashed by shots from the British cruisers, and +all knew that death was inevitable. + +The burning ship slowly foundered beneath them, and as they rushed about +in despair they fell back into the roaring flames. A British torpedo +boat rescued about a dozen; but presently, with a heavy list, the +warship suddenly swung round, and, bow first, disappeared into the green +sunlit sea, leaving only a few poor wretches, who, after struggling +vainly on the surface for a few moments, also went down to the unknown. + +The carnage was frightful. Hundreds of men were being launched into +eternity, while upon the horizon both east and west dozens of ships of +both invaders and defenders were rapidly approaching, and all would, ere +long, try conclusions. + +Before half an hour had passed, a fierce battle, as sanguinary as any in +the world's history, had commenced. The cruisers, acting as satellites +to the battleships forming the two opposing fighting lines, had quickly +commenced a series of fierce skirmishes and duels, all the most +destructive engines of modern warfare being brought into play. + +The division of our Channel Fleet that had at last returned consisted of +the powerful battleship _Royal Sovereign_, flying the Admiral's flag; +the barbette-ships _Anson_, _Howe_, _Camperdown_, and _Benbow_; the +turret-ships _Thunderer_ and _Conqueror_; the cruisers _Mersey_, +_Terpsichore_, _Melampus_, _Tribune_, _Latona_, _Immortalite_, and +_Barham_; with the torpedo gunboats _Spanker_ and _Speedwell_, and +nineteen torpedo boats. + +The forces of the invaders were more than double that of the British, +for, in addition to the vessels already enumerated, the reinforcements +consisted of the French battleships _Amiral Baudin_, _Formidable_, +_Amiral Duperre_, _Brennus_, _Trehouart_, _Jemappes_, _Terrible_, +_Requin_, _Indomptable_, _Caiman_, _Courbet_, _Devastation_, +_Redoubtable_, and _Furieux_, together with nine cruisers, and +thirty-eight _torpilleurs de haute mer_. + +From the very commencement the fighting was at close quarters, and the +storm of shot and shell caused death on every hand. With such an +overwhelming force at his disposal, Admiral Maigret, the French +commander, had been enabled to take up a position which boded ill for +the defenders, nevertheless the British Admiral on board the _Royal +Sovereign_ was determined to exert every effort to repulse the enemy. + +In the thick of the fight the great flagship steamed along, her +compartments closed, her stokeholds screwed down, her four 67-ton guns +hurling great shots from her barbettes, and her smaller arms pouring out +a continuous deadly fire upon the French ship _Indomptable_ on the one +side, and the great Russian armoured cruiser _Nicolai I._ on the other. +Upon the latter the British vessel's shells played with a terribly +devastating effect, bringing down the large forward mast and the machine +guns in her fighting tops, and then, while the crew worked to get the +wreckage clear, the Maxim, Nordenfelt, and Hotchkiss guns of the _Royal +Sovereign_ suddenly rattled out, sweeping with their metal hail her +opponent's deck, and mowing down those who were cutting adrift the +fallen rigging. A moment later a shell struck one of the pair of guns in +the _Nicolai's_ turret, rendering it useless, and then the captain of +the _Royal Sovereign_, who had been standing in the conning-tower calmly +awaiting his chance, touched three electric knobs in rapid succession. +The engines throbbed, the great ship moved along at increasing speed +through dense clouds of stifling smoke, and as she did so the captain +shouted an order which had the effect of suddenly turning the vessel, +and while her great barbette guns roared, the ram of the British vessel +crashed into the broadside of the Tsar's ship with a terrific impact +which caused her to shiver from stem to stern. + +[Illustration: +_Nicolai I._ _Royal Sovereign._ +BATTLE OFF BEACHY HEAD: H.M.S. "ROYAL SOVEREIGN" RAMMING THE +"NICOLAI I."] + +Then, as the big guns in her rear barbette thundered out upon the +_Indomptable_, whose engines had broken down, she drew gradually back +from the terrible breach her ram had made under the water-line of her +opponent, and the latter at once commenced to sink. The force of the +impact had been so great that the Russian's hull was absolutely broken +in two, and as the iron stretched and rent like paper, she heaved slowly +over, "turning turtle," and carrying down with her over three hundred +officers and men. + +The British captain now turned his attention to the French ship, which +had been joined in the attack by the _Brennus_, the fire from whose +58-ton guns at close quarters played great havoc with the British +flagship's superstructure. A second later, however, the captain of the +_Royal Sovereign_ caught the _Indomptable_ in an unguarded moment, and, +springing towards one of the electric knobs before him, pressed it. This +had the effect of ejecting a torpedo from one of the bow tubes, and so +well directed was it that a few seconds later there was a deafening +report, as part of the stern portion of the French ship was blown away, +raising great columns of spray. + +The situation was awful, and the loss of life everywhere enormous. +Dense, blinding smoke, and the choking fumes of melinite, obscured the +sun, and in the darkness thus caused the flames from the guns shed a +lurid light upon decks strewn with dead and dying. The cruisers and +scouts by which our battleships were surrounded cut off many of the +French torpedo boats, but a large number got right in among the fleet, +and some terrible disasters were thus caused. Once inside the circle of +British cruisers, all fire directed at the boats was as dangerous to our +own ships as to the enemy's boats. + +The superiority of the French torpedo boats was, alas! keenly felt by +the British, for in the course of the first hour five of our +cruisers--the _Terpsichore_, _Galatea_, _Melampus_, _Tribune_, _Mersey_, +the turret-ship _Conqueror_, and the battleships _Hannibal_ and +_Rodney_, had been blown up. As compared with these losses, those of the +enemy were at this stage by no means small. The French had lost two +cruisers and four torpedo boats, and the Russians one battleship, three +cruisers, and six torpedo boats. + +The British, with all these fearful odds against them, still continued a +galling fire. The _Camperdown_, _Anson_, and _Benbow_, steaming together +in line, belched a storm of shell from their barbettes, which caused +wholesale destruction among the crowd of ships engaging them. Yet the +withering fire of the enemy was telling terribly upon the comparatively +small force of the defenders. Upon all three battleships the casualties +were frightful, and on board each one or more of the heavy guns had been +disabled. Suddenly a shot, penetrating a weak point in the armour of the +_Anson_, entered her engine-room, disabling a portion of her machinery, +while a moment later a shell from the _Amiral Duperre_ fell close to her +broadside torpedo discharge, and a fragment of the shell coming into +contact with the striker of a torpedo, just as it was about to leave its +tube, caused a terrific and disastrous explosion between the decks. The +effect was horrifying. The torpedo contained over 70 lb. of gun-cotton, +therefore the devastating nature of the explosion may be readily +imagined. Over a hundred men were blown to atoms, and the whole six of +the broadside guns were more or less disabled. + +A second later, however, a shell from the _Benbow_ struck the _Amiral +Duperre_, carrying away the greater portion of her conning-tower, and +killing her captain instantly, while almost at the same moment a torpedo +from one of the British boats struck her bows with a frightful +detonation, blowing an enormous hole in them. The catastrophe was +complete. The crew of the doomed ship, panic-stricken, left their guns +and commenced to launch the only two boats that remained uninjured; but +ere this could be accomplished, the _Trehouart_, which suddenly went +astern, apparently to avoid a torpedo, crashed into her, with the +result that she heeled right over and quickly disappeared. + +The _Camperdown_, fighting fiercely with the _Requin_, the _Terrible_, +and the _Courbet_, was suffering terrible damage from bow to stern; +nevertheless her guns kept up an incessant torrent of shot, until +suddenly, just after one of her shells had struck right under the turret +of the _Terrible_, there was a deafening report, the air was filled with +dense smoke, and the French ship, with her engines disabled, commenced +to fill and sink. + +A portion of the shell had penetrated to her magazine, and she had blown +up, nearly half her crew being killed by the terrific force of the +explosion. Many of the remaining men, however, scrambled on board the +_Caiman_, which by some means had come into slight collision with her; +but scarcely had the last terrified man left the sinking vessel, when +the _Camperdown's_ powerful ram entered the _Caiman's_ bows, breaking +her hull, and she also foundered, carrying down with her not only her +own crew, but also the survivors of the _Terrible_. + +This success was witnessed with satisfaction by the British Admiral, who +nevertheless saw how seriously weakened was his force, and how critical +was the position of his few remaining ships. Yet he remained quite cool, +for the heavy guns of the steel monster in whose conning-tower he stood +continued thundering forth their projectiles, and the White Ensign still +loomed defiantly through the dense black smoke, fluttering in the +freshening breeze that was now springing up. + +Although a number of the enemy's vessels had been sunk, he knew the +issue must be fatal to his force, for they were now surrounded by a +number of ships so vastly superior to them in armament and speed, that +to die fighting was their only course. + +Though the cockpits were full, true British indomitable courage was +showing itself everywhere on board our ships. Officers by words of +encouragement incited their men to splendid heroic deeds, and guns' +crews, with dark determined faces, seeing only death ahead, resolved to +fight and struggle to the last for the honour of the Union Jack, which +should never be surmounted by the Tricolor. + +A moment later, the captain, standing with the Admiral, who had just +entered the conning-tower of the _Royal Sovereign_, suddenly uttered a +cry of dismay, and with transfixed, horrified gaze pointed with his +finger to the sea. + +Breathlessly the Admiral looked in the direction indicated. + +Though one of the bravest men in the Navy, and on his breast he wore the +Victoria Cross, his eyes fell upon a sight that appalled him. + +It was a critical moment. + +A small French vessel, the unarmoured cruiser _Faucon_, had crept up +unnoticed. The attention of the British officers had been, until that +moment, concentrated upon the three powerful battleships, the _Requin_, +the _Devastation_, and the _Jemappes_, which kept up their hot fire upon +the flagship, causing terrible destruction. Now, however, the British +Admiral saw himself surrounded by the enemy, and the sight which caused +his heart to beat quickly was a distinct line of bubbles upon the water, +advancing with terrific speed, showing that a torpedo had been ejected +from the _Faucon_ directly at his ship! + +In the conning-tower all knew their danger, but not a man spoke. Both +the Admiral and the captain at the same instant saw the death-dealing +projectile advancing, and both retained their coolness and presence of +mind. The captain, shouting an order, sprang back and touched one of the +electric signals, which was instantly responded to. + +It was the work of a second. The great engines roared and throbbed, and +the huge vessel, propelled backwards by its 13,000 horse-power, swung +steadily round just as the torpedo glanced off her bow obliquely. The +crew of the _Royal Sovereign_ had never been nearer death than at that +instant. Had the ironclad not halted in her course, the striker of the +torpedo would have come square upon her bows, and one of the finest +vessels of the British Navy would have probably gone to the bottom. + +The _Faucon_ was not given an opportunity to make a second attempt. The +captain of the _Anson_ had witnessed how narrowly the British flagship +had escaped, and immediately turned his great guns upon the little +vessel, with the result that her quick-firing guns were quickly rendered +useless, her hull was torn up like paper, and she slowly sank without +offering resistance. + +Shots came from the frowning barbettes of the _Camperdown_, _Benbow_, +and the turrets of the _Monarch_ rapidly, the damage and loss of life +suffered by the enemy now being enormous. The three French battleships +engaging the _Royal Sovereign_ at close quarters received terrible +punishment. One of the 75-ton guns of the _Requin_ had been rendered +useless, her deck had been torn up, and her bulwarks had been carried +away, together with her funnel and forward mast. The rear barbette gun +of the _Jemappes_ had been thrown off its mounting, and a shell striking +the port side battery, had burst against the forward bulkhead, and +wrought horrible destruction among the guns' crews. + +The three powerful French vessels pouring their fire upon the British +flagship, and finding themselves being raked by the heavy fire of their +adversary, signalled the _Tonnerre_ and _Furieux_ to assist them. Both +vessels drew nearer, and soon afterwards commenced pounding at the +_Royal Sovereign_. + +The _Anson_, however, noticed the dangerous position of the British +flagship, and, having manoeuvred adroitly, succeeded in getting under +way, and with her great forward guns thundering, she crashed her ram +into the _Furieux_, and sank her, while almost at the same moment a +torpedo, discharged from one of the British boats, struck the _Tonnerre_ +right amidships, dealing her a blow from which she could never recover. +Five minutes later, the _Gangut_, fighting desperately at close quarters +with the _Camperdown_, had part of her armoured casemate blown away, and +the British battleship followed up this success by directing a torpedo +at her in such a manner that, although she drew back quickly to avoid +it, she nevertheless received it right under her stern. Some ammunition +on board that vessel also exploded, and the effect was frightful, for +fragments of wood, iron, and human bodies were precipitated in all +directions. + +The loss of life, although heavy on the British side, was nevertheless +far greater on board the enemy's ships. The continuity and precision of +the British fire wrought awful destruction. Between the decks of many of +the French and Russian ships the carnage was frightful. Among wrecked +guns and mountings lay headless and armless bodies; human limbs +shattered by shells were strewn in all directions upon decks slippery +with blood. The shrieks of the dying were drowned by the roar and crash +of the guns, the deafening explosion of shells, and the rending of iron +and steel as the projectiles pierced armourplates, destroying everything +with which they came in contact. + +The noon had passed, and as the day wore on other catastrophes occurred +involving further loss of life. One of these was the accidental ramming +of the _Sfax_ by the French battleship _Redoubtable_, which managed, +however, to save the greater portion of the crew, although her engines +broke down. + +During the afternoon the fire from the British ships seemed to increase +rather than diminish, notwithstanding each vessel flying the White +Ensign fought more than one of the enemy's ships, and in doing so +constantly received shots that spread death and destruction between the +decks. Still, amid the blinding smoke, the din of battle, and the +constant roaring of the guns, British bluejackets with smoke-begrimed +faces worked enthusiastically for the defence of Old England. Many +heroic deeds were performed that memorable afternoon, and many a gallant +hero was sent to an untimely grave. + +On board the _Royal Sovereign_ the destruction was frightful. By four +o'clock many of the guns had been disabled, half the crew had perished, +and the decks ran with the life-blood of Britain's gallant defenders. +The captain had been struck upon the forehead by a flying fragment of +shell, causing a fearful wound; yet, with his head enveloped in a +hastily improvised bandage, he stuck to his post. He was engaging the +_Redoubtable_ and getting the worst of it, when suddenly, having +manoeuvred once or twice, he turned to his lieutenant, saying, "Lay +guns, ahead full speed, and prepare to ram." The officer addressed +transmitted the order, and a few moments later, as her guns thundered +forth, the bows of the _Royal Sovereign_ entered the broadside of the +French ship with a loud crash, ripping her almost in half. + +Backing again quickly as the _Redoubtable_ sank, she suddenly received a +shock which made her reel and shiver. A shell from the Russian flagship +had struck under her stern barbette, but, failing to penetrate the +armour, glanced off into the sea. + +Fiercer and more fierce became the fight. A well-directed shot from one +of the 67-ton guns on the _Anson's_ rear barbette struck the +conning-tower of the _Magenta_, blowing it away, killing the captain and +those who were directing the vessel. + +The sun was sinking, but the battle still raged with unabated fury. Each +side struggled desperately for the mastery. The British, fighting nobly +against what had all along been overwhelming odds, had succeeded in +sinking some of the enemy's finest ships, and inflicting terrible loss +upon the crews of the others; yet the British Admiral, on viewing the +situation, was compelled to admit that he was outnumbered, and that a +continuance of the struggle would inevitably result in the loss of other +of his ships. There still remained three of the enemy's vessels to each +one of the British. His ships were all more or less crippled, therefore +a successful stand against the still overwhelming force would be sheer +madness. He was not the sort of man to show the white feather; +nevertheless a retreat upon Portsmouth had now become a matter of +policy, and the _Royal Sovereign_ a few minutes later ran up signals +intimating to the other vessels her intention. + +As the British Squadron moved away down Channel the hoarse exultant +shouts of the enemy filled the air. But the fighting became even more +desperate, and for over an hour there was a most exciting chase. The +running fire did little harm to the retreating ships, but their stern +guns played terrible havoc with the French and Russian torpedo boats, +which were picked off one after another with remarkable rapidity. + +Off Littlehampton one of the Russian ships ran up signals, and +immediately the enemy's ships slackened. Apparently they had no desire +to follow further west, for after a few parting shots they turned and +stood away up Channel again, while the surviving ships of the British +Squadron steamed onward in the blood-red track of the dying day. + +At their head was the _Royal Sovereign_, battered, and bearing marks of +the deadly strife; but bright against the clear, calm evening sky, the +British flag, half of which had been shot away, still fluttered out in +the cool breeze of sunset. + +The British Lion had shown his teeth. Alas, that our Navy should have +been so weak! Several of the ships had had their engines severely +damaged or broken, but our margin of additional strength was so small +that we had no vessels wherewith to replace those compelled to return to +port. + +The struggle in this, the first naval battle in the defence of our +Empire, had been desperate, and the loss of life appalling. + +The First Act of the most sanguinary drama of modern nations had closed. + +What would be its _denouement_? + + + + +_BOOK II_ + +_THE STRUGGLE_ + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE DOOM OF HULL. + + +In Hull forty-eight long weary hours of anxious suspense and breathless +excitement had passed. The night was dark, the sky overcast, and there +was in the air that oppressive sultry stillness precursory of a storm. + +Church clocks had chimed ten, yet most of the shops were still open, and +the well-lighted streets of the drab old Yorkshire town were filled by a +pale-faced, terror-stricken crowd surging down the thoroughfares towards +the Victoria Pier. A panic had suddenly been created an hour before by +the issue of an extra-special edition of the Hull evening paper, the +_Daily News_, containing a brief telegram in large type, as follows:-- + + The Coastguard at Donna Nook report that a strong force of + Russian war vessels, including the turret-ship _Sevastopol_ and + the barbette-ships _Sinope_ and _Cizoi Veliky_, have just hove + in sight and are making for the Humber. Lloyd's signal station + on Spurn Point has also intimated that hostile ships coming from + the south are lying-to just beyond the Lightship. + +The papers sold more quickly than they could be printed, a shilling each +being given for copies by the excited townspeople, who now, for the +first time, suddenly realised that the enemy was upon them. Men and boys +with bundles of limp papers, damp from the press, rushed along +Whitefriargate, away in every direction into the suburbs, shouting the +appalling intelligence in hoarse, strident tones that awoke the echoes +of the quieter thoroughfares. + +Now, even as purchasers of papers read the few lines of print under the +dim uncertain light of street lamps, the dull booming of distant guns +fell upon their ears, and the populace, wildly excited, made their way +with one accord towards the Victoria Pier, to glean the latest news, and +ascertain the true significance of the repeated firing. + +Was Hull in danger? Would the enemy advance up the river and bombard the +town? These all-important questions were on every one's tongue, and as +the thousands of all classes rushed hither and thither, wild rumours of +the enemy's intentions spread and increased the horror. + +Within an hour of the publication of the first intimation of the +presence of the invaders the excitement had become intense, and the +narrow streets and narrower bridges had become congested by a +terror-stricken multitude. Time after time the thunder of heavy guns +shook the town, causing windows to clatter, and the people standing on +the pier and along the riverside strained their eyes into the cavernous +darkness towards the sea. But they could discern nothing. Across at New +Holland, two miles away, lamps twinkled, but the many lights--red, +white, and green--that stud the broad river for the guidance of the +mariner had, since the Declaration of War, been extinguished. The +familiar distant lights that had never failed to shine seaward at Salt +End and Thorngumbald no longer shed their radiance, and from the +revolving lights at Spurn no stream of brilliancy now flashed away upon +the rolling waters of the North Sea. The buoys had been cut adrift, the +Bull Lightship taken from her moorings, and the entrance to Grimsby +harbour was unillumined. Not a star appeared in the sky, for all was +dark, black, and threatening. Through the hot, heavy atmosphere the roar +of cannon came from the direction of Spurn Point, and as the sounds of +the shots fell upon the ears of the anxious watchers, they stood aghast, +wondering what would be their destiny. + +The suspense was awful. Men, women, and children, with scared faces, +stood in groups in the market-place, in Queen Street, and in High +Street, discussing the situation. This question, however, was already +engaging the attention of the municipal and military authorities, for on +hearing the alarming news the Mayor, with shrewd promptitude, walked +quickly to the Town Hall, and held a hurried informal consultation with +Mr. Charles Wilson, Mr. Arthur Wilson, Mr. Richardson, Major Wellsted, +Alderman Woodhouse, and a number of aldermen and councillors. All knew +the town was in peril. The enemy could have but one object in entering +the Humber. Yet it was agreed that no steps could be taken at such brief +notice to defend the place. The guardship _Edinburgh_ had been withdrawn +to form part of the squadron upon which they would be compelled to rely, +with the batteries at Paull and the submarine mines. + +It was evident by the firing that an attack upon the British Squadron +had commenced. The shadow of impending disaster had fallen. + +Working men, hurrying towards the pier, stopped their leader, Mr. +Millington, and tried to learn what was being done, while many of the +leading townsfolk were thronged around for information, and were centres +of excited groups in Whitefriargate. The boatmen, sharply questioned on +every hand, were as ignorant of the state of affairs as those seeking +information, so nothing could be done except to wait. + +Women and children of the middle and upper classes, regardless of their +destination, were being hurried away by anxious fathers. Every train +leaving Hull was filled to overflowing by those fleeing from the advance +of the Russians, and on the roads inland to Beverley, Selby, and Market +Weighton crowds of every class hurried away to seek some place of +safety. + +Suddenly, just before eleven o'clock, the thousands anxiously peering +over the wide, dark waters saw away on the bank, three miles distant, +two beams of white light, which slowly swept both reaches of the river. + +They were the search-lights of the battery at Paull. Scarcely had the +bright streaks shone out and disappeared when they were followed by a +terrific cannonade from the forts, and then, for the first time, those +standing on the Victoria Pier could discern the enemy's ships. How many +there were it was impossible at that moment to tell, but instantly their +guns flashed and thundered at the forts in reply. Far away seaward could +also be heard low booming. The enemy's vessels were creeping carefully +up the Humber, being compelled to take constant soundings on account of +the removal of the buoys, and evidently guided by foreign pilots who had +for years been permitted to take vessels up and down the river. + +Moments dragged on like hours, each bringing the town of Hull nearer its +fate. The people knew it, but were powerless. They stood awaiting the +unknown. + +The Russian force, besides the three vessels already mentioned, included +the armoured cruiser _Dimitri Donskoi_, the central-battery ship _Kniaz +Pojarski_, the cruiser _Pamyat Merkuriya_, two of the new armoured +cruisers, _Mezen_ and _Syzran_, of the _Rurik_ type, the corvette +_Razboynik_, the torpedo gunboats _Griden_ and _Gaidamak_, and the +armoured gunboat _Gremyastchy_, with several torpedo boats. + +The manner in which they had manoeuvred to pass Spurn Point and ascend +the river was remarkable, and astounded the officers in the forts at +Paull. They, however, were not aware that each captain of those vessels +possessed a copy of the British secret code and other important +information compiled from the documents filched from the body of the +Admiralty messenger by the Count von Beilstein at the Mariners' Rest at +Deal! + +The possession of this secret knowledge, which was, of course, unknown +to our Admiralty, enabled the captains of the Russian vessels to evade +sunken hulks and other obstructions, and take some of their ships slowly +up the river, bearing well on the Lincolnshire coast, so as to keep, +until the last moment, out of the range of the search-lights at Paull. +Then, on the first attack from the batteries, they suddenly replied +with such a hail of shell, that from the first moment it was clear that +the strength of the fort with its obsolete guns was totally inadequate. + +The roar of the cannonade was incessant. Amid the deafening explosions +the townspeople of Hull rushed up and down the streets screaming and +terrified. Suddenly a great shell fell with a dull thud in Citadel +Street, close to a crowd of excited women, and exploding a second later, +blew a number of them to atoms, and wrecked the fronts of several +houses. + +This served to increase the panic. The people were on the verge of +madness with fright and despair. Thousands seized their money and +jewellery and fled away upon the roads leading to the country. Others +hid away their valuables, and preferred to remain; the crisis had come, +and as Britons they determined to face it. + +While the Russian ships, lying broadside-on in positions carefully +selected to avoid the electro-contact mines, poured their terrible fire +upon the land battery at Paull, their torpedo boats darted hither and +thither with extraordinary rapidity. Several were sunk by shots from the +battery, but four piquet boats in the darkness at last managed to creep +up, and after searching, seized the cable connecting the mines with the +Submarine Mining Station at Paull. + +This was discovered just at the critical moment by means of one of the +British search-lights, and upon the hostile boats a frightful cascade of +projectiles was poured by the quick-firing guns of the battery. + +But it was, alas, too late! The cable had been cut. To the whole of the +wires a small electric battery had in a moment been attached, and as the +guns of the fort crashed out there were a series of dull explosions +under the bed of the river across the channel from Foul Holme Sand to +Killingholme Haven, and from Paull Coastguard Station to the Skitter. + +The dark water rose here and there. The whole of the mines had been +simultaneously fired! + +Cheers rang out from the Russian vessels, sounding above the heavy +cannonade. The destruction of this most important portion of the +defences of the Humber had been accomplished by the boats just at the +very instant when they were shattered by British shells, and ere the +waters grew calm again the last vestige of the boats had disappeared. +The officers at Paull worked on with undaunted courage, striving by +every means in their power to combat with the superior forces. In a +measure, too, they were successful, for such havoc did the shells play +with the gunboat _Gremyastchy_ that she slowly foundered, and her crew +were compelled to abandon her. A portion of the men were rescued by the +_Syzran_, but two boatloads were precipitated into the water, and nearly +all were drowned. Two of the big guns of the _Dimitri Donskoi_ were +disabled, and the loss of life on several of the ships was considerable. +Nevertheless the firing was still incessant. Time after time the 9-ton +guns of the _Kniaz Pojarski_ and the four 131/2-tonners of the _Mezen_ +threw their terrible missiles upon the defences at Paull with frightful +effect, until at length, after a most desperate, stubborn resistance on +the part of the British commander of the battery, and after half the +defending force had been killed, the guns suddenly ceased. + +Both land and sea defences had been broken down! The Russians were now +free to advance upon Hull! + +Not a moment was lost. Ten minutes after the guns of Paull had been +silenced, the enemy's ships, moving very cautiously forward, opened a +withering fire upon the town. + +The horrors of that bombardment were frightful. At the moment of the +first shots, fired almost simultaneously from the two big guns of the +_Syzran_, the panic became indescribable. Both shells burst with loud +detonations and frightfully devastating effect. The first, striking one +of the domes of the Dock Office, carried it bodily away, at the same +time killing several persons; while the other, crashing upon the +Exchange, unroofed it, and blew away the colossal statue of Britannia +which surmounted the parapet on the corner. Surely this was an omen of +impending disaster! + +Ere the horrified inhabitants could again draw breath, the air was rent +by a terrific crash, as simultaneously flame rushed from the guns of +the _Kniaz Pojarski_, the _Pamyat Merkuriya_, and the _Mezen_, and great +shells were hurled into the town in every direction. The place trembled +and shook as if struck by an earthquake, and everywhere walls fell and +buildings collapsed. + +[Illustration: MAP OF HULL AND THE HUMBER.] + +Long bright beams of the search-lights swept the town and neighbouring +country, lighting up the turbulent streets like day, and as the crowds +rushed headlong from the river, shot and shell struck in their midst, +killing hundreds of starving toilers and unoffending men, women, and +children. + +Lying off Salt End, the _Cizoi Veliky_, which had now come up the river +in company with two torpedo boats, poured from her barbette a heavy fire +upon the Alexandra Dock and Earle's shipbuilding yard, while the other +vessels, approaching nearer, wrought terrible destruction with every +shot in various other parts of the town. In the course of a quarter of +an hour many streets were impassable, owing to the fallen buildings, and +in dozens of places the explosion of the melinite shells had set on fire +the ruined houses. + +Missiles hurled from such close quarters by such heavy guns wrought the +most fearful havoc. Naturally, the Russian gunners, discovering the most +prominent buildings with their search-lights, aimed at them and +destroyed many of the public edifices. + +Among the first prominent structures to topple and fall was the +Wilberforce Monument, and then, in rapid succession, shots carried away +another dome of the Dock Office, and the great square towers of St. +John's and Holy Trinity Churches. The gaudily gilded equestrian statue +of King William III. was flung from its pedestal and smashed by a heavy +shot, which entered a shop opposite, completely wrecking it; and two +shells, striking the handsome offices of the Hull Banking Company at the +corner of Silver Street, reduced the building to a heap of ruins. Deadly +shells fell in quick succession in Paragon Street, and at the +North-Eastern Railway Station, where the lines and platforms were torn +up, and the Station Hotel, being set on fire, was soon burning fiercely, +for the flames spread unchecked here, as in every other quarter. Church +spires fell crashing into neighbouring houses, whole rows of shops were +demolished in Whitefriargate, High Street, and Saville Street, and roads +were everywhere torn up by the enemy's exploding missiles. + +Not for a moment was there a pause in this awful work of destruction; +not for a moment was the frightful massacre of the inhabitants +suspended. The enemy's sole object was apparently to weaken the northern +defences of London by drawing back the Volunteer battalions to the +north. There was no reason to bombard after the fort had been silenced, +yet they had decided to destroy the town and cause the most widespread +desolation possible. + +Flame flashed from the muzzles of those great desolating guns so quickly +as to appear like one brilliant, incessant light. Shells from the _Cizoi +Veliky_ fell into the warehouses around the Alexandra Dock, and these, +with the fine new grain warehouses on each side of the river Hull, were +blazing furiously with a terrible roar. High into the air great tongues +of flame leaped, their volume increased by the crowd of ships in the +dock also igniting in rapid succession, shedding a lurid glare over the +terrible scene, and lighting up the red, angry sky. The long range of +warehouses, filled with inflammable goods, at the edge of the Albert and +William Wright Docks, were on fire, while the warehouses of the Railway +Dock, together with a large number of Messrs. Thomas Wilson's fine +steamers, were also in flames. Such a hold had the flames obtained that +no power could arrest them, and as the glare increased it was seen by +those flying for their lives that the whole of the port was now +involved. + +The great petroleum stores of the Anglo-American Company, struck by a +shell, exploded a few moments later with a most terrific and frightful +detonation which shook the town. For a moment it seemed as if both town +and river were enveloped in one great sheet of flame, then, as blazing +oil ran down the gutters on every side, fierce fires showed, and whole +streets were alight from end to end. + +Hundreds of persons perished in the flames, hundreds were shot down by +the fragments of flying missiles, and hundreds more were buried under +falling ruins. Everywhere the roar of flames mingled with the shrieks of +the dying. Shells striking the Royal Infirmary burst in the wards, +killing many patients in their beds, and setting fire to the building, +while others, crashing through the roof of the Theatre Royal, carried +away one of the walls and caused the place to ignite. One shot from the +13-ton gun of the _Syzran_ tore its way into the nave of Holy Trinity +Church, and, exploding, blew out the three beautiful windows and wrecked +the interior, while another from the same gun demolished one of the +corner buildings of the new Market Hall. The handsome tower of the Town +Hall, struck by a shell just under the dial, came down with a frightful +crash, completely blocking Lowgate with its debris, and almost at the +same instant a shot came through the dome of the Council Chamber, +totally destroying the apartment. + +The Mariners' Hospital and Trinity House suffered terribly, many of the +inmates of the former being blown to pieces. One shot completely +demolished the Savings Bank at the corner of George Street, and a shell +exploding under the portico of the Great Thornton Street Chapel blew out +the whole of its dark facade. Another, striking the extensive premises +of a firm of lead merchants at the corner of Brook and Paragon Streets, +swept away the range of buildings like grass before the scythe. + +In the Queen's, Humber, Victoria, and Prince's Docks the congested crowd +of idle merchant ships were enveloped in flames that wrapped themselves +about the rigging, and, crackling, leaped skyward. The Orphanage at +Spring Bank, the Artillery Barracks, and Wilberforce House were all +burning; in fact, in the course of the two hours during which the +bombardment lasted hardly a building of note escaped. + +The houses of the wealthy residents far away up Spring Bank, Anlaby and +Beverley Roads, and around Pearson's Park, had been shattered and +demolished; the shops in Saville Street had without exception been +destroyed, and both the Cannon Street and Pier Stations had been +completely wrecked and unroofed. + +Soon after two o'clock in the morning, when the Russian war vessels +ceased their thunder, the whole town was as one huge furnace, the +intense heat and suffocating smoke from which caused the Russian Admiral +to move his vessels towards the sea as quickly as the necessary +soundings allowed. + +The glare lit the sky for many miles around. The immense area of great +burning buildings presented a magnificent, appalling spectacle. + +It was a terrible national disaster--a frightful holocaust, in which +thousands of lives, with property worth millions, had been wantonly +destroyed by a ruthless enemy which Britain's defective and obsolete +defences were too weak to keep at bay--a devastating catastrophe, swift, +complete, awful. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +TERROR ON THE TYNE. + + +England was thrilled, dismayed, petrified. The wholesale massacre at +Eastbourne and the terrible details of the bombardment of Hull had +spread increased horror everywhere throughout the land. + +Terror reigned on the Tyneside. Hospitals, asylums, and public +institutions, crowded with affrighted inmates, had no food to +distribute. In Newcastle, in Shields, in Jarrow, and in Gateshead the +poor were idle and hungry, while the wealthy were feverishly +apprehensive. A Sabbath quiet had fallen on the great silent highway of +the Tyne. In those blazing days and breathless nights there was an +unbroken stillness that portended dire disaster. + +In the enormous crowded districts on each side of the river the gaunt +spectre Starvation stalked through the cheerless homes of once +industrious toilers, and the inmates pined and died. So terrible was the +distress already, that domestic pets were being killed and eaten, dogs +and cats being no uncommon dish, the very offal thrown aside being +greedily devoured by those slowly succumbing to a horrible death. Awful +scenes of suffering and blank despair were being witnessed on every +side. + +Three days after the enemy had ascended the Humber and dealt such a +decisive blow at Hull, the port of South Shields was suddenly alarmed by +information telegraphed from the Coastguard on Harton Down Hill, about +a mile south of the town, to the effect that they had sighted a number +of French and Russian ships. + +Panic at once ensued. The broad market-place was filled by a +terror-stricken crowd of townspeople, while the seafaring population +surged down King Street and Ocean Road, across the park to the long +South Pier at the entrance to the Tyne, eager to reassure themselves +that the enemy had no designs upon their town. + +In the dull red afterglow that lit up the broad bay of golden sand +between Trow Point and the pier, a huge vessel suddenly loomed dark upon +the sky line, and, as she approached, those watching anxiously through +glasses made her out as the great steel turret-ship _Lazare Carnot_, +flying the French Tricolor. Immediately following her came a number of +cruisers, gunboats, and torpedo boats. They included the _Dimitri +Donskoi_, the _Kniaz Pojarski_, the _Pamyat Merkuriya_, the _Mezen_, the +_Syzran_, the _Griden_, and the _Gaidamak_, all of which had taken part +in the attack on Hull, while they had now been joined by the French +battleships _Massena_ and _Neptune_, the small cruisers _Cosamo_, +_Desaix_, _D'Estaing_, _Coetlogon_, and _Lalande_, the torpedo gunboats +_Iberville_, _Lance_, _Leger_, and _Fleche_, and the gun-vessels +_Etoile_, _Fulton_, _Gabes_, _Sagittaire_, and _Vipere_, with a large +number of torpedo boats and "catchers," in addition to those which were +at Hull. + +As the vessels steamed onward at full speed, the people rushed from the +pier back again into the town in wild disorder, while the Coastguard at +Spanish Battery on the north shore of the estuary, having now discovered +the presence of the menacing ships, at once telegraphed the intelligence +up to Newcastle, where the most profound sensation was immediately +caused. The news spread everywhere, and the people on the Tyneside knew +that the hand of the oppressor was upon them. + +Suddenly, without warning, smoke tumbled over the bows of the _Lazare +Carnot_. There was a low boom, and one of the ponderous guns in her +turret sent forth an enormous shell, which struck the battery at Trow +Point, blowing away a portion of a wall. + +A moment later the battery replied with their 9-tonners, sending forth +shot after shot, most of which, however, ricochetted away over the +glassy sea. It was the signal for a fight which quickly became +desperate. + +In a few moments half a dozen of the ships lay broadside on, and the +great guns of the _Massena_ and _Neptune_, with those of four other +vessels, opened a terrible fire upon the fort, casting their shells upon +the British gunners with frightful effect. + +In the battery the Armstrong disappearing guns were worked to their +utmost capacity, and the shots of the defenders played havoc with the +smaller craft, three torpedo boats and a "catcher" being sunk in as many +minutes. + +Meanwhile the _Active_, _Bonaventure_, _Cambrian_, _Canada_, and +_Archer_ of the Reserve Squadron, now on its way from the north of +Scotland in consequence of orders from the Admiralty having reached it, +rounded Sharpness Point, and steamed full upon the enemy's ships. + +The conflict was fierce, but quickly ended. + +Heavy fire was kept up from the fort at Tynemouth, from Spanish Battery, +from Trow Battery, and from several new batteries with disappearing guns +between the Groyne and the quarry at Trow, that had been constructed and +manned since the mobilisation by Volunteers, consisting of the 1st +Newcastle Volunteer Engineers, the 3rd Durham Volunteer Artillery, and +the 4th Durham Light Infantry from Newcastle. Nevertheless the +assistance received by the British ships from the land was of but little +avail, for a Russian torpedo boat sent forth its messenger of death at +the third-class cruiser _Canada_, blowing her up, while the engines of +both the _Active_ and _Bonaventure_ were so seriously damaged as to be +practically useless. Rapid signalling by the semaphore at Spanish +Battery had placed the defenders on the alert, and although the British +were suffering so heavily on account of their minority, still the enemy +were everywhere feeling the effect of the hot and unexpected reception. + +Before half an hour had passed two Russian gunboats had been torpedoed, +and the French cruiser _D'Estaing_, having caught fire, was burning +furiously, many of her crew perishing at their guns. + +[Illustration: MAP OF THE TYNE DISTRICT.] + +The _Lazare Carnot_ and the _Massena_, heedless of the fire from the +shore, steamed at half speed across the estuary until they were opposite +the Tynemouth Battery, when they suddenly opened fire, being quickly +joined by six French and Russian cruisers. In the meantime the contact +mines were being blown up by piquet boats, who, although suffering +heavily from the fire from the shore, nevertheless continued their task. +It was then seen how utterly inadequate were the defences of the Tyne, +and what negligence had been displayed on the part of the War Office in +not providing at Tynemouth adequate means of warding off or successfully +coping with an attack. + +From behind the tall grey lighthouse a few guns were thundering, but in +face of the overwhelming force at sea it was but a sorry attempt. One +shot from the battery severely damaged the superstructure of the _Lazare +Carnot_, another cut through the funnel of the _Neptune_, carrying it +away, and a third entering the magazine of one of the small cruisers +caused it to explode with serious loss of life. Yet the devastating +effect of the enemy's shells on the obsolete defences of Tynemouth was +appalling. + +Enclosed in the fortifications were the crumbling ruins of the ancient +Priory, with its restored chapel, a graveyard, and an old Castle that +had been converted into artillery barracks. As flame and smoke rushed +continuously from the barbettes, turrets, and broadsides of the hostile +ships, the shots brought down the bare, dark old walls of the Priory, +and, crashing into the Castle, played havoc with the building. The +lantern of the lighthouse, too, was carried away, probably by a shot +flying accidentally wide, and every moment death and desolation was +being spread throughout the fort. Such a magnificent natural position, +commanding as it did the whole estuary of the Tyne, should have been +rendered impregnable, yet, as it remained in 1894, so it stood on this +fatal day, a typical example of War Office apathy and shortsightedness. + +Its guns were a mere make-believe, that gave the place an appearance of +strength that it did not possess. In the North Battery, on the left +side, commanding a broad sweep of sea beyond Sharpness, only one gun, a +64-pounder, was mounted, the remaining five rotting platforms being +unoccupied! At the extreme point, to command the mouth of the river, a +single 5-tonner was placed well forward with great ostentation, its +weight, calibre, and other details having been painted up in conspicuous +white letters, for the delectation of an admiring public admitted to +view the Priory. The South Battery, a trifle stronger, was, +nevertheless, a sheer burlesque, its weakness being a disgrace to the +British nation. In fact, in the whole of the battery the upper defences +had long been known to experts to be obsolete, and the lower ones +totally inadequate for the resistance they should have been able to +offer. + +Was it any wonder, then, that the shells of the enemy should cause such +frightful destruction? Among the British artillerymen there was no lack +of courage, for they exerted every muscle in their gallant efforts to +repulse the foe. Yet, handicapped as they were by lack of efficient arms +and properly constructed fortifications, their heroic struggles were +futile, and they sacrificed their lives to no purpose. The deadly hail +from the floating monsters swept away the whole of the ancient Priory +walls, demolishing the old red brick barracks, blowing up the Castle +gateway, wrecking the guardroom, and igniting the Priory Chapel. The +loss of life was terrible, the whole of the men manning the 5-ton gun +pointing seaward having been killed by a single shell that burst among +them, while everywhere else men of the Royal Artillery, and those of the +Tynemouth Volunteer Artillery, who were assisting, were killed or maimed +by the incessant rain of projectiles. + +Night clouds gathered black and threatening, and it appeared as if the +enemy were carrying all before them. The French battleship _Neptune_, +seeing the guns of all three batteries had been considerably weakened, +was steaming slowly into the mouth of the Tyne, followed by the Russian +cruiser _Syzran_, when suddenly two terrific explosions occurred, +shaking both North and South Shields to their very foundations. High +into the air the water rose, and it was then seen that two submarine +mines had been exploded simultaneously by electric current from the +Tynemouth Battery, and that both vessels had been completely blown up. +Such was the force of the explosion, that the hull of the _Neptune_, a +great armour-clad of over ten thousand tons, had been ripped up like +paper, and of her crew scarcely a man escaped, while the cruiser had +been completely broken in half, and many of her crew blown to atoms. +Scarcely had this success of the defenders been realised when it was +followed by another, for a second later a British torpedo boat succeeded +in blowing up with all hands the French torpedo gunboat _Lance_. + +These reverses, however, caused but little dismay among the invaders, +for ere long the British cruisers had been driven off, the guns at Trow +had been silenced, while those at Spanish Battery and Tynemouth could +only keep up a desultory fire. Then, in the falling gloom, ship after +ship, guided by foreign pilots, and carefully evading a number of hulks +that had been placed near the estuary, entered the Tyne, pouring forth +their heavy monotonous fire into North Shields and South Shields. +Skilfully as the despairing defenders managed their submarine mines, +they only succeeded in destroying three more of the enemy's ships, the +French torpedo gunboats _Iberville_ and _Cassini_ and the cruiser +_Desaix_, the crews perishing. + +Not for a moment was there a cessation of the cannonade as the smaller +ships of the enemy advanced up the river, and the damage wrought by +their shells was enormous. Tynemouth had already suffered heavily, many +of the streets being in flames. The tower of St. Saviour's Church had +fallen, the conspicuous spire of the Congregational Chapel had been shot +away, the Piers Office had been reduced to ruins, and the long building +of the Royal Hotel completely wrecked. The houses facing Percy Park had +in many cases been shattered, a shell exploding under the archway of the +Bath Hotel had demolished it, and the handsome clock tower at the end of +the road had been hurled down and scattered. + +Slackening opposite the Scarp, the gunboats and cruisers belched forth +shot and shell upon North Shields, aiming first at the more conspicuous +objects, such as the Sailors' Home, the Custom House, the tall tower of +Christ Church, and the Harbour Master's office, either totally +destroying them or injuring them irreparably, while the houses on Union +Quay and those in Dockway Square and in adjoining streets, from the +gasometers down to the Town Hall, were also swept by shells. Resistance +was made from Fort Clifford on the one side of the town, from a position +occupied by a battery of the Durham Volunteer Artillery, who had mounted +guns on the hill behind Smith's Yard, and also by the submarine mines of +the Tyne Division Volunteer Miners; but it was most ineffectual, and, +when night fell, hundreds of terror-stricken persons had been killed, +and the town was on fire in dozens of places, the flames illuminating +the sky with their lurid brilliancy. + +In South Shields tragic scenes were being enacted. Shells flying about +the town from the river on the one side and the sea on the other +exploded in the streets, blowing unfortunate men, women, and children +into atoms, wrecking public buildings, and setting fire to the cherished +homes of the toilers. The congested blocks of buildings around Panash +Point were one huge furnace; the Custom House, the River Police Station, +and the Plate Glass Works were wrecked, while a shell exploding in one +of the petroleum tanks on the Commissioners' Wharf caused it to burst +with fearful effect. The queer old turret of St. Hilda's fell with a +crash, the Church of St. Stephen was practically demolished, and the +school in the vicinity unroofed. The dome of the Marine School was +carried bodily away; nothing remained standing of the Wouldhave Memorial +Clock but a few feet of the square lower structure, and the Ingham +Infirmary being set on fire, several of the patients lost their lives. +Amid this frightful panic, Lieut.-Col. Gowans and Major Carr of the 3rd +Durham Artillery, the Mayor, Mr. Readhead, Alderman Rennoldson, +Councillors Lisle, Marshall, and Stainton, the Town Clerk, Mr. Hayton, +and the Rev. H. E. Savage, were all conspicuous for the coolness they +displayed. Courage, however, was unavailing, for South Shields was at +the mercy of the invaders, and all defence was feeble and futile. +Hundreds of the townspeople were killed by flying fragments of shells, +hundreds more were buried in the debris of tottering buildings, while +those who survived fled horror-stricken with their valuables away into +the country, beyond the range of the enemy's fire. + +The horrors of Hull were being repeated. The streets ran with the +life-blood of unoffending British citizens. + +As evening wore on, the invaders came slowly up the Tyne, heedless of +the strenuous opposition with which they were met by Volunteer +Artillery, who, having established batteries on various positions +between Shields and Newcastle, poured a hot fire upon them. Advancing, +their terrible guns spread death and destruction on either bank. + +The crowds of idle shipping in the great Tyne Dock at South Shields, and +those in the Albert Edward and Northumberland Docks on the north bank, +together with the staiths, warehouses, and offices, were blazing +furiously, while the Tyne Commissioners' great workshops, Edwards' +Shipbuilding Yard, and many other factories and shipbuilding yards, were +either set on fire or seriously damaged. + +Many of the affrighted inhabitants of North Shields sought refuge in the +railway tunnel, and so escaped, but hundreds lost their lives in the +neighbourhood of Wallsend and Percy Main. + +Shells fell in Swinburne's brass foundry at Carville, destroying the +buildings, together with the Carville Hotel and the railway viaduct +between that place and Howdon. + +The Wallsend Railway Station and the Theatre of Varieties were blown to +atoms, and the houses both at High and Low Walker suffered severely, +while opposite at Jarrow enormous damage was everywhere caused. At the +latter place the 1st Durham Volunteer Engineers rendered excellent +defensive service under Lieut.-Col. Price and Major Forneaux, and the +Mayor was most energetic in his efforts to insure the safety of the +people. A submarine mine had been laid opposite Hebburn, and, being +successfully exploded, blew to atoms the French gunboat _Gabes_, and at +the same time seriously injured the propeller of the cruiser _Cosamo_. +This vessel subsequently broke down, and a second mine fired from the +shore destroyed her also. Nevertheless the invaders steadily advanced up +the broad river, blowing up obstacles, dealing decisive blows, and +destroying human life and valuable property with every shot from their +merciless weapons. + +The panic that night in Newcastle was terrible. The streets were in a +turmoil of excitement, for the reports from Tynemouth had produced the +most intense alarm and dismay. On receipt of the first intelligence the +Free Library Committee of the City Council happened to be sitting, and +the chairman, Alderman H. W. Newton, the popular representative of All +Saints' North, formally announced it to his colleagues, among whom was +the Mayor. The committee broke up in confusion, and an excited +consultation followed, in which Councillors Durnford, Fitzgerald, and +Flowers, with Alderman Sutton, took part. Capt. Nicholls, the Chief +Constable, Major A. M. Potter of the 1st Northumberland Artillery, +Lieut.-Col. Angus of the 1st Newcastle Volunteer Artillery, Lieut.-Col. +Palmer and Major Emley of the Volunteer Engineers, Mr. Hill Motum, and +Mr. Joseph Cowen also entered the room and engaged in the discussion. + +At such a hasty informal meeting, nothing, however, could be done. The +Mayor and Councillors were assured by the Volunteer officers that +everything possible under the circumstances had been arranged for the +defence of the Tyne. Property worth millions was at stake, and now that +the news had spread from mouth to mouth the streets around the Town Hall +were filled with crowds of excited, breathless citizens, anxious to know +what steps were being taken to insure their protection. + +So loudly did they demand information, that the Mayor was compelled to +appear for a moment and address a few words to them, assuring them that +arrangements had been made which he hoped would be found adequate to +repel the foe. This appeased them in a measure, and the crowd dispersed; +but in the other thoroughfares the excitement was intensified, and +famished thousands rushed aimlessly about, many going out upon the High +Level and Low Level Bridges and straining their eyes down the river in +endeavour to catch a glimpse of the enemy. + +Heavy and continuous firing could be heard as the dark evening dragged +on, and presently, just before nine o'clock, the anxious ones upon the +bridges saw the flash of guns as the invading vessels rounded the sharp +bend of the river at the ferry beyond Rotterdam Wharf. + +The sight caused the people to rush panic-stricken up into the higher +parts of Newcastle or across the bridges into Gateshead, and from both +towns a rapid exodus was taking place, thousands fleeing into the +country. From gun-vessels, torpedo gunboats, and cruisers, shot and +shell poured in continuous streams into the wharves, shipping, and +congested masses of houses on either bank. + +The houses along City Road, St. Lawrence Road, Quality Row, and Byker +Bank, on the outskirts of Newcastle, suffered severely, while shots +damaged the great Ouseburn Viaduct, wrecked St. Dominic's Roman Catholic +Chapel, and blew away the roof of the new Board School, a prominent +feature of the landscape. + +Several shells fell and exploded in Jesmond Vale. One burst and set fire +to the Sandyford Brewery, and one or two falling in Portland Road caused +widespread destruction and terrible loss of life. The London and Hamburg +Wharves, with the shipping lying near, were soon blazing furiously, and +all along Quay Side, right up to the Guildhall, shops and offices were +every moment being destroyed and swept away. New Greenwich and South +Shore on the Gateshead side were vigorously attacked, and many shots +fired over the Salt Marshes fell in the narrow thoroughfares that lie +between Sunderland Road and Brunswick Street. + +Upon the enemy's ships the Volunteer batteries on the commanding +positions on either side of the high banks poured a galling fire, one +battery at the foot of the Swing Bridge on the Gateshead side effecting +terrible execution. Their guns had been well laid, and the salvoes of +shell played about the French gun-vessels and torpedo boats, causing +frightful destruction among the crews. Both Newcastle and Gateshead, +lying so much higher than the river, were in a certain measure +protected, and the high banks afforded a wide command over the waterway. +At various points, including the entrances to the High Level Bridge, at +the Side, the Close, New Chatham, and the Rabbit Banks, the Volunteers +had opened fire, and were keeping up a terrible cannonade. The dark +river reflected the red light which flashed forth every moment from gun +muzzles, while search-lights from both ships and shore were constantly +streaming forth, and the thunder of war shook the tall factory chimneys +to their very foundations. + +Heedless of the strenuous opposition, the invading ships kept up a +vigorous fire, which, aimed high, fell in the centre of Newcastle with +most appalling effect. In the midst of the crowds in Newgate and +Pilgrim Streets shells exploded, blowing dozens of British citizens to +atoms and tearing out the fronts of shops. One projectile, aimed at the +strangely shaped tower of St. Nicholas' Cathedral, struck it, and swept +away the thin upper portion, and another, crashing into the sloping roof +of the grim, time-mellowed relic Black Gate, shattered it, and tore away +part of the walls. + +The old castle and the railway bridge were also blown up in the earlier +stages of the bombardment, and the square tower of St. John's fell with +a sudden crash right across the street, completely blocking it. From end +to end Grainger Street was swept by French melinite shells, which, +bursting in rapid succession, filled the air with tiny flying fragments, +each as fatal as a bullet fired from a rifle. The French shell is much +more formidable than ours, for, while the latter breaks into large +pieces, the former is broken up into tiny and exceedingly destructive +fragments. + +In the midst of this terrible panic a shot cut its way through the Earl +Grey Monument, causing it to fall, many persons being crushed to death +beneath the stones, while both the Central Exchange and the Theatre +Royal were now alight, shedding a brilliant glare skyward. + +At this time, too, the whole of Quay Side was a mass of roaring, +crackling flames, the thin spire of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral +had been shot away, Bainbridge's great emporium was blazing furiously, +and the Art Club premises had taken fire. One shot had fallen at the +back of the Town Hall, and torn an enormous hole in the wall, while +another, entering the first floor of the County Hotel, had burst with +awful force, and carried away the greater part of its gloomy facade. + +In the Central Station opposite, dozens of shells had exploded, and it +was now on fire, hopelessly involved together with the adjoining Station +Hotel. The grey front of the imposing _Chronicle_ building had been +wrecked by a shell that had descended upon the roof, and a row of dark +old-fashioned houses in Eldon Square had been demolished. + +The same fate had been shared by the Co-operative Wholesale Society's +warehouse, the Fish Market, the _Journal_ office, and both the Crown and +Metropole Hotels at the bottom of Clayton Street. + +Yet the firing continued; the terrified citizens were granted no +quarter. The Royal Arcade was blown to atoms, the new red brick +buildings of the Prudential Assurance Company were set on fire, and were +blazing with increasing fury. The building of the North British and +Mercantile Assurance Company, the Savings Bank at the corner of Newgate +Street, and the Empire Theatre were wrecked. Along New Bridge Street +dozens of houses were blown to pieces, several fine residences in +Ellison Place were utterly demolished and blocked the roadway with their +debris, and the whole city, from the river up to Brandling Village, was +swept time after time by salvoes of devastating shots. Rows of houses +fell, and in hundreds the terrified people were massacred. Away over the +Nun's Moor shells were hurled and burst, and others were precipitated +into the great Armstrong works at Elswick. + +Suddenly, in the midst of the incessant thunder, a series of terrific +explosions occurred, and the great High Level Bridge collapsed, and fell +with an awful crash into the Tyne. The enemy had placed dynamite under +the huge brick supports, and blown them up simultaneously. A few moments +later the Swing Bridge was treated in similar manner; but the enemy, +under the galling fire from the Volunteer batteries, were now losing +frightfully. Many of the new guns at the Elswick works were brought into +action, and several ironclads in the course of construction afforded +cover to those desperately defending their homes. + +But this blow of the invaders had been struck at a most inopportune +moment, and was evidently the result of an order that had been +imperfectly understood. It caused them to suffer a greater disaster than +they had anticipated. Six torpedo boats and two gun-vessels had passed +under the bridge, and, lying off the Haughs, were firing into the +Elswick works at the moment when the bridges were demolished, and the +debris, falling across the stream, cut off all means of escape. + +[Illustration: NEWCASTLE BOMBARDED: BLOWING UP OF THE HIGH LEVEL +BRIDGE.] + +The defenders, noticing this, worked on, pounding away at the hostile +craft with merciless monotony, until one after another the French and +Russians were blown to atoms, and their vessels sank beneath them into +the dark, swirling waters. + +While this was proceeding, two mines, one opposite Hill Gate, at +Gateshead, and the other near the Rotterdam Wharf, on the Newcastle +side, were fired by the Volunteer Engineers, who thus succeeded in +blowing up two more French gunboats, while the battery at the foot of +the Swing Bridge sank two more torpedo boats, and that in front of the +Chemical Works at Gateshead sent a shell into the "vitals" of one of the +most powerful torpedo gunboats, with the result that she blew up. + +Everywhere the enemy were being cut to pieces. + +Seeing the trap into which their vessels had fallen above the ruined +bridges, and feeling that they had caused sufficient damage, they +turned, and with their guns still belching forth flame, steamed at half +speed back again towards the sea. + +But they were not allowed to escape so easily, for the mines recently +laid by the Volunteers were now brought into vigorous play, and in the +long reach of the river between High Walker and Wallsend no fewer than +six more of the enemy's gun and torpedo boats had their bottoms blown +out, and their crews torn limb from limb. + +Flashed throughout the land, the news of the enemy's repulse, though +gained at such enormous loss, excited a feeling of profound +satisfaction. + +The injury inflicted on the invaders had been terrible, and from that +attack upon the Tyne they had been hurled reeling back the poorer by the +loss of a whole fleet of torpedo and gun boats, one of the most +effective arms of their squadrons, while the sea had closed over one of +France's proudest battleships, the _Neptune_, and no fewer than four of +her cruisers. + +The surviving vessels, which retreated round the Black Middens and +gained the open sea, all more or less had their engines crippled, and +not half the men that had manned them escaped alive. + +They had wrought incalculable damage, it is true, for part of Newcastle +was burning, and the loss of life had been terrible; yet they were +driven back by the Volunteers' desperately vigorous fire, and the lives +of many thousands in Newcastle and Gateshead had thus been saved at the +eleventh hour by British patriots. + +Alas, it was a black day in England's history! + +Was this to be a turning-point in the wave of disaster which had swept +so suddenly upon our land? + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +HELP FROM OUR COLONIES. + + +Days passed--dark, dismal, dispiriting. Grim-visaged War had crushed all +joy and gaiety from British hearts, and fierce patriotism and +determination to fight on until the bitter end mingled everywhere with +hunger, sadness, and despair. British homes had been desecrated, British +lives had been sacrificed, and through the land the invaders rushed +ravaging with fire and sword. + +Whole towns had been overwhelmed and shattered, great tracts of rich +land in Sussex and Hampshire had been laid waste, and the people, +powerless against the enormous forces sweeping down upon them, had been +mercilessly mowed down and butchered by Cossacks, whose brutality was +fiendish. Everywhere there were reports of horrible atrocities, of +heartless murders, and wholesale slaughter of the helpless and +unoffending. + +The situation, both in Great Britain and on the Continent, was most +critical. The sudden declaration of hostilities by France and Russia had +resulted in a great war in which nearly all European nations were +involved. Germany had sent her enormous land forces over her frontiers +east and west, successfully driving back the French along the Vosges, +and occupying Dijon, Chalons-sur-Saone, and Lyons. Valmy, Nancy, and +Metz had again been the scenes of sanguinary encounters, and Chaumont +and Troyes had both fallen into the hands of the Kaiser's legions. In +Poland, however, neither Germans nor Austrians had met with such +success. A fierce battle had been fought at Thorn between the Tsar's +forces and the Germans, and the former, after a desperate stand, were +defeated, and the Uhlans, dragoons, and infantry of the Fatherland had +swept onward up the valley of the Vistula to Warsaw. Here the resistance +offered by General Bodisco was very formidable, but the city was +besieged, while fierce fighting was taking place all across the level +country that lay between the Polish capital and the Prussian frontier. +Austrians and Hungarians fought fiercely, the Tyrolese Jaegers displaying +conspicuous bravery at Brody, Cracow, Jaroslav, and along the banks of +the San, and they had succeeded up to the present in preventing the +Cossacks and Russian infantry from reaching the Carpathians, although an +Austrian army corps advancing into Russia along the Styr had been +severely cut up and forced to retreat back to Lemberg. + +Italy had burst her bonds. Her Bersaglieri, cuirassiers, Piedmontese +cavalry, and carabiniers had marched along the Corniche road into +Provence, and, having occupied Nice, Cannes, and Draguigan, were on +their way to attack Marseilles, while the Alpine infantry, taking the +road over Mont Cenis, had, after very severe fighting in the beautiful +valley between Susa and Bardonnechia, at last occupied Modane and +Chambery, and now intended joining hands with the Germans at Lyons. + +France was now receiving greater punishment than she had anticipated, +and even those members of the Cabinet and Deputies who were responsible +for the sudden invasion of England were compelled to admit that they had +made a false move. The frontiers were being ravaged, and although the +territorial regiments remaining were considered sufficient to repel +attack, yet the Army of the Saone had already been cut to pieces. In +these circumstances, France, knowing the great peril she ran in +prolonging the invasion of Britain, was desperately anxious to make the +British sue for peace, so that she could turn her attention to events at +home, and therefore, although in a measure contravening International +Law, she had instructed her Admirals to bombard British seaports and +partially-defended towns. + +Although the guns of the hostile fleet had wrought such appalling havoc +on the Humber, on the Tyne, and along the coast of Kent and Sussex, +nevertheless the enemy had only secured a qualified success. The cause +of all the disasters that had befallen us, of the many catastrophes on +land and sea, was due to the wretchedly inadequate state of our Navy, +although the seven new battleships and six cruisers commenced in 1894 +were now complete and afloat. + +Had we possessed an efficient Navy the enemy could never have approached +our shores. We had not a sufficient number of ships to replace +casualties. Years behind in nearly every essential point, Britain had +failed to give her cruisers either speed or guns equal in strength to +those of other nations. Our guns were the worst in the world, no fewer +than 47 vessels still mounting 350 old muzzleloaders, weapons discarded +by every other European Navy. + +For years it had been a race between the hare and the tortoise. We had +remained in dreamy unconsciousness of danger, while other nations had +quickly taken advantage of all the newly-discovered modes of destruction +that make modern warfare so terrible. + +Notwithstanding the odds against us in nearly every particular, the +British losses had been nothing as compared with those of the enemy. +This spoke much for British pluck and pertinacity. With a force against +them of treble their strength, British bluejackets had succeeded in +sinking a number of the finest and most powerful ships of France and +Russia. France had lost the _Amiral Duperre_, a magnificent steel vessel +of eleven thousand tons; the _Neptune_ and _Redoutable_, a trifle +smaller; the _Tonnerre_, the _Terrible_, the _Furieux_, the +_Indomptable_, the _Caiman_, all armoured ships, had been lost; while +the cruisers _D'Estaing_, _Sfax_, _Desaix_, _Cosamo_, _Faucon_, the +despatch-vessel _Hirondelle_, the gunboats _Iberville_, _Gabes_, and +_Lance_, and eleven others, together with sixteen torpedo boats and +numbers of transports, had been either blown up, burned, or otherwise +destroyed. + +The losses the Russians had sustained, in addition to the many +transports and general service steamers, included the great steel +cruiser _Nicolai I._, the vessels _Gerzog Edinburgskij_, _Syzran_, +_Rynda_, _Asia_, _Gangut_, _Kranaya Gorka_, _Olaf_, and the torpedo boat +_Abo_, with eight others. + +The destruction of this enormous force had, of course, not been effected +without an infliction of loss upon the defenders, yet the British +casualties bore no comparison to those of the enemy. True, the armoured +turret-ship _Conqueror_ had, alas! been sacrificed; the fine +barbette-ships _Centurion_ and _Rodney_ had gone to the bottom; the +splendid first-class cruiser _Aurora_ and the cruiser _Narcissus_ had +been blown up; while the cruisers _Terpsichore_, _Melampus_, _Tribune_, +_Galatea_, and _Canada_, with a number of torpedo boats and "catchers," +had also been destroyed, yet not before every crew had performed heroic +deeds worthy of record in the world's history, and every vessel had +shown the French and Russians what genuine British courage could effect. + +Still the invaders were striking swift, terrible blows. On the Humber +and the Tyne the loss of life had been appalling. The bombardment of +Brighton, the sack of Eastbourne, and the occupation of the Downs by the +land forces, had been effected only by wholesale rapine and awful +bloodshed, and Britain waited breathlessly, wondering in what direction +the next catastrophe would occur. + +Such newspapers as in these dark days continued to appear reported how +great mass meetings were being held all over the United States, +denouncing the action of the Franco-Russian forces. + +In New York, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, +and other cities, resolutions were passed at enormous demonstrations by +the enthusiastic public, demanding that the United States Government +should give an immediate ultimatum to France that unless she withdrew +her troops from British soil, war would be declared against her. + +Special sittings of Congress were being held daily at Washington for the +purpose of discussing the advisability of such a step; influential +deputations waited upon the President, and all the prominent statesmen +were interviewed by the various enterprising New York journals, the +result showing a great preponderance of feeling that such a measure +should be at once taken. + +In British colonies throughout the world the greatest indignation and +most intense excitement prevailed. Already bodies of Volunteers were on +their way from Australia and Cape Town, many of the latter, under Major +Scott, having already been in England and shot as competitors at Bisley. +From India a number of native regiments had embarked for Southampton, +but the Northern frontier stations had been strengthened in anticipation +of a movement south by Russia, and the French Indian possessions, +Pondichery and Karikal, were occupied by British troops. + +An expedition from Burmah had crossed the Shan States into Tonquin, and +with the assistance of the British Squadron on the China Station had, +after hard fighting, occupied a portion of the country, while part of +the force had gone farther south and commenced operations in French +Cochin-China by a vigorous attack on Saigon. + +Armed British forces had also landed in Guadaloupe and Martinique, two +of the most fertile of the West Indian Islands, and St. Bartholomew had +also been occupied by West Indian regiments. + +On the outbreak of hostilities intense patriotism spread through Canada, +and from the shores of Lake Superior away to far Vancouver a movement +was at once made to assist the Mother Country. In Quebec, Montreal, +Ottawa, Toronto, and Kingston mass meetings were held, urging the +Dominion Government to allow a force of Volunteers to go to England +without delay; and this universal demand was the more gratifying when it +was remembered that more than a quarter of the population were +themselves French. Nevertheless the knowledge that Britain was in danger +was sufficient to arouse patriotism everywhere, and within a few days +20,000 Volunteers were enrolled, and these, before a fortnight had +passed, were on their way to Liverpool. Great was the enthusiasm when, a +few days later, to the strains of "Rule, Britannia," the first +detachment landed in the Mersey, and as they marched through the crowded +streets, the people, delighted at this practical demonstration of +sympathy, wrung the hands of the patriots of the West. Vessel after +vessel, escorted by British cruisers, arrived at the landing-stage, and +discharged their regiments of men to whom the knowledge of Britain's +danger had been sufficient incentive to induce them to act their part as +Britons. Then, when the last vessel had arrived, they were formed into a +brigade, and set out to march south in the direction of Birmingham. + +Meanwhile a great loan was being floated in Australia and the United +States. The former colony had but recently passed through a serious +financial crisis, but in America a sum of no less than L200,000,000 was +taken up, although the issue only continued a few days. In Wall Street +the excitement was intense, and the struggle to invest was desperate. No +such scenes had ever been witnessed within the memory of the oldest +member of the Stock Exchange, for financiers were determined to assist +the greatest Power on earth; indeed, apart from the sound security +offered, they felt it their duty to do so. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, +and Calcutta all contributed in more or less degree, and the loan +immediately proved the most successful ever floated. + +To Britain on every side a helping hand was outstretched, and, +irrespective of politics and party bickerings, assistance was rendered +in order that she might crush her enemies. Britannia gathered her +strength, and armed herself for the fierce combat which she knew must +decide the destiny of her glorious Empire. + +London, starving, terror-stricken, and haunted continually by +apprehensions of an unknown doom, was in a state of restlessness both +night and day. Food supplies had failed, the cheapest bread was sold at +3s. 8d. a small loaf, and neither fish nor meat could be purchased. + +In the City the panic was frightful. Business was paralysed, hundreds +were being ruined daily, and after the first sensation and headlong rush +on the Stock Exchange, transactions remained at a standstill. Then +suddenly, when the seriousness of the situation was fully understood, +there was a run on the banks. + +Crowds, eager and clamouring, surrounded the Bank of England, and +establishments in Lombard Street and elsewhere, with cheques in their +hands, demanding their deposits in gold. Although weak and half-starved, +they desired their money in order to flee and take with them all they +possessed before the enemy swept down upon London. + +Day and night in all the City banks the cashiers were kept paying out +thousands upon thousands in hard shining gold. The clink of coin, the +jingle of scales, and the eager shouts of those feverishly anxious for +their turn, and fearing the resources would not hold out, formed a loud +incessant din. + +As the days passed, and the run on the banks continued, one after +another of the establishments, both in the City and the West End, unable +to withstand the heavy withdrawals, were compelled to close their doors. +Many were banks of such high reputation that the very fact of being a +depositor was a hall-mark of a man's prosperity, while others were minor +establishments, whose business was mainly with small accounts and +middle-class customers. One by one they failed to fulfil their +obligations, and closed; and the unfortunate ones, including many women +who had not been able to struggle successfully to get inside, turned +away absolutely ruined! + +In the West End the starving poor had formed processions, and marched +through Mayfair and Belgravia demanding bread, while Anarchists held +council in front of the blackened ruins of the National Gallery, and the +Unemployed continued their declamatory oratory on Tower Hill. The +starving thousands from the East End ran riot in the aristocratic +thoroughfares of Kensington, and, heedless of the police,--who were, in +fact, powerless before such superior numbers,--residences of the rich +were entered and searched for food, and various acts of violence +ensued. The cellars of clubs, hotels, and private houses were broken +open and sacked, granaries were emptied, wholesale grocery warehouses +were looted, and flour mills searched from roof to basement. If they +could not obtain food, they said, they would drink. A desperate starving +crowd then forced an entry to the wine vaults at the Docks, and +swallowed priceless vintages from pewter pots. Hogsheads of port and +sherry were carried up into the streets, and amid scenes of wild +disorder were tapped and drunk by the excited and already +half-intoxicated multitude. + +For days London remained at the mercy of a drunken, frenzied rabble. +Murder and incendiarism were committed in every quarter, and many +serious and desperate conflicts occurred between the rioters and the +law-abiding patriotic citizens. + +Enthusiasm was displayed by even the latter, when an infuriated mob one +night surrounded Albert Gate House, the French Embassy, and, breaking +open the door, entered it, and flung the handsome furniture from the +windows. + +Those below made a huge pile in the street, and when the whole of the +movable effects had been got out, the crowd set fire to them, and also +to the great mansion, at the same time cheering lustily, and singing +"Rule, Britannia," as they watched the flames leap up and consume both +house and furniture. + +The servants of the Embassy had fortunately escaped, otherwise they +would no doubt have fared badly at the hands of the lawless assembly. + +When the fire had burned itself out, however, a suggestion was spread, +and the mob with one accord rushed to the Russian Embassy in Chesham +Place. + +This house was also entered, and the furniture flung pell-mell from the +windows, that too large to pass through being broken up in the rooms, +and the fragments thrown to the shouting crowd below. + +Chairs, tables, ornaments, mirrors, bedding, kitchen utensils, and +crockery were thrown out, carpets were taken up, and curtains and +cornices torn down by ruthless denizens of Whitechapel and Shoreditch, +who, maddened by drink, were determined to destroy everything belonging +to the countries which had brought disaster upon them. + +Presently, when nearly all the furniture had been removed, some man, +wild-haired and excited, emerged into the street, with a great flag he +had discovered in one of the attics. With a shout of delight he unfurled +it. It was a large yellow one, upon which was depicted a huge black +double eagle; the flag that had been hoisted at the Embassy on various +State occasions. + +Its appearance was greeted by a fearful howl of rage, and the infuriated +people, falling upon the man who waved it, tore it into shreds, which +they afterwards cast into the bonfire they had made for the Ambassador's +furniture. + +From the archives the secret papers and reports of spies were taken, +and, being torn into fragments, were scattered from an upper window to +the winds, until at last, men, snatching up flaring brands from the huge +bonfire, rushed into the dismantled mansion, and, having poured +petroleum in many of the apartments, ignited them. + +Flames quickly spread through the house, belching forth from the +windows, and, ascending, had soon burst through the roof, illuminating +the neighbourhood with a bright, fitful glare. The mob, as the flames +leaped up and crackled, screamed with fiendish delight. From thousands +of hoarse throats there went up loud cries of "Down with the Tsar! Down +with Russia!" And as the great bonfire died down, and the roof of the +Embassy collapsed with a crash, causing the flames to shoot higher and +roar more vigorously, they sang with one accord, led by a man who had +mounted some railings, the stirring British song, "The Union Jack of Old +England." + +Although the colonies had shown how zealously they were prepared to +guard the interests of the Mother Country, their public spirit was +eclipsed by the spontaneous outburst of patriotism which occurred in +Ireland. Mass meetings were being held in Belfast, Dublin, Cork, +Waterford, Limerick, Londonderry, Sligo, Armagh, Dundalk, Newry, and +dozens of other places, at which men of all grades of society +unanimously decided by resolution to raise Volunteer regiments to take +arms against the foe. + +The knowledge of Britain's danger had aroused the patriotic feelings of +the people, and they were determined to give their sovereign a proof of +their allegiance, cost what it might. + +The movement was a general one. Nationalists and Unionists vied in their +eagerness to demonstrate their love for the Empire, and that part of it +which was now in danger. + +Already the Irish Reserve forces had been mobilised and sent to their +allotted stations. The 3rd Irish Rifles from Newtownards, the 5th +Battalion from Downpatrick, and the 6th from Dundalk, were at Belfast +under arms; the Donegal Artillery from Letterkenny had already gone to +Harwich to assist in the defence of the east coast; and both the +Londonderry and Sligo Artillery had gone to Portsmouth; while the 3rd +Irish Fusiliers from Armagh were at Plymouth, and the 4th Battalion from +Cavan had left to assist in the defence of the Severn. + +Whatever differences of political opinion had previously existed between +them on the question of Home Rule, were forgotten by the people in the +face of the great danger which threatened the Empire to which they +belonged. The national peril welded the people together, and shoulder to +shoulder they marched to lay down their lives, if necessary, in the work +of driving back the invader. + +Within six days of this spontaneous outburst of patriotism, 25,000 +Irishmen of all creeds and political opinions were on their way to +assist their English comrades. As might have been expected, the greater +number of these Volunteers came from the North of Ireland, but every +district sent its sons, eager to take part in the great struggle. At the +great meetings held at Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Wexford, +Waterford, Strabane, Newtown-Stewart, Downpatrick, Ballymena, and dozens +of other places all over the country, from the Giant's Causeway to Cape +Clear, and from Dublin to Galway Bay, the most intense enthusiasm was +shown, and men signed their names to the roll in hundreds, many +subscribing large sums to defray the cost of equipment and other +expenses. Each passenger or mail boat from Larne to Stranraer, from +Dublin to Holyhead, every steamer from Belfast to Whitehaven and +Liverpool, brought over well-armed contingents of stalwart men, who, +after receiving hearty receptions of the most enthusiastic and +flattering description, were moved south to Stamford in Lincolnshire as +quickly as the disorganised railway service would allow. + +The object of the military authorities in concentrating them at this +point was to strengthen the great force of defenders now marching south. +Detraining at Stamford, the commanding officer had orders to march to +Oundle, by way of King's Cliffe and Fotheringhay, and there remain until +joined by a brigade of infantry with the Canadians coming from +Leicestershire. The great body of men at length mustered, answered the +roll, and marched through the quiet old-world streets of Stamford, and +out upon the broad highway to King's Cliffe on the first stage of their +journey. + +It was early morning. In the sunlight the dew still glistened like +diamonds on the wayside, as regiment after regiment, with firm, steady +step, and shouldering their rifles, bravely passed away through the +fields of ripe uncut corn, eager to unite with a force of Regulars, and +strike their first blow for their country's liberty. + +Sturdy fishermen from the rough shores of Donegal marched side by side +with townsmen and artisans from Dublin, Belfast, and Limerick; sons of +wealthy manufacturers in Antrim and Down bore arms with stalwart +peasantry from Kerry and Tipperary; while men whose poor but cherished +cabins overlooked Carlingford Lough, united with fearless patriots from +Carlow, Wexford, and Waterford. + +Since they landed on English soil, they had met with a boundless +welcome. + +In the rural districts the distress was not yet so great as in the +larger towns; consequently at King's Cliffe, when the first detachment +halted for rest in the long straggling street of the typical English +village, the bells of the quaint old church were rung, and villagers +gave their defenders bread, cheese, and draughts of ale. While the men +were standing at ease and eating heartily, two officers entered +Bailey's, the village grocery store, which served as post office, and +received a cipher telegraphic despatch. They emerged into the roadway +immediately, and their faces showed that some unforeseen event had +occurred. A third officer was summoned, and a hurried and secret +consultation took place as they stood together opposite the Cross Keys +Inn. + +"But can we do it?" queried the youngest of the trio, aloud, pulling on +his gloves, and settling the hang of his sword. + +The grave elder man, commander of the brigade, glanced quickly at his +watch, with knit brows. + +"Do it?" he replied, with a marked Irish accent. "We must. It'll be a +dash for life; but the boys are fresh, and as duty calls, we must push +onward, even though we may be marching to our doom. Go," he said to the +youngest of his two companions, "tell them we are moving, and that our +advance guard will reach them at the earliest possible moment." + +The young lieutenant hurried over to the little shop, and as he did so +the colonel gave an order, and a bugle awoke the echoes of the village. + +Quick words of command sounded down the quaint, ancient street, followed +by the sharp click of arms. Again officers' voices sounded loud and +brief, and at the word "March!" the great body of stern loyalists moved +onward over the bridge, and up the School Hill on to the long winding +road which led away through Apesthorpe and historic Fotheringhay to +Oundle. + +The message from the front had been immediately responded to, for a few +minutes later the excited villagers stood watching the rearguard +disappearing in the cloud of dust raised by the heavy tread of the +thousand feet upon the white highway. + +[Illustration: IRISH VOLUNTEERS HALTING IN KING'S CLIFFE.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN THE MIDLANDS. + + +Through the land the grey-coated hordes of the White Tsar spread like +locusts--their track marked by death and desolation. + +Both French and Russian troops had taken up carefully selected positions +on the Downs, and, backed by the enormous reinforcements now landed, +were slowly advancing. Every detail of the surprise invasion had +apparently been carefully considered, for immediately after the fierce +battle off Beachy Head a number of French and Russian cruisers were +despatched to the Channel ports in order to threaten them, so as to +prevent many of the troops in Hampshire, Dorset, and Devon from moving +to their place of assembly. Consequently large bodies of British troops +were compelled to remain inactive, awaiting probable local attacks. + +Meanwhile the invaders lost no time in extending their flanks +preparatory to a general advance, and very quickly they were in +possession of all the high ground from Polegate to Steyning Down, while +Cossack patrols were out on the roads towards Cuckfield and West +Grinstead, and demonstrations were made in the direction of Horsham, +where a strong force of British troops had hastily collected. + +As the long hot days passed, the Volunteers forming the line of defence +south of London had not been idle. A brigade of infantry had been pushed +forward to Balcombe, and with this the British were now watching the +high ground that stretched across to Horsham. + +The advance of the enemy had not, of course, been accomplished without +terrible bloodshed. A division of the Regulars from Parkhurst, +Portsmouth, and Winchester, which had been hurried down to Arundel to +occupy a strong defensive position near that town, had come into contact +with the enemy, and some desperate fighting ensued. Outposts had been +thrown across the river Arun, and about midnight a patrol of the 2nd +Cavalry Brigade from Petersfield, supported by infantry, had been +suddenly attacked close to Ashington village. Under a vigorous fire they +were unfortunately compelled to fall back fighting, and were almost +annihilated, for it was only then ascertained that the enemy were moving +in great force, evidently with the intention of obtaining possession of +the heights as far as Cocking, West Dean, and Chichester, and so +threaten Portsmouth from the land. + +The survivors of this cavalry patrol succeeded in recrossing the Arun, +but their losses were exceedingly heavy. + +At daybreak the enemy were visible from Arundel, and shot and shell were +poured into them from the batteries established along the hills to +Houghton. So heavy was the British fire that the Russians were compelled +to seek cover, and their advance in this direction was, for this time, +checked. + +The defenders, although occupying an excellent position, were, however, +not sufficiently strong to successfully cope with the onward rush of +invaders, and could do little else beyond watching them. + +On the other hand, the Russians, displaying great tactical skill, and +led by men who had thoroughly studied the geography of the South of +England, had gained a distinct advantage, for they had secured their +left flank from attack, so that they could now advance northward to +Horsham and Balcombe practically unmolested. + +The first general movement commenced at noon, when an advance was made +by two enormous columns of the enemy, one of which proceeded by way of +Henfield and Partridge Green and the other by Cooksbridge and Keynes, +the third column remaining in Sussex to protect the base of operations. +Meanwhile, Horsham had been occupied by a portion of the 2nd division of +the 1st Army Corps with a 12-pounder, a 9-pounder field battery, and a +field company of the Royal Engineers, and had been placed in a state of +hasty defence. Walls had been loopholed, fences had been cut down, and +various preparations made for holding the town. + +Our forces were, nevertheless, sadly lacking in numbers. A cavalry +patrol of one of our flying columns was captured by Cossacks at Cowfold, +and the neglect on the part of the commander of this column to send out +his advance guard sufficiently far, resulted in it being hurled back +upon the main body in great disorder. Then, seeing the success +everywhere attending their operations, the invaders turned their +attention to the British line of communication between Horsham and +Arundel, and succeeded in breaking it at Billinghurst and at Petworth. + +Fierce fighting spread all over Sussex, and everywhere many lives were +being sacrificed for Britain. The defenders, alas! with their weak and +totally inadequate forces, could make but a sorry stand against the +overwhelming masses of French and Russians, yet they acted with +conspicuous bravery to sustain the honour of their native land. Villages +and towns were devastated, rural homes were sacked and burned, and +everywhere quiet, unoffending, but starving Britons were being put to +the sword. + +Over Sussex the reign of terror was awful. The pastures were stained by +Britons' life-blood, and in all directions our forces, though displaying +their characteristic courage, were being routed. At Horsham they were +utterly defeated after a fierce and bloody encounter, in which the enemy +also lost very heavily; yet the cause of the British reverse was due +solely to a defective administration. Hurriedly massed in the town from +Aldershot by way of Guildford, they had, owing to the short-sighted +policy of the War Office, arrived without a sufficient supply of either +transport or ammunition. Night was falling as they detrained, and in the +hopeless confusion battalion commanders could not find their brigade +headquarters, and brigadiers could not find their staff. + +This extraordinary muddle resulted in the fresh troops, instead of being +sent forward to reinforce the outposts, being kept in town, while the +jaded, ill-fed men, who had already been on the alert many hours, were +utterly unable to resist the organised attack which was made before +daybreak. + +Though they made a gallant stand and fought on with desperate +determination, yet at last the whole of them were driven back in +confusion, and with appalling loss, upon their supports, and the latter, +who held out bravely, were at last also compelled to fall back upon +their reserves. The latter, which included half a battery of artillery +stationed at Wood's Farm and Toll Bar, held the enemy in temporary +check; but when the heavy French artillery was at length brought up, the +invaders were enabled to cut the railway, destroy the half battery at +Wood's Farm, turn the British right flank, and compel them to retreat +hastily from Horsham and fly to defensive positions at Guildford and +Dorking. + +By this adroit manoeuvre the enemy succeeded in taking over two hundred +prisoners, capturing the guns of the 12-pounder field battery,--which +had not been brought into play for the simple reason that only +ammunition for 9-pounders had been collected in the town,--and seizing a +large quantity of stores and ammunition of various kinds. + +This success gave the enemy the key to the situation. + +As on sea, so on land, our blundering defensive policy had resulted in +awful disaster. Sufficient attention had never been paid to detail, and +the firm-rooted idea that Britain could never be invaded had caused +careless indifference to minor matters of vital importance to the +stability of our Empire. + +The contrast between the combined tactics of the enemy and those of our +forces was especially noticeable when the cavalry patrol of the British +flying column was captured on the Cowfield road and the column defeated. +The commander of the column, a well-known officer, unfortunately, like +many others, had had very little experience of combined tactics, and +looked upon cavalry not merely as "the eyes and ears of an army," but as +the army itself. It was this defect that was disastrous. For many years +past it had never appeared quite clear whether British cavalry were +intended to act _en masse_ in warfare, or simply as scouts or mounted +infantry, therefore their training had been uncertain. The Home +establishment of our cavalry was supposed to be about 12,000 men, but +owing to a parsimonious administration only about half that number had +horses, and in some corps less than a half. Another glaring defect was +the division of many regiments into detachments stationed in various +towns, the inevitable result of this being that many such detachments +were without regimental practice for months, and there were many who had +not manoeuvred with a force of all arms _for years_! + +Army organisation proved a miserable failure. + +The supply of ammunition was totally inadequate, and a disgrace to a +nation which held its head above all others. It was true that depots had +been established at various centres, yet with strange oversight no +provision had been made for the work of ammunition trains. + +Originally it had been intended that men for this most important duty +should be found by the Reserves, and that the horses should be those +privately registered; nevertheless it was found necessary at the very +last moment to weaken our artillery by detailing experienced men for +duty with the ammunition column. Many of the horses which were +registered for service were found to be totally unfit, and very few of +the remainder had been previously trained. In the case of those which +were required for the cavalry regiments--nearly six thousand--the best +men in the regiments had to be told off at the very beginning of the +invasion to hurriedly train and prepare these animals for service, when +they should have been available to proceed to any part of the kingdom at +twenty-four hours' notice. By such defects mobilisation was foredoomed +to failure. + +The scheme, instead of being so arranged as to be carried out without +confusion, resulted in muddle and farcical humiliation. + +Again, the infantry, owing to the recent departure of the Indian drafts, +had been considerably weakened, many battalions being found on +mobilisation very disorganised and inefficient. As an instance, out of +one battalion at Aldershot, which was on paper 1000 strong, 200 had been +sent away to India, while of the remainder more than half had only seen +twelve months' service, and a large percentage were either under +eighteen years of age or were "special enlistments," namely, below the +minimum standard of height. + +Such a battalion compared very unfavourably with the majority of +Volunteer regiments,--those of the Stafford Brigade, for instance,--the +average service of the men in those regiments being over five years, and +the average age twenty-seven years. British officers had long ago +foreseen all these defects, and many others, yet they had preserved an +enforced silence. They themselves were very inefficiently trained in +manoeuvring, for, with one or two exceptions, there were no stations in +the kingdom where forces were sufficiently numerous to give the majority +of the superior officers practice in handling combined bodies of troops. + +Thus in practical experience in the field they were far behind both +French and Russians, and it was this very serious deficiency that now +became everywhere apparent. + +British troops, fighting valiantly, struggled to protect their native +land, which they determined should never fall under the thrall of the +invader. But alas! their resistance, though stubborn and formidable, was +nevertheless futile. Time after time the lines of defence were broken. + +The Russian Eagle spread his black wings to the sun, and with joyous +shouts the dense grey white masses of the enemy marched on over the +dusty Sussex roads northward towards the Thames. + +After the battle of Horsham, the gigantic right column of the invaders, +consisting mostly of French troops, followed up the defenders to +Guildford and Dorking, preparatory to an attack upon London; while the +left column, numbering 150,000 French and Russians of all arms, pushed +on through Alfold to Haslemere, then through Farnham and Odiham to +Swallowfield, all of which towns they sacked and burned, the terrified +inhabitants being treated with scant mercy. As the majority of the +defenders were massed in Kent, South Surrey, and Sussex, the enemy +advanced practically unmolested, and at sunrise one morning a terrible +panic was created in Reading by the sudden descent upon the town of a +great advance guard of 10,000 Russians. + +The people were appalled. They could offer no resistance against the +cavalry, who, tearing along the straight high road from Swallowfield, +swept down upon them. Along this road the whole gigantic force was +moving, and the Cossack skirmishers, spurring on across the town, passed +away through the Railway Works, and halted at the bridge that spans the +Thames at Caversham. They occupied it at once, in order to prevent it +being blown up before the main body arrived, and a brisk fight ensued +with the small body of defenders that had still remained at the Brigade +depot on the Purley Road. + +Meanwhile, as the French and Russian advance guard came along, they +devastated the land with fire and sword. The farms along the road were +searched, and afterwards set on fire, while not a house at Three Mile +Cross escaped. Entering the town from Whitley Hill, the great mass of +troops, working in extended order, came slowly on, and, followed by +140,000 of the main body and 1000 guns, carried everything before them. + +No power could stem the advancing tide of the Muscovite legions, and as +they poured into the town in dense compact bodies, hundreds of +townspeople were shot down ruthlessly, merely because they attempted to +defend their homes. From the Avenue Works away to the Cemetery, and from +the Railway Station to Leighton Park, the streets swarmed with soldiers +of the Tsar, who entered almost every house in search of plunder, and +fired out of sheer delight in bloodshed upon hundreds who were flying +for their lives. + +Men, women, even children, were slaughtered. The massacre was +frightful. Neither life nor property was respected; in every +thoroughfare brutal outrages and murders were committed, and English +homes were rendered desolate. + +Almost the first buildings attacked were the great factories of Messrs. +Huntley & Palmer, whose 3000 hands were now, alas! idle owing to the +famine. The stores were searched for biscuits, and afterwards the whole +factory was promptly set on fire. The Great Western, Queen's, and George +Hotels were searched from garret to cellar, and the wines and beer found +in the latter were drunk in the streets. With the scant provisions +found, several of the regiments made merry during the morning, while +others pursued their devastating work. The banks were looted, St. +Mary's, Greyfriars', and St. Lawrence's Churches were burned, and Sutton +& Sons' buildings and the Railway Works shared the same fate, while out +in the direction of Prospect Hill Park all the houses were sacked, and +those occupants who remained to guard their household treasures were put +to the sword. + +Everywhere the invaders displayed the most fiendish brutality, and the +small force of British troops who had engaged the Russian advance guard +were, after a most fiercely contested struggle, completely annihilated, +not, however, before they had successfully placed charges of gun-cotton +under the bridge and blown it up, together with a number of Cossacks who +had taken possession of it. + +This, however, only checked the enemy's progress temporarily, for the +right flank crossed at Sonning, and as the main body had with them +several pontoon sections, by noon the pontoons were in position, and the +long line of cavalry, infantry, artillery, and engineers, leaving behind +Reading, now in flames, crossed the Thames and wound away along the road +to Banbury, which quaint old town, immortalised in nursery rhyme, they +sacked and burned, destroying the historic Cross, and regaling +themselves upon the ale found in the cellars of the inns, the Red and +White Lions. This done, they again continued their march, practically +unmolested; while Oxford was also entered and sacked. + +True, scouts reported strong forces of the defenders advancing across +from Market Harborough, Kettering, and Oundle, and once or twice British +outposts had sharp encounters with the Russians along the hills between +Ladbrooke and Daventry, resulting in serious losses on both sides; +nevertheless the gigantic force of Russians still proceeded, sweeping +away every obstacle from their path. + +On leaving Banbury, the enemy, marching in column of route, took the +road through Stratford-on-Avon to Wootton Wawen, where a halt for +twenty-four hours was made in order to mature plans for an organised +attack on Birmingham. Wootton Hall, after being looted, was made the +headquarters, and from thence was issued an order on the following day +which caused Warwick and Leamington to be swept and burned by the +invaders, who afterwards broke into two divisions. One body, consisting +of 50,000 men, including an advance guard of 5000, took the right-hand +road from Wootton to Birmingham, through Sparkbrook; while the remaining +100,000 bore away to the left through Ullenhall and Holt End to the +extremity of the Hagley Hills, intending to occupy them. They had +already been informed that strong defences had been established at +King's Norton, in the immediate vicinity, and knew that severe fighting +must inevitably ensue; therefore they lost no time in establishing +themselves along the high ground between Redditch and Barnt Green, in a +position commanding the two main roads south from Dudley and Birmingham. + +That a most desperate stand would be made for the defence of the +Metropolis of the Midlands the Russian commander was well aware. After +the long march his troops were jaded, so, bivouacing in Hewell Park, he +awaited for nearly two days the reports of his spies. These were not so +reassuring as he had anticipated, for it appeared that the high ground +south of the city, notably at King's Norton, Northfield, Harborne, +Edgbaston, and along the Hagley Road, was occupied by strong bodies of +troops and a large number of guns, and that every preparation had been +made for a stubborn resistance. + +It also appeared that at the entrance to the city at Sparkbrook, which +road had been taken by the right column, very little resistance was +likely to be offered. + +That the positions occupied by the defenders had been very carefully +chosen as the most advantageous the Russian commander was bound to +admit, and although he possessed such a large body of men it would +require considerable tactical skill to dislodge the defenders in order +to prevent them covering with their guns the country over which the +Russian division, taking the right-hand roads, must travel. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLEFIELD OF BIRMINGHAM.] + +During that day an encounter of a most fierce description occurred +between hostile reconnoitring parties on the road between Bromsgrove +Lickey and Northfield. The road gradually ascended with a walled-in +plantation on either side, and the enemy were proceeding at a +comfortable pace when suddenly a number of rifles rattled out +simultaneously, and then it was discovered that the wall had been +loopholed, and that the British were pouring upon them a deadly hail +from which there was no shelter. The walls bristled with rifles, and +from them came a storm of bullets that killed and wounded dozens of the +invaders. + +The latter, however, showed considerable daring, for while the magazine +rifles poured forth their deadly shower, they rallied and charged up the +hill in the face of the fearful odds against them. For ten minutes or +perhaps a quarter of an hour the fighting was a desperate hand-to-hand +one, the enemy entering the plantation with a dash that surprised the +defenders. Gradually, although outnumbered by the Russians, the British +at length, by dint of the most strenuous effort and hard fighting, +succeeded in inflicting frightful loss upon the invaders, and the +latter, after a most desperate stand, eventually retreated in confusion +down into the valley, leaving nearly two-thirds of the party dead or +dying. + +The British, whose losses were very small, had shown the invaders that +they meant to defend Birmingham, and that every inch of ground they +gained would have to be won by sheer fighting. An hour later another +fierce encounter occurred in the same neighbourhood, and of the 4000 +Russians who had advanced along that road not 900 returned to the main +body, such havoc the British Maxims caused; while at the same time a +further disaster occurred to the enemy in another direction, for away at +Tanworth their outposts had been completely annihilated, those who were +not killed being taken prisoners by the 3rd South Staffordshire +Volunteers, who, under Colonel E. Nayler, acted with conspicuous +bravery. In every direction the enemy's outposts and advance guards were +being harassed, cut up, and hurled back in disorder with heavy loss, +therefore the Russian commander decided that a sudden and rapid movement +forward in order to effect a junction with his right column was the only +means by which the position could be carried. + +In the meantime events were occurring rapidly all over the country south +of the city. The commander of the Russian left column, deciding to +commence the attack forthwith, moved on his forces just before midnight +in order to commence the onslaught before daybreak, knowing the British +forces always relieve their outposts at that time. Again, it was +necessary to advance under cover of darkness in order to prevent the +defenders' artillery, which now commanded the road between Alcester and +Moseley, firing upon them. + +Having received a message from the right column stating that their +advance guard had pushed on to Olton End with outposts at Sheldon and +Yardley, and announcing their intention of advancing through Sparkbrook +upon the city before dawn, the commanding officer, leaving some +artillery at Barnt Green, and sending on cavalry to Stourbridge and +Cradley to turn the English flank at Halesowen, manoeuvred rapidly, +bringing the main body of cavalry and infantry back to Alvechurch, +thence across to Weatheroak, and then striking due north, again marched +by the three roads leading to King's Norton. + +The high ground here he knew was strongly defended, and it was about a +quarter to two o'clock when the British, by means of their +search-lights, discovered the great dark masses advancing upon them. +Quickly their guns opened fire, and the sullen booming of cannon was +answered by the Russian battery near Barnt Green. Over Birmingham the +noise was heard, and had volumes of terrible significance for the +turbulent crowds who filled the broad thoroughfares. The search-lights +used by both invaders and defenders turned night into day, and the +battle proceeded. + +The enemy had carefully prepared their plans, for almost at the same +moment that they assaulted the position at King's Norton, a battery of +Russian artillery opened a terrible fire from the hill at Tanner's +Green, while the attacking column extended their right across to +Colebrook Hall, with intent to push across to Moseley Station, and thus +gain the top of the ridge of the ground in the rear of the British +positions, and so hem in the British force and allow the right column to +advance through Small Heath and Sparkbrook unchecked. + +These simultaneous attacks met in the valley separating the parallel +ridges held by the Russians and British, and the fighting became at once +fierce and stubborn. A furious infantry fire raged for over an hour in +the valley between the excellent position held by the defenders at +King's Norton and the lower wooded ridge occupied by the Russians, who +had succeeded in capturing half a British battery who held it. Owing to +the bareness of the slope, the Russians went down into battle without +cover, cut up terribly by the British infantry fire, and by the shell +fire from the King's Norton batteries. From the British trenches between +Broad Meadow and Moundsley Hall a galling fire was poured, and Russian +infantry fell in hundreds over the undulating fields between the high +road to Alcester and the Blithe River. + +From a ridge on the Stratford Road, near Monkspath Street, heavy Russian +artillery opened fire just before dawn, and played terrible havoc with +the British guns, which on the sky-line opposite afforded a mark. As +time crept on there was no cessation in the thunder on either side, +while away along the valleys a most bloody encounter was in progress. +The whole stretch of country was one huge battlefield. British and +Russians fell in hundreds, nay, in thousands. + +The losses on every side were appalling; the fortune of war trembled in +the balance. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +FALL OF BIRMINGHAM. + + +The battle outside Birmingham was long, fierce, and furious. No more +desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the +British Empire. From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent +that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing +advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions +they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers. +Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the +majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was +necessarily long and deadly. British Volunteers were conspicuous +everywhere by their bravery; the Canadians rendered most valuable +assistance, firing from time to time with excellent precision, and +holding their position with splendid courage; while the Irish Brigade, +who had moved rapidly from King's Cliffe by train and road, and had +arrived in time, now held their own in a position close to Kingsheath +House. + +Many of the principal buildings in Birmingham had during the past day or +two been converted into hospitals, amongst others the Post Office, where +the trained nurses received very valuable assistance from the female +clerks. A train full of British wounded was captured early in the +evening at Barnt Green. It contained regular troops and civilians from +the Stratford force which had fallen back to Alcester, and the train +had been sent on from there in the hope that it would get through before +the enemy were able to cut the line. This, however, was not +accomplished, for the Russians inhumanely turned out the wounded and +filled the train with their own troops and ammunition. Then, under the +guidance of a Birmingham railway man of French nationality who had been +acting as spy, the train proceeded to New Street Station. It was +impossible for the officials at the station to cope with the enemy, for +they had only expected their own wounded, or they would, of course, have +wrecked the train by altering the points before it arrived in the +station. The Russians therefore detrained, and, led by their spy, made a +dash along the subway leading to the lifts ascending to the Post Office. +These were secured, and the Office was soon captured by the Russians, +who not only thereby obtained a footing in the very centre of the town +from which there was not much chance of dislodging them before +Birmingham fell, but they had also obtained possession of the most +important telegraph centre for the North and Midland districts of +England. + +Before the first flush of dawn the whole of the country from Kings +Norton right across to Solihull was one huge battlefield, and when the +sun rose, bright and glorious, its rays were obscured by the clouds of +smoke which hung like a funeral pall over hill and dale. For a long +period the principal Russian battery on the Stratford Road was short of +ammunition, and, seeing this, the strong British battery at Northfield +moved quickly up into a commanding position at Drake's Cross, not, +however, before it had been considerably weakened by the Russian fire +from Bromsgrove Lickey. During this time, however, detachments of +Canadian marksmen had been detailed with no other purpose than to sweep +the Russian road at the exposed points of its course, and to fire at +everything and everybody exposed on the ridge. This was most effective, +and for quite half an hour prevented any supply of ammunition reaching +the enemy, thus giving the British battery an opportunity to establish +itself. At length, however, both batteries of defenders opened fire +simultaneously upon the Russian guns, and so thickly fell the shots, +that although ammunition had by this time been brought up, the enemy's +power in that quarter was completely broken. + +From that time the fierce struggle was confined to cavalry and infantry. +Troops of Cossacks, sweeping up the banks of the Arrow, encountered +British Hussars and cut into them with frightful effect. The defenders, +fighting hard as the day wore on, hindered the enemy from gaining any +material advantage, though the latter forced the outer line of the +British shelter trenches on the slopes below the position of King's +Norton. The Canadians had laid mines in front of their trenches, which +were exploded just as the head of the Russian assaulting parties were +massed above them, and large numbers of the Tsar's infantry were blown +into atoms. + +Bullets were singing along the valleys like swarms of angry wasps, and +the Russian losses in every direction were enormous. + +Hour after hour the fighting continued. The British held good positions, +with an inner line of defence across from Selly Oak, Harborne, and +Edgbaston, to the high crest on the Hagley Road, close to the Fountain, +while the Russians swarmed over the country in overwhelming numbers. The +frightful losses the latter were sustaining by reason of the defenders' +artillery fire did not, however, disconcert them. But for the huge right +column of invaders advancing on Birmingham by way of Acock's Green, it +seemed an even match, yet as afternoon passed the firing in the valley +swelled in volume, and the mad clamour of battle still surged up into +the blue cloudless heavens. + +The enemy could see on the sky-line the British reinforcements as they +came up from Halesowen by the road close to their battery on the bare +spot near the edge of their right flank, and it was decided at four +o'clock to deliver a counter flank attack on the left edge of the +British position, simultaneously with a renewed strenuous assault by the +tirailleurs from below. Soon this desperate manoeuvre was commenced, and +although the marching ground was good, the British guns swept them with +their terrible fire, and hundreds of the Tsar's soldiers dyed the +meadows with their blood. + +It was a fierce, mad dash. The British attacked vigorously on every +side, fought bravely, straining every nerve to repulse their foe. + +The battle had been the most fiercely contested of any during the +struggle, and in this desperate assault on King's Norton the Russians +had suffered appalling losses. The valleys and slopes were strewn with +dead and dying, and a bullet had struck the British commander, mortally +wounding him. As he was borne away to the ambulance waggon, the last +words on that noble soldier's lips were a fervent wish for good fortune +to the arms of the Queen he had served so well. + +But the British were, alas! outnumbered, and at last retreating in +disorder, were followed over the hills to Halesowen and utterly routed, +while the main body of the enemy marching up the Bristol and Pershore +Roads, extended their left across to Harborne and Edgbaston. Meanwhile, +however, the guns placed on the edge of the city along the Hagley Road +near the Fountain, and in Beech Lane close to the Talbot Inn, as well as +the Volunteer batteries near St. Augustine's Church and Westfield Road, +opened fire upon the advancing legions. The two lower roads taken by the +enemy were well commanded by the British guns, and the Volunteers, with +the Canadians and Irish, again rendered most valuable assistance, +everywhere displaying cool and conspicuous courage. The walls of the new +villas along the Hagley Road, Portland Road, and Beech Lane had been +placed in a state of hasty defence, and rifles bristled everywhere, but +as the sun sank behind the long range of purple hills the fight was in +the balance. The British, as they stood, could almost keep back the foe, +but, alas! not quite. + +There was soon a concentric rush for the hill, and as the cannons +thundered and rifles rattled, hundreds of the grey-coats fell back and +rolled down the steep slope dead and dying, but the others pushed on in +face of the frowning defences, used their bayonets with desperate +energy, and a few minutes later loud shouts in Russian told that the +ridge had been cleared and the position won. The battle had been long +and terrible; the carnage awful! + +The British, making a last desperate stand, fought a fierce hand-to-hand +struggle, but ere long half their number lay helpless in the newly-made +suburban roads, and the remainder were compelled to leave their guns in +possession of the enemy and fly north to Sandwell to save themselves. +Then, as they fled, the Russians turned the British guns near St. +Augustine's upon them, causing havoc in their rear. + +The shattered left column of the enemy, having at length broken down the +British defences, raised loud victorious yells, and, after reorganising, +marched down the Hagley Road upon the city, fighting from house to house +the whole way. The gardens in front of these houses, however, aided the +defenders greatly in checking the advance. + +The sacrifice of human life during those hours from daybreak to sundown +had been frightful. The whole country, from Great Packington to +Halesowen, was strewn with blood-smeared corpses. + +Having regard to the fact that the defending force consisted of only +50,000 men against 100,000 Russians, the losses inflicted upon the +latter spoke volumes for British pluck and military skill. Upon the +field 10,000 Russians lay dead, 30,000 were wounded, and 2000 were +prisoners, while the defenders' total loss in killed and wounded only +amounted to 20,000. + +Indeed, had it not been for the reinforcements, numbering 50,000, from +the right column, which were by this time coming up with all speed from +Acock's Green, the Russians, in their terribly jaded and demoralised +state, could not have marched upon the city. As it was, however, the +occupation commenced as night drew on; the fighting that followed being +principally done by the reinforcements. + +Leaving no fewer than 42,000 men dead, wounded, and captured, the +invaders pushed on into Birmingham. Though the citizens' losses had +already been terrific, nevertheless they found that they were still +determined to hold out. In all the principal roads leading into the +city barricades had been formed, and behind them were bands of desperate +men, well equipped, and prepared to fight on to the bitter end. + +The first of these in the Hagley Road had been constructed at the +junction of Monument Road, and as the skirmishers and advance guard +approached, offered a most desperate resistance. In addition to a +vigorous rifle fire that poured from the improvised defences, three +Maxims were brought into play from the roofs of large houses, and these, +commanding the whole road as far as its junction with Beech Lane, +literally mowed down the enemy as they approached. Time after time the +Russians rushed upon the defenders' position, only to be hurled back +again by the leaden hail, which fell so thickly that it was impossible +for any body of troops to withstand it. By this the invaders' advance +was temporarily checked, but it was not long before they established a +battery at the corner of Norfolk Road, and poured shell upon the +barricade with frightful effect. Quickly the guns were silenced, and the +Russians at last breaking down the barrier, engaged in a conflict at +close quarters with the defenders. + +The road along to Five Ways was desperately contested. The slaughter on +both sides was awful, for a detachment of Russians coming up the +Harborne Road had been utterly annihilated and swept away by the rifle +fire of defenders concealed behind loopholed walls. At Five Ways the +entrance to each of the five broad converging thoroughfares had been +strongly barricaded, and as the enemy pressed forward the British +machine guns established there caused terrible havoc. Behind those +barricades men of Birmingham of every class, armed with all sorts of +guns, hastily obtained from Kynoch's and other factories, struggled for +the defence of their homes and loved ones, working with a dash and +energy that greatly disconcerted the enemy, who had imagined that, in +view of their victory in the battle, little resistance would be offered. + +In the darkness that had now fallen the scenes in the streets were +frightful. The only light was the flash from gun-muzzles and the glare +of flames consuming private houses and public buildings. The civilian +defenders, reinforced by Regular soldiers, Militia, and Volunteers, had +made such excellent preparations for defence, and offered such strenuous +opposition, that almost every foot the Russians gained in the direction +of the centre of the city was fought for hand to hand. Both right and +left Russian columns were now advancing up the Coventry, Stratford, +Moseley, Pershore, and Bristol Roads, and in each of those thoroughfares +the barricades were strongly constructed, and, being armed with Maxims, +wrought frightful execution. + +Gradually, however, one after another of these defences fell by reason +of the organised attacks by such superior numbers, and the Russians +marched on, killing with bayonet and sword. + +In the city, as the night passed, the fighting in the streets everywhere +was of the fiercest and most sanguinary description. In Corporation +Street a huge barricade with machine guns had been constructed opposite +the Victoria Law Courts, and, assisted by 200 Volunteers, who, inside +the latter building, fired from the windows, the enemy were held in +check for several hours. + +Time after time shells fell from the Russian guns in the midst of the +defenders, and, bursting, decimated them in a horrible manner; yet +through the long close night there was never a lack of brave men to step +into the breach and take up the arms of their dead comrades. Indeed, it +was only when the enemy succeeded in setting fire to the Courts, and +compelling the defenders to cease their vigorous rifle fire from the +windows, that the position was won; and not until hundreds of Russians +lay dead or dying in the street. + +In New Street the Irish Volunteers distinguished themselves +conspicuously. After the retreat they had been withdrawn with the +Canadians into the city, and, waiting in the side thoroughfares at the +opposite end of New Street, held themselves in readiness. Suddenly, as +the enemy rushed along in their direction, an order was given, and they +formed up, and stretching across the street, met them with volley after +volley of steady firing; then, rushing onward with fixed bayonets, +charged almost before the Russians were aware of their presence. + +Without a thought of his own personal safety, every Irishman cast +himself into the thick of the fray, and, backed by a strong body of +Canadians and fusiliers, they succeeded in cutting their way completely +into the invaders, and driving them back into Corporation Street, where +they were forced right under the fire of four Maxims that had just at +that moment been brought into position outside the Exchange. + +Suddenly these guns rattled out simultaneously, and the Russians, unable +to advance, and standing at the head of the long broad thoroughfare, +were swept down with awful swiftness and with scarcely any resistance. +So sudden had been their fate, that of a force over two thousand strong, +not more than a dozen escaped, although the defenders were taken in rear +by the force of 500 Russians who had occupied the Post Office on the +previous night. + +From Corporation Street a brilliant, ruddy glow suffused the sky, as +both the Law Courts and the Grand Theatre were in flames, while St. +Mary's Church and the Market Hall had also been fired by incendiaries. + +In the panic and confusion, conflagrations were breaking out everywhere, +flames bursting forth from several fine shops in New Street which had +already been sacked and wrecked. Maddened by their success, by the +thirst for the blood of their enemies, and the rash deeds of +incendiaries, the Muscovite legions spread over the whole city, and +outrage and murder were common everywhere. + +Away up Great Hampton Street and Hockley Hill the jewellery factories +were looted, and hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of gems and gold +were carried off, while the Mint was entered, afterwards being burned +because only copper coins were found there, and the pictures in the Art +Gallery were wantonly slashed by sabres and bayonets. + +The scenes on that memorable night were awful. Birmingham, one of the +most wealthy cities in the kingdom, fell at last, after a most stubborn +resistance, for just before day broke the overwhelming forces of Russia +occupying the streets commenced to drive out the defenders, and shoot +down those who turned to resist. From Bordesley to Handsworth, and from +Smethwick to Aston, the city was in the hands of the enemy. The banks in +New Street were broken open, and the gold stuffed into the pockets of +the uncouth dwellers on the Don and the Volga, Chamberlain's Memorial +was wrecked, and Queen's College occupied by infantry. Cossack officers +established themselves in the Grand and Queen's Hotels, and their men +were billeted at the Midland, Union, Conservative, and other Clubs, and +at many minor hotels and buildings. + +Before the dawn had spread, whole rows of shops were burning, their +brilliant glare illuminating the streets that ran with blood. It was a +fearful scene of death and desolation. + +The majority of the citizens had fled, leaving everything in the hands +of the enemy, who still continued their work of pillage. In the streets +the bodies of 10,000 Russians and 3000 British lay unheeded, while no +fewer than 9000 of the enemy's infantry had been wounded. + +The headquarters of the Russian army had at last been established in a +British city, for over the great Council House there now lazily flapped +in the fresh morning breeze the great yellow-and-black flag of the Tsar +Alexander. + +And the Russian General, finding he had lost the enormous force of +61,000 men, spent the grey hours of dawn in nervous anxiousness, pacing +the room in which he had installed himself, contemplating the frightful +disaster, and undecided how next to act. + +An incident illustrative of the fierceness of the fight outside the city +was published in the _Times_ several days later. It was an extract from +a private letter written by Lieut. J. G. Morris of the 3rd Battalion of +the York and Lancaster Regiment, and was as follows:-- + +"The sun that day was blazing and merciless. Throughout the morning our +battalion had lost heavily in the valley, when suddenly at about twelve +o'clock the enemy apparently received reinforcements, and we were then +driven back upon Weatheroak by sheer force of numbers, and afterwards +again fell further back towards our position on the high ground in +Hagley Road. + +[Illustration: BIRMINGHAM OCCUPIED BY THE RUSSIANS.] + +"In this hasty retreat I found myself with a sergeant and eighteen men +pursued by a large skirmishing party of Russians. All we could do was to +fly before them. This we did, until at length, turning into Beech Lane, +we found ourselves before a small, low-built ancient hostelry, the +King's Head Inn, with a dilapidated and somewhat crude counterfeit +presentment of King George II. outside. The place was unoccupied, and I +decided immediately to enter it. I could count on every one of my men; +therefore very soon we were inside, and had barricaded the little place. +Scarcely had we accomplished this when the first shots rang out, and in +a few moments the space outside where the cross-roads meet literally +swarmed with Russians, who quickly extended, and, seeking cover at the +junction of each of the five roads, commenced a terrific fusillade. The +windows from which we fired were smashed, the woodwork splintered +everywhere, and so thickly came the bullets that my men had to exercise +the utmost caution in concealing themselves while firing. + +"In a quarter of an hour one man had been struck and lay dead by my +side, while at the same time the terrible truth suddenly dawned upon me +that our ammunition could not last out. Regulating the firing, I rushed +to one of the back windows that commanded the valley down to Harborne, +and saw advancing along the road in our direction, and raising a cloud +of dust, about a thousand Russian cavalry and infantry. + +"Back again to the front room I dashed, just in time to witness the +enemy make a wild rush towards us. Our slackened fire had deceived them, +and as the storming party dashed forward, they were met by vigorous +volleys from our magazine rifles, which knocked over dozens, and +compelled the remainder to again retire. + +"Again the enemy made a desperate onslaught, and again we succeeded in +hurling them back, and stretching dead a dozen or more. Meanwhile the +great force of Russians was moving slowly up the hill, and I knew that +to hold the place much longer would be impossible. From the rear of the +building a vigorous attack had now commenced, and moving more men round +to the rear, so that our fire would command the sloping approach to the +house, I gave an order to fire steadily. A moment later my sergeant and +two other men had been severely wounded, and although the former had had +his arm broken, and was near fainting from loss of blood, nevertheless +he kept up, resting his rifle-barrel upon the shattered window-ledge, +and pouring out the deadly contents of his magazine. + +"A few minutes afterwards a bullet shattered my left hand, and the man +who crouched next to me under the window was a second later shot through +the heart, and fell back dead among the disordered furniture. + +"Still not a man hesitated, not a word of despair was uttered. We all +knew that death stared us in the face, and that to face it bravely was a +Briton's duty. Only once I shouted above the din: 'Do your best, boys! +Remember we we are all Britons, and those vermin outside have wrecked +our homes and killed those we love. Let's have our revenge, even if we +die for it!' + +"'We'll stick to 'em till the very last, sir, never fear,' cheerily +replied one young fellow as he reloaded his gun; but alas! ere he could +raise it to fire, a bullet struck him in the throat. He staggered back, +and a few moments later was a corpse. + +"Undaunted, however, my men determined to sell their lives as dearly as +possible, and continued their fire, time after time repelling the +attack, and sweeping away the grey-coats as they emerged from behind the +low walls. + +"Three more men had fallen in as many seconds, and another, staggering +back against the wall, held his hand to his breast, where he had +received a terrible and mortal wound. Our situation at that moment was +most critical. Only two rounds remained to each of my nine brave +fellows, yet not a man wavered. + +"Looking, I saw in the fading twilight the dark masses of the enemy +moving up the steep road, and at that moment a round was fired with +effect upon those who had surrounded us. One more round only remained. +Then we meant to die fighting. Blinding smoke suddenly filled the +half-wrecked room, and we knew that the enemy had succeeded in setting +fire to the taproom underneath! + +"I stepped forward, and shouted for the last time the order to my brave +comrades to fire. Nine rifles rang out simultaneously; but I had, I +suppose, showed myself imprudently, for at the same second I felt a +sharp twinge in the shoulder, and knew that I had been struck. The rest +was all a blank. + +"When I regained my senses I found myself lying in Sandwell Hall, with +doctors bandaging my wounds, and then I learned that we had been rescued +just in time, and that my nine comrades had all escaped the fate they +had faced with dogged disregard for their own safety, and such noble +devotion to their Queen." + +It was a black day for Britain. During the long hours of that fierce, +mad struggle many Victoria Crosses were earned, but the majority of +those who performed deeds worthy of such decoration, alas! fell to the +earth, dead. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +OUR REVENGE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. + + +Many important events had occurred in the Mediterranean since the +outbreak of hostilities. At the moment of the sudden Declaration of War, +the ships forming the British Mediterranean Squadron were at Larnaka, +Cyprus, and on receipt of the alarming intelligence, the Admiral sailed +immediately for Malta. On arrival there, he heard that a strong force of +French vessels had been despatched to Gibraltar for the purpose of +preventing any British ships from getting out of the Mediterranean in +order to strengthen the Channel Squadron. Nevertheless he waited for +some days at Malta, in hourly expectation of instructions, which came at +length about two o'clock one morning, and an hour later the Squadron +sailed westward for an unknown destination. + +Our Fleet in those waters was notoriously inadequate in comparison with +those of France and Russia. It consisted of three of the battleships +constructed under the 1894 programme, the _Jupiter_, _Caesar_, and +_Victorious_, with the cruisers _Diana_ and _Dido_; the ironclads +_Collingwood_, _Dreadnought_, _Hood_, _Inflexible_, _Nile_, _Ramillies_, +_Repulse_, _Sans Pareil_, _Trafalgar_, _Magnificent_, _Empress of +India_, and _Revenge_; the cruisers _Arethusa_, _Edgar_, _Fearless_, +_Hawke_, _Scout_, _Orlando_, _Undaunted_; the torpedo ram _Polyphemus_; +the torpedo gun-vessel _Sandfly_; the sloops _Dolphin_, _Gannet_, +_Melita_, and _Bramble_; and the despatch vessel _Surprise_, with +twenty-two torpedo boats and six destroyers. + +The information received by our Fleet at Malta was to the effect that +the French force at Gibraltar was so strong that a successful attack was +out of the question; while the Russian Mediterranean and Black Sea +Fleets, the strength of which was considerable, were also known to be +approaching for the purpose of co-operating with the French. + +Notwithstanding the addition of three new battleships and two new +cruisers to our force in the Mediterranean, the utter inadequacy of our +Navy was still very apparent. For years the British public had demanded +that a dozen more new battleships should be constructed in case of +casualties, but these demands were unheeded, and during the three years +that had passed we had lost our naval supremacy, for France and Russia +combined were now considerably stronger. France alone had 150 fighting +pennants available along her southern shores, against our 59; and the +Tsar's ships were all strong, well-equipped, and armed with guns of the +latest type. + +As was feared from the outset, the Russian Black Sea Fleet had struck +for the Suez Canal, England's highway to the East. Egypt, the Bosphorus, +Gibraltar, and Tripoli in the grasp of the enemy, meant supremacy in the +East, and a situation that would not be tolerated by either Italy or +Austria. Therefore the British Admiral, recognising the seriousness of +the situation, and having received instructions to return home and +assist in the defence of Britain, mustered his forces and cleared for +action. The events that occurred immediately afterwards are best related +in the graphic and interesting narrative which was subsequently written +to a friend by Captain Neville Reed of the great steel battleship +_Ramillies_, and afterwards published, together with the accompanying +sketch, in the _Illustrated London News_, as follows:-- + +"After leaving Malta, we rounded the Adventure Bank off the Sicilian +coast, and headed due north past Elba and on to the Gulf of Genoa. +From Spezia we received despatches, and after anchoring for +twelve hours,--during which time we were busy completing our +preparations,--sailed at midnight westward. Off St. Tropez, near the +Hyeres Islands, in obedience to signals from the flagship, the _Empress +of India_, the ironclads _Jupiter_, _Sans Pareil_, _Repulse_, with the +cruisers _Edgar_, _Dido_, _Diana_, _Orlando_, _Undaunted_, and _Scout_, +the sloop _Gannet_, and five torpedo boats, detached themselves from the +Squadron, and after exchanging further signals, bore away due south. +Giving the shore a wide offing, we steamed along throughout the +afternoon. The Mediterranean had not yet been the scene of any bloody or +fatal conflict, but as we cut our way through the calm sunlit waters +with a brilliant cerulean sky above, the contrast between our bright and +lovely surroundings and the terrible realities of the situation during +those breathless hours of suspense still dwells distinctly in my memory. + +"It was our duty to fight the enemy, to beat him, and to pass through +the Straits of Gibraltar and help our comrades at home. Every man, +although totally unaware of his present destination, felt that at last +the moment had come when the supreme ambition of his life was to be +realised, and he was to strike a blow for his country's honour. + +"Apparently our Admiral was in no hurry. He no doubt was awaiting +events, for at sunset we lay-to about thirty miles south of La Ciotat, +and spent the calm bright night restlessly anxious and keeping a sharp +lookout for the enemy. There was a hush of expectation over the ship, +and scarcely a sound broke the quiet save the lapping of the water +against the smooth sides of the ironclad, and no sign of force except +the swish of the waves falling on either side of the formidable and +deadly ram. + +"Just after seven bells in the morning watch, however, we resumed our +voyage, and turning, went north again. Then, for the first time, we knew +the Admiral's intentions. An ultimatum had already been given. _We were +to bombard Marseilles!_ + +"Three hours later we came within view of the city. Seen from the sea it +has a certain amount of picturesqueness. In the foreground there is the +harbour, with a barren group of islands at its entrance, and behind +masses of yellow houses covering an extensive valley, and white villas +dotted over a semicircle of green hills stretching in the rear. +Prominent in the landscape is the church of Notre Dame de la Garde, +perched on the eminence on the right; while on the left there stands on +an island the Chateau d'If, rendered immortal by the adventures of Monte +Cristo; and behind, on the broad Quai de la Joliette, rises the fine +Cathedral, built in alternate courses of black and white stone. It is a +handsome and wealthy city, with its fine shady boulevard, the Cannebiere +running through its centre from the Arc de Triomphe right down to the +old port whence the mail steamers depart. This city, teeming with life, +it was our duty to lay in ruins! + +"Knowing how strongly fortified it was, that upon each of those hills +were great batteries ready at a given signal to pour out their deadly +hail, and that under the blue waters were mines which might be exploded +from the shore at any moment, we made preparations for counter-mining, +and then cautiously approached within range. Suddenly, however, having +got into position and laid our guns, we received the anxiously expected +order, and a few moments later opened a terrific and almost simultaneous +fire. + +"Through my glass I could clearly distinguish the terrible confusion +being caused in the streets as our shells fell and burst on the Quai de +la Joliette, in the Cannebiere, and the Boulevard de l'Empereur. + +"The first taste of our guns had produced a terrible panic, for a shell +from the _Dreadnought_, lying next to us, had struck the tower of the +Cathedral and brought down a great quantity of masonry, while another +shell from one of our 67-ton guns, bursting in the Palais de Justice +with terrible effect, had ignited it. + +"It was our first shot, and the gun had been well sighted; but ere we +fired again such a storm of shell burst upon us that I confess for a +moment I stood in my conning-tower motionless in surprise. On all sides +the French had apparently established batteries. From the great Fort St. +Jean at the entrance to the port, and from the Batterie du Phare on the +opposite side, flame and smoke belched from heavy guns continuously. +From a small battery in the Chateau d'If, from another on the rocky +promontory on the right known as the Edoume, from a number of smaller +ones established on the hills of l'Oriol and the Citadel, as well as +from the great fortress of Notre Dame de la Garde on the highest hill, a +little to the right of the city, there came an incessant thunder, and +dozens of shots ricochetted over the placid water towards us. + +"In a few moments, however, my 67-tonners were again adding to the +deafening roar, my ten 6-inch quick-firing guns were sending out their +messengers of death, and my smaller arms, consisting of 3 and +16-pounders, were acting their part in the sudden outburst. We had +attacked the town without intention of investment, but simply to destroy +it, and as the minutes slipped by, and I peered through my glass, I +could see how devastating were our enormous modern shells. + +"All our guns were now trained upon the forts, and the bombardment was +most vigorous. The six coast-defence ships, which endeavoured to drive +us off, we quickly put out of action, capturing one, torpedoing two, and +disabling the three others; while up to the present, although a number +of shots from the land batteries had struck us, we sustained no serious +damage. + +"We were avenging Hull and Newcastle. Into the panic-stricken town we +were pouring an unceasing storm of shell, which swept away whole streets +of handsome buildings, and killed hundreds of those flying for safety +into the country. Watching, I saw one shot from one of my bow barbette +guns crash into the roof of the fine new Hotel du Louvre, in the +Cannebiere. The French Tricolor on the flagstaff toppled over into the +street, and a second later the clouds of smoke and the debris which shot +up showed plainly the awful results of the bursting shell. + +"Time after time my 67-tonners crashed and roared, time after time I +pressed my fingers upon the little knobs in the conning-tower, and huge +projectiles were discharged right into the forts. In conjunction with +the never-ceasing fire of companion ships, we rained iron in a +continuous stream that wrought havoc in the defences and destroyed all +the buildings that offered targets. In an hour the Arsenal behind the +Palais de Justice was laid in ruins, the fine Hotel de Ville was a mere +heap of smouldering debris, the Bourse, and the great Library in the +Boulevard du Musee were half wrecked by shells, and the Custom House, +the Gendarmerie, and the Prefecture were burning furiously. The Chateau +du Phare on the headland at the entrance to the fort was suffering +frightfully, and the shells that had struck the Citadel and the fort of +Notre Dame had been terribly effective. Every part of the city from the +Promenade du Prado to the Botanical Gardens was being swept continuously +by our fire, and from the black smoke curling upward in the sunlight we +knew that many broad handsome streets were in flames. Excited over their +work of revenge, my guns' crews worked on with a contemptuous disregard +for the withering fire being poured upon us from the land. They meant, +they said, to teach the Frenchmen a lesson, and they certainly did. +Around us shots from the batteries fell thickly, sending up huge columns +of water. Suddenly a shell struck the _Ramillies_ forward in front of +the barbette, and burst like the rending of a thundercloud. The deck was +torn up, a dozen men were maimed or killed, poor fellows! but the solid +face of the barbette held its own, and the muzzles of our two great guns +remained untouched. + +"Several shots from the Notre Dame Fort and the Endoume Battery then +struck us in quick succession. One was particularly disastrous, for, +crashing into the battery on the port side, it burst, disabling one of +the 6-inch guns, and killing the whole gun's crew in an instant. The +effect was frightful, for the whole space around was wrecked, and not a +man escaped. + +"Such are the fortunes of war! A few moments later we turned our heavy +guns upon the Endoume Battery, perched up upon the rocky headland, and +together with the _Empress of India_ and the _Victorious_ thundered +forth our great projectiles upon it in a manner which must have been +terribly disconcerting. The battery replied vigorously at first, but the +_Nile_, noticing the direction in which we had turned our attention, +trained her guns upon the same fort, and let loose a perfect hail of +devastating shell. Without ceasing for a second, we played upon it, and +could distinguish even with the naked eye how completely we were +destroying it, until half an hour later we found that the Frenchmen had +ceased to reply. We had silenced their guns, and, in fact, totally +wrecked the fort. + +"Several of our vessels were, however, severely feeling the fire from +the Notre Dame Fortress and that of St. Jean. Nearly one hundred men on +board the _Trafalgar_ had been killed; while two shots, entering one of +the broadside batteries of the flagship, had caused frightful havoc, and +had blown to atoms over forty men and three officers. A torpedo boat +that had approached the French coast-defence ship just before she was +captured had been sunk by a shot, but the crew were fortunately all +rescued, after much difficulty, by the sloop _Dolphin_, which had +severely suffered herself from the vigorous fire from the Batterie du +Phare. The funnel of the _Nile_ had been carried away by a shot from the +Citadel, while among the more conspicuous British losses was a serious +catastrophe which had occurred on board the _Hood_ by the premature +explosion of a torpedo, by which a sub-lieutenant and thirty-three men +were launched into eternity, and sixteen men very severely wounded. The +engines of the _Arethusa_ were also broken. + +"The smoke rising from the bombarded city increased every moment in +density, and even in the daylight we could distinguish the flames. The +centre of Marseilles was burning furiously, and the fire was now +spreading unchecked. One of our objects had been to destroy the immense +quantity of war stores, and in this we were entirely successful. We had +turned our united efforts upon the Fort St. Jean down at the harbour +entrance and that of Notre Dame high on the hill. Pounding away at +these, time slipped by until the sun sank in a blaze of crimson and +gold. Both forts made a gallant defence, but each of our shots went +home, and through my glasses I watched the awful result. Suddenly a +terrific report caused the whole city to tremble. One of our shots had +apparently entered the powder magazine in the Fort St. Jean, and it had +blown up, producing an appalling catastrophe from which the fortress +could never recover. + +[Illustration: BOMBARDMENT OF MARSEILLES BY THE BRITISH: +"ONE OF OUR SHELLS HAD ENTERED THE POWDER MAGAZINE OF FORT ST. JEAN."] + +"By this time the whole of the shipping in the docks was burning +furiously, and the congested part of the city lying between the port and +the Lyons Railway Station was like a huge furnace. The sight was one of +terrible grandeur. + +"Presently, just as the sun sank behind the grey night clouds, we ceased +fire, and then gazed with calm satisfaction upon the result of our +bombardment. We had treated a French city in the same manner as the +French and Russians had treated our own homes, and we could look upon +this scene of destruction and death without a pang of remorse. But that +was not all. When our guns were silent we could distinctly hear vigorous +rifle firing at the back of the city. Then we knew the truth. + +"While we had been attacking Marseilles from the sea, the Italians, who +a week before had crossed the frontier, and with the Germans occupied +Lyons, had co-operated with us on land, and the terror-stricken +Marseillais, hemmed in by fire and bullets on either side, had been +swept away in thousands. + +"The scenes in the streets were, we afterwards learnt, awful; and +although the garrison offered a desperate resistance to the Italians +along the valley near the Chateau des Fleurs, most of them were killed, +and nearly three thousand of their number taken prisoners. But the +Italians were unable to enter Marseilles themselves, as, long before +they had succeeded in breaking up the land defences, we had set the +place on fire, and now, as night fell, the great city was one mass of +flames, the lurid light from which illuminated sky and sea with a bright +red glare." + + * * * * * + +The blazing African sun was fading, flooding the calm sapphire +Mediterranean with its blood-red afterglow. The air was oppressive, the +wind blew hot from the desert, and shoals of tiny green birds were +chattering before roosting in the oasis of tall date palms that cast +long shadows over the sun-baked stones of the Place du Gouvernement at +Algiers. Everything was of a dazzling whiteness, relieved only by the +blue sky and sea. The broad, handsome Square was almost deserted, the +jalousies of the European houses were still closed, and although a few +people were sipping absinthe at the cafes, the siesta was not yet over. + +At one corner of the Square the Mosque of Djama-el-Djedid, with its dome +and minarets, stood out intensely white against the bright, cloudless +sky, its spotless cleanliness causing the white-washed houses of +Europeans to appear yellow and dingy; and as the _mueddin_ stood on one +of the minarets with arms uplifted, calling the Faithful to prayer, idle +Moors and Arabs, who had been lying asleep in the shadow during the +afternoon, rose quickly, rearranged their burnouses, and entered the +Mosque in order to render thanks to Allah. + +Darkness crept on after a brief twilight. Moorish women, wrapped in +their white _haicks_, wearing their ugly baggy trousers, and veiled to +the eyes, waddled along slowly and noiselessly among the palms, and +gradually a gay cosmopolitan crowd assembled in the Place to enjoy the +_bel fresco_ after the terrible heat of the day, and to listen to the +fine band of the 1st Zouaves, which had already taken up its stand in +the centre of the Square, and was now playing one of Strauss's dreamy +waltzes. + +The night was bright and starlit, one of those calm, mystic evenings +peculiar to North Africa. All was peaceful, but no moon had yet risen. +The city wore its gay air of carelessness. White-robed Moors and +red-fezzed Arabs, negroes from the Soudan, and Biskris in their blue +burnouses, lounged, chattered, and promenaded, while the cafes and +bazaars around were full of life, and the warm, balmy air was laden with +the scent of flowers. + +Suddenly, without warning, the whole place was illuminated by a +brilliant light from the sea. Slowly it swept the town, and a few +seconds later other bright beams shot forth, lighting up the quays, the +terraces of white, flat-roofed houses, and the Moorish city on the hill. +Then, before the promenaders could realise the cause, a loud booming +was heard at sea, and almost at the same moment a shell fell, and, +exploding in the midst of them, blew a dozen Moors and Arabs into atoms. + +In a few seconds the cannonade increased, and the battery in the centre +of the harbour replied. Then firing seemed to proceed from all quarters, +and a storm of shell suddenly crashed upon the town with the most +appalling effect. + +British war-vessels had crept up within range, and were pouring the +vials of Britain's wrath upon the ancient city of the Deys! + +The detachment of vessels which, led by the new battleship _Jupiter_, +went south from St. Tropez, had received instructions to destroy Algiers +and return with all speed to Cagliari, in Sardinia, to await further +instructions. The bombardment of the two cities simultaneously was in +order to draw off the French Squadron from the position it had taken up +near Gibraltar, so that the British could fight and then run past them +into the Atlantic. + +How far the manoeuvre succeeded is shown in the few interesting details +of the bombardment given in the course of an interview which a reporter +of the _Daily Telegraph_ had with Lieut. George Ingleton, of the +first-class cruiser _Edgar_. The officer said:-- + +"We arrived off Algiers two hours after sundown, and after an inspection +with search-lights, began to let fly with our big guns. In a few minutes +the Al-Djefna Battery in the centre of the harbour replied, and a moment +later a very rigorous fire was poured forth from Fort Neuf on the right +and Forts Bab-Azzoun and Conde on the left. All four were very strong, +and in conjunction with coast-defence vessels offered a most vigorous +resistance. So suddenly did we fire upon the town, that a frightful +panic must have been caused. Before we had fired half a dozen times, a +shot from one of our 22-tonners crashed into the dome of the Mosque and +totally demolished it, while another particularly well-aimed shell +struck the Mairie, a big handsome building on the Boulevard de la +Republique, facing the sea, tearing out a portion of the front. Then, +turning our guns upon the long row of shops, banks, and hotels which +formed the Boulevard, we pounded away most effectively, while several of +our other vessels attended to the forts. + +"During the first half-hour the four warships of the enemy gave us +considerable trouble, but very soon our torpedoes had sunk two of them, +and the other two were quickly captured. + +"Meanwhile, under the hot fire from the forts, the bombardment grew +exciting. Shells were ricochetting on the water all round us, but our +search-lights being now shut off, we offered a very indistinct target to +the enemy. On nearly all our ships, however, there were some slight +casualties. A shell severely damaged the superstructure of the +_Jupiter_, while others rendered useless several of her machine guns. A +shell penetrated the _Gannet_, unfortunately killing fourteen +bluejackets; and had it not been that the deck of the _Edgar_ was +protected throughout, the consequences to us would also have been very +serious. Nevertheless, our two 22-ton guns rendered valuable service, +and contributed in no small measure to the demolition of the town. + +"From the outset we could see that Algiers was totally unprepared for +attack, and, continuing our fire calmly and regularly, we watched the +flames bursting forth in every part of the town and leaping skyward. On +shore the guns kept up their roaring thunder, although by aid of glasses +we could detect how effectual were our shells in wrecking the +fortifications and laying in ruins the European quarter. Every moment we +were dealing terrible blows which shook the city to its foundations. The +formidable city walls availed them nothing, for we could drop our shells +anywhere we pleased, either on the hill at Mustapha or upon the pretty +Moorish villas that lined the shore at St. Eugene. + +"Blazing away at long range upon the town, we spread destruction +everywhere. Houses toppled like packs of cards, mosques were blown into +the air, and public buildings swept away like grains of sand before the +sirocco. Under such a fire thousands of natives and Europeans must have +perished, for we were determined to carry out our intentions, and teach +the invaders a lesson they were not likely to easily forget. Time after +time our heavy guns crashed, while our 6-inch quick-firers kept up their +roar, and our machine guns rattled continuously. As the hours went by, +and we continued our work of merciless destruction, we were hit once or +twice, but beyond the loss of two men and some unimportant damage we +escaped further punishment. + +"The roar of our guns was deafening, and the smoke hung over the calm +sea like a storm-cloud. Still we kept on in the face of the galling fire +from the shore, and before midnight had the satisfaction of witnessing a +magnificent spectacle, for the isolated conflagrations gradually united +and the whole town was in flames. + +"We had accomplished our work, so with cheers for Old England we gave a +parting shot, and turning were soon steaming away towards the Sicilian +coast, leaving Algiers a mass of roaring flame. + +"The journey was uneventful until just before noon on the following day. +I was at that time on duty, and suddenly, to my surprise, detected a +number of ships. By the aid of our glasses, the captain and I found to +our dismay that a number of the most powerful vessels of the Russian +Fleet were bearing down upon us! All our other vessels had made the same +discovery, and I must confess that the meeting was somewhat +disconcerting. The strength of the Russian ironclads was such as to +cause our hearts to beat more quickly. To engage that great force meant +certain defeat, while it was necessary that our Admiral off Marseilles +should know of the whereabouts of this hostile squadron, therefore we +resolved to get away. But although we altered our course and put on all +speed, we were, alas! unsuccessful. At last we determined at all hazards +to stick to our guns so long as we were afloat, and as the first of the +Tsar's ironclads drew within range, one of our 22-tonners thundered. The +white smoke, driven forward, tumbled over our bows. We had spoken the +first word of battle!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +A NAVAL FIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. + + +"The great naval force of the Tsar, with which we were now face to +face," continued Lieutenant Ingleton in his narrative, "consisted of the +new battleship _Petropavlovsk_ of 10,960 tons, with a speed of 17 knots; +the great turret-ship _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_ of 8076 tons; the two new +barbette-ships _Kama_ and _Vologda_ of the _Cizoi Veliky_ type; the +_Tchesme_ of 10,181 tons, the _Gheorghy Pobyednosets_ of 10,280 tons, +and the powerful _Tria Sviatitelia_ of 12,480 tons; the two enormous new +cruisers _Tiumen_ and _Minsk_, both of 17,000 tons, and running at 20 +knots; the _Vladimir Monomach_ of 5754 tons; the armoured gunboat +_Otvazny_, and the new rams _Admiral Seniavine_ and _Admiral Uschakoff_, +with thirty torpedo boats, including the _Kodor_, _Reni_, _Anakria_, and +_Adler_, the latter being able to run at 27.4 knots. + +"Against such a gigantic force as this our small force of vessels and +torpedo boats presented but a sorry appearance. Nevertheless we had +fired the first shot, and were now determined to die rather than haul +down our colours. As our guns thundered, those of the _Jupiter_, +_Repulse_, _Sans Pareil_, _Undaunted_, _Orlando_, _Diana_, _Scout_, and +_Gannet_ joined in noisy chorus. The 12-inch guns in the turrets of the +_Petropavlovsk_ and the four big guns in the barbettes of the _Tria +Sviatitelia_ crashed out together, and almost immediately afterwards we +found ourselves being swept from stem to stern by the enemy's shells. +The Russian battleships were all well armoured, and had a much heavier +shell fire than the vessels of either France or Britain. We were both in +columns of divisions in line ahead, but from the first moment of the +engagement our position was critical. + +"A terrific and deadly storm burst upon us from the enemy's tops, while +his heavy guns kept up an incessant thunder. With such an enormous force +against us, it was apparent to every man on board that disaster was +imminent. It had, alas! never been graven sufficiently deep upon the +public mind how absurdly weak we were in the Mediterranean. Here, as in +all other squadrons, every grade of officer from commander downwards was +deficient in numbers, and the ships in commission had for years been so +much below their complement that the work had only been carried on with +great difficulty. Other ships at home had been obliged to wait until a +sufficient number of merchant seamen and half-trained engine-room staff +could be scraped together to provide the semblance of a crew. In fact, +successive British Governments of both parties had subordinated national +necessities to a desire to evade a material increase in taxation, and +now at last our Mediterranean Squadron were compelled to face the +inevitable. + +"The insidious cunning and patient methods to which the Russians resort +in order to attain their aims and break their boundaries had once more +been illustrated. They had, by dint of extraordinary chicanery, secured +absolute possession of the small Turkish peninsula known as Mount Athos. +Situated near the entrance of the Gulf of Salonica, it was a paramount +strategical position, and its possessor was now enabled to keep watch +upon Macedonia, and in the meantime be very near the Dardanelles, and +also Asia Minor. The possession was accomplished in a curiously secret +manner, showing to what extent Russian foresight and artifice is +carried. For years past the _Societe Slav de Bienfaisance_ had been +sending, through a bank in Salonica, large sums of money to further the +aim. To the casual observer there was nothing extraordinary about this, +for the Russians had established on the lofty heights several +monasteries, converting the place into a clerical settlement. This fact +was pointed out by the _Pall Mall Gazette_ as far back as 1893, but the +British public at that time failed to detect any Russian intrigue. + +"Gradually, however, Muscovite roubles purchased the surrounding +property, and Greek convents were reduced to poverty while Russian +institutions flourished and increased. But, strangely enough, the +inmates of these monasteries were suddenly discovered to be mock +clerics, and then it was disclosed that under the cover of monastic +garments and robes were to be found the Tsar's soldiers, performing a +three years' special and specific military service! + +"Yet, owing to the Sultan's weakness, to the almighty backsheesh, and to +the shortsightedness of Turkish statesmen, the Russians were not +dislodged, but the position was actually ceded to them, with the result +that they had now firmly established themselves where they were enabled +to counteract British action and influence. A naval station had been +established for their Mediterranean Squadron at Poros, off the eastern +coast of the Peloponnesus, some fifteen miles due south of the island of +AEgina. Here there were three miles of deep water safe from sea attack, +with an arsenal and dockyard, on the very weakest point along the line +of our highway between England and India! Such was the manner in which +our power in the Mediterranean had been undermined! + +"There was, however, no time for reflection amid the deafening roar. +This Black Sea Fleet that had burst its bonds and passed through the +Dardanelles intended to sweep us from the sea. Yet, notwithstanding the +terrible fire pouring upon us from these great and powerful ships, each +fully equipped with the latest and most improved arms, fully manned by +well-trained men, and fresh for the fray, we held our quarters, +determined to show the forces of the Tsar defiance. Even though every +man of us might be sent to an untimely grave, the Russian flag should +never surmount the White Ensign of Britain. We were determined, so we +set our teeth, and showed a firm and vigorous front to the foe. + +"Our two 22-tonners rendered admirable service, and the cannonade kept +up from our 3 and 6-pounder quick-firing guns was playing havoc with the +Russian belted cruiser _Vladimir Monomach_ lying on our port quarter. +The vessel was slightly larger than ourselves, carrying much heavier +armaments, including four 13-ton guns, and twelve 4-tonners. She was +indeed a very formidable opponent, nevertheless we did our best, and, +blazing away at close quarters, soon succeeded in silencing the +starboard 13-tonner nearest us. + +"Just at this moment I found we were being attacked on the port bow by +the enormous new turret-ship _Petropavlovsk_ and the _Dvenadsat +Apostoloff_. Two of the heavy 12-inch guns of the former thundered +almost simultaneously, and both shells striking us almost amidships, +caused us such a shock that for a second I stood breathless. + +"In a few moments, however, it was reported that our 'vitals' had +fortunately escaped, and we continued firing as if no catastrophe had +occurred. As a matter of fact, the damage caused by those two shells was +appalling. + +"The _Jupiter_, steaming about two miles away on our starboard quarter, +was apparently holding her own against the barbette-ships _Tchesme_ and +_Gheorghy Pobyednosets_, the cruiser _Tiumen_, one of the largest in the +world, and the new ram _Admiral Seniavine_. The four attacking vessels, +as seen through the dense smoke, were pouring into the British ship a +deadly fire; yet, judging from the fallen tops and disabled engines of +the _Gheorghy Pobyednosets_ and the wrecked superstructure of the +_Tchesme_, the _Jupiter's_ heavy armaments were executing good work, +notwithstanding the strength of the _Tchesme's_ six 50-ton guns, +admirably arranged in pairs in the centre of the vessel. + +"The _Diana_ and _Sans Pareil_, lying near to one another, were +desperately resisting the vigorous attack made by the _Admiral +Uschakoff_, _Minsk_, _Otvazny_, _Kama_, and _Vologda_; and here again, +amid smoke and flying debris, I could distinguish that the 67-tonners of +the _Repulse_, in co-operation with the lighter weapons of the +_Undaunted_, were giving the enemy a taste of what British courage could +accomplish. + +"The sea around us simply swarmed with Russian torpedo boats, and it +required all our vigilance to evade their continued attacks. Before an +hour had passed we had succeeded in sinking two by shots from our 6-inch +guns, and several more were sent to the bottom by well-aimed projectiles +from the _Dido_ and _Jupiter_. + +"As for ourselves, projectiles were sweeping across our deck like hail, +and under the incessant and fearful fire we were suffering frightfully. +Over sixty of our men and a sub-lieutenant had been killed, while +forty-nine were severely wounded. Once I had occasion to go below, and +between decks the sight that met my gaze was awful. + +"Around two of the quick-firing guns on our port quarter lay the guns' +crews, mutilated by shells from the _Vladimir Monomach_. They had been +killed almost instantly while standing bravely at their posts. The scene +was appalling. The mangled masses of humanity amid which the surgeons +were at work were awful to look upon, and I rushed up again with the +terrible scene photographed indelibly upon my memory. + +"Meanwhile the ship was in the greatest peril. The continual bursting of +shells upon her shook and shattered her, and she trembled violently as, +time after time, her own guns uttered their thundering reply to her +enemies. Heeling now this way, now that, as the helm was put hard over +to avoid a blow, the situation on board was intensely exciting. + +"Those were terrible moments. The captain suddenly noticed the movements +of the _Vladimir Monomach_, and divined her intentions. She had ceased +firing, and by a neatly executed manoeuvre was preparing to ram us. In a +moment our helm was put over again, and the _Edgar_ answered to it +immediately. + +"'Ready bow tube!' I heard the captain shout hoarsely. He waited a few +moments, allowing the Russian ironclad to partially perform her +evolution, then just as she came almost into collision with us he +shrieked 'Fire bow tube!' at the same time bringing us over further to +port. + +"The seconds seemed hours. Suddenly there was a loud explosion, a great +column of water rose under the Russian's bow, and we knew the torpedo +had struck. At that moment, too, even while the water was still in the +air, one of our torpedo boats which had crept up under the _Vladimir +Monomach's_ stern sent another torpedo at her, which also hit its mark +and ripped her up. Turning our guns upon the armoured cruiser, we poured +volley after volley into her, but she did not reply, for her men were +panic-stricken, and she was sinking fast. + +"The _Petropavlovsk_, leaving us, endeavoured to rescue her crew, but +ere a dozen men were saved, she settled down bow foremost, and +disappeared into the deep, carrying down with her nearly five hundred +officers and men. + +"The _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_ kept up her fire upon us, and a few moments +later I witnessed another disaster, for a shot from one of her bow guns +struck the torpedo boat that had just assisted us, and sank it. A few +minutes later a loud explosion in the direction of the _Sans Pareil_ +attracted my attention, and, turning, I saw amid the smoke-clouds debris +precipitated high into the air. A shot from one of her 111-ton guns had +penetrated to the magazine of the _Admiral Seniavine_, which had +exploded, causing a frightful disaster on board that vessel, and just at +the same moment a cheer from the crew of one of our 6-inch guns prompted +me to look for the cause, which I found in the fact that they had shot +the Russian colours completely away from the _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_. + +"Again another frightful explosion sounded loud above the incessant din, +and to my satisfaction I saw a great column of water rise around the +_Admiral Uschakoff_, which, fighting at close quarters with the _Dido_, +had apparently been torpedoed. Not satisfied with this, the captain of +the _Dido_, keeping his machine guns going, turned his vessel and +discharged a second Whitehead, which also struck with such terrible +effect that the Russian ship began at once to sink, and in a few minutes +the blue waves closed for ever over her tops, ere a score or so out of +her crew of 300 could be rescued. + +"It was nearly three bells, and the sun was setting. A galling fire from +the machine guns in the foretop of the _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_ suddenly +swept our deck, killing a dozen poor fellows who were at work clearing +away some debris, and at the same moment a shot from one of her 52-ton +guns crashed into our port quarter, and must have caused terrible havoc +among the guns' crews. A moment later we were dismayed by the report +that our steering-gear had been broken. For a few seconds we were +helplessly swinging round under the awful fire which was now pouring +from the great guns of the Russian ironclad, and our captain was making +strenuous efforts to recover control of the ship, when I saw the torpedo +boat _Anakria_ shoot suddenly across our bows, then quickly slacken as +she got to starboard of us. + +"A second later I realised her intention, and shouted frantically. A +line of bubbles had appeared on the surface advancing swiftly towards +us. She had ejected a torpedo straight at us, and I stood petrified, not +daring to breathe. + +"A moment later there came a terrific explosion right underneath us, +followed by a harsh tearing sound as iron plates were torn asunder like +tinfoil, and the ship's side was ripped completely up. The _Edgar_ +heaved high and plunged heavily, a great column of water rose high above +her masts, and the air seemed filled with flying fragments of iron and +wood. The vessel rocked and swayed so that we could not keep our feet, +and then gradually heeling over, causing her guns to shift, she went +down before a soul on board could launch a boat. + +"At the moment of the explosion I felt a sharp twinge in the back, and +found that I had been struck by a flying splinter of steel. The strain +of those hours had been terrible, and of the events that followed I can +only recollect two things. I remember finding myself struggling alone in +the water with a shower of bullets from the _Dvenadsat Apostoloff's_ +tops sending up little splashes about me. Then I felt my strength +failing, my limbs seemed paralysed, and I could no longer strike out to +save myself. Abandoning all hope, I was sinking, when suddenly a rope +was flung to me. I remember how frantically I clutched it, and that a +few moments later I was hauled aboard a torpedo boat; but for days +afterwards I lay hovering 'twixt life and death, oblivious to all. I +was one of the thirteen only who were saved out of a crew of 327 brave +officers and men." + +Such a ghastly disaster could only produce profound dismay among those +who manned the remaining British vessels. Straining every nerve to +uphold the honour of Britain, the guns' crews of the _Jupiter_, _Sans +Pareil_, _Repulse_, and _Undaunted_, with smoke-begrimed hands and +faces, worked on with that indomitable energy begotten of despair. +Regardless of the awful rain of shot and shell, they reloaded and fired +with calm, dogged self-possession, the officers on all four vessels +inspiring their men by various deeds of valour, and preserving such +discipline under fire as none but British sailors could. The British +naval officer is full of undaunted defiance and contempt for his foes; +but, above all, he is a strict disciplinarian, and to this our country +in a great measure owes the supremacy our Navy has hitherto enjoyed upon +the seas. During the fight the vessels had been moving in a +north-easterly direction, and although the Russians were unaware of the +fact, Her Majesty's ships had therefore continued in their course. +Hence, just as a cool breeze sprang up at sundown, soon after the +_Edgar_ had sunk, a line of low dark cliffs was sighted ahead. + +The officers of the _Diana_, watching anxiously through their glasses, +distinguished the distant crest of Mount Genargentu gradually appearing +against the clear evening sky, and then they knew that they were off +Sardinia, outside the Gulf of Oristano. + +Altering their course, they headed due north, still keeping up a running +fire, but the Russians prevented them making headway. + +All our vessels were suffering frightfully, when there was a sudden +explosion, and, to the Englishmen's dismay, it was seen that a torpedo +had struck the _Undaunted_ nearly amidships. Still the doomed vessel +managed to evade a second attack, and by a desperate manoeuvre the +captain succeeded in turning and heading for land. + +The remaining ships, in their terribly crippled condition, would, the +Russians anticipated, soon fall an easy prey. Nevertheless, with their +crews decimated, their guns disabled, and their machinery damaged, the +British vessels still continued firing, the men resolved to go down at +their quarters. They knew that escape was hopeless, and every moment +they saw their comrades being swept away by the great exploding +projectiles of the Tsar's heavy guns. But they were not dismayed. To do +their utmost for the defence of Britain, to keep afloat as long as +possible, and to die like Britons with faces towards the foe, was their +duty. Pale and desperate, they were fighting for their country and their +Queen, knowing that only a grave in the deep and the honour of those at +home would be the reward of their bravery--that at any moment they might +be launched into the unknown. + +Suddenly there was a loud shouting on board the _Jupiter_, and signals +were, a moment later, run up to her half-wrecked top. The captain of the +_Dido_, noticing this, looked to ascertain the cause, and saw away on +the horizon to the north, whence the dark night clouds were rising, a +number of strange craft. Snatching up his glass, he directed it on the +strangers, and discovered that they were Italian warships, and were +exchanging rapid signals with the captain. They were promising +assistance! + +Cheers rang loudly through the British vessels, when, a few minutes +later, the truth became known, and the guns' crews worked with redoubled +energy, while the Russians, noticing the approaching ships, were +apparently undecided how to act. They were given but little time for +reflection, however, for within half an hour the first of the great +Italian ironclads, the _Lepanto_, opened fire upon the _Petropavlovsk_, +and was quickly followed by others, until the action became general all +round. + +Aid had arrived just in time, and the British vessels, with engines +broken, stood away at some distance, leaving matters for the nonce to +the powerful Italian Squadron. It was indeed a very formidable one, and +its appearance caused the Russian Admiral such misgivings that he gave +orders to retreat, a manoeuvre attempted unsuccessfully. The Italian +Fleet, as it loomed up in the falling gloom, included no fewer than +twenty-six warships and forty-three torpedo boats. The vessels consisted +of the barbette-ship _Lepanto_ of 15,000 tons; the _Sardegna_, +_Sicilia_, and _Re Umberto_ of 13,000 tons; the _Andrea Doria_, +_Francesca Morosini_, and _Ruggiero di Lauria_ of 11,000 tons; the +turret-ships _Dandolo_ and _Duilio_ of the same size; the _Ammeraglio di +St. Bon_ of 9800 tons; the armoured cruisers _Ancona_, _Castelfidardo_, +and _Maria Pia_, and the _San Martino_, each of about 4500 tons; the +gun-vessels _Andrea Provana_, _Cariddi_, _Castore_, _Curtatone_; the +torpedo gunboats _Aretusa_, _Atlante_, _Euridice_, _Iride_, +_Montebello_, and _Monzambano_; the despatch vessels _Galileo_ and +_Vedetta_; and the first-class torpedo vessels _Aquila_, _Avvoltoio_, +_Falco_, _Nibbio_, and _Sparviero_, and thirty-eight others. + +With such a force descending upon the Russian ships, which had already +been very severely punished by the vigorous fire of the British, there +was little wonder that the Tsar's vessels should endeavour to escape. +The Italian Fleet had already bombarded and destroyed Ajaccio two days +ago, and, steaming south from the Corsican capital, had anchored for +twenty-four hours off Cape della Caccia, near Alghero, in the north of +Sardinia. Then again taking a southerly course in the expectation of +joining hands with the British Mediterranean Squadron, which was on its +way from Marseilles to Cagliari, they had fallen in with the three +crippled ships. + +Without hesitation the powerful Italian ironclads, several of which were +among the finest in the world, opened a terrific fire upon the Russian +ships, and as darkness fell the sight was one of appalling grandeur. +From all sides flame rushed from turrets and barbettes in vivid flashes, +while the Maxims in the tops poured out their deadly showers of bullets. +The ponderous 105-ton guns of the _Andrea Doria_, _Francesca Morosini_, +and _Ruggiero di Lauria_ crashed and roared time after time, their great +shots causing frightful havoc among the Russian ships, the four +100-tonners of the _Lepanto_ and the 67-tonners of the _Re Umberto_, +_Sardegna_, and _Sicilia_ simply knocking to pieces the _Petropavlovsk_. +The Russian ships were receiving terrible blows on every hand. With +their search-lights beaming forth in all directions, the ships were +fighting fiercely, pounding away at each other with deafening din. It +was not long, however, before this vigorous attack of the Italians began +to tell, for within an hour of the first shot from the _Lepanto_ the +fine Russian battleship _Gheorghy Pobyednosets_ and the great new +cruiser _Minsk_ of 17,000 tons had been rammed and sunk, the former by +the _Duilio_, and the latter by the _Re Umberto_, while the _Tchesme_ +and the gunboat _Otvazny_ had been torpedoed, and scarcely a soul saved +out of 1500 men who were on board. + +Explosions were occurring in quick succession, and red glares flashed +momentarily over the sea. Hither and thither as the Italian torpedo +boats darted they ejected their missiles, and the rapid and terrible +fire from the leviathans of Italy, pouring into every one of the +remaining ships of the Tsar, killed hundreds who were striving to defend +themselves. + +Suddenly the _Sicilia_, which had been fighting the Russian flagship, +the _Tria Sviatitelia_, at close quarters, and had blown away her +conning-tower and greater portion of her superstructure, performed a +neat evolution, and crashed her ram right into her opponent's broadside, +breaking her almost in half. + +A few moments later there was a terrific explosion on board, and then +the doomed vessel sank into the dark rolling sea, carrying with her the +Russian Admiral and all hands. + +Quickly this success was followed by others--the blowing up of the +monster new cruiser _Tiumen_, the sinking of the _Adler_ and four other +Russian torpedo boats, occurring in rapid succession. Seeing with what +rapidity and irresistible force they were being swept from the sea, the +remainder of the Tsar's shattered fleet struck their flags and called +for quarter, not, however, before the torpedo boat _Kodor_ had been +sunk. The Russians thus captured were the battleships _Petropavlovsk_ of +10,960 tons, the _Dvenadsat Apostoloff_ of 8076 tons, the two new +barbette-ships, _Kama_ and _Vologda_, both of whose engines had broken +down, and fifteen torpedo boats. + +[Illustration: +_Ruggiero di Lauria._ _Re Umberto._ _Duilio._ _Tchesme._ +_Dvenadsat Apostoloff._ +_H.M.S. Edgar._ +HELP FROM ITALY: "WITH THEIR SEARCH-LIGHTS BEAMING FORTH IN ALL +DIRECTIONS, THE SHIPS WERE FIGHTING FIERCELY, POUNDING AWAY AT EACH +OTHER WITH DEAFENING DIN."] + +At dawn most of the latter were manned by Italians, while the captured +ships, with the Italian colours flying and bearing evidence of the +terrible conflict, were on their way due north to Genoa, accompanied by +the battered British vessels. + +The strongest division of Russia's Fleet had been totally destroyed, and +the Tsar's power in the Mediterranean was broken. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +PANIC IN LANCASHIRE. + + +The Russians were within gunshot of Manchester! A profound sensation was +caused in that city about eight o'clock on the evening of September 6th, +by an announcement made by the _Evening News_--which still appeared in +fitful editions--that a Cossack patrol had been seen on the road between +Macclesfield and Alderley, and that it was evident, from the manner of +the Russian advance, that they meant to attack the city almost +immediately. + +The utmost alarm was caused, and the streets were everywhere crowded by +anxious, starving throngs, eager to ascertain fuller details, but unable +to gather anything further beyond the wild conjectures of idle gossip. + +The great city which, on the outbreak of war, was one of the most +prosperous in the world, was now but a sorry semblance of its former +self. Heated, excited, turbulent, its streets echoed with the +heartrending wails of despairing crowds, its factories were idle, its +shops closed, and its people were succumbing to the horrible, lingering +death which is the result of starvation. + +Wealth availed them naught. Long ago the last loaf had been devoured, +the last sack of flour had been divided, and the rich living in the +suburbs now felt the pinch of hunger quite as acutely as factory +operatives, who lounged, hands in pockets, about the streets. +Manchester, like most other towns in England, had come to the end of +her supplies, and death and disease now decimated the more populous +districts, while those who had left the city and tramped north had fared +no better, and hundreds dropped and died by the roadside. + +The situation in Lancashire was terrible. At Liverpool a few vessels +were arriving from America, under escort of British cruisers, bringing +supplies, but these were mostly purchased at enormously high rates, and +sent to London by way of Manchester and Sheffield, railway communication +by that route being still open. This fact becoming known in Manchester +caused the greatest indignation, and the people, rendered desperate by +hunger, succeeded on several occasions in stopping the trains, and +appropriating the food they carried. The situation in Manchester was one +of constant excitement, and fear that the enemy should repeat the +success they had achieved at Birmingham. The hundreds of thousands of +hungry ones who flocked Manchester streets and the grimy thoroughfares +of Stockport, Ashton, Oldham, Bolton, and other great towns in the +vicinity, feared that they, like the people of Birmingham, would be put +to the sword by the ruthless invaders. + +The week that had elapsed had been an eventful one, fraught with many +horrors. After the success of the Russians at Birmingham, the British +troops, both Regulars, Volunteers, and improvised, fell back and formed +up north of the city, being practically nothing more than a strong line +of outposts without reserves, extending from Dudley, through West +Bromwich and Sutton Park, to Tamworth. This scheme, however, was +ill-devised, for the defenders, in order to act successfully, should +have fallen back much further, and concentrated their forces at one or +two strategical points on the line to Manchester, as it had been +ascertained from spies that a swift and vigorous attack on that city was +meditated. + +The day following the taking of Birmingham was devoted by the enemy to +the reorganisation of their forces, and the rearrangement of their +transport and ammunition train. Large quantities of waggons and war +stores of all kinds had been found in the town and annexed by the +victors, and at Kynoch's Factory at Aston some hundreds of thousands of +rounds of ammunition had been seized. These had been made for a foreign +government, and fitted both rifles and machine guns of the Russians. + +Having thus reorganised, the Russians, leaving 10,000 men in Birmingham +as a base, resumed their march north on the third day. The left flank, +consisting of 2000 cavalry and 12,000 infantry, took the road through +West Bromwich to Wednesbury and Bilston, but quickly found themselves +entrapped, for on account of the many canals their cavalry were unable +to act, and their transport was cut off. The miners and factory men had +armed themselves, and, acting in conjunction with the British troops +from Dudley and Great Barr, succeeded, after some hard fighting around +Tipton and Coseley, in completely annihilating the enemy, taking 5000 +prisoners and killing the remaining 9000. + +Meanwhile the right flank had passed out of Birmingham by way of Castle +Bromwich, and had advanced without opposition through Wishaw and +Tamworth to Lichfield, driving the defenders before them. The Russian +main column, however, were not allowed to go north without a most +desperate endeavour on the part of our men to hold them in check. +Indeed, if ever British courage showed itself it was during those dark +days. Advancing through Aston and Perry to Sutton along the ancient +highway, Icknield Street, the Russians sent a large force through the +woods to the high ground between Wild Green and Maney. Here the British +had established strong batteries, but after some desperate fighting +these were at length captured, the enemy losing heavily. At the same +time, fierce fighting occurred in Sutton Park and across at Aldridge, +the defenders making the most strenuous efforts to break the force of +the invaders. All was, alas! to no purpose. The British, outnumbered as +before, were compelled to fall back fighting, with the result that the +enemy's main column, pushing on, effected a junction with its right +flank, which had bivouaced on Wittington Heath, near Lichfield, and +occupied the barracks there. + +On the day following the invaders broke into two columns and marched +again north, practically in battle formation, the right column +continuing along Icknield Street, through Burton, Derby, Bakewell, and +Marple, driving back the defenders, while the left column took a route +that lay through the hilly and wooded country near Cannock Chase. Both +columns, advancing in echelon of division, with cavalry on their flanks, +were constantly harassed in the rear by the British, and in their +advance lost numbers of waggons and a large quantity of ammunition; but +they succeeded in travelling so quickly north that they were actually +marching on Manchester before the people in that city could realise it. +Signal acts of bravery were being everywhere reported, but what could +individual heroism effect against the fearful odds we had to face? + +Thousands of men in Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Wigan, Rochdale, and other +neighbouring towns had already armed themselves, and, on hearing that +Manchester was threatened, poured into the city to act their part +bravely in its defence. + +It must be admitted that the British General commanding had, on gaining +knowledge of the intentions of the Russians, taken every precaution in +his power to prevent an advance on Manchester. + +Our troops which had been defeated and driven back from Birmingham, had +at once retreated north to the Peak district, and about one-quarter of +the number had taken up excellent defensive positions there, while the +remainder, with small reinforcements of Regulars drawn from Lancaster, +Warrington, Bury, Chester, Wrexham, Burnley, Ashton-under-Lyne, York, +Halifax, and as far distant as Carlisle, had, in addition to those from +Manchester, been massed along the north bank of the Mersey from +Stockport to Flixton, with a line of communication stretching across to +Woodley Junction, and thence over Glossop Dale to the Peak. + +Thus Manchester was defended by a force of 38,000 cavalry, infantry, +Volunteers, and colonials, against the Russian army, consisting of the +remaining 65,000 of the force which attacked Birmingham, and +reinforcements of 10,000 infantry and 5000 cavalry that had been pushed +rapidly forward from Sussex over the ground that the main body had +travelled. The total force of Russians was therefore 80,000. + +From Stockport, the north bank of the Mersey to its confluence with the +Irwell past Flixton was well guarded. Earthworks had been raised, +trenches dug, walls had been loopholed, and houses placed in a state of +hasty defence. Among the reinforcements now under arms were several +portions of battalions of Lancashire Volunteer Artillery who had not +gone south to their allotted positions in the defence of London, and +five companies of the 1st Cheshire and Carnarvonshire Artillery under +Col. H. T. Brown, V.D., together with the Cheshire Yeomanry under Col. +P. E. Warburton. The Manchester Brigade was a strong one, consisting of +six Volunteer battalions of the Manchester Regiment, the 1st under the +Earl of Crawford, V.D., the 2nd under Col. Bridgford, V.D., the 3rd +under Col. Eaton, V.D., the 4th under Col. Lynde, V.D., the 5th under +Col. Rocca, V.D., and the 6th under Col. Lees; the Cheshire and +Lancashire Brigades included three Volunteer battalions of the +Lancashire Fusiliers under Colonels Young, Philippi, and Haworth, and +two battalions of the South Lancashire Regiment; while the Northern +Counties Brigade, composed of one Volunteer battalion of the Royal +Lancaster Regiment under Col. Strongitharm, two battalions of the East +Lancashire Regiment under Col. A. I. Robinson, V.D., and Col. T. +Mitchell, V.D., and two of the Loyal North Lancashire under Col. Widdows +and Col. Ormrod, also mustered their forces and performed excellent +defensive work. It was here, too, that the Volunteer cyclists were found +of the utmost value in scouting and carrying despatches. + +The excitement in Manchester on that memorable September night was +intense. That a desperate and bloody fray was imminent, every one knew, +and the people were trusting to the defensive line on the river bank to +protect them from the foreign destroyer. Would they be strong enough to +effectively resist? Would they be able to drive back the Russians and +defeat them? + +The people of Lancashire who condemned our military administration did +not do so without cause. It had been claimed by many that England could +never be invaded; nevertheless our course should have been to prepare +for possible events. Our Army, being small, should have been better +equipped and armed, as well as trained to balance weakness in numbers. +Again, there had always existed a hideous hindrance to the efficiency of +the Auxiliaries--the arms. Many of the Martini-Henrys carried by the +Volunteers bore date of a quarter of a century ago, and their barrels +were so worn they could not be fired accurately; while others possessed +the Snider, which was practically a smoothbore from wear. What was the +use of weapons surpassed in power by those of other nations? It was an +unpalatable truth that had now at last dawned upon Britain, that in +arming her soldiers she was far behind the rest of the world. + +While Manchester spent the sultry night in feverish excitement at the +knowledge that the enemy had advanced almost to their doors, the British +outposts were being harassed by the enemy, who, flushed with success, +were advancing gradually onward towards the line of defence. The Russian +front had been suddenly widely extended, evidently aiming at a +concentric attack on Manchester, and an attempt to wholly envelop the +defenders' position by cavalry operating on both flanks. + +Some terribly desperate encounters took place during a frightful +thunderstorm which lasted a portion of the night, and many a brave +Briton fell while performing valiant deeds for the honour of his +country. The anxiety within the British lines that hot night was +intense. + +Reports coming in told of fierce fighting all along the line. Soon after +midnight a British patrol, supported by cavalry, that had been sent out +from Northenden to Baguley, was suddenly attacked by a party of +Russians, who lay in ambush close to Wythenshaw Hall. A short but fierce +fight ensued, but the British, knowing that part of the country well, +succeeded in totally annihilating their antagonists. The firing, +however, attracted attention in the Russian lines, with the result that +a second attack was quickly made upon them, compelling them to retire up +the hill at Lawton Moor, where they dashed into a small wood, closely +pressed by the enemy. The attack was desperate. There is something +terrible in a fight in a wood at night. The combatants could see nothing +save an occasional flash in the impenetrable darkness, and hoarse cries +went up from the mysterious inferno. Neither invader nor defender could +distinguish each other, and in the half-hour that followed, many a +Russian shot his comrade in mistake for his foe. + +At last the defenders, finding that the slightest rustling of boughs +brought down a volley from magazine rifles, stood motionless, scarcely +daring to breathe, and waited anxiously, until at last the enemy, seeing +that their efforts to drive them out were useless, withdrew, and went +off towards Baguley. + +In another direction, close to Henbury, near Macclesfield, a squadron of +British cavalry surprised a small outpost camp of Russians, and cut it +up terribly, killing half the number; but pushing on to Marthall, six +miles across country, they came into collision with a body of Russian +dragoons, and after a very fierce encounter were compelled to fall back +again after considerable loss. On the outskirts of Northwich, and on the +borders of Delamere Forest, skirmishes occurred, resulting in serious +loss on both sides. A reconnoitring party of Russians was totally swept +away and every man killed, by a British party who were concealed in an +old farm building close to Alderley village; while another engaged in +surveying the roads to Altrincham had been forced to retreat, leaving +half their number dead or wounded on the edge of Tatton Park. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE EVE OF BATTLE. + + +Some idea of the gallant conduct of our Volunteers during the night may +be gathered from the following extract from a letter by Lieutenant John +Rowling of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment, +to a friend a few days afterwards. He wrote-- + +"You will no doubt have heard something about the warm work we had on +the night before the Battle of Manchester. The city, as you know, was +covered on the south by a long straggling line of outposts, extending +practically from Stockport to Altrincham. Late in the afternoon of +September 6th we received an order to proceed to Mere, about four miles +from Altrincham, having been detailed to form the section of the +outposts from New Tatton to Goodier's Green, and on arrival at Mere half +of our force of 600 was left in reserve there; the supports were moved +about half a mile down Watling Street, and the remainder was divided +into three piquets, No. 1 at Bentley Hurst Farm, No. 2 at Moss Cottage, +and No. 3 near Mereplatt Farm, with four double sentry posts out in +front of each piquet. + +"I was in command of No. 2 picket, with Anderson and Wishton as subs, +and as soon as I returned to the piquet, after posting the sentries, I +sent the former with two sections to form a detached post at Over +Tabley, and instructed him to send a reconnoitring patrol as far down +Watling Street as he might consider consistent with safety. Anderson +posted his men, and returned to me about ten o'clock with a corporal and +two men, bringing in a man who had been pointed out to him at Over +Tabley as a suspicious character--in fact, he was said to be a spy. He +had been staying at an inn there for two or three days, and had very +little luggage. Anderson had examined his portmanteau, but found nothing +there; and as the man refused to give any account of himself, he made +him a prisoner. Fresh fires were continually breaking out, therefore I +thought it best to waste no time questioning him, but took him into a +room at Moss Cottage, where he was thoroughly searched. Notes were found +upon him from which it was evident that he had been obtaining +information for the enemy for some time, and, better still, particulars +of their proposed operations for the investment of Manchester, showing +that they were advancing in our direction along the old Watling Street. + +"I sent the prisoner under escort to the commander of the outposts, and +at the same time sent word to Nos. 1 and 3 piquets, after which Anderson +and I went down to Over Tabley, leaving Wishton in charge of No. 2. The +machine gun that had been allotted to my piquet I also ordered to Over +Tabley, and on arrival there we threw up barricades, hastily constructed +of barrels, doors, and logs, banked with earth, across the road between +the Vicarage and the church. A quantity of barbed wire was found in the +village, and this came in very useful, for we stretched several lengths +of it across the roads on the off-side of the barricade. + +"There were under thirty of us, but every man was determined to do his +duty unflinchingly. By this time it was past eleven, and very dark, yet +there was just light enough to train the gun on to the centre of the +cross-roads by Dairyhouse Farm. Very soon we could hear the enemy +approaching, and as their spy had not met them outside, they evidently +concluded that the village was unoccupied, and advanced in comparatively +close order, Cossacks leading, and the infantry so close that there was +practically no division between their vanguard and mainguard. The first +section of Cossacks very soon found our first wire, and the whole of +their horses came to grief. Those in the rear, thinking probably that +there was no other obstruction in the way, spurred their horses and +galloped over their friends, only to meet with a similar fate further +on. + +"The pioneers doubled up, and began to cut the wires, and fearing that +the infantry in the rear would soon deploy, I gave the order for +independent firing. The Russians stood it for some minutes, and +attempted to reply, but not a man of ours was visible, and they soon +retreated to Tabley Hall, where I had no means of following them. + +"It must be remembered that we were all Volunteers, the Regulars being +on the Stockport flank of the outpost line. My men behaved splendidly, +and the firing was excellent from first to last." + +About the same time as the unsuccessful attack was made on the outposts +at Mere, the British line was broken through at Heald Green and +Appletree. + +A cavalry patrol, supported by infantry, was feeling its way along the +road to Wilmslow, and had passed Willow Farm, at which point the road +runs beside the railway embankment. + +The storm had burst, the thunder rolled incessantly, rain fell in +torrents, and the lightning played about them, causing their arms to +gleam in its vivid flashes. + +Slowly, and without undue noise, the patrol was wending its way up the +hill towards Finney Green, when suddenly there was a terrific rattle of +musketry, and they discovered to their surprise that the enemy, who were +occupying the embankment of the North-Western Railway on their left, +were pouring upon them a fire sufficient to blanch the cheek of the +bravest among them. + +Along the embankment for a mile or more were stationed infantry with +magazine rifles, and in addition they had brought two machine guns into +play with appalling effect. So sudden did this galling fire open upon +them, that men and horses fell without being able to fire a shot in +return. British infantry, however, stood their ground, and as the +lightning flashed, disclosing the position of the enemy, every Russian +who dared to stand up or show himself was promptly picked off. But +against the awful rain of deadly bullets ejected from the machine guns, +at the rate of 600 a minute, no force could make a successful defence. + +Many British heroes fell pierced by a dozen bullets; still their +comrades, seeking what shelter they could, continued the defensive. + +Meanwhile over the dismal muddy road the survivors of the cavalry +galloped back, and quickly reported to the commander of the piquet at +Appletree that the enemy were in strong force on the other side of the +embankment between Oaklands and Wilmslow Park, and as they had heard a +train run into Wilmslow Station and stop, it was evident that the enemy +had reopened the line from Crewe, and intended concentrating part of +their reinforcements to the general advance. The facts that the enemy +had succeeded in cutting all the telegraph lines in the district, and +had now obtained complete control over the railway, were most alarming, +and the outlook of the defenders was rendered doubly serious by the +large force they were compelled to keep east of Stockport, and in the +Peak district, to prevent the invaders getting round to attack +Manchester from the north. + +On receipt of the news of the disaster to the patrol, the commander of +the piquet at Appletree immediately sent information to the commander of +the piquet posted at the railway station at Cheadle Hulme; but by a +strange oversight, due no doubt to the excitement of the moment, sent no +report to the commander of the outposts. The infantry engaging the +Russians on the embankment, though exhibiting most gallant courage, were +so exposed that it was little wonder they were soon completely +annihilated, only half a dozen escaping. + +The enemy must have detrained a large number of troops at Wilmslow, for +the British cavalry scouts were quickly followed up by Cossacks and the +Tsar's Dragoons. Quickly the sentries between Heald Green and +Appletree were driven back on their piquets, the latter extending in +skirmishing order. Such a manoeuvre, however, proved fatal in the +darkness and on the heavy ploughed land over which they were fighting. +Alas! very few succeeded in reaching the supports, and when they did, +they all fell back hurriedly on the reserves at Pimgate. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLEFIELD OF MANCHESTER.] + +Then the commander of the piquet at Cheadle Hulme Station, finding that +he must inevitably be attacked by road and rail, set the station on +fire, and with the assistance of the railway officials blew up a large +portion of the permanent way with dynamite, thus cutting off the enemy's +means of communication. This accomplished, he fell back upon his +supports at Adswood, and they, at about 2 A.M., retreated with the +reserves to the embankment of the North-Western Railway which carries +the line from Stockport to Whaley Bridge, and took up a strong position +to assist in the defence of Stockport. + +The latter town was defended on three sides by railway embankments, +which were now occupied by strong bodies of Regulars, with several +Maxims. One embankment ran from the west boundary of the town to +Middlewood Junction, another from Middlewood to Marple, and a third from +Marple to Mayercroft. Throughout the night the defenders were in hourly +expectation that an attack would be made upon their positions, with the +object of investing Stockport as a preliminary to the assault on the +defensive lines north of the Mersey; but the enemy apparently had other +objects, and the disaster to the British cavalry patrol on the Wilmslow +road was, unfortunately, followed by a second and more serious one. The +Cossacks and Dragoons that followed the British cavalry scouts overtook +them just as they had joined their reserves, a short distance beyond +Pimgate, about half-past two. A fierce fight ensued, and the force of +British cavalry and infantry was gradually drawn into a +cunningly-devised trap, and then there suddenly appeared a great force +of Russians, who simply swept down upon them, slaughtering the whole of +them with brutal ferocity, not, however, before they had fought +desperately, and inflicted enormous loss upon the enemy. + +Having totally annihilated that detachment of defenders, the Russians +marched into Cheadle, and, after sacking the little town, burned it, +together with the Grange, the Print Works, the railway station, St. +Mary's Church, and a number of large mills. + +The great army of the Tsar had bivouaced, reserving its strength for a +desperate dash upon Manchester. But the British outposts stood wakeful +and vigilant, ready at any moment to sound the alarm. To those +entrenched beyond the winding Mersey, soaked by the heavy rain, and +spending the dark hours in anxiety, there came over the dismal country +the sound of distant rifle-firing mingling with the roll of the thunder. +Ere long they knew that every man would be fighting for his life against +the great hordes of invaders who would descend upon them swiftly and +mercilessly. Across the country from the Peak away to Chester, the +Briton bravely faced his foe, anxious and vigilant, awaiting +breathlessly the progress of events. + +Thus passed the stormy, oppressive night, till the grey dawn of a +fateful day. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +MANCHESTER ATTACKED BY RUSSIANS. + + +With the first streak of daylight the anxious, excited crowds of men and +women, surging up and down the principal streets of Manchester, were +alarmed by the sounds of heavy firing. A terrible panic instantly +ensued. The battle had actually commenced! + +Half-starved operatives, with pale, wan faces, stood in groups in +Deansgate, Market Street, Piccadilly, and London Road, while men, armed +with any weapons they could obtain, rushed out along the main roads to +the south of the city to assist in its defence. Lancashire men exhibited +commendable patriotism, even though they had not hesitated to criticise +the administration of our War Department; for now at the critical hour +not a man flinched from his duty, both old and young taking up arms for +their country's honour. + +During the eventful night at all approaches to the city from the south +the roads had been thrown into a state of hasty defence. A formidable +barricade had been constructed at a point in the Stretford Road close to +the Botanical Gardens to prevent the enemy from advancing up the Chester +or Stretford New Roads; another was thrown up at the junction of +Chorlton Road, Withington Road, Upper Chorlton Road, and Moss Lane West; +a third opposite Rusholme Hall prevented any march up the Wilmslow Road; +while others of minor strength blocked the Anson Road close to the Elms, +the London Road at Longsight, the Hyde Road opposite Belle Vue Prison, +and at Ivy Place in the Ashton Old Road. + +These had all been raised out of any materials that came to hand. +Barrels, brick rubbish, planks, doors, flooring of houses hastily torn +up, and scaffold poles lashed together; in fact, the barriers were huge +piles of miscellaneous and portable articles, even furniture from +neighbouring houses being utilised, while lengths of iron railings and +wire torn from fences played an important part in these hastily-built +defences. Behind them, armed with rifles, shot-guns, pistols, knives, +and any other weapon that came handiest, the men of Manchester waited, +breathlessly impatient in the expectation of attack. + +As dawn spread bright and rosy, and the mist cleared from the low +meadows beside the Mersey, the distant firing was continuous, and the +one or two shells that fell and burst in the centre of the city were +precursory of an awful sanguinary struggle. Scarcely a person in that +densely populated area had slept that night, and the streets were +everywhere full, the most exciting and heartrending scenes being +witnessed. + +A great crowd that assembled in Albert Square was addressed by the Mayor +from the steps of the Town Hall, and urged to strain every muscle to +drive back the invaders, in order that the disaster at Birmingham should +not be repeated. Even as he spoke, in the interval of wild cheering and +the energetic singing of the National Anthem and "Rule, Britannia," the +distant crackling of rifles and the low booming of field guns could be +heard. + +It was the din of battle--the catastrophe caused by the cunning spy Von +Beilstein, who was still living in luxury in London, and who still posed +as the friend of Geoffrey Engleheart and Violet Vayne! + +Geoffrey was still with the Volunteers assisting in the defence of +London, but the French spy who had sent the forged orders to our Navy +had apparently made good his escape. + +Here, in Manchester, the sound of the guns aroused that patriotic +enthusiasm latent in the heart of every Briton. True, they were weary, +famished, ill from lack of food, yet they were fiercely determined that +the invader should never tread their streets, nor should incendiaries +burn or Russian artillery destroy their handsome buildings--monuments of +England's wealth and greatness. In St. Peter's Square, at a mass meeting +attended by nearly twelve thousand people, a demonstration was made +against the enemy, and it was resolved that every man should act his +part in the struggle, and that no quarter should be shown the legions of +the Tsar; while at another impromptu meeting held in Piccadilly, in the +open space opposite the Infirmary, the conduct of the Russians before +Birmingham was denounced; and some speakers, using violent language, +lashed their hearers into a frenzy of mad excitement, causing an eager +rush to the barricades in readiness for the terrible fray. + +As the sun shone out pale and yellow in the stormy sky, the fighting +spread quickly down the Mersey banks from Haughton away to Flixton. It +became fiercest around Stockport, and over the level pastures the white +smoke of rifles puffed from every bush, wall, and fence. + +The Russians were the superior force, for, while all were trained +soldiers, not more than a third of the defenders had taken the Queen's +shilling, and not more than half of them had ever had an hour's drill in +their lives. They were simply volunteers who had found their own arms +and banded for the defence of their homes. + +The soldiers of the Tsar, trained under the most rigorous discipline, +had considerably improved in tactics, in drill, and in munitions of war +since the Crimea,--a fact overlooked by the majority of Britons,--and +they had now taken possession of every strategical position where +batteries might be established. After fierce fighting over Lyme Park +across to Norbury Hall, in which the Russians lost very heavily owing to +the British gun fire from the railway embankment, a great charge was +made by an enormous body of infantry, who succeeded, after several +futile attempts, in carrying the position, and driving the British +artillerymen back to the road which runs from Stockport to Marple. + +The embankment which thus fell into the hands of the Muscovite infantry +formed one of the strongest defences of Stockport, therefore they at +once moved the guns up towards Davenport Station, and commenced shelling +the city with the defenders' own guns! + +The panic caused in Stockport was awful, when without warning shells +commenced to explode in the crowded barricaded streets, but the Russians +were not allowed to have things their own way for long. The British +batteries on the opposite railway embankment between Heaton Norris and +New Mills formed up at the junction almost opposite Davenport, and +opened a terrific fire upon the captured guns. + +For half an hour this continued, and the Russians, standing in an +exposed position right on the sky-line, were being swept away by British +shells, when suddenly the enemy were joined by reinforcements, whereupon +a small force of British infantry, who had been brought quickly along, +unperceived by the enemy from Marple, suddenly swarmed up the embankment +at Norbury, and, charging along to the Russian position, added a strong +rifle fire to that of their artillery. + +The officer commanding the British batteries watched the infantry +advance through his field glass, and in a few minutes suddenly ceased +his fire, so as to allow the infantry to make the dash for which they +were preparing. A heliograph signal was flashed from the batteries, and +then, without hesitation, the order was given to charge. + +It was a terribly exciting moment. If they succeeded they would in all +probability save Stockport. If they were driven back the town was +doomed. + +With admirable pluck the British rushed upon the guns, and for a few +minutes there was a fierce struggle hand to hand. Russians, although +making a most desperate stand, were every moment being impaled on +British bayonets, or, pierced by bullets, they rolled down the slopes +into ditches covered in stagnant slime. Hacked to pieces by the small +but gallant force of Britons, the enemy were forced at last to give in +and retire, leaving more than half their number killed; but with +admirable tact, the fugitives were forced down the bank nearest the +British batteries. Thus they fell into a trap, for as soon as they +attempted to recover themselves, and make a dash to reorganise their +line of communications, two British Maxims uttered their sharp rattle, +and the whole force were simply mowed down where they stood. + +The fight had been a most desperate one, but, thanks to the heroic +charge of the British infantry, Stockport was again safe, and the guns +once more in the hands of her defenders. + +Meanwhile, fighting of the fiercest possible description was taking +place across the meadows lying between Norbury and Bramhall, and the +Russians, unable to withstand the withering British fire, were gradually +forced back to Cheadle Hulme, where they were surprised by the defenders +and utterly routed. So great was the slaughter, that it is estimated +that in this engagement alone, after the recapture of the guns by the +British, over 4000 Russians were shot down and 3000 taken prisoners! + +The Russians, finding how desperate was the resistance, and how heavily +they were losing, quickly brought up strong reinforcements upon Cheadle, +and, after a fiercely-contested conflict, succeeded in driving back the +small British force, they being compelled to retreat back over the +Mersey to Parr's Wood and Didsbury, afterwards blowing up the bridges, +and keeping up a hot fire from the bank, where a large body of +Volunteers were already entrenched. By this means, although they were +unable to save Cheadle from being burned, they succeeded, by reason of +the excellence of their position and the admirable tactics they +displayed, in mowing down another 2000 of the Tsar's soldiers. In this +instance the laurels remained with a portion of the Manchester Volunteer +Brigade, the effect of whose rifle fire was appalling. + +It was now about ten o'clock, and the sky had cleared for a brilliant +day. At Chapel-en-le-Frith a large detachment of Cossacks had been swept +away by a body of British Hussars who had suddenly descended upon +Whitehough, while almost at the same moment a British battery that had +been hastily established on Chinley Churn succeeded in wiping out a +body of infantry that was advancing with all speed in the neighbourhood +of Yeardsley Hall. But one of the most sanguinary portions of the battle +was the conflict which spread westward from Cheadle across to +Altrincham, Lymm, and Warrington. Already Altrincham had fallen. The +fine villas of wealthy Manchester tradesmen and manufacturers, deserted +by their owners, had been entered by the uncouth Muscovites and sacked. +Every nook and corner had been searched for plate, jewellery, and money, +paintings had been ruthlessly torn down, furniture broken and burned, +and Russian troopers had made merry in many a handsome drawing-room. Old +Field Hall and Timperly Hall had both been ransacked and set on fire +with petroleum, while every house at Dunham Massey had been destroyed by +incendiaries. + +Elated over their successes, the Russians were collecting their forces +preparatory to a decisive rush over the Mersey to Stretford, intending +to take that place, and advance by that route upon Manchester. The +defenders, who had been warned of this through spies, awaited their +chance, and suddenly, when the Russians least expected an attack, a body +of British cavalry, backed by infantry, crossed the Mersey, and sweeping +down the level turnpike road to Sale, came upon their opponents before +they were aware of their presence. The effect of this was frightful. A +small body of British Hussars, with some Lancashire Yeomanry, made a +splendid charge, exhibiting magnificent courage, and cut their way clean +through the Russian lines with irresistible force; while the infantry, +advancing cautiously, and taking every advantage of the small cover +afforded on that level country, poured forth a deadly rifle fire. +Indeed, so gallant was this charge, that the Tsar's forces were almost +annihilated. They endeavoured to make a stand near the cross-roads +leading from Carrington Moss, but the rifle fire of the defenders was so +heavy that they dropped by hundreds under the deadly rain of British +bullets. + +The disaster to the Russians being signalled back by them to their +reserves at Tatton Park and around Knutsford, had the effect of bringing +up an enormous force of infantry. Signallers were at work in all +directions, and those who watched the progress of the action found the +next two hours full of exciting moments. It was apparent at once that +the Russians had marked out Stretford as the gate by which they intended +to enter Manchester, but they must have been misled by their spies as to +the strength of the defenders in this direction. + +Indeed, if they had surveyed the whole of the southern line defending +the city, they could not have discovered a point more strongly +fortified; therefore it was a somewhat curious fact that they should +have concentrated their forces upon that part. Possibly it was because +they had formed an opinion by studying their Ordnance Maps--so +generously provided for them by the British Department of Agriculture at +a cost of one shilling each--that, if they succeeded in breaking the +defence at Stretford, they would also secure the road running in a +circular direction up to Barton, by which means they could enter +Manchester by way of Eccles, Pendleton, and Salford at the same time as +the march through Trafford. Such a design was, of course, cleverly +planned. It must be admitted that, from a strategical point of view, the +taking of Stretford would mean the fall of Manchester, a fact which the +Russian commanding officer had not overlooked. + +But the soldiers of the Tsar had reckoned without their hosts. They only +saw along the Mersey a thin and apparently weak line of defence, a +massing of defenders without undue ostentation and without any +particular show of strength. A balloon sent up by the Russians to +reconnoitre from Sale had been fired at and brought down by the +defenders, but with this exception scarcely a shot had been fired north +of the Mersey. Britons were watching and waiting. Their foe, ridiculing +the idea that a town like Manchester, almost utterly devoid of positions +whereon batteries might be established, could be successfully defended, +therefore kept up a desultory fire upon the British detachment that had +swept away their advance guard, in the meantime covering the massing of +their enormous force. This latter consisted of Cossacks, guards, +infantry, artillery, and two companies of engineers, with pontoon +sections, as well as a ballooning party and two field hospitals. + +The British detachment that had crossed the river were, however, unaware +of the enemy's intention until too late. The manoeuvres of the Russians +were being watched by a British balloon sent up from Old Trafford, but +the signals made by the aeronaut were unfortunately unobserved by the +party, so desperately were they fighting; otherwise a disaster which +befell them on the sudden rush of the enemy towards the river might +possibly have been averted. However, no blame could be attached to the +officer in charge of the detachment. The men acted their part bravely, +and displayed that courage of which the Briton speaks with justifiable +pride, even though, alas! they fell, every one of them fighting till the +last, their bodies being afterwards frightfully mangled by horses' +hoofs, as hundreds of Cossacks rode over them. Not a man of that party +escaped, but each one had once more shown the world what pluck and +courage could accomplish, and had gone to his grave as a sacrifice for +his country and his Queen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +GALLANT DEEDS BY CYCLISTS. + + +Noon came and went. The fighting grew fiercer around Manchester, and the +excitement more intense within the barricaded, starving city. Through +the wildly agitated crowds of women of all classes, from manufacturers' +wives to factory girls, who moved up and down Deansgate, Market Street, +and many other principal thoroughfares, feverishly anxious for the +safety of their husbands and brothers manning the improvised defences, +rumours of terrible disaster spread like wildfire, and caused loud +wailing and lamentation. + +Now rumour told of huge British successes away beyond the Mersey, a +report which elated the pale-faced hungry ones, but this being followed +quickly by a further report that a force of the defenders had been cut +up and utterly annihilated outside Eccles, the cheering died away, and +give place to deep, long-drawn sighs and murmurings of despair. + +Upon the dusty, perspiring throngs the hot noonday sun beat down +mercilessly, the low rumbling of artillery sounded gradually closer and +more distinct, and the smoke of burning buildings in Sale and Altrincham +slowly ascending hung in the clear sky a black ominous cloud. + +By about two o'clock the line of defence south of the Mersey had been +nearly all withdrawn, leaving, however, the defending line running +south-east of Stockport to Buxton and the Peak. Although Cheadle had +fallen into the enemy's hands, an English battery, established near +the railway at Bamford, commanded the road from Cheadle to Stockport, +and British infantry, supported by artillery, were strongly entrenched +from Bramhall Moor through Norbury, Poynton, Wardsend, Booth Green, and +Bollington, then turning east through Macclesfield Forest to Buxton. +This line was being hourly strengthened, and although not strong enough +to take the offensive, it was too strong for the Russians to attack. + +[Illustration: GALLANT STAND BY CYCLISTS IN PARR WOOD.] + +All the bridges over the Mersey, from Glazebrook to Stockport, had been +prepared for demolition, but it was not intended to carry this out +except as a last resource. Cavalry and cyclist scouts who were left on +the south of the Mersey had withdrawn across the bridges, after +exchanging shots with the skirmishers of the advance guards of the enemy +who quickly lined the banks. The bridges north of Cheadle were then +blown up, and the defenders were well posted in Parr Wood, near where it +was believed the enemy would attempt to ford the river. The Russians +contented themselves with exchanging a few shots with the defenders +until half an hour later, when some of their batteries had been +established, and then the passage of the Mersey at Northenden was +commenced, under cover of the guns of the Russians near the Convalescent +Hospital, north of Cheadle. + +As soon as the Russian scouts approached the river three British +outposts could be seen in the wood. They were, however, driven in by +some Cossacks, who forded the river and attempted to enter the wood, but +were all immediately killed by hidden skirmishers. The Russian engineers +were meanwhile busy building a pontoon bridge, which they soon +completed, and they then crossed after a short opposition, rapidly +deploying to right and left in order to surround Didsbury. + +This, the first force to cross the Mersey, consisted of two battalions +of the Kazan Regiment and two battalions of the Vladimir, with two +9-pounder and one 6-pounder field batteries and 100 cavalry. Didsbury +had been put in a state of hasty defence, and was held by two battalions +of the defenders, who also established a Volunteer battery at Bank +Hall, and lined the railway embankment in force as far as +Chorlton-with-Hardy. + +The enemy's battery at the Convalescent Home had rendered the wood +almost untenable, but it was soon silenced by the well-directed fire of +the British Volunteer battery, and the wood was then re-entered by the +defenders. By this time, however, a large number of the enemy had taken +up positions in it, and the British were once more gradually driven +back. + +One section, consisting of six cyclists, with a light machine gun +mounted on a double cycle, was told off under Sergeant Irons of the +Royal Lancaster, to defend a junction of two paths about half-way +through the dense wood, and as the latter was still occupied by the +defenders, the enemy could only make slow progress, and the cavalry +could only move by the paths. + +Irons, taking advantage of a bend in the path, dismounted his men, who, +having drawn up their cycles under cover, were formed up each side of +the road to support the gun. About thirty Russian dragoons, with their +infantry, who were working through the wood, were soon upon them, and, +seeing such a small force barring the way, the cavalry charged. + +They, however, met with such a terribly hot reception that only two +reached the guns, and these were immediately shot. The stand made by +these seven men was a most noteworthy instance of the indomitable +courage of the defenders. In those critical moments they remained calm +and collected, obeying the orders of their sergeant as coolly as if they +had been drilling in the barrack square. But their position was one of +momentarily increasing peril, for bullets whistled about them, and the +force against them was an overwhelming one. The Russian horses and men +who had fallen blocked the road, and Irons therefore gave the order to +fall in, as the sound of firing had now drawn many of the enemy's +skirmishers towards the spot. + +Irons then re-formed his squad, one of whom had been shot and another +wounded, and, taking the wounded man with them, retired. Just as they +were moving off the corporal was wounded in the shoulder, and Irons +himself received a bullet in the left arm. About two hundred yards +nearer Didsbury there was a clearing, with farm buildings on both sides +of the road, and these had been loopholed and occupied by a small force +of Volunteers. Irons, sending the wounded man on to Didsbury, remained +here with his gun, and a few minutes later the position was vigorously +attacked. + +The conflict which ensued was of the fiercest description. The mere +handful of defenders fought with such desperate courage that the great +body of Russians which surrounded them were from the first moment +gradually swept away by the steady and precise fire from the farm. +Around the buildings the enemy swarmed in overwhelming numbers, but +every man who showed himself was promptly picked off by Britons shooting +almost as coolly as if they were competing for prizes at Bisley. + +Sergeant Irons' small machine gun, with its single barrel, rattled out +continuously, shedding its rain of lead in all directions, while from +muzzles of Martini rifles peeping over walls and from windows there came +a continuous stream of bullets, which played frightful havoc with the +foe. Within the first ten minutes two men of the defending force had +been shot dead and one wounded; still, their comrades never lost heart, +for they were determined that their position should never fall into the +enemy's hands. The Russian officer who was directing the operations of +the attacking party rose and shouted in Russian to encourage his men, +but in a moment an English bullet struck him, and, with a loud cry, he +fell forward over the body of a dragoon, shot through the heart. + +The stand the cyclists and their companions made was unparalleled. They +fought on heroically, knowing the importance of the position they held, +and how, if it were taken, other and more serious British casualties +must follow. Firing steadily and with caution, they displayed such +bravery that even the Russians themselves were compelled to secretly +admire them; and at last, after nearly half an hour's desperate +fighting, the Tsar's soldiers found themselves so terribly cut up that +they were forced to retire, leaving more than half their number dead +and many wounded. + +While this had been in progress, the British battery had totally +destroyed the Russian pontoon, and thus all means of retreat for this +portion of the invading force were cut off. About ten thousand men had +crossed the river at this point, and although they had deployed at +first, they had all been gradually driven into the wood by the fire from +the railway embankment. + +As soon as the pontoon was destroyed, the British commenced to advance +through the wood, slowly driving back the Russians, who then endeavoured +to make for Stretford along the north bank of the river; but on seeing +their intention a brigade of defenders was immediately pushed along the +railway, and two regiments of cavalry were hurried down the road to +Chorlton. + +These succeeded in heading the enemy, and, suddenly swooping down, they +destroyed the rest of the Cossacks who had escaped from the wood, as +well as the remainder of the force who had attacked the farm. + +Another British battery was then hurried forward, and after a stubborn +fight the remainder of the invaders who had crossed surrendered. + +In this attack alone the Russians lost in killed and wounded 200 cavalry +and nearly 2000 infantry and artillery, while Stretford and Stockport +still remained safe. But along the long line east and west the battle +raged with increasing fierceness. The conflict was a terrible one on +every hand. + +The town of Lymm had been sacked, and was now burning, while hundreds of +unoffending men, women, and children living in the quiet Cheshire +villages had been wantonly massacred by the Muscovites. The latter were, +however, now suffering well-merited punishment, for in this bloody +battle they were falling dead in hundreds. + +The Russian Eagle was at last being forced to bite the dust! + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +GREAT BATTLE ON THE MERSEY. + + +The long blazing day was one of many battles and much toilsome combat. + +Fighting spread over a front of nearly nine miles, and during the +engagement one wing of the Russians was swung across three miles. Hour +after hour the tremendous warfare raged between the armies of Queen +Victoria and the Tsar, and the bloodshed was everywhere terrible. + +Small parties of the Russian Telegraph Corps had ferried over the Ship +Canal and the Mersey near Latchford, and wires were run out, and posts +established connecting the headquarters at Altrincham, on the south of +the river, with the well-advanced guard stations on the Liverpool Road +towards Manchester at Woolstone, Hollinfare, and Lower Irlam. + +Sending forth a huge division of infantry upon his left, and three +brigades of cavalry in the centre, the Russian General struck hard at +the British line between Stretford and Chorlton-with-Hardy. + +Meanwhile, beyond Ashton-on-Mersey the battle was also growing in +intensity, and rifle and cannon were noisily engaged. A strong force of +Russian infantry was at once pushed across to Partington, where they +succeeded in crossing the Ship Canal and the Mersey, subsequently +joining their advance guard at Lower Irlam. + +The British reserves at Newton-in-Makerfield, however, swept down upon +them, and a terrible fight quickly ensued. The defenders advanced very +steadily by section rushes, keeping under good firing discipline as they +went, and the enemy were driven on towards Flixton, where they were +simply swept away by the 12-pounder batteries established there, while +at the same time their wires crossing the Mersey were cut, and +communication with their headquarters thus interrupted. + +While this was in progress, another and more important attack was being +made on Stretford. The heavy artillery fire and the affairs of outposts +in the earlier stages of the battle had been followed by a +carefully-regulated long-range fire of infantry on both sides. + +The tactics the Russians had displayed were as follows:--They had +gradually developed their infantry in front of the Stretford position, +and brought their pontoons in readiness for a dash over the river. Then, +after some tentative movements, designed to feel the strength of our +forces massed at this important point, they apparently determined to +carry it at any cost. + +On their right flank the enemy were losing very heavily. A telegraphic +message received at Altrincham gave the headquarters alarming news of +constant reverses. A strong force of infantry marching along the banks +of the Etherow from Compstall, intending to get to Hyde by way of +Mottram and Godley Junction, had been attacked by British infantry and a +couple of 9-pounders, and totally annihilated; while at the same time, +about a thousand men attacking a British battery on the hill at +Charlesworth had been cut up and forced to retreat, being followed by +some Lancers right down to Ludworth Houses, where they were nearly all +killed or wounded. + +Indeed, times without number during that memorable day the Russians made +fierce attacks upon our positions on the edge of the Peak district, but +on each occasion they were hurled back with fearful loss by the thin +line of defenders holding the high ground. + +A battery we had established on the crown of the hill at Werneth was +charged again and again by Cossacks and Dragoons, but our men, +displaying cool courage at the critical moments, fought desperately, and +mowed down the foe in a manner that was remarkable. + +The Russians, having decided to carry Stretford, were making vigorous +demonstrations towards the Peak, and in the direction of Flixton, in +order to distract our attention. They occupied us at many points in the +vast semicircle, and by thus engaging us all along the line, endeavoured +apparently to prevent us from reinforcing the point at Stretford which +they intended gaining. Both invaders and defenders gradually extended in +order to meet outflanking movements, and this was the cause of another +sudden British success. It was a foregone conclusion that such an +extension would exceed the limits of defensive power on one side or the +other, and then blows would be struck with the object of breaking the +too extended line. + +What occurred is, perhaps, best related by one of the special +correspondents of the _Daily News_, who, in his account of the battle, +published two days later, said-- + +"About three o'clock I was at Barton with the force of infantry who were +holding the road to Warrington, when we unexpectedly received +telegraphic information from headquarters of a rapid extension of the +enemy's left flank. A brigade which I accompanied was pushed on at once +down to Hollinfare, where we reinforced those who had been so successful +in cutting up the enemy at Lower Irlam half an hour before. We then +extended along the Liverpool Road, past Warrington, as far as Widnes. I +remained with a small detachment at Hollinfare awaiting developments, +when suddenly we were informed that the enemy had thrown a pontoon +bridge over the Mersey at its confluence with the Bollin, and that a +great body of infantry, with machine guns, had left Lymm, where they had +been lying inactive, and were already crossing. There were not more than +one hundred of us, mostly men of the Loyal Lancashire from Preston and a +few of the Manchester Regiment; but at the word of command we dashed +down the road for nearly a mile, and then leaving it, doubled across the +fields to Rixton Old Hall, where we obtained cover. + +"The Russians had chosen the most advantageous spot they could find to +cross, for on the opposite bank there was a small thick wood, and in +this they remained quite concealed until they suddenly dashed out and +got across. Numbers had already reached our side and were deploying, +when our rifles spoke out sharply, and, judging from the manner in which +the enemy were exposed, our fire was quite unexpected. About thirty of +our men, kneeling behind a wall, kept up a vigorous fire, emptying their +magazines with excellent effect upon the grey-coats swarming over the +improvised bridge. + +"Still it was impossible to keep them back, for the force effecting a +passage was very much larger than we had anticipated. + +"A few minutes later, having ascertained the extent of the attack, our +signallers opened communication with Higher Irlam, and the information +was conveyed on to Barton, whence the heliograph flashed the news down +to Stretford. + +"Suddenly, however, in the midst of a shady clump of trees there was a +loud rattle and continuous flashing. The enemy had brought a +10-barrelled Nordenfelt into play, and it was raining bullets upon us at +the rate of a thousand a minute! + +"The wall behind which I was crouching was struck by a perfect hail of +lead, and there was a loud whistling about my ears that was particularly +disconcerting. Nevertheless our men had in their sudden dash for the +defence secured an excellent position, and only three were killed and +five wounded by this sudden outburst. + +"The struggle during the next few minutes was the most desperate I have +ever witnessed. At the moment of peril our men displayed magnificent +pluck. They seemed utterly unconcerned at their imminent danger, and lay +or crouched, firing independently with calm precision. A dozen or so +fell wounded, however, and a sergeant who knelt next to me, and who was +shooting through a hole in the wall, was shot through the heart, and +fell dead while in the act of making an observation to me. + +"The men who had attacked us were a fierce-looking set, mostly composed +of Tchuwakes and Mordwa from the central district of the Volga, and +renowned as among the best infantry that the Tsar can command. + +"Rifles bristled from every bit of cover around us, and it was really +marvellous that we scored such success. Indeed, it was only by reason of +the courageous conduct of every individual man that the successful stand +was made against such overwhelming numbers. We knew that if the enemy +forced the passage and annihilated us, they would then be enabled to +outflank our force, and get round to Eccles and Pendlebury--a disaster +which might result in the rapid investment of Manchester. Therefore we +fought on, determined to do our very utmost to stem the advancing tide +of destroyers. + +"Time after time our rifles rattled, and time after time the deadly +Nordenfelt sent its hail of bullets around us. Presently, however, we +heard increased firing on our right, and then welcome signals reached us +from Martinscroft Green. We greeted them with loud cheering, for a force +of our infantry and cavalry had returned along the road from Warrington, +and, working in extended order, were bearing down upon the foe. + +"We ceased firing in that direction, and ere long we had the +satisfaction of seeing the enemy's pontoon blown up, and then, with +their retreat cut off, they became demoralised, and were driven into the +open, where we picked them off so rapidly that scarcely one man of the +1500 who had set his foot upon the Lancashire bank survived. + +"From first to last our men fought magnificently. The whole engagement +was a brilliant and almost unequalled display of genuine British +bravery, and all I can hope is that the defenders of London will act +their part with equal courage when the decisive struggle comes." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE FATE OF THE VANQUISHED. + + +While this vigorous attack on the right flank was in progress, the enemy +made a sudden dash upon Stretford. + +The edge of the town itself--or rather suburb--lies but a short distance +from the Mersey, and the turnpike road runs straight away over the river +through Sale and Altrincham to Northwich. At the end of the town nearest +the river a road leading down from Barton joins the main road, and at +the junction is a large red-brick modern hotel, the Old Cock, while +adjoining is the Manchester Tramway Company's stable and terminus. At a +little distance behind lies a high embankment, which carries the railway +from Manchester to Liverpool, while the Mersey itself, though not wide, +has steep banks with earthworks thrown up to prevent floods. Hence the +force holding this position found ready-made defences which were now of +the utmost value. + +The defenders here included three batteries of Royal Artillery, one +battalion of the Manchester Regiment, the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the +same regiment, and one of the Lancashire Fusiliers, a field company of +Engineers, half the 14th (King's) Hussars with their machine gun +section, and a company of signallers. Trenches had been dug at various +points, and earthworks thrown up all along the line from Chorlton over +to Flixton. Across the junction of the two roads opposite the Old Cock a +great barricade had been constructed, and behind this was a powerful +battery that commanded the level country away towards Altrincham. The +bridges carrying the road and railway over the river had both been +demolished by engineers, and many other precautions had been taken to +prevent the enemy forcing a passage across. + +At last, with a swiftness that was surprising, the expected assault was +made. Its strength was terrific, and the carnage on both sides +appalling. + +The first dash across was effected by the Russians from the rifle range +near Old Hall, and this was rapidly followed by another from the bank +opposite the battery at Stretford, while further down a third attack was +made near Mersey House, close to Ashton. + +Of the three, the strongest, of course, was that upon Stretford. The +enemy had, by a good deal of neat manoeuvring, brought their main body +within the triangle bounded on the one side by the road from Cheadle to +Altrincham, on the second by the road from the latter place to the +river, and the third by the river itself. + +Pontoons were floated at many points, and while some cavalry forded the +river, infantry and artillery rapidly crossed in the face of a terrific +fire which was pouring upon them. + +Smokeless powder being used, the positions of the invaders were not +obscured, and it could be seen that the British were effecting terrible +execution. Hundreds of the foe who were in the act of crossing were +picked off, and shells falling upon the pontoons destroyed them. The +latter, however, were quickly replaced, and the force of the Tsar, by +reason of the overwhelming numbers that had hurled themselves upon +Stretford, succeeded, after a desperately-contested fight, in breaking +the line of defence between Chorlton-with-Hardy and Fallowfield, and +advancing by short rushes upon Manchester. + +But the British infantry in their trenches behaved splendidly, and made +the roads from Old Hall at Sale right along to Partington quite +untenable, so the continuous advance of the enemy cost them very dearly. + +Russian shells bursting in Stretford killed and injured large numbers +of the defenders. Two of them struck the Old Cock in rapid succession, +almost completely demolishing it, but the debris was quickly manned, and +rifles soon spoke from its ruined walls. Again, a shell exploding in the +large tram stables, set a hay store on fire, and this burned furiously, +while away in the centre of the town the Public Library and a number of +shops in the vicinity had also been ignited in a similar manner. + +At last the thousands of grey-coats swarming over the country fell in +such enormous numbers upon the British rifle pits on the Mersey bank, +that the first line of defence was at length utterly broken down; but in +doing this the enemy's front had become much exposed, whereupon the +Maxims on the railway embankment between the river and Barton suddenly +burst forth a perfect hail of bullets, and in a short time a whole +division of Russian infantry, cavalry, and artillery had been literally +swept out of existence. + +The batteries down in the Stretford Road, combined with those on the +embankment, had up to this moment played greater havoc with the foe than +any other. The men of the Manchester Regiment, both Regulars and +Volunteers, were displaying the greatest coolness; but unfortunately the +Lancashire Fusiliers and the Loyal North Lancashire, who had manned the +trenches, had been partially annihilated, the majority lying dead, their +bodies scattered over the level fields and roads. Yet, notwithstanding +the strenuous opposition of the British batteries at this point, the +Russians were bringing up huge reinforcements from Altrincham, Cheadle, +and Northenden, and by establishing strong batteries commanding +Stretford, they at last, about five o'clock, succeeded in killing nearly +half the gallant defenders, and driving back the survivors up the Barton +Road. + +The tide of grey-coats rushing onward, captured the British guns, and +although the batteries on the railway embankment still held out, and the +enemy suffered heavily from their Maxims, yet they pressed on into +Stretford town, and commenced to sack it. Messrs. Williams, Deacon's +Bank, was entered, the safes blown open, and large sums in gold and +notes abstracted, shops were entered and looted, and houses ransacked +for jewellery. + +Thus Stretford fell. + +Its streets ran with blood; and on, over the bodies of its brave +defenders, the hordes of the Great White Tsar marched towards +Manchester. + +Meanwhile the British batteries on the railway embankment had also +fallen into the hands of the Russians, who were now driving the +survivors over towards Barton. They did not, however, retreat without a +most desperate resistance. A row of thatched and white-washed cottages +at the bend of the road they held for a long time, emptying their +magazine rifles with deadly effect upon their pursuers, but at last they +were driven north, and half an hour later joined their comrades who had +massed at Barton, but who had been attacked in great force and fallen +back in good order to Pendleton. + +By this time the enemy, having pierced the line of outposts, had +occupied Barton and Eccles. At the former place they had set on fire a +number of factories, and out of mere desire to cause as much damage to +property as possible, they had blown up both the bridge that carried the +road over the Ship Canal, and also destroyed the magnificent swinging +aqueduct which carried the Bridgewater Canal over the other. + +This great triumph of engineering--one of the most successful feats of +the decade--was blown into the air by charges of gun-cotton, and now lay +across the Ship Canal a heap of fallen masonry and twisted iron +cantilevers, while the water from the Bridgewater Canal was pouring out +in thousands of tons, threatening to flood the surrounding district, and +the church opposite had been wrecked by the terrific force of the +explosion. + +A frightful panic had been caused in Manchester by these reverses. The +scenes in the streets were indescribable. At the barricades, however, +the enemy met with a desperate resistance. + +Three great columns were marching on Manchester at that moment. The +first, having broken the line of defence near Fallowfield, divided into +two divisions; one, advancing up the Wilmslow Road, stormed the great +barricade opposite Rusholme Hall, while the other appeared on the +Withington Road, and commenced to engage the defences that had been +thrown across Moss Lane and Chorlton Road. The second column advanced to +where Eccles Old Road joins Broad Street at Pendleton; and the third, +sweeping along up the Stretford Road, met with a terrific resistance at +the Botanic Gardens at Trafford, the walls of which, on either side of +the road, were loopholed and manned by infantry and artillery; while +opposite, the Blind Asylum was held by a regiment of infantry, and a +strong barricade, with a battery of 12-pounders, had been established a +little further towards the city, at the junction of the Chester and +Stretford New Roads. + +The enemy advanced here in enormous force; but, seeing the formidable +defences, a number of cavalry and infantry turned off along the Trafford +Road, blew up the bridge of the Ship Canal in order to prevent a +pursuing force of British cavalry from following, and after setting fire +to the great dock warehouses and crowd of idle ships, continued along to +Eccles New Road, where, however, they were met by another force of our +Hussars, and totally routed and cut up. + +From this point the tide of battle turned. It was already half-past +five, and the sun was sinking when the Russian forces prepared for their +final onslaught. Cossacks and Dragoons charged again and again, and +infantry with bayonets fixed rushed onward to the barricades in huge +grey legions, only to be met by a sweeping rain of British bullets, +which filled the roads with great heaps of dead. In these defences, +rendered doubly strong by the patriotic action of the stalwart civilians +of Manchester, the invaders could make no breach, and before every one +of them they fell in thousands. + +The men in the entrenchments saw the foe were falling back, and found +the attack growing weaker. Then signals were made, and they raised a +long hearty cheer when the truth was flashed to them. + +[Illustration: RUSSIANS ATTACKING THE BARRICADE IN STRETFORD ROAD, +MANCHESTER.] + +The news was inspiriting, and they fought on with redoubled energy, for +they knew that the great body of reserves from Ashton-under-Lyne, Hyde, +and Compstall, as well as those who had been occupying the hills on the +edge of the Peak, had been pushed right past Stretford to Barton, and +were now advancing like a huge fan, outflanking the Russians and +attacking them in their rear. + +The British tactics were excellent, for while the invaders were attacked +by cavalry and infantry on the one side, the defenders manning the +barricades made a sudden sortie, cutting their way into them with +bayonet rushes which they could not withstand, and which had a terribly +fatal effect. + +The Tsar's forces, unable to advance or retreat, and being thus +completely surrounded, still fought on, and as they refused to +surrender, were literally massacred by thousands by British troops, +while many guns and horses were captured, thousands of rounds of +ammunition seized, and many men taken prisoners. + +The fight in that evening hour was the most fiercely contested of any +during that day. The fate of Manchester was in the hands of our gallant +soldiers, who, although necessarily losing heavily before such an +enormous army, behaved with a courage that was magnificent, and which +was deserving the highest commendation that could be bestowed. + +As dusk gathered into darkness, the enemy were being forced back towards +the Mersey over the roads they had so recently travelled, but still +fighting, selling their lives dearly. The highways and fields were +strewn with their dead and dying, for while infantry fired into their +front from the cover of houses and walls, our cavalry, with whirling +sabres, fell upon them and hacked them to pieces. Neither Cossacks nor +Dragoons proved a match for our Hussars, Lancers, and Yeomanry, and even +in face of the machine guns which the Russians brought into play in an +endeavour to break the line and escape, our infantry dashed on with +grand and magnificent charges, quickly seizing the Nordenfelts, turning +their own guns against them, and letting loose a fire that mowed down +hundreds. + +Across the neighbouring country our forces swept in good attack +formation, and all along that great line, nearly six miles in length, +the slaughter of Russians was frightful. + +In the falling gloom fire flashed from the muzzles of rifles, cannon, +and machine guns, and far above the terrible din sounded shrill cries of +pain and hoarse shouts of despair as the great Army that had devastated +our beloved country with fire and sword was gradually annihilated. In +those roads in the south of the city the scenes of bloodshed were awful, +as a force of over 20,000 Russians were slaughtered because they would +not yield up their arms. + +Outside Stretford a last desperate stand was made, but ere long some +British cavalry came thundering along, and cut them down in a frightful +manner, while about the same time a Russian flying column was +annihilated over at Davy-Hulme; away at Carrington a retreating brigade +of infantry which had escaped over the river was suddenly pounced upon +by the defenders and slaughtered; and at Altrincham the enemy's +headquarters were occupied, and the staff taken prisoners. Ere the +Russian General could be forced to surrender, however, he placed a +revolver to his head, and in full view of a number of his officers, blew +his brains out. + +Then, when the moon shone out from behind a dark bank of cloud just +before midnight, she shed her pale light upon the wide battlefield on +both sides of the Mersey, whereon lay the bodies of no fewer than 30,000 +Russians and 12,000 British, while 40,000 Russians and 16,000 British +lay wounded, nearly 10,000 Russians having been disarmed and marched +into the centre of the city as prisoners. + +The victory had only been achieved at the eleventh hour by dint of great +courage and forethought, and being so swift and effectual it was +magnificent. + +Manchester was safe, and the public rejoicings throughout that night +were unbounded. + +The loss of life was too awful for reflection, for 12,000 of Britain's +heroes--men who had won the battle--were lying with their white lifeless +faces upturned to the twinkling stars. + + + + +_BOOK III_ + +_THE VICTORY_ + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A SHABBY WAYFARER. + + +In Sussex the situation was now most critical. The struggle between the +French invaders and the line of Volunteers defending London was long and +desperate, but our civilian soldiers were bearing their part bravely, +showing how Britons could fight, and day after day repelling the +repeated assaults with a vigour that at once proved their efficiency. + +Three days after the battle at Manchester had been fought and won, a man +with slouching gait and woeful countenance, attired in a cheap suit of +shabby grey, stood on the steps of the Granton Hotel, at Granton, and +with his hands thrust into his pockets gazed thoughtfully out over the +broad waters of the Firth of Forth, to where the Fifeshire hills loomed +dark upon the horizon. Slowly his keen eyes wandered away eastward to +the open sea, an extensive view of which he obtained from the flight of +steps whereon he stood, and then with a sigh of disappointment he +buttoned his coat, and, grasping his stick, descended, and walked at a +leisurely pace along the road through Newhaven to Leith. + +"To-night. To-night at sundown!" he muttered to himself, as he bent his +head to the wind. + +Involuntarily he placed his hand to his hip to reassure himself that a +letter he carried was still safe. + +"Bah!" he continued, "I declare I feel quite timid to-night. Everything +is so quiet here; the houses look deserted, and everybody seems to have +left the place. Surely they can have no suspicion, and--and if they had? +What does it matter?--eh, what?" + +Quickening his pace, he passed down the long, quaint street of Newhaven, +lined on each side by ancient fishermen's cottages, and then, crossing +the railway, passed under the wall of Leith Fort, whereon a couple of +sentries were pacing. Glancing up at the two artillerymen, with the +half-dozen obsolete guns behind them, and their background of +grass-grown mounds and buildings, the wayfarer smiled. He was thinking +how different would be the scene at this spot ere long. + +Leith Fort was a sort of fortified back-garden. The railway ran close to +the sea, parallel with which was the highway, and upon higher ground at +the back was a block of buildings, before which a few black old cannon +were placed in formidable array, and in such a position as to be fully +exposed to any destructive projectiles fired from the sea. + +On went the down-at-heel wayfarer, his shifty eyes ever on the alert, +viewing with suspicion the one or two persons he met. Apparently he was +expecting the arrival of some craft, for his gaze was constantly turned +towards the wide expanse of grey water, eager to detect the smallest +speck upon the horizon. Any one who regarded him critically might have +noticed something remarkable about his appearance, yet not even his most +intimate friends would have recognised in this broken-down, half-starved +clerk, who had arrived at Granton that morning, after tramping over from +Glasgow, the popular man-about-town, the Count von Beilstein! + +"Those fools will soon be swept away into eternity," he muttered to +himself, as he glanced back in the direction of the fort. "They will +have an opportunity of tasting Russian lead, and of practising with +their guns, which are only fit for a museum. They mount guard to defend +an attack! Bah! They seek their own destruction, for no force can +withstand that which will presently appear to give them a sudden +rousing. They will be elevated--blown into the air, together with their +miserable guns, their barracks, and the whole of their antiquated +paraphernalia. And to me the world owes this national catastrophe! I am +the looker-on. These British have a proverb that the looker-on sees most +of the game. _Bien! that is full of truth._" + +And he chuckled to himself, pursuing his way at the same pace, now and +then glancing back as if to assure himself that no one dogged his +footsteps. Darkness had crept on quickly as he passed along through the +open country at Fillyside and entered Portobello, the little +watering-place so popular with holiday makers from Edinburgh during the +summer. Along the deserted promenade he strolled leisurely from end to +end, and passing out of the town through Joppa, came at length to that +rugged shore between the Salt Pans and Eastfield. The tide was out, so, +leaving the road, he walked on in the darkness over the shingles until +he came to a small cove, and a moment later two men confronted him. + +A few sentences in Russian were rapidly exchanged between the spy and +the men, and then the latter at once guided him to where a boat lay in +readiness, but concealed. Five minutes later the Count was being rowed +swiftly but silently away into the darkness by six stalwart men +belonging to one of the Tsar's battleships. + +The oars dipped regularly as the boat glided onwards, but no word was +exchanged, until about twenty minutes later the men suddenly stopped +pulling, a rope thrown by a mysterious but vigilant hand whistled over +their heads and fell across them, and then they found themselves under +the dark side of a huge ironclad. It was the new battleship, _Admiral +Orlovski_, which had only just left the Baltic for the first time. +Without delay the spy climbed on board, and was conducted at once by a +young officer into the Admiral's private cabin. + +A bearded, middle-aged man, in handsome naval uniform, who was poring +over a chart, rose as he entered. The spy, bowing, said briefly in +Russian-- + +"I desire to see Prince Feodor Mazaroff, Admiral of the Fleet." + +"I am at your service, m'sieur," the other replied in French, motioning +him to a chair. + +The Count, seating himself, tossed his hat carelessly upon the table, +explaining that he had been sent by the Russian Intelligence Department +as bearer of certain important documents which would materially assist +him in his operations. + +"Yes," observed the Prince, "I received a telegram from the Ministry at +Petersburg before I left Christiansand, telling me to await you here, +and that you would furnish various information." + +"That I am ready to do as far as lies in my power," replied the Count, +taking from his hip pocket a bulky packet, sealed with three great daubs +of black wax. This he handed to the Prince, saying, "It contains maps of +the country between Edinburgh and Glasgow, specially prepared by our +Secret Service, together with a marked chart of the Firth of Forth, and +full detailed information regarding the troops remaining to defend this +district." + +The Admiral broke the seals, and glanced eagerly through the contents, +with evident satisfaction. + +"Now, what is the general condition of the south of Scotland?" the +Prince asked, lounging back, twirling his moustache with a +self-satisfied air. + +"Totally unprepared. It is not believed that any attack will be made. +The military left north of the Cheviots after mobilisation were sent +south to assist in the defence of Manchester." + +"Let us hope our expedition to-night will meet with success. We are now +one mile east of Craig Waugh, and in an hour our big guns will arouse +Leith from its lethargy. You will be able to watch the fun from deck, +and give us the benefit of your knowledge of the district. Is the fort +at Leith likely to offer any formidable resistance?" continued the +Admiral. "I see the information here is somewhat vague upon that +point." + +"The place is useless," replied the spy, as he stretched out his hand +and took a pencil and paper from the Prince's writing-table. "See! I +will sketch it for you. In the character of a starving workman who +desired to volunteer I called there, and succeeded in obtaining a good +view of the interior. They have a few modern guns, but the remainder are +old muzzleloaders, which against such guns as you have on board here +will be worse than useless." And as he spoke he rapidly sketched a plan +of the defences in a neat and accurate manner, acquired by long +practice. "The most serious resistance will, however, be offered from +Inchkeith Island, four miles off Leith. There has lately been +established there a new fort, containing guns of the latest type. A plan +of the place, which I succeeded in obtaining a few days ago, is, you +will find, pinned to the chart of the Firth of Forth." + +The Admiral opened out the document indicated, and closely examined the +little sketch plan appended. On the chart were a number of small squares +marked in scarlet, surrounded by a blue circle to distinguish them more +readily from the dots of red which pointed out the position of the +lights. These squares, prepared with the utmost care by von Beilstein, +showed the position of certain submarine mines, a plan of which he had +succeeded in obtaining by one of his marvellous master-strokes of +finesse. + +"Thanks to you, Count, our preparations are now complete," observed the +Prince, offering the spy a cigarette from his silver case, and taking +one himself. "Our transports, with three army corps, numbering nearly +60,000 men and 200 guns, are at the present moment lying 12 miles north +of the Bass Rock, awaiting orders to enter the Firth, therefore I think +when we land we shall"-- + +A ray of brilliant white light streamed for a moment through the port of +the cabin, and then disappeared. + +The Prince, jumping to his feet, looked out into the darkness, and saw +the long beam sweeping slowly round over the water, lighting up the +ships of his squadron in rapid succession. + +"The search-lights of Inchkeith!" he gasped, with an imprecation. "I had +no idea we were within their range, but now they have discovered us +there's no time to be lost. For the present I must leave you. You will, +of course, remain on board, and land with us"; and a moment later he +rushed on deck, and shouted an order which was promptly obeyed. + +Suddenly there was a low booming, and in another second a column of dark +water rose as the first shot ricochetted about five hundred yards from +their bows. Orders shouted in Russian echoed through the ship, numbers +of signals were exchanged rapidly with the other vessels, and the sea +suddenly became alive with torpedo boats. + +Time after time the British guns sounded like distant thunder, and shots +fell in the vicinity of the Russian ships. Suddenly, as soon as the men +were at their quarters, electric signals rang from the conning-tower of +the _Admiral Orlovski_, and one of her 56-tonners crashed and roared +from her turret, and a shot sped away towards where the light showed. +The noise immediately became deafening as the guns from nine other ships +thundered almost simultaneously, sending a perfect hail of shell upon +the island fort. In the darkness the scene was one of most intense +excitement. + +For the first time the spy found himself amidst the din of battle, and +perhaps for the first time in his life his nerves were somewhat shaken +as he stood in a convenient corner watching the working of one of the +great guns in the turret, which regularly ran out and added its voice to +the incessant thunder. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +LANDING OF THE ENEMY AT LEITH. + + +All the vessels were now under steam and approaching Inchkeith, when +suddenly two shells struck the _Admiral Orlovski_ amidships, carrying +away a portion of her superstructure. + +Several of the other vessels were also hit almost at the same moment, +and shortly afterwards a torpedo boat under the stern of the flagship +was struck by a shell, and sank with all hands. Time after time the +Russian vessels poured out their storm of shell upon the fort, now only +about a mile and a half distant; but the British fire still continued as +vigorous and more effective than at first. + +Again the flagship was struck, this time on the port quarter, but the +shot glanced off her armour into the sea; while a moment later another +shell struck one of her fighting tops, and, bursting, wrecked two of the +machine guns, and killed half a dozen unfortunate fellows who had manned +them. The debris fell heavily upon the deck, and the disaster, being +witnessed by the spy, caused him considerable anxiety for his own +safety. + +Even as he looked he suddenly noticed a brilliant flash from one of the +cruisers lying a little distance away. There was a terrific report, and +amid flame and smoke wreckage shot high into the air. An explosion had +occurred in the magazine, and it was apparent the ship was doomed! Other +disasters to the Russians followed in quick succession. A cruiser which +was lying near the Herwit light-buoy blazing away upon the fort, +suddenly rolled heavily and gradually heeled over, the water around her +being thrown into the air by an explosion beneath the surface. A contact +mine had been fired, and the bottom of the ship had been practically +blown out, for a few minutes later she went down with nearly every soul +on board. + +At the moment this disaster occurred, the _Admiral Orlovski_, still +discharging her heavy guns, was about half-way between the Briggs and +the Pallas Rock, when a search-light illuminated her from the land, and +a heavy fire was suddenly opened upon her from Leith Fort. + +This was at once replied to, and while five of the vessels kept up their +fire upon Inchkeith, the three others turned their attention towards +Leith, and commenced to bombard it with common shell. + +How effectual were their efforts the spy could at once see, for in the +course of a quarter of an hour, notwithstanding the defence offered by +Leith Fort and several batteries on Arthur's Seat, at Granton Point, +Wardie Bush, and at Seaside Meadows, near Portobello, fires were +breaking out in various quarters of the town, and factories and +buildings were now burning with increasing fury. The great paraffin +refinery had been set on fire, and the flames, leaping high into the +air, shed a lurid glare far away over the sea. + +Shells, striking the Corn Exchange, wrecked it, and one, flying away +over the fort, burst in the Leith Distillery, with the result that the +place was set on fire, and soon burned with almost equal fierceness with +the paraffin works. The shipping in the Edinburgh, Albert, and Victoria +Docks was ablaze, and the drill vessel H.M.S. _Durham_ had been +shattered and was burning. A great row of houses in Lindsay Road had +fallen prey to the flames, while among the other large buildings on fire +were the Baltic Hotel, the great goods station of the North British +Railway, and the National Bank of Scotland. + +In addition to being attacked from the forts on the island, and on land, +the Russians were now being vigorously fired upon by the British +Coastguard ship _Imperieuse_, which, with the cruiser _Active_, and the +gunboat cruisers _Cockchafer_, _Firm_, and _Watchful_, had now come +within range. Soon, however, the enemy were reinforced by several +powerful vessels, and in the fierce battle that ensued the British ships +were driven off. Then by reason of the reinforcements which the +Russians brought up, and the great number of transports which were now +arriving, the defence, desperate though it had been, alas! broke down, +and before midnight the invader set his foot upon Scottish soil. + +[Illustration: POSITIONS FOR THE DEFENCE OF EDINBURGH.] + +Ere the sun rose, a huge force of 60,000 men had commenced a march upon +Edinburgh and Glasgow! + +Events on shore during that never-to-be-forgotten night were well +described by Captain Tiller of the Royal Artillery, stationed at Leith +Fort, who, in a letter written to his young wife at Carlisle, on the +following day, gave the following narrative:-- + +"Disaster has fallen upon us. The Russians have landed in Scotland, and +the remnant of our force which was at Leith has fallen back inland. On +Friday, just after nightfall, we were first apprised of our danger by +hearing heavy firing from the sea in the direction of Inchkeith Fort, +and all civilians were sent on inland, while we prepared for the fight. + +"Very soon a number of ships were visible, some of them being evidently +transports, and as they were observed taking soundings, it was clear +that an immediate landing was intended. Fortunately it was a light +night, and while two Volunteer field batteries were sent out along the +coast west to Cramond and east to Fisherrow, we completed our +arrangements in the fort. With such antiquated weapons as were at our +disposal defeat was a foregone conclusion, and we knew that to annoy the +enemy and delay their landing would be the extent of our resistance. +Some of our guns were, of course, of comparatively recent date, and our +supply of ammunition was fair, but the Volunteer guns were antiquated +40-pounder muzzleloaders, which ought to have been withdrawn years ago, +and the gunners had had very little field training. The arrangements for +horsing the guns were also very inefficient, and they had no waggons or +transport. Most of our forces having been drawn south, the only infantry +available was a battalion and a half--really a provisional battalion, +for it was composed of portions of two Volunteer rifle regiments, with a +detachment of Regulars. Our Regular artillery detachment was, +unfortunately, very inadequate, for although the armament of the fort +had been recently strengthened, the force had been weakened just before +the outbreak of war by the despatch of an Indian draft. + +"It was apparent that the enemy would not attempt to destroy our +position, but land and carry it by assault; therefore, while the +Inchkeith guns kept them at bay, we undermined our fort, opened our +magazines, and got ready for a little target practice. + +"The Volunteer batteries sent eastward had been ordered to do what +execution they could, and then, in the case of a reverse, to retire +through Portobello and Duddingston to Edinburgh, and those on the west +were to go inland to Ratho; while we were resolved to hold the fort as +long as possible, and if at last we were compelled to retire we intended +to blow up the place before leaving. + +"As soon as we found the Russian flagship within range, we opened fire +upon her, and this action caused a perfect storm of projectiles to be +directed upon us. The town was soon in flames, the shipping in the +harbour sank, and the martello tower was blown to pieces. Our +search-light was very soon brought into requisition, and by its aid some +of the boats of the enemy's transports were sunk, while others came to +grief on the Black Rocks. + +"By this time the enemy had turned their search-lights in every +direction where they could see firing, and very soon our Volunteer +batteries were silenced, and then Granton harbour fell into the hands of +the enemy's landing parties. Having first rendered their guns useless, +the survivors fell back to Corstorphine Hill, outside Edinburgh, and we +soon afterwards received intelligence that the Russians were landing at +Granton in thousands. Meanwhile, although our garrison was so weak and +inexperienced, we nevertheless kept up a vigorous fire. + +"We saw how Inchkeith Fort had been silenced, and how our Volunteer +batteries had been destroyed, and knew that sooner or later we must +share the same fate, and abandon our position. As boatload after +boatload of Russians attempted to land, we either sank them by shots +from our guns or swept them with a salvo of bullets from our Maxims; yet +as soon as we had hurled back one landing party others took its place. + +"Many were the heroic deeds our gunners performed that night, as hand to +hand they fought, and annihilated the Russians who succeeded in landing; +but in this frightful struggle we lost heavily, and at length, when all +hope of an effective defence had been abandoned, we placed electric +wires in the magazine, and the order was given to retire. This we did, +leaving our search-light in position in order to deceive the enemy. + +"Half our number had been killed, and we sped across to Bonnington, +running out a wire along the ground as we went. The Russians, now +landing rapidly in great force, swarmed into the fort and captured the +guns and ammunition, while a party of infantry pursued us. But we kept +them back for fully a quarter of an hour, until we knew that the fort +would be well garrisoned by the invaders; then we sent a current through +the wire. + +"The explosion that ensued was deafening, and its effect appalling. +Never have I witnessed a more awful sight. Hundreds of tons of all sorts +of explosives and ammunition were fired simultaneously by the electric +spark, and the whole fort, with nearly six hundred of the enemy, who +were busy establishing their headquarters, were in an instant blown into +the air. For several moments the space around us where we stood seemed +filled with flying debris, and the mangled remains of those who a second +before had been elated beyond measure by their success. + +"Those were terribly exciting moments, and for a few seconds there was a +cessation of the firing. Quickly, however, the bombardment was resumed, +and although we totally annihilated the force pursuing us, we fell back +to Restalrig, and at length gained the battery that had been established +on Arthur's Seat, and which was now keeping up a heavy fire upon the +Russian transports lying out in the Narrow Deep. Subsequently we went on +to Dalkeith. Our situation is most critical in every respect, but we are +expecting reinforcements, and a terrible battle is imminent." + + * * * * * + +Thus the Russians landed three corps of 20,000 each where they were +least expected, and at once prepared to invest Edinburgh and Glasgow. +Three of the boats which came ashore at Leith that night, after the +blowing up of the fort, brought several large mysterious-looking black +boxes, which were handled with infinite care by the specially selected +detachment of men who had been told off to take charge of them. Upon the +locks were the official seals of the Russian War Office; and even the +men themselves, unaware of their contents, looked upon them with a +certain amount of suspicion, handling them very gingerly, and placing +them in waggons which they seized from a builder's yard on the outskirts +of the town. + +The officers alone knew the character of these mysterious consignments, +and as they superintended the landing, whispered together excitedly. The +news of the invasion, already telegraphed throughout Scotland from end +to end, caused the utmost alarm; but had the people known what those +black boxes, the secret of which was so carefully guarded, contained, +they would have been dismayed and appalled. + +Truth to tell, the Russians were about to try a method of wholesale and +awful destruction, which, although vaguely suggested in time of peace, +had never yet been tested in the field. + +If successful, they knew it would cause death and desolation over an +inconceivably wide area, and prove at once a most extraordinary and +startling development of modern warfare. The faces of a whole army, +however brave, would blanch before its terrific power, and war in every +branch, on land and on sea, would become revolutionised. + +But the boxes remained locked and guarded. The secret was to be kept +until the morrow, when the first trial was ordered to be made, and the +officers in charge expressed an opinion between themselves that a blow +would then be struck that would at once startle and terrify the whole +world. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +ATTACK ON EDINBURGH. + + +In attacking Edinburgh the besiegers at once discovered they had a much +more difficult task than they had anticipated. The Russian onslaught had +been carefully planned. Landing just before dawn, the 1st Corps, +consisting of about twenty thousand men, marched direct to Glasgow by +way of South Queensferry and Kirkliston, and through Linlithgow, sacking +and burning all three towns in the advance. + +The 3rd Army Corps succeeded, after some very sharp skirmishing, in +occupying the Pentland Hills, in order to protect the flanks of the +first force, while a strong detachment was left behind to guard the base +at Leith. The 2nd Corps meanwhile marched direct upon Edinburgh. + +The defenders, consisting of Militia, Infantry, Artillery, the local +Volunteers left behind during the mobilisation, and a large number of +civilians from the neighbouring towns, who had hastily armed on hearing +the alarming news, were quickly massed in three divisions on the +Lammermuir Hills, along the hills near Peebles, and on Tinto Hill, near +Lanark. + +The Russian army corps which marched from Leith upon Edinburgh about +seven o'clock on the following morning met with a most desperate +resistance. On Arthur's Seat a strong battery had been established by +the City of Edinburgh Artillery, under Col. J. F. Mackay, and the 1st +Berwickshire, under Col. A. Johnston; and on the higher parts of the +Queen's Drive, overlooking the crooked little village of Duddingston, +guns of the 1st Forfarshire, under Col. Stewart-Sandeman, V.D., flashed +and shed forth torrents of bullets and shell, which played havoc with +the enemy's infantry coming up the Portobello and Musselburgh roads. +Batteries on the Braid and Blackford Hills commanded the southern +portion of the city; while to the west, the battery on Corstorphine Hill +prevented the enemy from pushing along up the high road from Granton. + +Between Jock's Lodge and Duddingston Mills the Russians, finding cover, +commenced a sharp attack about nine o'clock; but discovering, after an +hour's hard fighting, that to attempt to carry the defenders' position +was futile, they made a sudden retreat towards Niddry House. + +The British commander, observing this, and suspecting their intention to +make a circuit and enter the city by way of Newington, immediately set +his field telegraph to work, and sent news on to the infantry brigade at +Blackford. + +This consisted mainly of the Queen's Volunteer Rifle Brigade (Royal +Scots), under Col. T. W. Jones, V.D.; the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th +Volunteer Battalions of the Royal Scots, under Col. W. U. Martin, V.D., +Col. W. I. Macadam, Col. Sir G. D. Clerk, Col. P. Dods, and Col. G. F. +Melville respectively, with a company of engineers. The intelligence +they received placed them on the alert, and ere long the enemy extended +his flank in an endeavour to enter Newington. The bridges already +prepared for demolition by the defenders were now promptly blown up, and +in the sharp fight that ensued the enemy were repulsed with heavy loss. + +Meanwhile the formidable division of the 3rd Russian Army Corps guarding +the base at Leith had attacked the Corstorphine position, finding their +headquarters untenable under its fire, and although losing several guns +and a large number of men, they succeeded, after about an hour's hard +fighting, in storming the hill and sweeping away the small but gallant +band of defenders. + +The fight was long. It was a struggle to the death. Over the whole +historic battle-ground from the Tweed to the Forth, fighting spread, and +everywhere the loss of life was terrible. + +The long autumn day passed slowly, yet hostilities continued as vigorous +and sanguinary as they had begun. Before the sun sank many a brave +Briton lay dead or dying, but many more Muscovites had been sent to that +bourne whence none return. + +As it was, the British line of communications was broken between Temple +and Eddleston, the outposts at the latter place having been surprised +and slaughtered. But although the enemy strove hard to break down the +lines of defence and invest Edinburgh, yet time after time they were +hurled back with fearful loss. Colinton and Liberton were sacked and +burned by the Tsar's forces. On every hand the Russians spread death and +destruction; still the defenders held their own, and when the fighting +ceased after nightfall Edinburgh was still safe. Strong barricades +manned by civilians had been hastily thrown up near the station in Leith +Walk, in London Road opposite the Abbey Church, in Inverleith Row, in +Clerk Street and Montague Street, while all the bridges over the Water +of Leith had been blown up with gun-cotton; quick-firing guns had been +posted on Calton Hill and at the Castle, while in St. Andrew's Square a +battery had been established by the 1st Haddington Volunteer Artillery, +under Major J. J. Kelly, who had arrived in haste from Dunbar, and this +excellent position commanded a wide stretch of country away towards +Granton. + +At dead of night, under the calm, bright stars, a strange scene might +have been witnessed. In the deep shadow cast by the wall of an old and +tumble-down barn near the cross-roads at Niddry, about three miles from +Edinburgh, two Russian infantry officers were in earnest conversation. +They stood leaning upon a broken fence, talking in a half-whisper in +French, so that the half-dozen privates might not understand what they +said. The six men were busy unpacking several strange black cases, +handling the contents with infinite care. Apparently three of the boxes +contained a quantity of fine silk, carefully folded, while another +contained a number of square, dark-looking packages, which, when taken +out, were packed in order upon a strong net which was first spread upon +the grass. Ropes were strewn over the ground in various directions, the +silk was unfolded, and presently, when all the contents had been +minutely inspected by the two officers with lanterns, a small tube was +taken from a box that had remained undisturbed, and fastened into an +object shaped like a bellows. + +Then, when all preparations were satisfactorily completed, the six men +threw themselves upon the grass to snatch an hour's repose, while the +officers returned to their previous positions, leaning against the +broken fence, and gravely discussing their proposals for the morrow's +gigantic sensation. The elder of the two was explaining to his companion +the nature of the _coup_ which they intended to deliver, and the mode in +which it would be made. So engrossed were they in the contemplation of +the appalling results that would accrue, they did not observe that they +were standing beneath a small square hole in the wall of the barn; +neither did they notice that from this aperture a dark head protruded +for a second and then quick as lightning withdrew. It was only like a +shadow, and disappeared instantly! + +Ten minutes later a mysterious figure was creeping cautiously along +under the hedge of the high road to Newington in the direction of the +British lines. Crawling along the grass, and pausing now and then with +his ear to the ground, listening, he advanced by short, silent stages, +exercising the greatest caution, well aware that death would be his fate +should he be discovered. In wading the Braid Burn he almost betrayed +himself to a Russian sentry; but at last, after travelling for over an +hour, risking discovery at any moment, he at length passed the British +outposts beyond Liberton, and ascended the Braid Hills to the +headquarters. + +The story he told the General commanding was at first looked upon as +ludicrous. In the dim candlelight in the General's tent he certainly +looked a disreputable derelict, his old and tattered clothes wet +through, his hands cut by stones and bleeding, and his face half covered +with mud. The three officers who were with the General laughed when he +dashed in excitedly, and related the conversation he had overheard; yet +when he subsequently went on to describe in detail what he had +witnessed, and when they remembered that this tramp was an artilleryman +who had long ago been conspicuous by his bravery at El Teb, and an +ingenious inventor, their expression of amusement gave way to one of +alarm. + +The General, who had been writing, thoughtfully tapped the little camp +table before him with his pen. "So they intend to destroy us and wreck +the city by that means, now that their legitimate tactics have failed! I +can scarcely credit that such is their intention; yet if they should be +successful--if"-- + +"But they will not be successful, sir. If you will send some one to +assist me, and allow me to act as I think fit, I will frustrate their +dastardly design, and the city shall be saved." + +"You are at liberty to act as you please. You know their plans, and I +have perfect confidence in you, Mackenzie," replied the officer. "Do +not, however, mention a word of the enemy's intention to any one. It +would terrify the men; and although I do not doubt their bravery, yet +the knowledge of such a horrible fate hanging over them must necessarily +increase their anxiety, and thus prevent them from doing their best. We +are weak, but remember we are all Britons. Now come," he added, "sit +there, upon that box, and explain at once what is your scheme of defence +against this extraordinary attack." + +And the fearless man to whom the General had entrusted the defence of +Edinburgh obeyed, and commenced to explain what means he intended to +take--a desperate but well-devised plan, which drew forth words of the +highest commendation from the commanding officer and those with him. +They knew that the fate of Edinburgh hung in the balance, and that if +the city were taken it would be the first step towards their downfall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +"THE DEMON OF WAR." + + +Two hours later, just before the break of day, British bugles sounded, +and the camp on the Braid Hills was immediately astir. That the enemy +were about to test the efficiency of a new gigantic engine of war was +unknown except to the officers and the brave man who had risked his life +in order to obtain the secret of the foeman's plans. + +To him the British General was trusting, and as with knit brows and +anxious face the grey-haired officer stood at the door of his tent +gazing across the burn to Blackford Hill, he was wondering whether he +had yet obtained his coign of vantage. From the case slung round his +shoulder he drew his field glasses and turned them upon a clump of trees +near the top of the hill, straining his eyes to discover any movement. + +On the crest of the hill two Volunteer artillery batteries were actively +preparing for the coming fray, but as yet it was too dark to discern +anything among the distant clump of trees; so, replacing his glasses, +the commanding officer re-entered his tent and bent for a long time over +the Ordnance Map under the glimmering, uncertain light of a guttering +candle. + +Meanwhile the Russians were busily completing their arrangements for +striking an appalling blow. + +Concealed by a line of trees and a number of farm buildings, the little +section of the enemy had worked indefatigably for the past two hours, +and now in the grey dawn the contents of the mysterious boxes, a long +dark monster, lay upon the grass, moving restlessly, trying to free +itself from its trammels. + +It was a huge and curiously-shaped air-ship, and was to be used for +dropping great charges of melinite and steel bombs filled with picric +acid into the handsome historic city of Edinburgh! Some of the shells +were filled with sulphurous acid, carbon dioxide, and other deadly +compounds, the intent being to cause suffocation over wide areas by the +volatilisation of liquid gases! + +This controllable electric balloon, a perfection of M. Gaston +Tissandier's invention a few years before, was, as it lay upon the +grass, nearly inflated and ready to ascend, elongated in form, and +filled with hydrogen. + +It was about 140 feet long, 63 feet in diameter through the middle, and +the envelope was of fine cloth coated with an impermeable varnish. On +either side were horizontal shafts of flexible walnut laths, fastened +with silk belts along the centre, and over the balloon a netting of +ribbons was placed, and to this the car was connected. On each of the +four sides was a screw propeller 12 feet in diameter, driven by +bichromate of potassium batteries and a dynamo-electric motor. The +propellers were so arranged that the balloon could keep head to a +hurricane, and when proceeding with the wind would deviate immediately +from its course by the mere pulling of a lever by the aeronaut. + +Carefully packed in the car were large numbers of the most powerful +infernal machines, ingeniously designed to effect the most awful +destruction if hurled into a thickly-populated centre. Piled in the +smallest possible compass were square steel boxes, some filled with +melinite, dynamite, and an explosive strongly resembling cordite, only +possessing twice its strength, each with fulminating compounds, while +others contained picric acid fitted with glass detonating tubes. Indeed, +this gigantic engine, which might totally wreck a city and kill every +inhabitant in half an hour while at an altitude of 61/2 miles, had rightly +been named by the Pole who had perfected Tissandier's invention--"The +Demon of War." + +While the two officers of the Russian balloon section, both experienced +aeronauts, were finally examining minutely every rope, ascertaining that +all was ready for the ascent, away on Blackford Hill one man, pale and +determined, with coat and vest thrown aside, was preparing a +counterblast to the forthcoming attack. Under cover of the clump of +trees, but with its muzzle pointing towards Bridgend, a long, thin gun +of an altogether strange type had been brought into position. It was +about four times the size of a Maxim, which it resembled somewhat in +shape, only the barrel was much longer, the store of ammunition being +contained in a large steel receptacle at the side, wherein also was some +marvellously-contrived mechanism. The six gunners who were assisting +Mackenzie at length completed their work, and the gun having been +carefully examined by the gallant man in charge and two of the officers +who had been in the tent with the General during the midnight +consultation, Mackenzie, with a glance in the yet hazy distance where +the enemy had bivouaced, pulled over a small lever, which immediately +started a dynamo. + +"In three minutes we shall be ready for action," he said, glancing at +his watch; and then, turning a small wheel which raised the muzzle of +the gun so as to point it at a higher angle in the direction of the sky, +he waited until the space of time he had mentioned had elapsed. + +The officers stood aside conversing in an undertone. This man Mackenzie +had invented this strange-looking weapon, and only one had been made. It +had some months before been submitted to the War Office, but they had +declined to take it up, believing that a patent they already possessed +was superior to it; yet Mackenzie had nevertheless thrown his whole soul +into his work, and meant now to show his superiors its penetrative +powers, and put its capabilities to practical test. Again he glanced at +his watch, and quickly pulled back another lever, which caused the motor +to revolve at twice the speed, and the gun to emit a low hissing sound, +like escaping steam. Then he stepped back to the officers, saying-- + +"I am now prepared. It will go up as straight and quickly as a rocket, +but we must catch it before it ascends two miles, for the clouds hang +low, and we may lose it more quickly than we imagine." + +The gunners stood in readiness, and the two officers looked away over +Craigmillar towards the grey distant sea. Dawn was spreading now, and +the haze was gradually clearing. They all knew the attempt would be made +ere long, before it grew much lighter, so they stood at their posts in +readiness, Mackenzie with his hand upon the lever which would regulate +the discharge. + +They were moments of breathless expectancy. Minute after minute went by, +but not a word was spoken, for every eye was turned upon the crest of a +certain ridge nearly three miles away, at a point where the country was +well wooded. + +A quarter of an hour had thus elapsed, when Mackenzie suddenly shouted, +"Look, lads! _There she goes!_ Now, let's teach 'em what Scots can do." + +As he spoke there rose from behind the ridge a great dark mass, looking +almost spectral in the thin morning mist. For a moment it seemed to +poise and swing as if uncertain in its flight, then quickly it shot +straight up towards the sky. + +"Ready?" shouted Mackenzie, his momentary excitement having given place +to great coolness. The men at their posts all answered in the +affirmative. Mackenzie bent and waited for a few seconds sighting the +gun, while the motor hummed with terrific speed. Then shouting "Fire!" +he drew back the lever. + +The gun discharged, but there was no report, only a sharp hiss as the +compressed air released commenced to send charge after charge of +dynamite automatically away into space in rapid succession! + +None dared to breathe. The excitement was intense. They watched the +effect upon the Russian balloon, but to their dismay saw it still +rapidly ascending and unharmed! + +It had altered its course, and instead of drifting away seaward was now +travelling towards Duddingston, and making straight for Edinburgh, +passing above the Russian camp. + +"Missed! _missed!_" Mackenzie shrieked, turning back the lever and +arresting the discharge. "It's four miles off now, and we can carry +seven and three-quarters to hit a fixed object. Remember, lads, the fate +of Auld Reekie is now in your hands! Ready?" + +Again he bent and sighted the gun, raising the muzzle higher than the +balloon so as to catch it on the ascent. The motor hummed louder and +louder, the escaping air hissed and turned into liquid by the enormous +pressure, then with a glance at the gauge he yelled "Fire!" and pulled +back the lever. + +Dynamite shells, ejected at the rate of 50 a minute, rushed from the +muzzle, and sped away. + +But the Demon of War, with its whirling propellers, continued on its +swift, silent mission of destruction. + +"Missed again!" cried one of the men, in despair. "See! it's gone! +We've--good heavens!--_why, we've lost it--lost it!_" + +Mackenzie, who had been glancing that moment at the gauges, gazed +eagerly up, and staggered back as if he had received a blow. "It's +disappeared!" he gasped. "_They've outwitted us, the brutes, and nothing +now can save Edinburgh from destruction!_" + +Officers and men stood aghast, with blanched faces, scarce knowing how +to act. The destructive forces in that controllable balloon were more +than sufficient to lay the whole of Edinburgh in ruins; and then, no +doubt, the enemy would attempt by the same means to destroy the British +batteries on the neighbouring hills. Already, along the valleys fighting +had begun, for rapid firing could be heard in the direction of +Gilmerton, and now and then the British guns on the Braid Hills behind +spoke out sharply to the Russians who had occupied Loanhead, and the +distant booming of cannon could be heard incessantly from Corstorphine. + +Suddenly a loud, exultant cry from Mackenzie caused his companions to +strain their eyes away to Duddingston, and there they saw high in the +air the monster aerial machine gradually looming through the mist, a +vague and shadowy outline. It had passed through a bank of cloud, and +was gradually reappearing. + +"Quick! There's not a moment to lose!" shrieked Mackenzie, springing to +the lever with redoubled enthusiasm, an example followed by the others. + +The motor revolved so rapidly that it roared, the gauges ran high, the +escaping air hissed so loudly that Mackenzie was compelled to shout at +the top of his voice "Ready?" as for a third time he took careful aim at +the misty object now six miles distant. + +The War Demon was still over the Russian camp, and in a few moments, +travelling at that high rate of speed, it would pass over Arthur's Seat, +and be enabled to drop its deadly compounds in Princes Street. But +Mackenzie set his teeth, and muttered something under his breath. + +"_Now!_" he ejaculated, as he suddenly pulled the lever, and for the +last time sent forth the automatic shower of destructive shells. + +A second later there was a bright flash from above as if the sun itself +had burst, and then came a most terrific explosion, which caused the +earth to tremble where they stood. The clouds were rent asunder by the +frightful detonation, and down upon the Russian camp the debris of their +ingenious invention fell in a terrible death-dealing shower. The +annihilation of the dastardly plot to wreck the city was complete. Small +dynamite shells from Mackenzie's pneumatic gun had struck the car of the +balloon, and by the firing of half a ton of explosives the enemy was in +an instant hoist with his own petard. + +As the debris fell within the Russian lines, some fifty or sixty +picric-acid bombs--awful engines of destruction--which had not been +exploded in mid-air, crashed into the Muscovite ranks, and, bursting, +killed and wounded hundreds of infantrymen and half a regiment of +Cossacks. One, bursting in the enemy's headquarters, seriously injured +several members of the staff; while another, falling among the +Engineers' transport, exploded a great quantity of gun-cotton, which in +its turn killed a number of men and horses. + +The disaster was awful in its suddenness, appalling in its completeness. +The aeronauts, totally unprepared for such an attack, had been blown to +atoms just when within an ace of success. + +Fortune had favoured Britain, and, thanks to Mackenzie's vigilance and +his pneumatic dynamite gun, which the Government had rejected as a +worthless weapon, the grey old city of Edinburgh was still safe. + +But both Russians and Britons had now mustered their forces, and this, +the first note sounded of a second terrific and desperately-fought +battle, portended success for Britain's gallant army. + +Yet notwithstanding the disaster the enemy sustained by the blowing up +of their balloon, their 2nd Army Corps, together with the portion of the +3rd Army Corps operating from their base at Leith, succeeded, after +terribly hard fighting and heavy losses, in at length forcing back the +defenders from the Braid and Blackford Hills, and the Corstorphine +position having already been occupied, they were then enabled to invest +Edinburgh. That evening fierce sanguinary fights took place in the +streets, for the people held the barricades until the last moment, and +the batteries on Calton Hill, in St. Andrew's Square, and at the Castle +effected terrible execution in conjunction with those on Arthur's Seat. +Still the enemy by their overwhelming numbers gradually broke down these +defences, and, after appalling slaughter on both sides, occupied the +city. The fighting was fiercest along Princes Street, Lothian Road, and +in the neighbourhood of Scotland Street Station, while along Cumberland +and Great King Streets the enemy were swept away in hundreds by British +Maxims brought to bear from Drummond Place. Along Canongate from +Holyrood to Moray House, and in Lauriston Place and the Grassmarket, +hand-to-hand struggles took place between the patriotic civilians and +the foe. From behind their barricades men of Edinburgh fought valiantly, +and everywhere inflicted heavy loss; still the enemy, pressing onward, +set fire to a number of public buildings, including the Register Office, +the Royal Exchange, the University, the Liberal and New Clubs, and +Palace Hotel, with many other buildings in Princes Street. The fires, +which broke out rapidly in succession, were caused for the purpose of +producing a panic, and in this the enemy were successful, for the city +was quickly looted, and the scenes of ruin, death, and desolation that +occurred in its streets that night were awful. + +[Illustration: "IN EDINBURGH THE FIGHTING WAS FIERCEST ALONG PRINCES +STREET."] + +In every quarter the homes of loyal Scotsmen were entered by the +ruthless invader, who wrecked the cherished household gods, and carried +away all the valuables that were portable. Outrage and murder were rife +everywhere, and no quarter was shown the weak or unprotected. Through +the streets the invader rushed with sword and firebrand, causing +destruction, suffering, and death. + +The defenders, though straining every nerve to stem the advancing tide, +had, alas! been unsuccessful, and ere midnight Edinburgh, one of the +proudest and most historic cities in the world, had fallen, and the +British standard floating over the Castle was, alas! replaced by the +Eagle of the Russian Autocrat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER OUTSIDE GLASGOW. + + +It was a sad misfortune, a national calamity; yet our troops did not +lose heart. Commanded as they were by Britons, astute, loyal, and +fearless, they, after fighting hard, fell back from Edinburgh in order, +and husbanded their force for the morrow. + +Indeed, soon after dawn the Russians found themselves severely attacked. +Exultant over their success, they had, while sacking Edinburgh, left +their base at Leith very inadequately protected, with the result that +the defenders, swooping suddenly down upon the town, succeeded, with the +assistance of four coast-defence ships and a number of torpedo boats, in +blowing up most of the Russian transports, and seizing their ammunition +and provisions. + +Such an attack was, of course, very vigorously defended, but it was a +smart manoeuvre on the part of the British General, and enabled him, +after cutting off the enemy's line of retreat, to turn suddenly and +attack the Russians who were continuing their destructive campaign +through the streets of Edinburgh. This bold move on the part of the +defenders was totally unexpected by the foe, which accounted for the +frightful loss of life that was sustained on the Russian side, and the +subsequent clever tactics which resulted in the driving out of the +invaders from Edinburgh, and British troops reoccupying that city. + +[Illustration: MAP OF THE BATTLEFIELD OUTSIDE GLASGOW.] + +Meanwhile the 1st Russian Army Corps, which on landing had at once set +out towards Glasgow, had marched on in a great extended line, sacking +the various towns through which they passed. As they advanced from +Linlithgow, Airdrie, and Coatbridge were looted and burned, while +further south, Motherwell, Hamilton, and Bothwell shared the same fate. +About 20,000 men, together with 11,000 who had been forced to evacuate +Edinburgh, had at length advanced a little beyond Coatbridge, and, in +preparation for a vigorous siege of Glasgow, halted within seven miles +of the city, with flanks extended away south to Motherwell and on to +Wishaw, and north as far as Chryston and Kirkintilloch. + +In Glasgow the excitement was intense, and surging crowds filled the +streets night and day. The fall of Edinburgh had produced the greatest +sensation, and the meagre news of the disaster telegraphed had scarcely +been supplemented when the report of the retaking of "Auld Reekie" came +to hand, causing great rejoicing. Nevertheless, it was known that over +thirty thousand trained soldiers were on their way to the banks of the +Clyde, and Glasgow was fevered and turbulent. The scanty business that +had lately been done was now at a standstill, and the meagre supplies +that reached there from America not being half sufficient for the +enormous population, the city was already starving. But, as in other +towns, great barricades had been thrown up, and those in Gallowgate and +Duke Street, thoroughfares by which Glasgow might be entered by way of +Parkhead and Dennistoun, were soon manned by loyal and patriotic bands +of civilians. Other barriers were constructed at St. Rollox Station, in +Canning Street, in Monteith Row, and in Great Western, Dumbarton, and +Govan Roads. + +South of the river, Eglinton Street and the roads at Crosshill were +barricaded, and in New City and Garscube Roads in the north there were +also strong defences. All were held by enthusiastic bodies of men who +had hastily armed themselves, confident in the belief that our +Volunteers and the small body of Regulars would not allow the invader to +march in force upon their city without a most determined resistance. + +Now, however, the alarming news reached Glasgow that the enemy had +actually sacked and burned Coatbridge. In an hour they could commence +looting the shops in Gallowgate, and their heavy tramp would be heard on +the granite of Trongate and Argyle Street! Throughout the city the +feeling of insecurity increased, and hourly the panic assumed greater +proportions. + +The sun that day was obscured by dark thunder-clouds, the swirling +Clyde flowed on black beneath its many bridges, and the outlook was +everywhere gloomy and ominous. + +Still, away on the hills to southward, our small force of soldiers and +Volunteers had narrowly watched the onward tide of destroyers, and +carefully laid their plans. The manner in which the defensive operations +were conducted is perhaps best related in a letter written by Captain +Boyd Drummond of the 1st Battalion Princess Louise's (Argyll and +Sutherland) Highlanders, to a friend in London, and which was published +with the accompanying sketch in the _Daily Graphic_. + +He wrote as follows:--"On the second day after the Russians had landed, +Colonel Cumberland of 'Ours' received orders to move us from Lanark, and +reconnoitre as far as possible along the Carluke road, with a view to +taking up a position to cover the advance of the division, which had +during the morning been considerably reinforced by nearly half the +centre division from Peebles. In addition to our battalion with two +machine guns, Colonel Cumberland was in command of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, +and 4th Volunteer Battalions from Greenock, Paisley, Pollokshaws, and +Stirling respectively, the 1st Dumbarton from Helensburgh, the Highland +Borderers, and the Renfrew Militia, together with a section of field +artillery, a field company of Royal Engineers, and about forty cavalry +and cyclists. Arriving at Carluke early in the afternoon, we awaited the +return of scouts, who had been pushed on in advance to beyond Wishaw, in +the direction of the enemy. They having reported that the Russians had +withdrawn from Wishaw, we at once moved on to Law Junction, about a mile +from that town, and finally took up a position for the night near +Waterloo, commanding Wishaw and Overtown. + +"Beyond the junction, towards Glasgow, the railway, which the enemy +evidently did not intend to use, had been destroyed, but scouts from +Morningside reported that the line to Edinburgh had not been cut, and +that the permanent way remained uninjured. Colonel Cumberland therefore +told off the right half battalion, with a machine gun, a section of +Engineers, and six cyclists, to take up a position near the road between +Newmains and Morningside, with instructions to form piquets and patrol +the roads north and east. I was with No. 1 Company, but, being senior +captain present, the chief gave me command of this detachment. It was +the first time such a responsibility had been conferred upon me; +therefore I was determined not to be caught napping. + +"As soon as we arrived at our ground, I sent two cyclists out to +Newmains and two to Morningside, with orders to glean what information +they could, and to wait in the villages until further orders, unless +they sighted the enemy's outposts, or discovered anything important. As +soon as I had sent out my piquets, I took my own company and six of the +Engineers down to Morningside. Some of the villagers, who had escaped +when a portion of the invaders passed through on the previous night, had +returned, and the cyclists gathered from them that we were close upon +the heels of the Russian rearguard. + +"As the railway had not been destroyed, I thought that possibly the +invaders intended to use the line _via_ Mid-Calder, and therefore +examined the station closely. While engaged in this, one of the +Engineers suddenly discovered a wire very carefully concealed along the +line, and as we followed it up 500 yards each way, and could find no +connection with the instrument at the station office, I at once +concluded that it was the enemy's field telegraph, forming means of +communication between their headquarters at Airdrie and the division +that still remained in the Pentlands. + +"Cutting the wire, and attaching the ends to the instrument in the +station, I left three Engineers, all expert telegraphists, to tap the +wire, and they, with the right half company, under Lieutenant Compton, +formed a detached post at this point. I also left the cyclists to convey +to me any messages which might be received on the instrument, and then +proceeded to Newmains. The place was now a mere heap of smouldering +ruins; but, as at Morningside, some of the terrified villagers had +returned, and they stated that early in the morning they had seen small +detachments of Russian cavalry pass through from Bankle, and proceed +north along the Cleland road. + +"Leaving the left half company here with the other Engineers and the two +cyclists, under Lieutenant Planck, with orders to block the road and +railway bridge, I returned to my piquet line. A few minutes later, +however, a cyclist rode up with a copy of a message which had been sent +from the Russian headquarters on the Pentlands to the Glasgow investing +force. The message was in cipher, but, thanks to the information +furnished by the spy who was captured near Manchester, we were now aware +of some of the codes used by the invaders, and I sent the messenger on +to the Colonel at once. One of his staff was able to transcribe it +sufficiently to show that some disaster had occurred to the enemy on the +Pentlands, for it concluded with an order withdrawing the troops from +Glasgow, in order to reinforce the 3rd Army Corps in the fierce battle +that was now proceeding. It was also stated in the message that +despatches followed, so at once we were all on the alert. + +"Almost immediately afterwards news was received over our own telegraph +from Carstairs, stating that a terrific battle had been fought along the +valleys between Leadburn, Linton, and Dolphinton, in which we had +suffered very severely, but we had nevertheless gained a decisive +victory, for from dawn until the time of telegraphing it was estimated +that no fewer than 12,000 Russians had been killed or wounded. + +"It appeared that our forces on the Lammermuirs had moved quickly, and, +extending along the ridges, through Tynehead, and thence to Heriot, and +on to Peebles, joined hands with the division at that place before dawn, +and, when it grew light, had made a sudden and desperate attack. The +enemy, who had imagined himself in a safe position, was unprepared, and +from the first moment of the attack the slaughter was awful. As noon +wore on the battle had increased, until now the invaders had been +outflanked, and mowed down in such a frightful manner, that the +survivors, numbering nearly six thousand of all ranks, had, finding +their urgent appeal to their forces at Airdrie met with no response, and +imagining that they too had been defeated, at last surrendered, and were +taken prisoners. + +"On receipt of this intelligence, Colonel Cumberland executed a +manoeuvre that was a marvel of forethought and smartness. The appeal to +Airdrie for help had, of course, not been received, but in its place he +ordered a message in Russian to be sent along the enemy's field +telegraph to the force advancing on Glasgow in the following words: +'Remain at Airdrie. Do not advance on Glasgow before we join you. The +defenders are defeated with heavy losses everywhere. Our advance guard +will be with you in twenty-four hours. Signed--Drukovitch.' + +"This having been despatched, he reported by telegraph to the +headquarters at Carstairs what he had done, and then our whole force +immediately moved as far as Bellshill, in the direction of Glasgow. Here +we came across the Russian outposts, and a sharp fight ensued. After +half an hour, however, we succeeded in cutting them off and totally +annihilating them, afterwards establishing ourselves in Bellshill until +reinforcements could arrive. We were now only six miles from the Russian +headquarters at Airdrie, and they, on receipt of our fictitious message, +had withdrawn from the Clyde bank, and extended farther north over the +hills as far as Milngavie. + +"We were thus enabled to watch and wait in Bellshill undisturbed +throughout the night; and while the enemy were eagerly expecting their +legions of infantry who were to swoop down and conquer Glasgow, we +remained content in the knowledge that the hour of conquest was close at +hand. + +"A short, hasty rest, and we were astir again long before the dawn. Just +at daybreak, however, the advance guard of our force from Carstairs, +which had been on the march during the night, came into touch with us, +and in an hour the combined right and centre divisions of the British +had opened the battle. + +"Our fighting front extended from Wishaw right across to Condorrat, with +batteries on Torrance and the hill at New Monkland, while another strong +line was pushed across from Cambuslang to Parkhead, and thence to +Millerston, for the protection of Glasgow. + +"Thus, almost before our guns uttered their voice of defiance, we had +surrounded the enemy, and throughout the morning the fighting was most +sanguinary and desperate. Our batteries did excellent service; still, it +must be remembered we had attacked a well-trained force of over thirty +thousand men, and they had many more guns than we possessed. No doubt +the fictitious despatch we had sent had prevented the Russian commander +from advancing on Glasgow during the night, as he had intended; and now, +finding himself so vigorously attacked by two divisions which he +believed had been cut up and annihilated, all his calculations were +completely upset. + +"It was well for us that this was so, otherwise we might have fared much +worse than we did. As it was, Cossacks and Dragoons wrought frightful +havoc among our infantry; while, on the other hand, the fire discipline +of the latter was magnificent. Every bit of cover on the hills seem to +bristle with hidden rifles, that emptied their magazines without smoke +and with fatal effect. Many a gallant dash was made by our men, the +Volunteers especially displaying conspicuous courage. The 1st +Dumbartonshire Volunteers, under Col. Thomson, V.D., the 1st +Renfrewshire, under Col. Lamont, V.D., and the 4th Battalion Argyll and +Sutherland Highlanders, under Col. D. M'Fayden, V.D., operated together +with magnificent success, for they completely cut up a strong Russian +detachment on the Glasgow road beyond Uddingston, driving them out of +the wood near Daldowie, and there annihilating them, and afterwards +holding their own on the banks of the North Calder without suffering +very much loss. They handled their Maxims as smartly as any body of +Regulars; and indeed, throughout the day their performances everywhere +were marked by steady discipline and cool courage that was in the +highest degree commendable. + +"About two o'clock in the afternoon the battle was at its height. Under +the blazing sun that beat down upon us mercilessly, my battalion fought +on, feeling confident that the enemy were gradually being defeated. The +slaughter everywhere was frightful, and the green hillsides and fields +were covered with dead and dying soldiers of the Tsar. The grey coats +were soaked with blood, and dark, ugly stains dyed the grass of the +fertile meadows beside the winding Clyde. Since their sudden landing in +Scotland, the enemy's early successes had been followed by defeat after +defeat. Their transports had been destroyed, their ammunition and stores +seized, both their 2nd and 3rd Army Corps had been totally annihilated, +leaving nearly twelve thousand men in our hands as prisoners, and now +the defeat of this force of picked regiments, who had, on landing, +immediately marched straight across Scotland, would effect a crushing +and decisive blow. + +"But the struggle was terrific, the din deafening, the wholesale +butchery appalling. Our men knew they were fighting for Caledonia and +their Queen, and their conduct, from the first moment of hostilities, +until stray bullets laid them low one after another, was magnificent; +they were splendid examples of the true, loyal, and fearless Briton, who +will fight on even while his life-blood ebbs. + +"Evening fell, but the continuous firing did not cease. The sun sank red +and angry into dark storm-clouds behind the long range of purple hills +beyond the Clyde, but the clash of arms continued over hill and dale on +the east of Glasgow, and we, exerting every effort in our successful +attempt to hold the five converging roads near Broomhouse, knew not +which side were victors. + +"Suddenly I received orders to send over a small detachment to block the +two roads at Baillieston, the one a main road leading up from +Coatbridge, and the other from the hilly country around Old Monkland, +where the struggle was fiercest. Sending Lieutenant Planck over +immediately with a detachment and several cyclists, I followed as soon +as possible, and found he had blocked both roads in the centre of the +little Scotch village, and had occupied the inn situated between the two +roads, leaving just sufficient space for his cyclists to pass. Looking +towards the city we could see that the hills on our left were occupied +by British redcoats. In the village the quaint little low-built +cottages, with their stairs outside, were all closed and deserted, and +the place seemed strangely quiet after the exciting scenes and ceaseless +deafening din. + +"Taking six of Planck's men and the cyclists about a mile towards +Coatbridge, I posted them at the cross-roads beyond Rhind House, sending +the cyclists out along the valley to Dikehead. All was quiet in our +immediate vicinity for some time, until suddenly we discerned the +cyclists coming back. They reported that they had seen cavalry. This, +then, must be a detachment of the enemy, who in all probability were +retreating. I at once sent the cyclists back to inform Planck, and to +tell him we should not take a hand in the game until we had allowed them +to pass and they had discovered his barricade. In a few minutes we could +distinctly hear them approaching. We were all well under cover, but I +was surprised to find that it was only an escort. + +"They were galloping, and had evidently come a long distance by some +circuitous route, and had not taken part in the fighting. I counted +five--two Cossacks in advance, then about forty yards behind a +shabbily-dressed civilian on horseback, and about forty yards behind him +two more Cossacks. They appeared to expect no interruption, and it +occurred to me that the Cossacks were escorting the civilian over to the +Russian position away beyond Hogganfield Loch. As soon as they were +clear, I formed my men up on each side of the road to await events. + +"We had no occasion to remain long in expectation, for soon afterwards +the stillness was broken by shouts and a few rapid shots, and then we +could hear two horses galloping back. One was riderless, and a corporal +who attempted to stop it was knocked down and seriously injured; but the +other had a rider, and as he neared us I could see he was the civilian. +I knew I must stop him at all costs. + +"So, ordering the men on the opposite side of the road to lie down, we +gave him a section volley from one side as he rushed past. The horse was +badly hit, and stumbled, throwing its rider, who was at once secured. To +prevent him from disposing of anything, we bound him securely. Two of +the Cossacks had been shot and the other two captured. Upon the +civilian, and in his saddle-bags, we found a number of cipher +despatches, elaborate plans showing how Glasgow was defended, and an +autograph letter from the Russian General Drukovitch, giving him +instructions to enter Glasgow alone by way of Partick, and to await him +there until the city fell. + +"But the city was never invested. An hour after we had sent this +mysterious civilian--who spoke English with a foreign accent--over to +the Colonel, our onslaught became doubly desperate. In the dusk, +regiment after regiment of Russians were simply swept away by the cool +and deliberate fire of the British, who, being reinforced by my +battalion and others, wrought splendid execution in the enemy's main +body, forced back upon us at Baillieston. + +"Then, as night fell, a report was spread that General Drukovitch had +surrendered. This proved true. With his 2nd and 3rd Army Corps +annihilated, and his transports and base in our hands, he was compelled +to acknowledge himself vanquished; therefore, by nine o'clock +hostilities had ceased, and during that night nearly six thousand +survivors of the 1st Russian Army Corps were taken prisoners, and +marched in triumph into Glasgow amid the wildest excitement of the +populace. This desperate attempt to invest Glasgow had cost the Russians +no fewer than 25,000 men in killed and wounded. + +"The capture we effected near Baillieston turned out to be of a most +important character. When searched at headquarters, a visiting-card was +found concealed upon the man, and this gave our Colonel a clue. The man +has since been identified by one of his intimate friends as a person +well known in London society, who poses as a wealthy German, the +Count von Beilstein! It is alleged that he has for several years been +living in the metropolis and acting as an expert spy in the Secret +Service of the Tsar. He was sent handcuffed, under a strong escort, to +London a few days after the battle, and if all I hear be true, some +highly sensational disclosures will be made regarding his adventurous +career. + +[Illustration: DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS AT BAILLIESTON, NEAR GLASGOW.] + +"But throughout Caledonia there is now unbounded joy. Our beloved +country is safe; for, thanks to the gallant heroism of our Volunteers, +the Muscovite invaders have been completely wiped out, and Scotland +again proudly rears her head." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +MARCH OF THE FRENCH ON LONDON. + + +South of the Thames, where the gigantic force of French and Russians, +numbering nearly two hundred thousand of all arms, had been prevented +from attacking London by our Volunteers and Regulars massed along the +Surrey Hills, the slaughter on both sides had been frightful. The +struggle was indeed not for a dynasty, but for the very existence of +Britain as an independent nation. + +Sussex had been devastated, but Kent still held out, and Chatham +remained in the possession of the defenders. + +The rout of the British at Horsham prior to the march of the left column +of invaders to Birmingham was succeeded by defeat after defeat, the +engagements each day illustrating painfully that by force of +overwhelming numbers the invaders were gradually nearing their goal--the +mighty Capital of our Empire. + +Gallant stands were made by our Regulars at East Grinstead, Crawley, +Alfold, and from Haslemere across Hind Head Common to Frensham. At each +of these places, long, desperately-fought battles with the French had +taken place through the hot September days,--our Regular forces +confident in the stubborn resistance that would be offered by the long +unbroken line of Volunteers occupying the range of hills behind. Our +signallers had formed a long line of stations from Reculvers and Star +Hill, south of the Medway Fortress, to Blue Bell Hill, between Chatham +and Maidstone, thence through Snodland, Wrotham, Westerham, and +Limpsfield to Caterham, and from there on through Reigate Park, Boxhill, +St. Martha's, and over the Hog's Back to Aldershot. With flags in day +and lamps by night messages constantly passed, and communication was +thus maintained by this means as well as by the field telegraph, which, +however, on several occasions had been cut by the enemy. + +Yet although our soldiers fought day after day with that pluck +characteristic of the true Briton, fortune nevertheless seemed to have +forsaken us, and even although we inflicted frightful losses upon the +French all round, still they gradually forced back the defenders over +the Surrey border. Terror, ruin, and death had been spread by the +invading Gauls. English homes were sacked, French soldiers bivouaced in +Sussex pastures, and the ripening corn was trodden down and stained with +blood. The white dusty highways leading from London to the sea were +piled with unheeded corpses that were fearful to gaze upon, yet +Britannia toiled on undaunted in this desperate struggle for the +retention of her Empire. + +After our defeat at Horsham, the Russians had contented themselves by +merely driving back the defenders to a line of resistance from Aldershot +to the north of Bagshot, and then they had marched onward to Birmingham. +From Horsham, however, two columns of the invaders, mostly French, and +numbering over twenty thousand each, had advanced on Guildford and +Dorking. At the same time, a strong demonstration was made by the enemy +in the country north of Eastbourne and Hailsham, by which the whole of +the district in the triangle from Bexhill to Heathfield, and thence to +Cuckfield and Steyning, fell into their hands. The British, however, had +massed a strong force to prevent the enemy making their way into West +Kent, and still held their own along the hills stretching from +Crowborough to Ticehurst, and from Etchingham, through Brightling and +Ashburnham, down to Battle and Hastings. + +The north of London had during the weeks of hostilities been strongly +guarded by Volunteers and Regulars, for information of a contemplated +landing in Essex had been received; and although the defenders had not +yet fired a shot, they were eagerly looking forward to a chance of +proving their worth, as their comrades in other parts of England had +already done. + +At first the tactics of the invaders could not be understood, for it had +been concluded that they would naturally follow up their successes on +landing with a rapid advance on London. + +It was, of course, evident that the vigorous demonstrations made in the +North and other parts of Britain were intended with a view to drawing as +many troops as possible from the defence of London, and dispose of them +in detail before surrounding the capital. Yet, to the dismay of the +enemy, no blow they delivered in other parts of our country had had the +desired effect of weakening the defensive lines around London. At the +opening of the campaign it had been the enemy's intention to reduce +London by a blockade, which could perhaps have been successfully carried +out had they landed a strong force in Essex. The troops who were +intended to land there were, however, sent to Scotland instead, and the +fact that they had been annihilated outside Glasgow resulted in a +decision to march at once upon the metropolis. + +Advancing from Horsham, the French right column, numbering 20,000 men +with about 70 guns, had, after desperate fighting, at last reached +Leatherhead, having left a battalion in support at Dorking. The British +had resolutely contested every step the French had advanced, and the +slaughter around Dorking had been awful, while the fighting across +Fetcham Downs and around Ockley and Bear Green had resulted in frightful +loss on both sides. + +Our Regulars and Volunteers, notwithstanding their gallantry, were, +alas! gradually driven back by the enormous numbers that had commenced +the onslaught, and were at last thrown back westward in disorder, +halting at Ripley. Here the survivors snatched a hasty rest, and they +were during the night reinforced by a contingent of Regulars who had +come over from Windsor and Hounslow. On the arrival of these +reinforcements, the Colonel, well knowing how serious was the situation +now our first line of defence had been broken, sent out a flying column +from Ripley, while the main body marched to Great Bookham, with the +result that Leatherhead, now in the occupation of the French, was from +both sides vigorously attacked. The British flying column threatening +the enemy from the north was, however, quickly checked by the French +guns, and in the transmission of an order a most serious blunder +occurred, leading to the impossibility of a retreat upon Ripley, for +unfortunately the order, wrongly given, resulted in the blowing up by +mistake of the bridges over the river Mole by which they had crossed, +and which they wanted to use again. + +Thus it was that for a time this force was compelled to remain, at +terrible cost, right under the fire of the French entrenched position at +Leatherhead; but the enemy were fortunately not strong enough to follow +up this advantage, and as they occupied a strong strategical position +they were content to await the arrival of their huge main body, now on +the move, and which they expected would reach Leatherhead during that +night. After more fierce fighting, lasting one whole breathless day, the +defenders were annihilated, while their main body approaching from the +south also fell into a trap. For several hours a fierce battle also +raged between Dorking and Mickleham. The British battery on Box Hill +wrought awful havoc in the French lines, yet gradually the enemy +silenced our guns and cut up our forces. + +The invaders were now advancing in open order over the whole of Sussex +and the west of Kent, and on the same day as the battle was fought at +Leatherhead, the high ground south of Sevenoaks, extending from Wimlet +Hill to Chart Common, fell into their hands, the British suffering +severely; while two of our Volunteer batteries in the vicinity were +surprised and seized by a French flying column. + +In the meantime, another French column, numbering nearly twenty thousand +infantry and cavalry, had advanced from Alfold, burning Ewhurst and +Cranley, and after a desperately-contested engagement they captured the +British batteries on the hills at Hascombe and Hambledon. + +On the same day the French advance guard, though suffering terrible +loss, successfully attacked the battery of Regulars on the hill at +Wonersh, and Godalming having been invested, they commenced another +vigorous attack upon the strong line of British Regulars and Volunteers +at Guildford, where about fourteen thousand men were massed. + +On the hills from Gomshall to Seale our brave civilian defenders had +remained throughout the hostilities ready to repel any attack. Indeed, +as the days passed, and no demonstration had been made in their +direction, they had grown impatient, until at length this sudden and +ferocious onslaught had been made, and they found themselves face to +face with an advancing army of almost thrice their strength. Among the +Volunteer battalions holding the position were the 1st Bucks, under Lord +Addington, V.D.; the 2nd Oxfordshire Light Infantry, under Col. H. S. +Hall; the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bedfordshire Regiment, under Col. A. M. +Blake, Lieut.-Col. Rumball, and Col. J. T. Green, V.D.; the 1st Royal +Berkshire, under Col. J. C. Carter; the 1st Somersetshire Light +Infantry, under Col. H. M. Skrine, V.D.; and the 1st and 2nd Wiltshire, +under the Earl of Pembroke, V.D., and Col. E. B. Merriman, V.D. Strong +batteries had been established between Guildford and Seale by the 1st +Fifeshire Artillery, under Col. J. W. Johnston, V.D., and the Highland +Artillery, under Col. W. Fraser, V.D.; while batteries on the left were +held by the 1st Midlothian, under Col. Kinnear, V.D.; the 1st East +Riding, under Col. R. G. Smith, V.D.; and the 1st West Riding, under +Col. T. W. Harding, V.D. + +Commencing before dawn, the battle was fierce and sanguinary almost from +the time the first shots were exchanged. The eight 60-pounder guns in +the new fort at the top of Pewley Hill, manned by the Royal Artillery, +commanded the valleys lying away to the south, and effected splendid +defensive work. + +[Illustration: BRITISH VOLUNTEER POSITIONS ON THE SURREY HILLS.] + +Indeed, it was this redoubt, with three new ones between Guildford and +Gomshall, and another on the Hog's Back, which held the enemy in check +for a considerable time; and had there been a larger number of a similar +strength, it is doubtful whether the French would ever have accomplished +their design upon Guildford. + +The Pewley Fort, built in the solid chalk, and surrounded by a wide +ditch, kept up a continuous fire upon the dense masses of the enemy, and +swept away hundreds of unfortunate fellows as they rushed madly onward; +while the Volunteer batteries and the Maxims of the infantry battalions +poured upon the invaders a devastating hail of lead. + +From Farnham, the line through Odiham and Aldershot was held by a force +increasing hourly in strength; therefore the enemy were unable to get +over to Farnborough to outflank the defenders. Through that brilliant, +sunny September day the slaughter was terrible in every part of the +enemy's column, and it was about noon believed that they would find +their positions at Wonersh and Godalming untenable. + +Nevertheless, with a dogged persistency unusual to our Gallic +neighbours, they continued to fight with unquelled vigour. The 2nd +Oxfordshire Light Infantry and the 1st and 2nd Wiltshire, holding very +important ground over against Puttenham, bore their part with +magnificent courage, but were at length cut up in a most horrible +manner; while the 1st Bedfordshire, who, with a body of Regulars +valiantly held the road running over the hills from Gomshall to Merrow, +fought splendidly; but they too were, alas! subsequently annihilated. + +Over hill and dale, stretching away to the Sussex border, the rattle and +din of war sounded incessantly, and as hour after hour passed, hundreds +of Britons and Frenchmen dyed the brown, sun-baked grass with their +blood. The struggle was frightful. Volunteer battalions who had +manoeuvred over that ground at many an Eastertide had little dreamed +that they would have one day to raise their rifles in earnest for the +defence of their home and Queen. Yet the practice they had had now +served them well, for in one instance the 1st Berkshire succeeded by a +very smart manoeuvre in totally sweeping away several troops of +Cuirassiers, while a quarter of an hour later half an infantry battalion +of Regulars attacked a large force of Zouaves on the Compton Road, and +fought them successfully almost hand to hand. + +Through the long, toilsome day the battle continued with unabated fury, +and as the sun went down there was no cessation of hostilities. A force +of our Regulars, extending from Farnham over Hind Head Common, fell +suddenly upon a large body of French infantry, and, outflanking them, +managed--after a most frightful encounter, in which they lost nearly +half their men--to totally annihilate them. + +In connection with this incident, a squadron of the 5th Dragoon Guards +made a magnificent charge up a steep hill literally to the muzzles of +the guns of a French battery, and by their magnificent pluck captured +it. Still, notwithstanding the bravery of our defenders, and their +fierce determination to sweep away their foe, it seemed when the sun +finally disappeared that the fortunes of war were once more against us, +for the French had now received huge reinforcements, and Dorking and +Leatherhead having already passed into their hands two days previously, +they were enabled to make their final assault a most savage and terrific +one. + +It was frightful; it crushed us! In the falling gloom our men fought +desperately for their lives, but, alas! one after another our positions +were carried by the invaders literally at the point of the bayonet, and +ere the moon rose Guildford had fallen into the enemy's hands, and our +depleted battalions had been compelled to retire in disorder east to +Effingham and west to Farnham. Those who went to Effingham joined at +midnight the column who had made an unsuccessful effort to recover +Leatherhead, and then bivouaced in Oldlands Copse. The number of wounded +in the battles of Guildford and Leatherhead was enormous. At Mickleham +the British hospital flag floated over St. Michael's Church, the Priory +at Cherkley, Chapel Farm, and on Mickleham Hall, a portion of which +still remained intact, although the building had been looted by Zouaves. +In Leatherhead the French had established hospitals at Givons Grove, +Vale Lodge, Elmbank, and in the Church of St. Mary and the parish church +at Fetcham. At Guildford, in addition to the field hospitals on Albury +Downs and behind St. Catherine's Hill, Holden, Warren, and Tyting Farms, +Sutton Place and Loseley were filled with wounded French infantrymen and +British prisoners, and many schools and buildings, including the +Guildhall in Guildford town, bore the red cross. + +At two most important strategic points the first line defending London +had now been broken, and the British officers knew that it would require +every effort on our part to recover our lost advantages. The metropolis +was now seriously threatened; for soon after dawn on the following day +two great French columns, one from Guildford and the other from +Leatherhead, were advancing north towards the Thames! The enemy had +established telegraphic communication between the two towns, and +balloons that had been sent up from Guildford and Ashstead to +reconnoitre had reported that the second line of the British defence had +been formed from Kingston, through Wimbledon, Tooting, Streatham, and +Upper Norwood, and thence across _via_ Sydenham to Lewisham and +Greenwich. + +It was upon this second line of defence that the French, with their +enormous force of artillery, now marched. The Leatherhead column, with +their main body about one day's march behind, took the route through +Epsom to Mitcham, while the troops from Guildford pushed on through +Ripley, Cobham, and Esher. + +This advance occupied a day, and when a halt was made for the night the +enemy's front extended from Walton to Thames Ditton, thence across +Kingston Common and Malden to Mitcham. Bivouacing, they faced the +British second line of defence, and waited for the morrow to commence +their onslaught. In London the alarming news of the enemy's success +caused a panic such as had never before been experienced in the +metropolis. During the long anxious weeks that the enemy had been held +within bounds by our Volunteers, London had never fully realised what +bombardment would mean. While the French were beyond the Surrey Hills, +Londoners felt secure; and the intelligence received of the enemy's +utter rout at Newcastle, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow added +considerably to this sense of security. + +London, alas! was starving. Business was suspended; trains no longer +left the termini; omnibuses, trams, and cabs had ceased running, the +horses having been pressed into military service, and those which had +not had been killed and eaten. The outlook everywhere, even during those +blazing sunny days and clear moonlit nights, was cheerless and +dispiriting. The bright sun seemed strangely incongruous with the black +war-clouds that overhung the gigantic city, with its helpless, starving, +breathless millions. + +In the sun-baked, dusty streets the roar of traffic no longer sounded, +but up and down the principal thoroughfares of the City and the West End +the people prowled, lean and hungry--emaciated victims of this awful +struggle between nations--seeking vainly for food to satisfy the +terrible pangs consuming them. The hollow cheek, the thin, sharp nose, +the dark-ringed glassy eye of one and all, told too plainly of the +widespread suffering, and little surprise was felt at the great +mortality in every quarter. + +In Kensington and Belgravia the distress was quite as keen as in +Whitechapel and Hackney, and both rich and poor mingled in the gloomy, +dismal streets, wandering aimlessly over the great Modern Babylon, which +the enemy were now plotting to destroy. + +The horrors of those intensely anxious days of terror were unspeakable. +The whole machinery of life in the Great City had been disorganised, and +now London lay like an octopus, with her long arms extended in every +direction, north and south of the Thames, inert, helpless, trembling. +Over the gigantic Capital of the World hung the dark Shadow of Death. By +day and by night its ghastly presence could be felt; its hideous +realities crushed the heart from those who would face the situation with +smiling countenance. London's wealth availed her not in this critical +hour. + +Grim, spectral, unseen, the Destroying Angel held the sword over her, +ready to strike! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +LOOTING IN THE SUBURBS. + + +While famished men crept into Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and there +expired under the trees of absolute hunger, and starving women with +babes at their breasts sank upon doorsteps and died, the more robust +Londoners had, on hearing of the enemy's march on the metropolis, gone +south to augment the second line of defence. For several weeks huge +barricades had been thrown up in the principal roads approaching London +from the south. The strongest of these were opposite the Convalescent +Home on Kingston Hill, in Coombe Lane close to Raynes Park Station, in +the Morden Road at Merton Abbey, opposite Lynwood in the Tooting Road; +while nearer London, on the same road, there was a strong one with +machine guns on the crest of Balham Hill, and another in Clapham Road. +At Streatham Hill, about one hundred yards from the hospital, earthworks +had been thrown up, and several guns brought into position; while at +Beulah Hill, Norwood, opposite the Post Office at Upper Sydenham, at the +Half Moon at Herne Hill, and in many of the roads between Honor Oak and +Denmark Hill, barricades had been constructed and banked up with bags +and baskets filled with earth. + +Though these defences were held by enthusiastic civilians of all +classes,--professional men, artisans, and tradesmen,--yet our second +line of defence, distinct, of course, from the local barricades, was a +very weak one. We had relied upon our magnificent strategic positions on +the Surrey Hills, and had not made sufficient provision in case of a +sudden reverse. Our second line, stretching from Croydon up to South +Norwood, thence to Streatham and along the railway line to Wimbledon and +Kingston, was composed of a few battalions of Volunteers, detachments of +Metropolitan police, Berks and Bucks constabulary, London firemen and +postmen, the Corps of Commissionaires--in fact, every body of drilled +men who could be requisitioned to handle revolver or rifle. These were +backed by great bodies of civilians, and behind stood the barricades +with their insignificant-looking but terribly deadly machine guns. + +The railways had, on the first news of the enemy's success at +Leatherhead and Guildford, all been cut up, and in each of the many +bridges spanning the Thames between Kingston and the Tower great charges +of gun-cotton had been placed, so that they might be blown up at any +instant, and thus prevent the enemy from investing the city. + +Day dawned again at last--dull and grey. It had rained during the night, +and the roads, wet and muddy, were unutterably gloomy as our civilian +defenders looked out upon them, well knowing that ere long a fierce +attack would be made. In the night the enemy had been busy laying a +field telegraph from Mitcham to Kingston, through which messages were +now being continually flashed. + +Suddenly, just as the British outposts were being relieved, the French +commenced a vigorous attack, and in a quarter of an hour fighting +extended along the whole line. Volunteers, firemen, policemen, +Commissionaires, and civilians all fought bravely, trusting to one hope, +namely, that before they were defeated the enemy would be outflanked and +attacked in their rear by a British force from the Surrey Hills. They +well knew that to effectually bar the advance of this great body of +French was out of all question, yet they fought on with creditable tact, +and in many instances inflicted serious loss upon the enemy's infantry. + +Soon, however, French field guns were trained upon them, and amid the +roar of artillery line after line of heroic Britons fell shattered to +earth. Amid the rattle of musketry, the crackling of the machine guns, +and the booming of 16-pounders, brave Londoners struggled valiantly +against the masses of wildly excited Frenchmen; yet every moment the +line became slowly weakened, and the defenders were gradually forced +back upon their barricades. The resistance which the French met with was +much more determined than they had anticipated; in fact, a small force +of Volunteers holding the Mitcham Road, at Streatham, fought with such +splendid bravery, that they succeeded alone and unaided in completely +wiping out a battalion of French infantry, and capturing two field guns +and a quantity of ammunition. For this success, however, they, alas! +paid dearly, for a quarter of an hour later a large body of cavalry and +infantry coming over from Woodlands descended upon them and totally +annihilated them, with the result that Streatham fell into the hands of +the French, and a few guns placed in the high road soon made short work +of the earthworks near the hospital. Under the thick hail of bursting +shells the brave band who manned the guns were at last compelled to +abandon them, and the enemy were soon marching unchecked into Stockwell +and Brixton, extending their right, with the majority of their +artillery, across Herne Hill, Dulwich, and Honor Oak. + +In the meantime a desperate battle was being fought around Kingston. The +barricade on Kingston Hill held out for nearly three hours, but was at +last captured by the invaders, and of those who had manned it not a man +survived. Mitcham and Tooting had fallen in the first hour of the +engagement, the barricade at Lynwood had been taken, and hundreds of the +houses in Balham had been looted by the enemy in their advance into +Clapham. + +Nearly the whole morning it rained in torrents, and both invaders and +defenders were wet to the skin, and covered with blood and mud. +Everywhere British pluck showed itself in this desperate resistance on +the part of these partially-trained defenders. At the smaller +barricades in the suburban jerry-built streets, Britons held their own +and checked the advance with remarkable coolness; yet, as the dark, +stormy day wore on, the street defences were one after another broken +down and destroyed. + +Indeed, by three o'clock that afternoon the enemy ran riot through the +whole district, from Lower Sydenham to Kingston. Around the larger +houses on Sydenham Hill one of the fiercest fights occurred, but at +length the defenders were driven down into Lordship Lane, and the houses +on the hill were sacked, and some of them burned. While this was +proceeding, a great force of French artillery came over from Streatham, +and before dusk five great batteries had been established along the +Parade in front of the Crystal Palace, and on Sydenham Hill and One Tree +Hill; while other smaller batteries were brought into position at Forest +Hill, Gipsy Hill, Tulse Hill, Streatham Hill, and Herne Hill; and +further towards London about twenty French 12-pounders and a number of +new quick-firing weapons of long range and a very destructive character +were placed along the top of Camberwell Grove and Denmark Hill. + +The defences of London had been broken. The track of the invaders was +marked by ruined homes and heaps of corpses, and London's millions knew +on this eventful night that the enemy were now actually at their doors. +In Fleet Street, in the Strand, in Piccadilly, the news spread from +mouth to mouth as darkness fell that the enemy were preparing to launch +their deadly shells into the City. This increased the panic. The people +were in a mad frenzy of excitement, and the scenes everywhere were +terrible. Women wept and wailed, men uttered words of blank despair, and +children screamed at an unknown terror. + +The situation was terrible. From the Embankment away on the Surrey side +could be seen a lurid glare in the sky. It was the reflection of a great +fire in Vassall Road, Brixton, the whole street being burned by the +enemy, together with the great block of houses lying between the Cowley +and Brixton Roads. + +London waited. Dark storm-clouds scudded across the moon. The chill wind +swept up the river, and moaned mournfully in doors and chimneys. + +At last, without warning, just as Big Ben had boomed forth one o'clock, +the thunder of artillery shook the windows, and startled the excited +crowds. Great shells crashed into the streets, remained for a second, +and then burst with deafening report and appalling effect. + +In Trafalgar Square, Fleet Street, and the Strand the deadly projectiles +commenced to fall thickly, wrecking the shops, playing havoc with the +public buildings, and sweeping hundreds of men and women into eternity. +Nothing could withstand their awful force, and the people, rushing madly +about like frightened sheep, felt that this was indeed their last hour. + +In Ludgate Hill the scene was awful. Shots fell with monotonous +regularity, bursting everywhere, and blowing buildings and men into +atoms. The French shells were terribly devastating; the reek of melinite +poisoned the air. Shells striking St. Paul's Cathedral brought down the +right-hand tower, and crashed into the dome; while others set on fire a +long range of huge drapery warehouses behind it, the glare of the +roaring flames causing the great black Cathedral to stand out in bold +relief. + +The bombardment had actually commenced! London, the proud Capital of the +World, was threatened with destruction! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +LONDON BOMBARDED. + + +The Hand of the Destroyer had reached England's mighty metropolis. The +lurid scene was appalling. + +In the stormy sky the red glare from hundreds of burning buildings grew +brighter, and in every quarter flames leaped up and black smoke curled +slowly away in increasing volume. + +The people were unaware of the events that had occurred in Surrey that +day. Exhausted, emaciated, and ashen pale, the hungry people had endured +every torture. Panic-stricken, they rushed hither and thither in +thousands up and down the principal thoroughfares, and as they tore +headlong away in this _sauve qui peut_ to the northern suburbs, the +weaker fell and were trodden under foot. + +Men fought for their wives and families, dragging them away out of the +range of the enemy's fire, which apparently did not extend beyond the +line formed by the Hackney Road, City Road, Pentonville Road, Euston +Road, and Westbourne Park. But in that terrible rush to escape many +delicate ladies were crushed to death, and numbers of others, with their +children, sank exhausted, and perished beneath the feet of the fleeing +millions. + +Never before had such alarm been spread through London; never before had +such awful scenes of destruction been witnessed. The French +Commander-in-chief, who was senior to his Russian colleague, had been +killed, and his successor being unwilling to act in concert with the +Muscovite staff, a quarrel ensued. It was this quarrel which caused the +bombardment of London, totally against the instructions of their +respective Governments. The bombardment was, in fact, wholly +unnecessary, and was in a great measure due to some confused orders +received by the French General from his Commander-in-chief. Into the +midst of the surging, terrified crowds that congested the streets on +each side of the Thames, shells filled with melinite dropped, and, +bursting, blew hundreds of despairing Londoners to atoms. Houses were +shattered and fell, public buildings were demolished, factories were set +alight, and the powerful exploding projectiles caused the Great City to +reel and quake. Above the constant crash of bursting shells, the dull +roar of the flames, and the crackling of burning timbers, terrific +detonations now and then were heard, as buildings, filled with +combustibles, were struck by shots, and, exploding, spread death and +ruin over wide areas. The centre of commerce, of wealth, of intellectual +and moral life was being ruthlessly wrecked, and its inhabitants +massacred. Apparently it was not the intention of the enemy to invest +the city at present, fearing perhaps that the force that had penetrated +the defences was not sufficiently large to accomplish such a gigantic +task; therefore they had commenced this terrible bombardment as a +preliminary measure. + +Through the streets of South London the people rushed along, all +footsteps being bent towards the bridges; but on every one of them the +crush was frightful--indeed, so great was it that in several instances +the stone balustrades were broken, and many helpless, shrieking persons +were forced over into the dark swirling waters below. The booming of the +batteries was continuous, the bursting of the shells was deafening, and +every moment was one of increasing horror. Men saw their homes swept +away, and trembling women clung to their husbands, speechless with fear. +In the City, in the Strand, in Westminster, and West End streets the +ruin was even greater, and the destruction of property enormous. + +Westward, both great stations at Victoria, with the adjoining furniture +repositories and the Grosvenor Hotel, were burning fiercely; while the +Wellington Barracks had been partially demolished, and the roof of St. +Peter's Church blown away. Two shells falling in the quadrangle of +Buckingham Palace had smashed every window and wrecked some of the +ground-floor apartments, but nevertheless upon the flagstaff, amidst the +dense smoke and showers of sparks flying upward, there still floated the +Royal Standard. St. James's Palace, Marlborough House, Stafford House, +and Clarence House, standing in exposed positions, were being all more +or less damaged; several houses in Carlton House Terrace had been +partially demolished, and a shell striking the Duke of York's Column +soon after the commencement of the bombardment, caused it to fall, +blocking Waterloo Place. + +Time after time shells whistled above and fell with a crash and +explosion, some in the centre of the road, tearing up the paving, and +others striking the clubs in Pall Mall, blowing out many of those noble +time-mellowed walls. The portico of the Athenaeum had been torn away like +pasteboard, the rear premises of the War Office had been pulverised, and +the Carlton, Reform, and United Service Clubs suffered terrible damage. +Two shells striking the Junior Carlton crashed through the roof, and +exploding almost simultaneously, brought down an enormous heap of +masonry, which fell across the roadway, making an effectual barricade; +while at the same moment shells began to fall thickly in Grosvenor Place +and Belgrave Square, igniting many houses, and killing some of those who +remained in their homes petrified by fear. + +Up Regent Street shells were sweeping with frightful effect. The Cafe +Monico and the whole block of buildings surrounding it was burning, and +the flames leaping high, presented a magnificent though appalling +spectacle. The front of the London Pavilion had been partially blown +away, and of the two uniform rows of shops forming the Quadrant many +had been wrecked. From Air Street to Oxford Circus, and along Piccadilly +to Knightsbridge, there fell a perfect hail of shell and bullets. +Devonshire House had been wrecked, and the Burlington Arcade destroyed. +The thin pointed spire of St. James's Church had fallen, every window in +the Albany was shattered, several houses in Grosvenor Place had suffered +considerably, and a shell that struck the southern side of St. George's +Hospital had ignited it, and now at 2 A.M., in the midst of this awful +scene of destruction and disaster, the helpless sick were being removed +into the open streets, where bullets whistled about them and fragments +of explosive shells whizzed past. + +As the night wore on London trembled and fell. Once Mistress of the +World, she was now, alas! sinking under the iron hand of the invader. +Upon her there poured a rain of deadly missiles that caused appalling +slaughter and desolation. The newly introduced long-range guns, and the +terrific power of the explosives with which the French shells were +charged, added to the horrors of the bombardment; for although the +batteries were so far away as to be out of sight, yet the unfortunate +people, overtaken by their doom, were torn limb from limb by the +bursting bombs. + +Over the roads lay men of London, poor and rich, weltering in their +blood, their lower limbs shattered or blown completely away. With +wide-open haggard eyes, in their death agony they gazed around at the +burning buildings, at the falling debris, and upward at the +brilliantly-illumined sky. With their last breath they gasped prayers +for those they loved, and sank to the grave, hapless victims of +Babylon's downfall. + +Every moment the Great City was being devastated, every moment the +catastrophe was more complete, more awful. In the poorer quarters of +South London whole streets were swept away, and families overwhelmed by +their own demolished homes. Along the principal thoroughfares shop +fronts were shivered, and the goods displayed in the windows strewn +about the roadway. + +About half-past three a frightful disaster occurred at Battersea. Very +few shells had dropped in that district, when suddenly one fell right in +the very centre of a great petroleum store. The effect was frightful. +With a noise that was heard for twenty miles around, the whole of the +great store of oil exploded, blowing the stores themselves high into the +air, and levelling all the buildings in the vicinity. In every direction +burning oil was projected over the roofs of neighbouring houses, dozens +of which at once caught fire, while down the streets there ran great +streams of blazing oil, which spread the conflagration in every +direction. Showers of sparks flew upwards, the flames roared and +crackled, and soon fires were breaking out in all quarters. + +Just as the clocks were striking a quarter to four, a great shell struck +the Victoria Tower of the Houses of Parliament, bringing it down with a +terrific crash. This disaster was quickly followed by a series of +others. A shell fell through the roof of Westminster Abbey, setting the +grand old historic building on fire; another tore away the columns from +the front of the Royal Exchange; and a third carried away one of the +square twin towers of St. Mary Woolnoth, at the corner of Lombard +Street. + +Along this latter thoroughfare banks were wrecked, and offices set on +fire; while opposite, in the thick walls of the Bank of England, great +breaches were being made. The Mansion House escaped any very serious +injury, but the dome of the Stock Exchange was carried away; and in +Queen Victoria Street, from end to end, enormous damage was caused to +the rows of fine business premises; while further east the Monument, +broken in half, came down with a noise like thunder, demolishing many +houses on Fish Street Hill. + +The great drapery warehouses in Wood Street, Bread Street, Friday +Street, Foster Lane, and St. Paul's Churchyard suffered more or less. +Ryland's, Morley's, and Cook's were all alight and burning fiercely; +while others were wrecked and shattered, and their contents blown out +into the streets. The quaint spire of St. Bride's had fallen, and its +bells lay among the debris in the adjoining courts; both the +half-wrecked offices of the _Daily Telegraph_ and the _Daily Chronicle_ +were being consumed. + +The great clock-tower of the Law Courts fell about four o'clock with a +terrific crash, completely blocking the Strand at Temple Bar, and +demolishing the much-abused Griffin Memorial; while at the same moment +two large holes were torn in the roof of the Great Hall, the small black +turret above fell, and the whole of the glass in the building was +shivered into fragments. + +It was amazing how widespread was the ruin caused by each of the +explosive missiles. Considering the number of guns employed by the +French in this cruel and wanton destruction of property, the desolation +they were causing was enormous. This was owing to the rapid extension of +their batteries over the high ground from One Tree Hill through Peckham +to Greenwich, and more especially to the wide ranges of their guns and +the terrific power of their shells. In addition to the ordinary +projectiles filled with melinite, charges of that extremely powerful +substance lignine dynamite were hurled into the city, and, exploded by a +detonator, swept away whole streets, and laid many great public +buildings in ruins; while steel shells, filled with some arrangement of +liquid oxygen and blasting gelatine, produced frightful effects, for +nothing could withstand them. + +One of these, discharged from the battery on Denmark Hill, fell in the +quadrangle behind Burlington House, and levelled the Royal Academy and +the surrounding buildings. Again a terrific explosion sounded, and as +the smoke cleared it was seen that a gelatine shell had fallen among the +many turrets of the Natural History Museum, and the front of the +building fell out with a deafening crash, completely blocking the +Cromwell Road. + +London lay at the mercy of the invaders. So swiftly had the enemy cut +their way through the defences and opened their hail of destroying +missiles, that the excited, starving populace were unaware of what had +occurred until dynamite began to rain upon them. Newspapers had ceased +to appear; and although telegraphic communication was kept up with the +defenders on the Surrey Hills by the War Office, yet no details of the +events occurring there had been made public for fear of spies. Londoners +had remained in ignorance, and, alas! had awaited their doom. Through +the long sultry night the situation was one of indescribable panic and +disaster. + +The sky had grown a brighter red, and the streets within the range of +the enemy's guns, now deserted, were in most cases blocked by burning +ruins and fallen telegraph wires; while about the roadways lay the +shattered corpses of men, women, and children, upon whom the shells had +wrought their frightful work. + +The bodies, mutilated, torn limb from limb, were sickening to gaze +upon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +BABYLON BURNING. + + +Dynamite had shattered Charing Cross Station and the Hotel, for its +smoke-begrimed facade had been torn out, and the station yard was filled +with a huge pile of smouldering debris. On either side of the Strand +from Villiers Street to Temple Bar scarcely a window had been left +intact, and the roadway itself was quite impassable, for dozens of +buildings had been overthrown by shells, and what in many cases had been +handsome shops were now heaps of bricks, slates, furniture, and twisted +girders. The rain of fire continued. Dense black smoke rising in a huge +column from St. Martin's Church showed plainly what was the fate of that +noble edifice, while fire had now broken out at the Tivoli Music Hall, +and the clubs on Adelphi Terrace were also falling a prey to the flames. + +The burning of Babylon was a sight of awful, appalling grandeur. + +The few people remaining in the vicinity of the Strand who escaped the +flying missiles and falling buildings, sought what shelter they could, +and stood petrified by terror, knowing that every moment might be their +last, not daring to fly into the streets leading to Holborn, where they +could see the enemy's shells were still falling with unabated regularity +and frightful result, their courses marked by crashing buildings and +blazing ruins. + +Looking from Charing Cross, the Strand seemed one huge glaring furnace. +Flames belched from windows on either side, and, bursting through roofs, +great tongues of fire shot upwards; blazing timbers fell into the +street; and as the buildings became gutted, and the fury of the +devouring element was spent, shattered walls tottered and fell into the +roadway. The terrific heat, the roar of the flames, the blinding smoke, +the stifling fumes of dynamite, the pungent, poisonous odour of +melinite, the clouds of dust, the splinters of stone and steel, and the +constant bursting of shells, combined to render the scene the most awful +ever witnessed in a single thoroughfare during the history of the world. + +From Kensington to Bow, from Camberwell to Somers Town, from Clapham to +Deptford, the vast area of congested houses and tortuous streets was +being swept continually. South of the Thames the loss of life was +enormous, for thousands were unable to get beyond the zone of fire, and +many in Brixton, Clapham, Camberwell, and Kennington were either maimed +by flying fragments of shell, buried in the debris of their homes, or +burned to death. The disasters wrought by the Frenchmen's improved +long-range weapons were frightful. + +London, the all-powerful metropolis, which had egotistically considered +herself the impregnable Citadel of the World, fell to pieces and was +consumed. She was frozen by terror, and lifeless. Her ancient monuments +were swept away, her wealth melted in her coffers, her priceless objects +of art were torn up and broken, and her streets ran with the blood of +her starving toilers. + +Day dawned grey, with stormlight gloom. Rain-clouds scudded swiftly +across the leaden sky. Along the road in front of the Crystal Palace, +where the French batteries were established, the deafening discharges +that had continued incessantly during the night, and had smashed nearly +all the glass in the sides and roof of the Palace, suddenly ceased. + +The officers were holding a consultation over despatches received from +the batteries at Tulse Hill, Streatham, Red Post Hill, One Tree Hill, +and Greenwich, all of which stated that ammunition had run short, and +they were therefore unable to continue the bombardment. + +[Illustration: THE FRENCH BOMBARDING LONDON FROM THE CRYSTAL PALACE +PARADE.] + +Neither of the ammunition trains of the two columns of the enemy had +arrived, for, although the bombarding batteries were unaware of it, both +had been captured and blown up by British Volunteers. + +It was owing to this that the hostile guns were at last compelled to +cease their thunder, and to this fact also was due the fortunes of the +defenders in the events immediately following. + +Our Volunteers occupying the line of defence north of London, through +Epping and Brentwood to Tilbury, had for the past three weeks been in +daily expectation of an attempt on the part of the invaders to land in +Essex, and were amazed at witnessing this sudden bombardment. From their +positions on the northern heights they could distinctly see how +disastrous was the enemy's fire, and although they had been informed by +telegraph of the reverses we had sustained at Guildford and Leatherhead, +yet they had no idea that the actual attack on the metropolis would be +made so swiftly. However, they lost not a moment. It was evident that +the enemy had no intention of effecting a landing in Essex; therefore, +with commendable promptitude, they decided to move across the Thames +immediately, to reinforce their comrades in Surrey. Leaving the 2nd and +4th West Riding Artillery, under Col. Hoffmann and Col. N. Creswick, +V.D., at Tilbury, and the Lincolnshire, Essex, and Worcestershire +Volunteer Artillery, under Col. G. M. Hutton, V.D., Col. S. L. Howard, +V.D., and Col. W. Ottley, the greater part of the Norfolk, +Staffordshire, Tay, Aberdeen, Manchester, and Northern Counties Field +Brigades moved south with all possible speed. From Brentwood, the 1st, +2nd, 3rd, and 4th Volunteer Battalions of the Norfolk Regiment, under +Col. A. C. Dawson, Col. E. H. H. Combe, Col. H. E. Hyde, V.D., and Col. +C. W. J. Unthank, V.D.; the 1st and 2nd North Staffordshire, under Col. +W. H. Dutton, V.D., and Col. F. D. Mort, V.D.; and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd +South Staffordshire, under Col. J. B. Cochrane, V.D., Col. T. T. Fisher, +V.D., and Col. E. Nayler, V.D.; the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Royal +Highlanders, under Col. W. A. Gordon, V.D., Col. Sir R. D. Moncreiffe, +Col. Sir R. Menzies, V.D., and Col. Erskine; the 7th Argyll and +Sutherland Highlanders, under Col. J. Porteous, V.D.; the 3rd, 4th, and +5th Gordon Highlanders, under Col. A. D. Fordyce, Col. G. Jackson, V.D., +and Col. J. Johnston--were, as early as 2 A.M., on their way to London. + +At this critical hour the Engineer and Railway Volunteer Staff Corps +rendered invaluable services. Under the direction of Col. William Birt, +trains held in readiness by the Great Eastern Railway brought the +brigades rapidly to Liverpool Street, whence they marched by a +circuitous route beyond the zone of fire by way of Marylebone, +Paddington, Kensington Gardens, Walham Green, and across Wandsworth +Bridge, thence to Upper Tooting, where they fell in with a large force +of our Regular infantry and cavalry, who were on their way to outflank +the enemy. + +Attacking a detachment of the French at Tooting, they captured several +guns, destroyed the enemy's field telegraph, and proceeded at once to +Streatham, where the most desperate resistance was offered. A fierce +fight occurred across Streatham Common, and over to Lower Norwood and +Gipsy Hill, in which both sides lost very heavily. Nevertheless our +Volunteers from Essex, although they had been on the march the greater +part of the night, fought bravely, and inflicted terrible punishment +upon their foe. The 3rd and 4th Volunteer Battalions of the Gordon +Highlanders and the 1st Norfolk, attacking a French position near the +mouth of the railway tunnel, displayed conspicuous bravery, and +succeeded in completely annihilating their opponents; while in an +opposite direction, towards Tooting, several troops of French cavalry +were cut up and taken prisoners by two battalions of Royal Highlanders. + +The batteries on Streatham Hill having been assaulted and taken, the +force of defenders pushed quickly onward to Upper Norwood, where our +cavalry, sweeping along Westow Hill and Church Street, fell upon the +battery in front of the Crystal Palace. The enemy, owing to the +interruption of their field telegraph, were unaware of their presence, +and were completely surprised. Nevertheless French infantrymen rushed +into the Crystal Palace Hotel, the White Swan, Stanton Harcourt, the +Knoll, Rocklands, and other houses at both ends of the Parade, and from +the windows poured forth withering volleys from their Lebels. Our +cavalry, riding down the broad Parade, used their sabres upon the +artillerymen, and the whole of the French troops were quickly in a +confused mass, unable to act with effect, and suffering appallingly from +the steady fire of our Volunteers, who very soon cleared the enemy from +the White Swan, and, having been drawn up outside, poured forth a +galling rifle fire right along the enemy's position. Suddenly there was +loud shouting, and the British "Cease fire" sounded. The French, though +fighting hard, were falling back gradually down the hill towards +Sydenham Station, when suddenly shots were heard, and turbaned cavalry +came riding into them at a terrific pace from the rear. + +The British officers recognised the new-comers as a squadron of Bengal +Lancers! At last India had sent us help, and our men sent up a loud +cheer. A large force of cavalry and infantry, together with two +regiments of Goorkas, had, it appeared, been landed at Sheerness. They +had contemplated landing in Hampshire, but, more unfortunate than some +of their compatriots who had effected a landing near Southampton, they +were driven through the Straits of Dover by the enemy's cruisers. +Marching north in company with a force from Chatham, they had earlier +that morning attacked and routed the enemy's right flank at Blackheath, +and, after capturing the battery of the foe at Greenwich, greater part +of the escort of which had been sent over to Lewisham an hour before, +they slaughtered a battalion of Zouaves, and had then extended across to +Denmark Hill, where a sanguinary struggle occurred. + +The French on Dog Kennel, Red Post, Herne, and Tulse Hills turned their +deadly machine guns upon them, and for a long time all the positions +held out. At length, however, by reason of a splendid charge made by the +Bengal Lancers, the battery at Red Post Hill was taken and the enemy +slaughtered. During the next half-hour a fierce hand-to-hand struggle +took place up Dog Kennel Hill from St. Saviour's Infirmary, and +presently, when the defenders gained the spur of the hill, they fought +the enemy gallantly in Grove Lane, Private Road, Bromar Road, Camberwell +Grove, and adjoining roads. Time after time the Indian cavalry charged, +and the Goorkas, with their keen knives, hacked their way into those of +the enemy who rallied. For nearly an hour the struggle continued +desperately, showers of bullets from magazine rifles sweeping along the +usually quiet suburban thoroughfares, until the roads were heaped with +dead and dying, and the houses on either side bore evidence of the +bloody fray. Then at last the guns placed along the hills all fell into +our hands, and the French were almost completely swept out of existence. + +Many were the terrible scenes witnessed in the gardens of the quaint +last-century houses on Denmark Hill. Around those old-world residences, +standing along the road leading down to Half Moon Lane, time-mellowed +relics of an age bygone, Indians fought with Zouaves, and British +Volunteers struggled fiercely hand to hand with French infantrymen. The +quiet old-fashioned quarter, that was an aristocratic retreat when +Camberwell was but a sylvan village with an old toll gate, when cows +chewed the cud upon Walworth Common, and when the Walworth Road had not +a house in the whole of it, was now the scene of a frightful massacre. +The deafening explosions of cordite from magazine rifles, the exultant +shouts of the victors and the hoarse shrieks of the dying, awakened the +echoes in those quaint old gardens, with their Dutch-cut zigzag walks, +enclosed by ancient red brick walls, moss-grown, lichen covered, and +half hidden by ivy, honeysuckle, and creepers. Those spacious grounds, +where men were now being mercilessly slaughtered, had been the scene of +many a brilliant _fete champetre_, where splendid satin-coated _beaux_, +all smiles and _ailes de pigeon_, whispered scandal behind the fans of +dainty dames in high-dressed wigs and patches, or, clad as Watteau +shepherds, had danced the _al fresco_ minuet with similarly attired +shepherdesses, and later on played _piquet_ and drank champagne till +dawn. + +[Illustration: GOORKAS SLAUGHTERING THE FRENCH ARTILLERY AT GREENWICH +OBSERVATORY.] + +In the good old Georgian days, when Johnson walked daily under the trees +in Gough Square, when Macklin was playing the "Man of the World," and +when traitors' heads blackened on Temple Bar, this colony was one of the +most rural, exclusive, and gay in the vicinity of London. Alas, how it +has decayed! Cheap "desirable residences" have sprung up around it, the +hand of the jerry-building Vandal has touched it, the sound of traffic +roars about it; yet still there is a charm in those quaint old gardens +of a forgotten era. From under the dark yew hedges the jonquils still +peep out early--the flowers themselves are those old-fashioned sweet +ones beloved of our grandmothers--and the tea roses still blossom on the +crumbling walls and fill the air with their fragrance. But in this +terrible struggle the walls were used as defences, the bushes were torn +down and trampled under foot, and the flowers hung broken on their +stalks, bespattered with men's blood! + +Proceeding south again, the defenders successfully attacked the strong +batteries on One Tree Hill at Honor Oak, and on Sydenham Hill and Forest +Hill, and then extending across to the Crystal Palace, had joined hands +with our Volunteers from Essex, where they were now wreaking vengeance +for the ruthless destruction caused in London. + +The bloodshed along the Crystal Palace Parade was fearful. The French +infantry and artillery, overwhelmed by the onward rush of the defenders, +and now under the British crossfire, fell in hundreds. Dark-faced Bengal +Lancers and Goorkas, with British Hussars and Volunteers, descended upon +them with appalling swiftness; and so complete was the slaughter, that +of the whole force that had effected that terribly effectual bombardment +from Sydenham, not more than a dozen survived. + +By noon many of the shops on Westow Hill and private residences on +College Hill and Sydenham Hill had been wantonly ignited by the enemy; +but when the firing ceased some hours later, the roads were heaped with +the corpses of those whose mission it had been to destroy London. + +Of all those batteries which had caused such frightful desolation and +loss of life during the night, not one now remained. The two French +columns had been swiftly wiped out of existence; and although our forces +had suffered very considerably, they nevertheless were able to go south +to Croydon later that afternoon, in order to take part in resisting the +vigorous and desperate attack which they knew would sooner or later be +made by the whole French army massed beyond the Surrey Hills. The sun +was on the horizon, and the shadows were already deepening. + +Assistance had arrived tardily, for the damage to property in London +during the night had been enormous; nevertheless at this the eleventh +hour we had inflicted upon the French a crushing defeat, and now England +waited, trembling and breathless, wondering what would be the final +outcome of this fierce, bloody struggle for our national existence. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +FIGHTING ON THE SURREY HILLS. + + +Our valiant defenders were striking swift, decisive blows for England's +honour. The French, demoralised by their severe defeat in the south of +London, and suffering considerable loss in every other direction, fought +desperately during the two days following the disastrous bombardment. + +In darkness and sunlight fierce contests took place along the Surrey +Hills, where our Volunteers, under Major-Gen. Lord Methuen, were still +entrenched. Every copse bristled with rifles; red coats gleamed among +the foliage, and winding highways were, alas! strewn with corpses. +Guildford had again been reoccupied by our Regulars, who were +reorganising; and Leatherhead, holding out for another day, was retaken, +after a terribly hard-fought battle, by the Highland, South of Scotland, +and Glasgow Brigades, with the 1st Ayrshire and Galloway Artillery, +under Col. J. G. Sturrock, V.D.; 1st Lanarkshire, under Col. R. J. +Bennett, V.D.; 1st Aberdeenshire, under Col. J. Ogston, V.D.; and 1st +North Riding Yorkshire Volunteer Artillery, under Major C. L. Bell. In +such a splendid and gallant manner had our comparatively small force +manoeuvred, that on the second night following the bombardment the whole +of the invaders who had penetrated beyond our line of defence towards +the metropolis had been completely wiped out, in addition to which the +breach in our line had been filled up by strong reinforcements, and the +enemy driven from the high ground between Box Hill and Guildford. + +The invaders, finding how vigorously we repelled any attack, made +terrific onslaughts on our position at various points they believed were +vulnerable, but everywhere they were hurled back with appalling +slaughter. Volunteers from Australia and the Cape, in addition to the +other contingent of 10,000 Indian native troops, had been landed near +Southampton, and had advanced to assist in this terrific struggle, upon +the result of which the future of our Empire depended. Among these +Colonials were 500 Victorian Rangers, 900 Victoria Mounted Rifles, and +seven companies of Queensland Mounted Infantry, with two ambulance +corps. + +The Indians landed in splendid form, having brought their full war +equipment with them without any contribution whatever from the Home +Government, as it will be remembered they did when they landed at Malta +during Lord Beaconsfield's administration. Having received intelligence +of the movements of the two columns of the enemy that had gone to London +after taking Leatherhead and Guildford, they pushed on to Petworth. By +the time they arrived there, however, both towns had been recaptured by +the British, who were then being severely harassed by the enemy massed +along the south side of our defensive line. Although numerically +inferior to the enemy occupying that part of the country, the Indians +were already well accustomed to actual warfare, the majority having been +engaged in operations against the hill tribes; therefore the commander +decided to push on at once, and endeavour to outflank the large French +force who with some Russian infantry had again attacked Guildford, and +the manner in which this was accomplished was a single illustration of +the valuable assistance the Indians rendered us in these days of +bloodshed and despair. + +One of the native officers of a Sikh regiment, the Subadar Banerji +Singh, having served with Sir Peter Lumsden's expeditionary force some +years before, had frequently come into contact with the Russians, and +could speak Russian better than some of the soldiers of the Tsar's +Asiatic corps. The commander of the Indian force, determined that his +men should strike their blow and sustain their reputation, advanced with +great caution from Petworth, and late in the afternoon of the second +evening after the bombardment of London, two Sikhs scouting in front of +the advance guard sighted a Russian bivouac on the road on the other +side of the Wye Canal beyond Loxwood Bridge, which latter had been +demolished. The Indians were thereupon halted on the road which runs +through the wood near Plaistow, and the officers held council. Their +information was unfortunately very meagre and their knowledge of the +country necessarily vague; but the Subadar Banerji Singh, who was of +unusually fair complexion, volunteered to don a Russian uniform, which +had been taken with other property from a dead officer found upon the +road, and endeavour in that disguise to penetrate the enemy's lines. + +Towards dusk he set out on his perilous journey, and, on arriving at the +wrecked bridge, shouted over to two Russian sentries, explaining that he +had been wounded and left behind after the fight at Haslemere, and +requesting their assistance to enable him to cross. Believing him to be +one of their infantry officers, they told him there were no means of +crossing unless he could swim, as their engineers had sounded the canal +before blowing up the bridge, and had found it twenty feet deep. + +Banerji Singh questioned them artfully as to the position of their +column, which they said intended, in co-operation with a great force of +French cavalry and infantry, to again attack Guildford at dawn; and +further, they told him in confidence that the rearguard to which they +belonged only numbered about two thousand men, who had halted for the +night with the transport waggons on the Guildford road, about two miles +north of Alfold. + +Then, after further confidences, they suggested that he should continue +along the canal bank for about a mile and a half, where there was a +bridge still intact, and near which he would find the rearguard. + +Thanking them, he withdrew into the falling gloom, and a quarter of an +hour later entered the presence of his commanding officer, who, of +course, was delighted with the information thus elicited. The Subadar +had carefully noted all the features of the canal bank and broken +bridge, and the valuable knowledge he had obtained was at once put to +account, and the General at once formed his force into two divisions. +Then, after issuing instructions for the following day, he gave orders +for a bivouac for the night. + +The pioneers, however, were far from idle. During the night they worked +with unflagging energy, quietly preparing a position for the guns to +cover the contemplated passage at Loxwood Bridge, and before day broke +the guns were mounted, and the Engineers were ready for action. As soon +as there was sufficient light the laying of the pontoon commenced, but +was at once noticed by the Russians, who opened fire, and very soon it +was evident that information had been conveyed to the enemy's rearguard, +and that they were returning to contest the passage. + +In the meantime one division of the Indians, setting out before +daybreak, had been cautiously working round to the main road crossing +the canal north of Alfold, and succeeded in getting over soon after the +majority of the Russian rearguard had left for the assistance of the +detachment at Loxwood Bridge, and, after a sharp, decisive fight, +succeeded in capturing the whole of the transport waggons. The +Engineers, with the Indians, had in the meantime succeeded in completing +their pontoon under cover of the guns, and the second division of the +Indians, dark-faced, daring fellows, rushed across to the opposite bank, +and descended upon the enemy with frightful effect. In the hot +engagement that followed, the Russians, now attacked in both front and +rear, were totally annihilated, and thus the whole of the reserve +ammunition of the force assaulting Guildford fell into our hands. + +This victory on the enemy's left flank caused the tide of events to turn +in our favour, for the huge Russian and French columns that intended to +again carry the hills from Dorking to Guildford were hampered by want +of ammunition, and so vigorously did our Volunteers along the hills +defend the repeated attacks, that the invaders were again driven back. +Then, as they drew south to recover themselves, they were attacked on +their left by a large body of our Regulars, and in the rear by the +Indians and Australians. Over the country stretching across from Cranley +through Ewhurst, Ockley, Capel, and Newdigate to Horley, the fighting +spread, as each side struggled desperately for the mastery. + +The fate of England, nay, of our vast British Empire, was in the hands +of those of her stalwart sons of many races who were now wielding +valiantly the rifle and the sword. Through that blazing September day, +while the people of London wailed among the ruins of their homes, and, +breathlessly anxious, awaited news of their victory or their doom, the +whole of East Kent, the southern portion of Surrey and northern Sussex, +became one huge battlefield. Of the vast bodies of troops massed over +hill and dale every regiment became engaged. + +The butchery was awful. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +NAVAL BATTLE OFF DUNGENESS. + + +On sea England was now showing the world how she still could fight. +Following the desperate struggle off Sardinia, in which Italy had +rendered us such valuable help, our Mediterranean Squadron attacked the +French Fleet off Cape Tresforcas, on the coast of Morocco, and after a +terrific battle, extending over two days, defeated them with heavy loss, +several of the enemy's vessels being torpedoed and sunk, two of them +rammed, and one so badly damaged that her captain ran her ashore on +Alboran Island. + +After this hard-earned victory, our Squadron passed out of the +Mediterranean, and, returning home, had joined hands with the battered +remnant of our Channel Fleet, now reinforced by several vessels recalled +from foreign stations. Therefore, while the enemy marched upon London, +we had collected our naval strength on the south coast, and at length +made a final descent upon the enemy in British waters. The British +vessels that passed Beachy Head coming up Channel on the night of the +bombardment of London included the _Empress of India_, _Inflexible_, +_Nile_, _Trafalgar_, _Magnificent_, _Hood_, _Warspite_, _Dreadnought_, +_Camperdown_, _Blenheim_, _Barham_, _Benbow_, _Monarch_, _Anson_, +_Immortalite_, and _Royal Sovereign_, with four of the new cruisers +built under the Spencer programme, viz. the _Terrible_, _Powerful_, +_Doris_, and _Isis_, and a number of smaller vessels, torpedo boats, and +"destroyers." + +At the same hour that our vessels were passing Beachy Head, the +Coastguard at Sandwich Battery were suddenly alarmed by electric signals +being flashed from a number of warships that were slowly passing the +Gull Stream revolving light towards the Downs. The sensation these +lights caused among the Coastguard and Artillery was immediately +dispelled when it was discovered that the warships were not hostile, but +friendly; that the Kaiser had sent a German Squadron, in two divisions, +to assist us, and that these vessels were on their way to unite with our +own Fleet. The first division, it was ascertained, consisted of the +_Baden_, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Koester; the _Sachen_, +commanded by Prince Henry of Prussia; the _Wuertemberg_, and the +_Bayern_--all of 7400 tons, and each carrying 18 guns and nearly 400 +men; while the despatch boat _Pfeil_, the new dynamite cruiser _Trier_, +and a number of torpedo boats, accompanied them. The second division, +under Rear-Admiral von Diederichs on board the _Koenig Wilhelm_, +consisted of the _Brandenburg_, _Kuerfurst Friedrich Wilhelm_, and +_Woerth_, each of 10,300 tons, and carrying 32 guns; the _Deutschland_ +and the _Friedrich der Grosse_, with the despatch vessel _Wacht_, and +several torpedo gunboats and other craft. + +Before dawn, the British and German Fleets united near South Sand Head +light, off the South Foreland, and it was decided to commence the attack +without delay. Turning west again, the British ships, accompanied by +those of the Emperor William, proceeded slowly down Channel in search of +the enemy, which they were informed by signal had been sighted by the +Coastguard at East Wear, near Folkestone, earlier in the night. Just as +day broke, however, when the defenders were opposite Dymchurch, about +eight miles from land, the enemy were discovered in force. Apparently +the French and Russian Fleets had combined, and were preparing for a +final descent upon Dover, or an assault upon the Thames defences; and it +could be seen that, with both forces so strong, the fight would +inevitably be one to the death. + +Little time was occupied in preliminaries. Soon our ships were within +range in fighting formation in single column in line abreast, while the +French, under Admiral le Bourgeois, advanced in single column in line +ahead. The French flagship, leading, was within 2000 yards of the +British line, and had not disclosed the nature of her attack. The +enemy's Admiral had signalled to the ships astern of him to follow his +motions together, as nearly as possible to concentrate their guns at +point blank, right ahead, and to pour their shot on the instant of +passing our ships. He had but three minutes to decide upon the attack, +and as he apparently elected to pierce the centre of our line, the +British had no time to counteract him. The French Admiral therefore +continued his course, and as he passed between the _Camperdown_ and +_Blenheim_, he discharged his guns, receiving the British broadsides and +bow fire at the same time. In a few minutes, however, it was seen that +the French attack had been frustrated, and as dawn spread the fighting +increased, and the lines became broken. The ponderous guns of the +battleships thundered, and ere long the whole of the great naval force +was engaged in this final struggle for England's freedom. The three +powerful French battleships, _Jaureguiberry_, _Jemappes_, and +_Devastation_, and the submarine torpedo boat _Gustave Zede_, fiercely +attacked the _Brandenburg_ and the _Koenig Wilhelm_; while the +_Camperdown_, _Anson_, _Dreadnought_, and _Warspite_ fought desperately +with half a dozen of the enemy's battleships, all of which suffered +considerably. Our torpedo boats, darting swiftly hither and thither, +performed much effective service, and many smart manoeuvres were carried +out by astute officers in command of those wasps of the sea. In one +instance a torpedo boat, which had designs upon a Russian ironclad, +obtained cover by sending in front of her a gunboat which emitted an +immense quantity of dense smoke. This of course obscured from view the +torpedo boat under the gunboat's stern, and those on board the Tsar's +battleship pounded away at the gunboat, unconscious of the presence of +the dangerous little craft. Just as the gunboat got level with the +battleship, however, the torpedo boat emerged from the cloud of smoke, +and, darting along, ejected its Whitehead with such precision that five +minutes later the Russian leviathan sank beneath the dark green waters. +Almost at the same moment, the new German dynamite cruiser destroyed a +French cruiser, and a fierce and sanguinary encounter took place between +the _Immortalite_ and the _Trehouart_. The former's pair of 22-tonners, +in combination with her ten 6-inch guns, wrought awful havoc on board +the French vessel; nevertheless, from the turret of her opponent there +came a deadly fire which spread death and destruction through the ship. +Suddenly the Frenchman swung round, and with her quick-firing guns +shedding a deadly storm of projectiles, came full upon the British +vessel. The impact and the angle at which she was struck was not, +however, sufficient to ram her, consequently the two vessels became +entangled, and amid the rain of bullets the Frenchmen made a desperate +attempt to board our ship. A few who managed to spring upon the +_Immortalite's_ deck were cut down instantly, but a couple of hundred +fully armed men were preparing to make a rush to overpower our +bluejackets. On board the British cruiser, however, the enemy's +intentions had been divined, and certain precautions taken. The +_Fusiliers Marins_, armed with Lebels and cutlasses, suddenly made a +desperate, headlong rush upon the British cruiser's deck, but just as +fifty of them gained their goal, a great hose attached to one of the +boilers was brought into play, and scalding water poured upon the enemy. +This, in addition to some hand charges at that moment thrown, proved +successful in repelling the attack; but just as the survivors retreated +in disorder there was a dull explosion, and then it was evident, from +the confusion on board the French ship, that she had been torpedoed by a +German boat, and was sinking. + +Humanely, our vessel, the _Immortalite_ rescued the whole of her +opponent's men ere she sank; but it was found that in the engagement her +captain and half her crew had been killed. On every hand the fight +continued with unabated fierceness; every gun was worked to its utmost +capacity, and amid the smoke and din every vessel was swept from stem +to stern. As morning wore on, the enemy met with one or two successes. +Our two new cruisers _Terrible_ and _Powerful_ had been sunk by French +torpedoes; the _Hood_ had been rammed by the _Amiral Baudin_, and gone +to the bottom with nearly every soul on board; while the German despatch +boat _Wacht_ had been captured, and seven of our torpedo boats had been +destroyed. During the progress of the fight, the vessels came gradually +nearer Dungeness, and at eleven o'clock they were still firing at each +other, with appalling results on either side. At such close quarters did +this great battle occur, that the loss of life was awful, and throughout +the ships the destruction was widespread and frightful. About noon the +enemy experienced two reverses. The French battleship _Formidable_ blew +up with a terrific report, filling the air with debris, her magazine +having exploded; while just at that moment the _Courbet_, whose +48-tonners had caused serious damage to the _Warspite_, was suddenly +rammed and sunk by the _Empress of India_. + +This, the decisive battle, was the most vigorously contested naval fight +during the whole of the hostilities. The scene was terrible. The steel +leviathans of the sea were being rent asunder and pulverised by the +terribly destructive modern arms, and amid the roar and crashing of the +guns, shells were bursting everywhere, carrying away funnels, fighting +tops, and superstructures, and wrecking the crowded spaces between the +decks. Turrets and barbettes were torn away, guns dismounted by the +enormous shells from heavy guns; steel armour was torn up and thrown +aside like paper, and many shots entering broadsides, passed clean +through and out at the other side. Whitehead torpedoes, carrying heavy +charges of gun-cotton, exploded now and then under the enemy's ships; +while both British and French torpedo boat "destroyers," running at the +speed of an ordinary train, were sinking or capturing where they could. + +Through the dull, gloomy afternoon the battle continued. Time after time +our ships met with serious reverses, for the _Anson_ was sunk by the +Russian flagship _Alexander II._, assisted by two French cruisers, and +this catastrophe was followed almost immediately by the torpedoing of +the new British cruiser _Doris_, and the capture of the new German +dynamite cruiser _Trier_. + +[Illustration: +_H.M.S. Royal Sovereign._ _H.M.S. Camperdown._ _Amiral Baudin._ +_Russian flagship blown up._ +_H.M.S. Warspite._ _Cecille._ +FINAL BATTLE OFF DUNGENESS: "THE SCENE OF DESTRUCTION WAS APPALLING."] + +By this time, however, the vessels had approached within three miles of +Dungeness, and the _Camperdown_, _Empress of India_, _Royal Sovereign_, +_Inflexible_, and _Warspite_, lying near one another, fought nine of the +enemy's vessels, inflicting upon them terrible punishment. Shots from +the 67-tonners of the _Empress of India_, _Royal Sovereign_, and +_Camperdown_, combined with those from the 22-tonners of the _Warspite_, +swept the enemy's vessels with devastating effect, and during the +three-quarters of an hour that the fight between these vessels lasted, +the scene of destruction was appalling. Suddenly, with a brilliant flash +and deafening detonation, the Russian flagship _Alexander II._, one of +the vessels now engaging the five British ships, blew up and sank, and +ere the enemy could recover from the surprise this disaster caused them, +the _Camperdown_ rammed the _Amiral Baudin_, while the _Warspite_ sank +the French cruiser _Cecille_, the submarine boat _Gustave Zede_, and +afterwards captured the torpedo gunboat _Bombe_. + +This rapid series of terrible disasters apparently demoralised the +enemy. They fought recklessly, and amid the din and confusion two +Russian vessels collided, and were so seriously damaged that both +settled down, their crews being rescued by British torpedo boats. +Immediately afterwards, however, a frightful explosion rent the air with +a deafening sound that dwarfed into insignificance the roar of the heavy +guns, and the French battleship _Jaureguiberry_ was completely broken +into fragments, scarcely any of her hull remaining. The enemy were +amazed. A few moments later another explosion occurred, even louder than +the first. For a second the French battleship _Devastation_, which had +been engaging the _Royal Sovereign_, was obscured by a brilliant flash, +then, as fragments of steel and human limbs were precipitated on every +side, it was seen that that vessel also had been completely blown out of +the water! + +The enemy stood appalled. The defenders themselves were at first +dumfounded. A few moments later, however, it became known throughout the +British ships that the battery at Dungeness, two miles and a half +distant, were rendering assistance with the new pneumatic gun, the +secret of which the Government had guarded so long and so well. Five +years before, this frightfully deadly weapon had been tested, and proved +so successful that the one gun made was broken up and the plans +preserved with the utmost secrecy in a safe at the War Office. Now, +however, several of the weapons had been constructed, and one of them +had been placed in the battery at Dungeness. The British vessels drew +off to watch the awful effect of the fire from these marvellous and +terribly destructive engines of modern warfare. The enemy would not +surrender, so time after time the deafening explosions sounded, and time +after time the hostile ships were shattered into fragments. + +Each shot fired by this new pneumatic gun contained 900 lbs. of +dynamite, which could strike effectively at four miles! The result of +such a charge exploding on a ship was appalling; the force was terrific, +and could not be withstood by the strongest vessel ever constructed. +Indeed, the great armoured vessels were being pulverised as easily as +glass balls struck by bullets, and every moment hundreds of poor fellows +were being hurled into eternity. At last the enemy discovered the +distant source of the fire, and prepared to escape beyond range; but in +this they were unsuccessful, for, after a renewed and terrific fight, in +which three French ironclads were sunk and two of our cruisers were +torpedoed, our force and our allies the Germans succeeded in capturing +the remainder of the hostile ships and torpedo boats. + +The struggle had been frightful, but the victory was magnificent. + +That same night the British ships steamed along the Sussex coast and +captured the whole of the French and Russian transports, the majority of +which were British vessels that had been seized while lying in French +and Russian ports at the time war was declared. The vessels were lying +between Beachy Head and Selsey Bill, and by their capture the enemy's +means of retreat were at once totally cut off. + +Thus, at the eleventh hour, the British Navy had shown itself worthy of +its reputation, and England regained the supremacy of the seas. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +THE DAY OF RECKONING. + + +The Day of Reckoning dawned. + +On land the battle was terrific; the struggle was the most fierce and +bloody of any during the invasion. The British Regulars holding the high +ground along from Crowborough to Ticehurst, and from Etchingham, through +Brightling and Ashburnham, down to Battle, advanced in a huge fighting +line upon the enemy's base around Eastbourne. The onslaught was +vigorously repelled, and the battle across the Sussex Downs quickly +became a most wild and sanguinary one; but as the day passed, although +the defenders were numerically very weak, they nevertheless gradually +effected terrible slaughter, capturing the whole of the enemy's stores, +and taking nearly five thousand prisoners. + +In Kent the French had advanced from East Grinstead through Edenbridge, +extending along the hills south of Westerham, and in consequence of +these rapid successes the depot of stores and ammunition which had been +maintained at Sevenoaks was being removed to Bromley by rail; but as the +officer commanding the British troops at Eynsford could see that it +would most probably be impossible to get them all away before Sevenoaks +was attacked, orders were issued that at a certain hour the remainder +should be destroyed. The force covering the removal only consisted of +two battalions of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment and +half a squadron of the 9th Lancers; but the hills north of Sevenoaks +from Luddesdown through Stanstead, Otford, Shoreham, Halstead, +Farnborough, and Keston were still held by our Volunteers. These +infantry battalions included the 1st and 2nd Derbyshire Regiment +(Sherwood Foresters), under Col. A. Buchanan, V.D., and Col. E. Hall, +V.D.; the 1st Nottinghamshire, under Col. A. Cantrell-Hubbersty; the 4th +Derbyshire, under Lord Newark; the 1st and 2nd Lincolnshire, under Col. +J. G. Williams, V.D., and Col. R. G. Ellison; the 1st Leicestershire, +under Col. S. Davis, V.D.; the 1st Northamptonshire, under Col. T. J. +Walker, V.D.; the 1st and 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry, under Col. J. +A. Anstice, V.D., and Col. R. T. Masefield; the 1st Herefordshire, under +Col. T. H. Purser, V.D.; the 1st, 3rd, and 4th South Wales Borderers, +under Col. T. Wood, Col. J. A. Bradney, and Col. H. Burton, V.D.; the +1st and 2nd Warwickshire, under Col. W. S. Jervis and Col. L. V. Loyd; +the 1st and 2nd Welsh Fusiliers, under Col. C. S. Mainwaring and Col. B. +G. D. Cooke, V.D.; the 2nd Welsh Regiment, under Col. A. P. Vivian, +V.D.; the 3rd Glamorganshire, under Col. J. C. Richardson, V.D.; and the +1st Worcestershire, under Col. W. H. Talbot, V.D.; while the artillery +consisted of the 3rd Kent, under Col. Hozier; the 1st Monmouthshire, +under Col. C. T. Wallis; the 1st Shropshire and Staffordshire, under +Col. J. Strick, V.D.; and the 5th Lancashire, under Col. W. H. Hunt. + +The events which occurred outside Sevenoaks are perhaps best described +by Capt. A. E. Brown, of the 4th V.B. West Surrey Regiment, who was +acting as one of the special correspondents of the _Standard_. He +wrote-- + +"I was in command of a piquet consisting of fifty men of my regiment at +Turvan's Farm, and about three hours before the time to destroy the +remainder of the stores at Sevenoaks my sentries were suddenly driven in +by the enemy, who were advancing from the direction of Froghall. As I +had orders to hold the farm at any cost, we immediately prepared for +action. Fortunately we had a fair supply of provisions and plenty of +ammunition, for since War had broken out the place had been utilised as +a kind of outlying fort, although at this time only my force occupied +it. Our equipment included two machine guns, and it was mainly by the +aid of these we were saved. + +"The strength of the attacking force appeared to be about four +battalions of French infantry and a battalion of Zouaves, with two +squadrons of Cuirassiers. Their intention was, no doubt, to cut the +railway line near Twitton, and thus prevent the removal of the Sevenoaks +stores. As soon as the cavalry scouts came within range we gave them a +few sharp volleys, and those who were able immediately retired in +disorder. Soon afterwards, however, the farm was surrounded, but I had +previously sent information to our reserves, and suggested that a sharp +watch should be kept upon the line from Twitton to Sevenoaks, for of +course I could do nothing with my small force. Dusk was now creeping on, +and as the enemy remained quiet for a short time it seemed as though +they intended to assault our position when it grew dark. + +"Before night set in, however, my messenger, who had managed to elude +the vigilance of the enemy, returned, with a letter from a brother +officer stating that a great naval battle had been fought in the +Channel; and further, that the enemy's retreat had been cut off, and +that the Kentish defenders had already retaken the invaders' base at +Eastbourne. If we could, therefore, still hold the Surrey Hills, there +was yet a chance of thoroughly defeating the French and Russians, even +though one strong body was reported as having taken Guildford and +Leatherhead, and was now marching upon London. + +"As evening drew on we could hear heavy firing in the direction of +Sevenoaks, but as we also heard a train running it became evident that +we still held the station. Nevertheless, soon after dark there was a +brilliant flash which for a second lit up the country around like day, +and a terrific report followed. We knew the remainder of our stores and +ammunition had been demolished in order that it should not fall into the +enemy's hands! + +"Shortly afterwards we were vigorously attacked, and our position +quickly became almost untenable by the dozens of bullets projected in +every direction where the flash of our rifles could be seen. Very soon +some of the farm outbuildings fell into the hands of the Frenchmen, and +they set them on fire, together with a number of haystacks, in order to +burn us out. This move, however, proved pretty disastrous to them, for +the leaping flames quickly rendered it light as day, and showed them up, +while at the same time flashes from our muzzles were almost invisible to +them. Thus we were enabled to bring our two machine guns into action, +and break up every party of Frenchmen who showed themselves. Away over +Sevenoaks there was a glare in the sky, for the enemy were looting and +burning the town. Meanwhile, however, our men who had been defending the +place had retreated to Dunton Green after blowing up the stores, and +there they re-formed and were quickly moving off in the direction of +Twitton. Fortunately they had heard the commencement of the attack on +us, and the commander, halting his force, had sent out scouts towards +Chevening, and it appeared they reached us just at the moment the enemy +had fired the stacks. They worked splendidly, and, after going nearly +all round the enemy's position, returned and reported to their Colonel, +who at once resolved to relieve us. + +"As may be imagined, we were in a most critical position by this time, +especially as we were unaware that assistance was so near. We had been +ordered to hold the farm, and we meant to do it as long as breath +remained in our bodies. All my men worked magnificently, and displayed +remarkable coolness, even at the moment when death stared us in the +face. The reports of the scouts enabled their Colonel to make his +disposition very carefully, and it was not long before the enemy were +almost completely surrounded. We afterwards learnt that our reserves at +Stockholm Wood had sent out a battalion, which fortunately came in touch +with the survivors of the Sevenoaks force just as they opened a +desperate onslaught upon the enemy. + +"With the fierce flames and blinding smoke from the burning stacks +belching in our faces, we fought on with fire around us on every side. +As the fire drew nearer to us the heat became intense, the showers of +sparks galled us almost as much as the enemy's bullets, and some of us +had our eyebrows and hair singed by the fierce flames. Indeed, it was as +much as we could do to keep our ammunition from exploding; nevertheless +we kept up our stream of lead, pouring volley after volley upon those +who had attacked us. Nevertheless, with such a barrier of flame and +obscuring smoke between us we could see but little in the darkness +beyond, and we all knew that if we emerged from cover we should be +picked off easily and not a man would survive. The odds were against us. +More than twenty of my brave fellows had fired their last shot, and now +lay with their dead upturned faces looking ghastly in the brilliant +glare, while a number of others had sunk back wounded. The heat was +frightful, the smoke stifling, and I had just given up all hope of +relief, and had set my teeth, determined to die like an Englishman +should, when we heard a terrific volley of musketry at close quarters, +and immediately afterwards a dozen British bugles sounded the charge. +The scene of carnage that followed was terrible. Our comrades gave one +volley from their magazines rifles, and then charged with the bayonet, +taking the enemy completely by surprise. + +"The Frenchmen tried to rally, but in vain, and among those huge burning +barns and blazing ricks they all fell or were captured. Dozens of them +struggled valiantly till the last; but, refusing to surrender, they were +slaughtered amid a most frightful scene of blood and fire. The events of +that night were horrible, and the true extent of the losses on both +sides was only revealed when the flames died down and the parting clouds +above heralded another grey and toilsome day." + +Late on the previous evening the advance guard of the enemy proceeding +north towards Caterham came in touch with the defenders north of +Godstone. The French cavalry had seized Red Hill Junction Station at +sundown, and some of their scouts suddenly came upon a detached post of +the 17th Middlesex Volunteers at Tyler's Green, close to Godstone. A +very sharp skirmish ensued, but the Volunteers, although suffering +severe losses, held their own, and the cavalry went off along the Oxted +Road. This being reported to the British General, special orders were at +once sent to Col. Trotter, the commander of this section of the outpost +line. + +From the reports of the inhabitants and of scouts sent out in plain +clothes, it was believed that the French intended massing near +Tandridge, and that they would therefore wait for supports before +attempting to break through our outpost line, which still remained +intact from the high ground east of Leatherhead to the hills north of +Sevenoaks. During the night Oxted and Godstone were occupied by the +enemy, and early in the morning their advance guard, consisting of four +battalions of infantry, a squadron of cavalry, a battalion of Zouaves, +and a section of field artillery, proceeded north in two columns, one +along the Roman road leading past Rook's Nest, and the other past +Flinthall Farm. + +At the latter place the sentries of the 17th Middlesex fell back upon +their piquets, and both columns of the enemy came into action +simultaneously. The French infantry on the high road soon succeeded in +driving back the Volunteer piquet upon the supports, under Lieut. +Michaelis, stationed at the junction of the Roman road with that leading +to Godstone Quarry. A strong barricade with two deep trenches in front +had here been constructed, and as soon as the survivors of the piquet +got under cover, two of the defenders' machine guns opened fire from +behind the barricade, assisted at the same moment by a battery on +Gravelly Hill. + +The French artillery had gone on towards Flinthall Farm, but in passing +the north edge of Rook's Nest Park their horses were shot by some +Inniskilling Fusiliers lying in ambush, and by these two reverses, +combined with the deadly fire from the two machine guns at the farm, the +column was very quickly thrown into confusion. It was then decided to +make a counter attack, and the available companies at this section of +the outpost line, under Col. Brown and Col. Roche, succeeded, after +nearly two hours' hard fighting, in retaking Godstone and Oxted, +compelling the few survivors of the enemy's advance guard to fall back +to Blindley Heath. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE OF CATERHAM: PLAN OF THE BRITISH POSITIONS.] + +In the meantime our troops occupying the line from Halstead to Chatham +and Maidstone went down into battle, attacking the French right wing at +the same time as the Indians were attacking their left, while the +Volunteers from the Surrey Hills engaged the main body. The day was +blazing hot, the roads dusty, and there was scarce a breath of wind. So +hot, indeed, was it, that many on both sides fell from hunger, thirst, +and sheer starvation. Yet, although the force of the invaders was nearly +twice the numerical strength of the defenders, the latter fought on with +undaunted courage, striking their swift, decisive blows for England and +their Queen. + +The enemy, now driven into a triangle, fought with demoniacal strength, +and that frenzied courage begotten of despair. On the hills around +Sevenoaks and across to the valley at Otford, the slaughter of the +French was fearful. Britons fighting for their homes and their country +were determined that Britannia should still be Ruler of the World. + +From Wimlet Hill the enemy were by noon totally cut up and routed by the +12th Middlesex (Civil Service), under Lord Bury; the 25th (Bank), under +Capt. W. J. Coe, V.D.; the 13th (Queen's), under Col. J. W. Comerford; +the 21st Middlesex, under Col. H. B. Deane, V.D.; and the 22nd, under +Col. W. J. Alt, V.D. Over at Oxted, however, they rallied, and some +brilliant charges by Cossacks, the slaughter of a portion of our advance +guard, and the capture of one of our Volunteer batteries on Botley Hill, +checked our advance. + +The French, finding their right flank being so terribly cut up, had +suddenly altered their tactics, and were now concentrating their forces +upon the Volunteer position at Caterham in an endeavour to break through +our defensive line. + +But the hills about that position held by the North London, West London, +South London, Surrey, and Cheshire Brigades were well defended, and the +General had his finger upon the pulse of his command. Most of the +positions had been excellently chosen. Strong batteries were established +at Gravelly Hill by the 9th Lancashire Volunteer Artillery, under Col. +F. Ainsworth, V.D.; at Harestone Farm by the 1st Cinque Ports, under +Col. P. S. Court, V.D.; at White Hill by the 1st Northumberland and the +1st Norfolk, under Col. P. Watts and Col. T. Wilson, V.D.; at Botley +Hill by the 6th Lancashire, under Col. H. J. Robinson, V.D.; at +Tandridge Hill by the 3rd Lancashire, under Col. R. W. Thom, V.D.; at +Chaldon by the 1st Newcastle, under Col. W. M. Angus, V.D., who had come +south after the victory at the Tyneside; at Warlingham village by the +1st Cheshire, commanded by Col. H. T. Brown, V.D.; at Warlingham Court +by the 2nd Durham, under Col. J. B. Eminson, V.D.; on the Sanderstead +road, near King's Wood, by the 2nd Cinque Ports, under Col. W. Taylor, +V.D.; and on the railway near Woldingham the 1st Sussex had stationed +their armoured train with 40-pounder breech-loading Armstrongs, which +they fired very effectively from the permanent way. + +Through Limpsfield, Oxted, Godstone, Bletchingley, and Nutsfield, +towards Reigate, Frenchmen and Britons fought almost hand to hand. The +defenders suffered severely, owing to the repeated charges of the French +Dragoons along the highway between Oxted and Godstone, nevertheless the +batteries of the 6th Lancashire on Tandridge Hill, which commanded a +wide area of country occupied by the enemy, wrought frightful execution +in their ranks. In this they were assisted by the 17th Middlesex, under +Col. W. J. Brown, V.D., who with four Maxims at one period of the fight +surprised and practically annihilated a whole battalion of French +infantry. But into this attack on Caterham the enemy put his whole +strength, and from noon until four o'clock the fighting along the valley +was a fierce combat to the death. + +With every bit of cover bristling with magazine rifles, and every +available artillery position shedding forth a storm of bullets and +shell, the loss of life was awful. Invaders and defenders fell in +hundreds, and with burning brow and dry parched throat expired in agony. +The London Irish, under Col. J. Ward, V.D.; the Post Office Corps, under +Col. J. Du Plat Taylor, V.D., and Col. S. R. Thompson, V.D.; the Inns of +Court, under Col. C. H. Russell, V.D.; and the Cyclists, led by Major T. +De B. Holmes, performed many gallant deeds, and served their country +well. The long, dusty highways were quickly covered with the bodies of +the unfortunate victims, who lay with blanched, bloodless faces and +sightless eyes turned upward to the burning sun. On over them rode madly +French cavalry and Cossacks, cutting their way into the British +infantry, never to return. + +Just, however, as they prepared for another terrific onslaught, the guns +of the 1st Cheshire battery at Warlingham village thundered, and with +smart section volleys added by detachments of the London Scottish, under +Major W. Brodie, V.D., and the Artists, under Capt. W. L. Duffield and +Lieut. Pott, the road was in a few minutes strewn with horses and men +dead and dying. + +Still onward there rushed along the valley great masses of French +infantry, but the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Volunteer Battalions of the Royal +Fusiliers, under Col. G. C. Clark, V.D., Col. A. L. Keller, and Col. L. +Whewell respectively; the 2nd V. B. Middlesex Regiment, under Col. G. +Brodie Clark, V.D.; the 3rd Middlesex, under Col. R Hennell, D.S.O., +late of the Indian Army; and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th West Surrey, +under Col. J. Freeland, V.D., Col. G. Drewitt, V.D., Col. S. B. +Bevington, V.D., and Col. F. W. Haddan, V.D., engaged them, and by dint +of desperate effort, losing heavily all the time, they defeated them, +drove them back, and slaughtered them in a manner that to a +non-combatant was horrible and appalling. Time after time, the enemy, +still being harassed by the British Regulars on their right, charged up +the valley, in order to take the battery at Harestone Farm; but on each +occasion few of those who dashed forward survived. The dusty roads, the +grassy slopes, and the ploughed lands were covered with corpses, and +blood draining into the springs and rivulets tinged their crystal +waters. + +As afternoon passed and the battle continued, it was by no means certain +that success in this fierce final struggle would lie with us. Having +regard to the enormous body of invaders now concentrated on the Surrey +border, and striving by every device to force a passage through our +lines, our forces, spread over such a wide area and outflanking them, +were necessarily weak. It was therefore only by the excellent tactics +displayed by our officers, and the magnificent courage of the men +themselves, that we had been enabled to hold back these overwhelming +masses, which had already desolated Sussex with fire and sword. + +Our Regulars operating along the old Roman highway through Blindley +Heath--where the invaders were making a desperate stand--and over to +Lingfield, succeeded, after very hard fighting, in clearing the enemy +off the railway embankment from Crowhurst along to South Park Farm, and +following them up, annihilated them. + +Gradually, just at sundown, a strong division of the enemy were +outflanked at Godstone, and, refusing to lay down their arms, were +simply swept out of existence, scarcely a single man escaping. Thus +forced back from, perhaps, the most vulnerable point in our defences, +the main body of the enemy were then driven away upon Redhill, still +fighting fiercely. Over Redstone Hill, through Mead Vale, and across +Reigate Park to the Heath, the enemy were shot down in hundreds by our +Regulars; while our Volunteers, whose courage never deserted them, +engaged the French in hand-to-hand encounters through the streets of +Redhill and Reigate, as far as Underhill Park. + +In Hartswood a company of the 4th East Surrey Rifles, under Major S. B. +Wheaton, V.D., were lying in ambush, when suddenly among the trees they +caught glimpses of red, baggy trousers, and scarlet, black-tasselled +fezes, and a few seconds later they found that a large force of Zouaves +were working through the wood. A few moments elapsed, and the combat +commenced. The Algerians fought like demons, and with bullet and bayonet +inflicted terrible punishment upon us; but as they emerged into the road +preparatory to firing a volley into the thickets, they were surprised by +a company of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment, +under Capt. Pott, who killed and wounded half their number, and took the +remainder prisoners. + +Gradually our Volunteer brigades occupying the long range of hills +united with our Regulars still on the enemy's right from Reigate to +Crawley, and closed down upon the foe, slowly narrowing the sphere of +their operations, and by degrees forcing them back due westward. +Russians and French, who had attacked Dorking, had by this time been +defeated with heavy loss, and by dusk the main body had been thrown back +to Newdigate, where in Reffold's Copse one or two very sanguinary +encounters occurred. These, however, were not always in our favour, for +the Civil Service Volunteers here sustained very heavy losses. On the +railway embankment, and on the road running along the crest of the hill +to Dorking, the French made a stand, and there wrought frightful +execution among our men with their machine guns. Around Beare Green, +Trout's Farm, and behind the "White Hart" at Holmwood, the enemy rapidly +brought their guns into play, and occupied such strong strategic +positions that as night drew on it became evident that they intended to +remain there until the morrow. + +The defenders had but little cover, and consequently felt the withering +fire of the French very severely. The latter had entrenched themselves, +and now in the darkness it was difficult for our men to discern their +exact position. Indeed, the situation of our forces became very serious +and unsafe as night proceeded; but at length, about ten o'clock, a +strong force of British Regulars, including the Sikhs and a detachment +of Australians, swept along the road from Dorking, and came suddenly +upon the French patrols. These were slaughtered with little resistance, +and almost before the enemy were aware of it, the whole position was +completely surrounded. + +Our men then used their field search-lights with very great advantage; +for, as the enemy were driven out into the open, they were blinded by +the glare, and fell an easy prey to British rifles; while the +Frenchmen's own machine guns were turned upon them with frightful +effect, their battalions being literally mowed down by the awful hail of +bullets. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +"FOR ENGLAND!" + + +Through the whole night the battle still raged furiously. The enemy +fought on with reckless, unparalleled daring. Chasseurs and Zouaves, +Cuirassiers, Dragoons, and infantry from the Loire and the Rhone +struggled desperately, contesting every step, and confident of ultimate +victory. + +But the enemy had at last, by the splendid tactics of the defenders, +been forced into a gradually contracting square, bounded by Dorking and +Guildford in the north, and Horsham and Billinghurst in the south, and +soon after midnight, with a concentric movement from each of the four +corners, British Regulars and Volunteers advanced steadily upon the foe, +surrounding and slaughtering them. + +The horrors of that night were frightful; the loss of life on every hand +enormous. Britannia had husbanded her full strength until this critical +moment; for now, when the fate of her Empire hung upon a single thread, +she sent forth her valiant sons, who fell upon those who had desecrated +and destroyed their homes, and wreaked a terrible vengeance. + +Through the dark, sultry hours this awful destruction of life continued +with unabated fury, and many a Briton closed with his foe in death +embrace, or fell forward mortally wounded. Of British heroes there were +many that night, for true pluck showed itself everywhere, and Englishmen +performed many deeds worthy their traditions as the most courageous +and undaunted among nations. + +[Illustration: BRITISH BLUEJACKETS MARCHING THROUGH THE STRAND AFTER THE +VICTORY.] + +Although the French Commander-in-chief had been killed, yet the enemy +still fought on tenaciously, holding their ground on Leith Hill and +through Pasture Wood to Wotton and Abinger, until at length, when the +saffron streak in the sky heralded another blazing day, the straggling, +exhausted remnant of the once-powerful legions of France and Russia, +perspiring, dust-covered, and bloodstained, finding they stood alone, +and that the whole of Sussex and Surrey had been swept and their +comrades slaughtered, laid down their arms and eventually surrendered. + +After these three breathless days of butchery and bloodshed England was +at last victorious! + +In this final struggle for Britain's freedom the invader had been +crushed and his power broken; for, thanks to our gallant citizen +soldiers, the enemy that had for weeks overrun our smiling land like +packs of hungry wolves, wantonly burning our homes and massacring the +innocent and unprotected, had at length met with their well-merited +deserts, and now lay spread over the miles of pastures, cornfields, and +forests, stark, cold, and dead. + +Britain had at last vanquished the two powerful nations that had sought +by ingenious conspiracy to accomplish her downfall. + +Thousands of her brave sons had, alas! fallen while fighting under the +British flag. Many of the principal streets of her gigantic capital were +only parallel lines of gaunt, blackened ruins, and many of her finest +cities lay wrecked, shattered, and desolate; yet this terrible ordeal +had happily not weakened her power one iota, nor had she been ousted +from her proud position as chief among the mighty Empires of the world. + +Three days after the great and decisive battle of Caterham, the British +troops, with their compatriots from the Cape, Australia, Canada, and +India, entered London triumphantly, bringing with them some thousands of +French and Russian prisoners. In the streets, as, ragged and dusty, +Britain's defenders passed through on their way to a great Open-Air +Thanksgiving Service in Hyde Park, there were scenes of the wildest +enthusiasm. With heartfelt gratitude, the people, scrambling over the +debris heaped each side of the streets, cheered themselves hoarse; the +men grasping the hands of Volunteers and veterans, and the women, +weeping for joy, raising the soldiers' hands to their lips. The glad +tidings of victory caused rejoicings everywhere. England, feeling +herself free, breathed again. In every church and chapel through the +United Kingdom special Services of Thanksgiving for deliverance from the +invaders' thrall were held, while in every town popular fetes were +organised, and delighted Britons gaily celebrated their magnificent and +overwhelming triumph. + +In this disastrous struggle between nations France had suffered +frightfully. Paris, bombarded and burning, capitulated on the day +following the battle of Caterham, and the legions of the Kaiser marched +up the Boulevards with their brilliant cavalry uniforms flashing in the +sun. Over the Hotel de Ville, the Government buildings on the Quai +d'Orsay, and the Ministries of War and Marine, the German flag was +hoisted, and waved lazily in the autumn breeze, while the Emperor +William himself had an interview with the French President at the +Elysee. + +That evening all France knew that Paris had fallen. In a few days +England was already shipping back to Dieppe and Riga her prisoners of +war, and negotiations for peace had commenced. As security against any +further attempts on England, Italian troops were occupying the whole of +Southern France from Grenoble to Bordeaux; and the Germans, in addition +to occupying Paris, had established their headquarters in Moghilev, and +driven back the Army of the Tsar far beyond the Dnieper. + +From both France and Russia, Germany demanded huge indemnities, as well +as a large tract of territory in Poland, and the whole of the vast +Champagne country from Givet, on the Belgian frontier, down to the +Saone. + +Ten days later France was forced to accept the preliminaries of a treaty +which we proposed. This included the cession to us of Algiers, with its +docks and harbour, so that we might establish another naval station in +the Mediterranean, and the payment of an indemnity of L250,000,000. Our +demands upon Russia at the same time were that she should withdraw all +her troops from Bokhara, and should cede to us the whole of that portion +of the Trans-Caspian territory lying between the mouths of the Oxus and +Kizil Arvat, thence along the Persian frontier to Zulfikai, along the +Afghan frontier to Karki, and from there up the bank of the Oxus to the +Aral Sea. This vast area of land included the cities of Khiva and Merv, +the many towns around Kara Khum, the country of the Kara Turkomans, the +Tekeh and the Yomuts, and the annexation of it by Britain would +effectually prevent the Russians ever advancing upon India. + +Upon these huge demands, in addition to the smaller ones by Italy and +Austria, a Peace Conference was opened at Brussels without delay, and at +length France and her Muscovite ally, both vanquished and ruined, were +compelled to accept the proposals of Britain and Germany. + +Hence, on November 16th, 1897, the Treaty of Peace was signed, and eight +days later was ratified. Then the huge forces of the Kaiser gradually +withdrew into Germany, and the soldiers of King Humbert recrossed the +Alps, while we shipped back the remainder of our prisoners, reopened our +trade routes, and commenced rebuilding our shattered cities. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +DAWN. + + +A raw, cold December morning in London. With the exception of a +statuesque sentry on the Horse Guards' Parade, the wide open space was +deserted. It had not long been light, and a heavy yellow mist still hung +over the grass in St. James's Park. + +A bell clanged mournfully. Big Ben chimed the hour, and then boomed +forth eight o'clock. An icy wind swept across the gravelled square. The +bare, black branches of the stunted trees creaked and groaned, and the +lonely sentry standing at ease before his box rubbed his hands and +shivered. + +Suddenly a side door opened, and there emerged a small procession. +Slowly there walked in front a clergyman bare-headed, reciting with +solemn intonation the Burial Service. Behind him, with unsteady step and +bent shoulders, a trembling man with blanched, haggard face, and a wild +look of terror in his dark, deep-sunken eyes. He wore a shabby +morning-coat tightly buttoned, and his hands in bracelets of steel were +behind his back. + +Glancing furtively around at the grey dismal landscape, he shuddered. +Beside and behind him soldiers tramped on in silence. + +The officer's sword grated along the gravel. + +Suddenly a word of command caused them to halt against a wall, and a +sergeant, stepping forward, took a handkerchief and tied it over the +eyes of the quivering culprit, who now stood with his back against the +wall. Another word from the officer, and the party receded some +distance, leaving the man alone. The monotonous nasal utterances of the +chaplain still sounded as four privates advanced, and, halting, stood in +single rank before the prisoner. + +[Illustration: EXECUTION OF VON BEILSTEIN ON THE HORSE GUARDS' PARADE.] + +They raised their rifles. There was a momentary pause. In the distance a +dog howled dismally. + +A sharp word of command broke the quiet. + +Then, a second later, as four rifles rang out simultaneously, the +condemned man tottered forward and fell heavily on the gravel, shot +through the heart. + +It was the spy and murderer, Karl von Beilstein! + +He had been brought from Glasgow to London in order that certain +information might be elicited from him, and after his actions had been +thoroughly investigated by a military court, he had been sentenced to +death. The whole of his past was revealed by his valet Grevel, and it +was proved that, in addition to bringing the great disaster upon +England, he had also betrayed the country whose roubles purchased his +cunningly-obtained secrets. + +Geoffrey Engleheart, although gallantly assisting in the fight outside +Leatherhead, and subsequently showing conspicuous bravery during the +Battle of Caterham, fortunately escaped with nothing more severe than a +bullet wound in the arm. During the searching private inquiry held at +the Foreign Office after peace was restored, he explained the whole of +the circumstances, and was severely reprimanded for his indiscretion; +but as no suspicion of von Beilstein's real motive had been aroused +prior to the Declaration of War, and as it was proved that Geoffrey was +entirely innocent of any complicity in the affair, he was, at the urgent +request of Lord Stanbury, allowed to resume his duties. Shortly +afterwards he was married to Violet Vayne, and Sir Joseph, having +recovered those of his ships that had been seized by the Russian +Government, was thereby enabled to give his daughter a handsome dowry. + +The young French clerk who had been engaged at the Admiralty, and who +had committed murder for gold, escaped to Spain, and, after being +hunted by English and Spanish detectives for many weeks, he became +apparently overwhelmed by remorse. Not daring to show himself by day, +nor to claim the money that had been promised him, he had tramped on +through the snow from village to village in the unfrequented valleys of +Lerida, while his description was being circulated throughout the +Continent. Cold, weary, and hungry, he one night entered the Posada de +las Pijorras at the little town of Oliana, at the foot of the Sierra del +Cadi. Calling for wine, he took up a dirty crumpled copy of the Madrid +_Globo_, three days old. A paragraph, headed "The Missing Spy," caught +his eyes, and, reading eagerly, he found to his dismay that the police +were aware that he had been in Huesca a week before, and were now using +bloodhounds to track him! + +The paper fell from his nerveless grasp. The wine at his elbow he +swallowed at one gulp, and, tossing down his last real upon the table, +he rose and stumbled away blindly into the darkness. + +When the wintry dawn spread in that silent, distant valley, it showed a +corpse lying in the snow with face upturned. In the white wrinkled brow +was a small dark-blue hole from which blood had oozed over the pallid +cheek, leaving an ugly stain. The staring eyes were wide open, with a +look of unutterable horror in them, and beside the thin clenched hand +lay a revolver, one chamber of which had been discharged! + + * * * * * + +The dreary gloom of winter passed, and there dawned a new era of +prosperity for England. + +Dark days were succeeded by a period of happiness and rejoicing, and +Britannia, grasping her trident again, seated herself on her shield +beside the sea, Ruler of the Waves, Queen of Nations, and Empress of the +World. + +THE END. + +MORRISON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. + + + + +_Ready shortly, price 6s._ +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth gilt. + +ZORAIDA. +_A ROMANCE OF THE HAREM AND THE DESERT._ + +BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX, F.R.G.S., +AUTHOR OF "THE GREAT WAR IN 1897." +_PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED BY H. PIFFARD._ + + * * * * * + +_Ready shortly, price 6s._ +THE TOWER ROMANCE LIBRARY. VOL. I. + +A TORQUAY MARRIAGE. +A NEW MODERN NOVEL OF TO-DAY. + +BY G. RAYLEIGH VICARS AND EDITH VICARS. + + * * * * * + +_Ready shortly, price 6s._ +VOL. II. + +IN QUEST OF A NAME. + +BY MRS. HENRY WYLDE. + + * * * * * + +_Ready shortly._ +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth, price 6s. +_With numerous Illustrations by E. S. Hope._ + +THE OUTLAWS OF THE AIR. + +BY GEORGE GRIFFITH, +AUTHOR OF "THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION," "OLGA ROMANOFF," ETC. + + * * * * * + +_Now ready. Picture Cover. Price 1s._ + +BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER. +_A POLITICAL DREAM._ + +BY GEOFFREY DANYERS. +A Vision of the Reunited Anglo-Saxondom asserting the Dominion of the +Sea. + + + + +_Now ready. Eleventh Edition. Price 6s._ + +THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND IN 1897. + +BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX, F.R.G.S. + +_With Numerous Illustrations by T. S. Crowther and Captain C. Field, and +Nine Military Maps._ + + * * * * * + +The Opinions of some Great Authorities. + + THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE, writing to the Author, says: "Such books + cannot fail to have a good effect in inducing people to think + more seriously of the necessity which lies upon the whole + country to always be prepared, and to be more openhanded in + giving money for the means of defence." + + FIELD MARSHAL LORD WOLSELEY says: "A pleasure to peruse it." + + THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY says: "It is very realistic and + interesting." + + LORD GEORGE HAMILTON says: "It is very striking and original." + + SIR C. DILKE says: "I think it is most valuable as tending to + make people realise how little we are prepared for war." + + * * * * * + +Opinions of the London Press. + + _The Times_ says: "Everything that can spice a sensational + volume." + + _The Morning Post_ says: "Few works can compare in stirring + incidents or careful elaboration of detail.... A great deal of + what he forecasts would be very likely to occur if once England + were in the clutches of a strong enemy, and in the matter of + description wherein the tumult and carnage is brought vividly + before the reader.... A clever and exciting book." + + _The Standard_ says: "Full of excitement and realism." + + _The Globe_ says: "It is vigorous and rousing.... Will do a + public service." + + _The Sun_ says: "Mr. Le Queux' narrative is well and spiritedly + written." + + _The Evening News_ says: "Mr. Le Queux has succeeded in a very + difficult task. He has brought home to us the dangers we expose + ourselves if we neglect to maintain our Army and Navy in an + adequate state of efficiency." + + _The Daily Graphic_ says: "Various essays have been made to + forecast the next great European war, but Mr. William Le Queux' + volume is certainly the most comprehensive and thrilling of + anything yet attempted. Regarded simply as a work of fiction, it + is exciting enough to satisfy the most enthusiastic lover of + 'blood and thunder' literature. In its more serious aspect--and + it is this aspect, of course, which the author desires for + it--this book certainly evidences serious thought.... It is all + very graphic and very thrilling, especially the bombardment of + London by the Russians, and the author has not scrupled to avail + himself of the latest, even of the future, resources of + science." + + _Naval and Military Record_ says: "Mr. Le Queux has special + qualifications for the task. He knows a great deal of our Army + and Navy, and he is familiar with continental systems and + sentiment. The narrative is lively and spirited, and the author + writes with an air of conviction which is calculated to carry + the reader on from beginning to end." + + _Admiralty and Horse Guards Gazette_ says: "Mr. Le Queux is a + vivid writer, and his work gives evidence of care and + thoroughness. The chapter dealing with the march of the French + on London is particularly fine. The author's production is the + best of the kind we have come across for some time. It should + emphasise our old contention as to the unreadiness for active + service on a prolonged campaign of the sea and land forces of + the Empire." + + _Army and Navy Gazette_ says: "The story is a capital one, full + of interest and incident, well sustained and well told." + + _The Idler_ says: "Mr. Le Queux writes brilliantly, sensibly, + and with a thorough mastery of his subject." + + _The Sketch_ says: "No novel of the day comes up to Mr. Le + Queux' 'Great War in England in 1897' for excitement. From the + preface to the last paragraph he has kept up his prophetic + heroics in magnificent style, and if his patriotism does not + scatter our indifference to our insular defences, why, then, + nothing will. It is really a terrifying book. Mr. Le Queux has + power to shake one's nerves as he foretells fights and + slaughters in peaceful suburbs." + + _The World_ says: "It serves to bring home in a very realistic + fashion the horrors of a war brought into our very midst." + + _To-Day_ says: "A mastery of military and naval details is + displayed with conception and execution." + + _The Review of Reviews_ says: "The story is useful as a warning, + and is worked out with much knowledge." + + _The Gentlewoman_ says: "Once having started, I couldn't lay it + down till I had made an end thereto." + + _The Literary World_ says: "It is undoubtedly one of the books + of the year. It is so ingenious and so exciting, it is at once + extremely technical and extremely readable. The book is a great + book, and one that no Englishman could read without a thrill." + + _The Publishers' Circular_ says: "Mr. Le Queux shows us what + will happen if we do not better prepare ourselves." + + * * * * * + +Read what the Country Press say. + + _Manchester Evening News_ says: "Lovers of exciting literature + will be satisfied to the full with the graphic story." + + _Liverpool Daily Mercury_ says: "Extremely interesting, and well + worth reading." + + _Liverpool Daily Chronicle_ says:--"The story is full of + stirring episode." + + _Birmingham Daily Post_ says: "The scenes are marked with real + and affecting power." + + _Sheffield Daily Telegraph_ says: "We offer criticism in no + carping spirit, but as part of our grateful acknowledgment for a + brilliant, patriotic, and useful work." + + _Yorkshire Post_ says: "Well calculated to make the nervous + tremble at every rumour of foreign complications." + + _The Scotsman_ says: "Strategical and other problems are + elaborately worked out.... Amusing, entertaining, and exciting." + + _The North British Mail_ says: "It is a very powerful work." + + _Glasgow Herald_ says: "One of the best books we have read on a + subject on which it is only too easy to be tiresome." + + _Glasgow Evening News_ says: "Whether as a romance or as a + prophecy it is highly interesting." + + _The Western Morning News_ says: "Very exciting reading. Of real + literary merit." + + _Bradford Daily Argus_ says: "Full of interesting and exciting + reading." + + * * * * * + +Read what the Foreign and Colonial Press say. + + _Sydney Daily Telegraph_ says: "The writer's capability to speak + regarding his subject is displayed on every page of the book. It + is splendidly written." + + _The Belgian News_ says: "The book is a remarkable and a + phenomenal success." + + The _Palladium_ (Newhaven, Conn.) says: "One of the most + successful books of the season." + + "Il Capitano Nemo," the well-known Italian naval writer, in + _L'Opinione_ of Rome, says that the problems put forward by Mr. + Le Queux should secure the serious consideration of European + Governments. "It is unquestionably a most important book," he + says; "it is of interest to everyone, and the minuteness of its + detail is astonishing. I can recommend it to the Italian public + as a very startling yet highly instructive book." + + _The Italia Marinara_ says: "It is not a mere fantastic romance; + it is a book to study seriously, and we recommend it to the Army + and Navy of Italy, for it contains many valuable hints." + + _Il Secolo_ says: "A very remarkable and important work. There + is genius in every line. The descriptions are most realistic, + and it is of interest to everybody." + + _The China Telegraph_ says it is "of really intense and + thrilling interest." + + + + +_Now ready. Sixth Edition. Price 6s._ +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth gilt. + +THE CAPTAIN OF THE MARY ROSE. +_A TALE OF TO-MORROW._ + +BY W. LAIRD CLOWES, +U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE. + +With 60 Illustrations by the Chevalier de Martino and Fred. T. Jane. + + * * * * * + +This work has been truly described by the public press as an intensely +realistic and stirring romance of the near future. It describes the +wonderful adventures of an armour-clad cruiser, built on the Tyne, which +takes part in a great Naval War that suddenly breaks out between France +and Great Britain. The dashing way in which the vessel is handled, her +narrow escapes, the boldness of her successful attacks upon the enemy, +and the heroic conduct of her commander and crew, form altogether a +narrative of most absorbing interest, and full of exciting scenes and +situations. + + * * * * * + +THE FOLLOWING ARE A FEW PRESS OPINIONS. + + "Deserves something more than a mere passing notice."--_The + Times._ + + "Full of exciting situations.... Has manifold attractions for + all sorts of readers."--_Army and Navy Gazette._ + + "The most notable book of the season."--_The Standard._ + + "A clever book. Mr. Clowes is pre-eminent for literary touch and + practical knowledge of naval affairs."--_Daily Chronicle._ + + "Mr. W. Laird Clowes' exciting story."--_Daily Telegraph._ + + "We read 'The Captain of the Mary Rose' at a sitting."--_The + Pall Mall Gazette._ + + "Written with no little spirit and imagination.... A stirring + romance of the future."--_Manchester Guardian._ + + "Is of a realistic and exciting character.... Designed to show + what the naval warfare of the future may be."--_Glasgow Herald._ + + "One of the most interesting volumes of the year."--_Liverpool + Journal of Commerce._ + + "It is well told and magnificently illustrated."--_United + Service Magazine._ + + "Full of absorbing interest."--_Engineers Gazette._ + + "Is intensely realistic, so much so that after commencing the + story every one will be anxious to read to the end."--_Dundee + Advertiser._ + + "The book is splendidly illustrated."--_Northern Whig._ + + + + +_Ninth Edition, Price 6s._ +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth gilt. +_Uniform with "The Captain of the Mary Rose," with numerous +Illustrations by Fred T. Jane and Edwin S. Hope._ + +THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION. +A TALE OF THE COMING TERROR. + +BY GEORGE GRIFFITH. + + * * * * * + +In this Romance of Love, War, and Revolution, the action takes place ten +years hence, and turns upon the solution of the problem of aerial +navigation, which enables a vast Secret Society to decide the issue of +the coming world-war, for which the great nations of the earth are now +preparing. Battles such as have hitherto only been vaguely dreamed of +are fought on land and sea and in the air. Aerial navies engage armies +and fleets and fortresses, and fight with each other in an unsparing +warfare, which has for its prize the empire of the world. Unlike all +other essays in prophetic fiction, it deals with the events of +to-morrow, and with characters familiar in the eyes of living men. It +marks an entirely new departure in fiction, and opens up possibilities +which may become stupendous and appalling realities before the present +generation of men has passed away. + + * * * * * + +_A FEW PRESS OPINIONS._ + + "Since the days of the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, we know + of no writer who 'takes the cake' like Mr. George + Griffith."--_Daily Chronicle._ + + "A really exciting and sensational romance."--_Literary World._ + + "As a work of imagination it takes high rank."--_Belfast News + Letter._ + + "Full of absorbing interest."--_Barrow Herald._ + + "This powerful story."--_Liverpool Mercury._ + + "An entirely new departure in fiction."--_Reynolds' Newspaper._ + + "Of exceptional brilliancy and power."--_Western Figaro._ + + "This remarkable story."--_Weekly Times and Echo._ + + "There is a fascination about his book that few will be able to + resist."--_Birmingham Gazette._ + + "This exciting romance."--_Licensing World._ + + "A work of strong imaginative power."--_Dundee Courier._ + + "We must congratulate the author upon the vividness and reality + with which he draws his unprecedented pictures."--_Bristol + Mercury._ + + "Is quite enthralling."--_Glasgow Herald._ + + "A striking and fascinating novel."--_Hampshire Telegraph._ + + + + +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth, price 6s. +_With Frontispiece by Edwin S. Hope._ + +OLGA ROMANOFF; +Or, The Syren of the Skies. + +BY GEORGE GRIFFITH, +AUTHOR OF "THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION," "THE OUTLAWS OF THE AIR." + + * * * * * + +Dedicated to Mr. HIRAM S. MAXIM. + + * * * * * + +A sequel to the author's striking and successful romance. _The Angel of +the Revolution_, describing the efforts of a beautiful daughter of the +House of Romanoff to restore the throne of her ancestors destroyed in +the World-War of 1904, and presenting to the reader the spectacle of a +world transformed into a wonderland of art and science, yet trembling on +the brink of a catastrophe, in comparison with which even the tremendous +climax of _The Angel_ sinks almost into insignificance. + + * * * * * + +SOME PRESS OPINIONS. + + "Mr. George Griffith has made himself a high reputation as an + imaginative novelist by his brilliant romances, _The Angel of + the Revolution_ and _The Syren of the Skies_."--_Sketch._ + + "This is quite as imaginative, as clever, and as enthralling a + book as its predecessor."--_Glasgow Herald._ + + "The book is a wild one, but its wildness and imaginative + boldness make it uncommonly interesting."--_Scotsman._ + + "The flights of fancy and imagination displayed by the author + show a most marvellous power and conception."--_Aberdeen Free + Press._ + + "An entrancing book."--_Birmingham Post._ + + "Full of originality in its rendition.... A marvel of + imaginative strength and picturesque pen painting."--_European + Mail._ + + "On the whole Mr. Griffith has published a work which to our + mind is the most suggestive of its kind that has been published + for many years."--_Admiralty and Horse Guards Gazette._ + + "The work hardly lends itself to critical remark other than the + expression of one's appreciation of an imaginative and glowing + style likely to add to the pleasure of those who enjoy purely + speculative fiction. These pictures have a weird splendour in + keeping with the theme, but it is natural to desire a better + future for the human race than the one here + prophesied."--_Morning Post._ + + "His theme is a more tremendous one, and the incidents of his + story tenfold more terrible than even those awful battles in the + former volume. There is the same swift succession of awful + calamities, the same sustained interest from title page to + cover, and the same thread of human love running through the + narrative which lent its chief charm to the 'Angel of the + Revolution.'"--_Weekly Times and Echo._ + + "By lovers of sensational writing, in which the scientific + discoveries of the future are forecast, and intrigue and warfare + related in realistic manner under conditions which now exist but + in prophetic imagination, it will be warmly welcomed.... The + book must be read to be appreciated. Description is + impossible."--_Bradford Daily Argus._ + + * * * * * + + +Transcriber's Notes + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Hyphens removed: muzzle[-]loaders (p. 127), look[-]out (p. 164), +short[-]sightedness (p. 176), blood[-]stained (p. 325). + +p. 67: "Termius" changed to "Terminus" (over the debris in +Terminus Road). + +p. 72: "Halsted" changed to "Halstead" (Surrey to Halstead in Kent). + +p. 92: "crusier" changed to "cruiser" (the unarmoured cruiser _Faucon_). + +p. 119: "thousand" changed to "thousands" (thousands fleeing into the +country). + +p. 159: "fusilade" changed to "fusillade" (commenced a terrific +fusillade). + +p. 160: "momemt" changed to "moment" (Our situation at that moment). + +p. 240: "Hundred" changed to "Hundreds" (Hundreds of tons). + +p. 257: "evacute" changed to "evacuate" (to evacuate Edinburgh). + +p. 316: "detatched" changed to "detached" (came upon a detached post). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Great War in England in 1897, by +William Le Queux + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND IN 1897 *** + +***** This file should be named 37470.txt or 37470.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/7/37470/ + +Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +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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