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diff --git a/37470-h/37470-h.htm b/37470-h/37470-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7682a68 --- /dev/null +++ b/37470-h/37470-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13502 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Great War in England in 1897, by William Le Queux. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.left {text-align: left;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +.bbox { + border: solid 2px; + margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 30%; + padding-left: 1em; + padding-bottom: 1em; + padding-top: 1em; +} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +.tnote { + border: dashed 1px; + margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +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: ISO-8859-1 + +*** 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.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND<br /></h1> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="bbox"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>First Edition</i></td><td align="left"><i>July 1894.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Second Edition</i></td><td align="left"><i>July 1894.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Edition de Luxe</i> </td><td align="left"><i>July 1894.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Third Edition</i></td><td align="left"><i>August 1894.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Fourth Edition</i></td><td align="left"><i>August 1894.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Fifth Edition</i></td><td align="left"><i>September 1894.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Sixth Edition</i></td><td align="left"><i>October 1894.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Seventh Edition</i></td><td align="left"><i>November 1894.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Eighth Edition</i></td><td align="left"><i>December 1894.</i></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 411px;"> +<a href="images/i004-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i004-lo.jpg" width="411" height="600" alt="BOMBARDMENT OF LONDON: "IN LUDGATE HILL THE SCENE WAS AWFUL."" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">BOMBARDMENT OF LONDON: "IN LUDGATE HILL THE SCENE WAS AWFUL."</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND IN 1897</h1> +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>WILLIAM LE QUEUX, F.R.G.S.</h2> +<div class="center"><br /> +AUTHOR OF<br /> +"GUILTY BONDS" "STRANGE TALES OF A NIHILIST" "CONDEMNED TO SILENCE"<br /> +"THE STOLEN SOUL" ETC.<br /> +<br /><br /> +<i>ILLUSTRATED BY CAPTAIN CYRIL FIELD, R.M.L.I.<br /> +AND T. S. C. CROWTHER</i><br /> +<br /><br /> +<span class="smcap">Eleventh Edition</span><br /> +<br /><br /> +LONDON<br /> +TOWER PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED<br /> +95, <span class="smcap">Minories</span>, E.C.<br /> +1895<br /> +<br /><br /> +[<i>All Rights Reserved</i>]<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><br /><br /><br /> +TO<br /> +<br /> +MY FRIEND<br /> +<br /> +ALFRED CHARLES HARMSWORTH<br /> +<br /> +A GENEROUS EDITOR AND PATRIOTIC ENGLISHMAN<br /> +<br /> +I INSCRIBE THIS FORECAST<br /> +<br /> +OF<br /> +<br /> +THE COMING WAR<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE TO NINTH EDITION</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="right"> +WILLIAM LE QUEUX.<br /> +</div> +<p><span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>March 1895.</i></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> +<h2>CRITICISM BY LORD ROBERTS</h2> + +<div class="right"> +<span class="smcap">United Service Club</span>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">Pall Mall, W.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—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:—</p> + +<p><i>First</i>, 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.</p> + +<p><i>Secondly</i>, 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 <i>raison d'être</i> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Thirdly</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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,</p> + +<div class="right"> +ROBERTS. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">General Lord Roberts</span>, V.C., on reading this forecast of the +Coming War, wrote as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="right"> +Grove Park, Kingsbury,<br /> +Middlesex, March 26, 1894.<br /> +</div> + +<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—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, + +<div class="figright" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/i011.jpg" width="200" height="96" alt="Roberts" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Roberts</span> +</div> +</div> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Field-Marshal Viscount Wolseley, K.P., in his <i>Life of +Marlborough</i>, speaks plainly when he says—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +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. +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +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"!</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +Our weak Navy, with its inefficient <i>personnel</i>, 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 <i>only breechloaders</i>. 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. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>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. +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="right"> +WILLIAM LE QUEUX.</div> +<p> +<span class="smcap">Prince of Wales's Club,<br /> +Coventry Street, W.</span> +</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> + +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="center"><i>BOOK I</i></td><td align="right"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="center">THE INVASION</td><td align="right"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">CHAP.</td><td align="left"></td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td align="left">THE SHADOW OF MOLOCH</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td align="left">A TOTTERING EMPIRE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td align="left">ARMING FOR THE STRUGGLE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td align="left">THE SPY</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td align="left">BOMBARDMENT OF NEWHAVEN</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td align="left">LANDING OF THE FRENCH IN SUSSEX</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td align="left">BOMB OUTRAGES IN LONDON</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td align="left">FATEFUL DAYS FOR THE OLD FLAG</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX.</td><td align="left">COUNT VON BEILSTEIN AT HOME</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">X.</td><td align="left">A DEATH DRAUGHT</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XI.</td><td align="left">THE MASSACRE AT EASTBOURNE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XII.</td><td align="left">IN THE EAGLE'S TALONS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_70">70</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIII.</td><td align="left">FIERCE FIGHTING IN THE CHANNEL</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIV.</td><td align="left">BATTLE OFF BEACHY HEAD</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="center"> </td><td align="right"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="center"><i>BOOK II</i></td><td align="right"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="center">THE STRUGGLE</td><td align="right"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">XV.</td><td align="left">THE DOOM OF HULL</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVI.</td><td align="left">TERROR ON THE TYNE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVII.</td><td align="left">HELP FROM OUR COLONIES</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVIII.</td><td align="left">RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN THE MIDLANDS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIX.</td><td align="left">FALL OF BIRMINGHAM</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XX.</td><td align="left">OUR REVENGE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXI.</td><td align="left">A NAVAL FIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXII.</td><td align="left">PANIC IN LANCASHIRE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIII.</td><td align="left">THE EVE OF BATTLE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIV.</td><td align="left">MANCHESTER ATTACKED BY RUSSIANS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXV.</td><td align="left">GALLANT DEEDS BY CYCLISTS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXVI.</td><td align="left">GREAT BATTLE ON THE MERSEY</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXVII.</td><td align="left">THE FATE OF THE VANQUISHED</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="center"> </td><td align="right"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="center"><i>BOOK III</i></td><td align="right"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="center">THE VICTORY</td><td align="right"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">XXVIII.</td><td align="left">A SHABBY WAYFARER</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIX.</td><td align="left">LANDING OF THE ENEMY AT LEITH</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXX.</td><td align="left">ATTACK ON EDINBURGH</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXXI.</td><td align="left">"THE DEMON OF WAR"</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXXII.</td><td align="left">FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER OUTSIDE GLASGOW</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_256">256</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXXIII.</td><td align="left">MARCH OF THE FRENCH ON LONDON</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_268">268</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXXIV.</td><td align="left">LOOTING IN THE SUBURBS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXXV.</td><td align="left">LONDON BOMBARDED</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_284">284</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXXVI.</td><td align="left">BABYLON BURNING</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_291">291</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXXVII.</td><td align="left">FIGHTING ON THE SURREY HILLS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_299">299</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXXVIII.</td><td align="left">NAVAL BATTLE OFF DUNGENESS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXXIX.</td><td align="left">THE DAY OF RECKONING</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_312">312</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XL.</td><td align="left">"FOR ENGLAND!"</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_324">324</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XLI.</td><td align="left">DAWN</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_328">328</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> +<h1><i>BOOK I</i></h1> +<h2><i>THE INVASION</i></h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> +<h1>THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND IN 1897.</h1> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<h3>THE SHADOW OF MOLOCH.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc019.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="W" title="W" /></div><p>ar! <i>War in England!</i></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>When the astounding news fell upon the house the performance +was drawing to a close. A moment before, every one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>War had been actually declared! There was no averting it! +It was a stern reality.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>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:—</p> + +<div class="center"> +INVASION OF ENGLAND.<br /> +WAR DECLARED BY FRANCE AND RUSSIA.<br /> +HOSTILE FLEETS ADVANCING.<br /> +EXTRAORDINARY MANIFESTO BY THE TSAR.<br /> +<br /> +[<span class="smcap">Reuter's Telegrams.</span>]<br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="right"> +St. Petersburg, <i>August 14th</i>, 4 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span><br /> +</div> +<p>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:—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> to-day he had a long +interview at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is understood that the Minister +of War was also present.</p> + +<p>No official notification of the Declaration of War has been given to the British +Ambassador. This has created considerable surprise.</p> + +<div class="right"> +5.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> +</div> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"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 +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The British Ambassador has not yet received any communication from the +Imperial Government.</p> + +<div class="right"> +Fontainebleau, <i>Aug. 14th</i>, 4.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="right"> +Paris, <i>Aug. 14th</i>, 4.50 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>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 <i>Soir</i>, +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.</p> + +<div class="center"> +[<span class="smcap">By Telephone through Dalziel's Agency.</span>]<br /> +</div> + +<div class="right"> +6 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="center"> +[<span class="smcap">Reuter's Telegrams.</span>]<br /> +</div> + +<div class="right"> +Berlin, <i>Aug. 14th</i>, 5.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="right"> +Christiansand,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> <i>Aug. 14th</i>, 7.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>The French Channel Squadron, which has been manœuvring 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 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> 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.</p> + +<div class="right"> +Dieppe, <i>Aug. 14th</i>, 8 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Ten transport vessels are embarking troops for England. Four regiments of +cavalry, including the 4th Chasseurs and 16th Guards, +are—<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +The conclusion of this message has not reached us, all the wires connecting +this country with France having been cut.</p> +</div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<h3>A TOTTERING EMPIRE.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc025.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>he 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—</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for good Old England!" to which, after a +moment's silence, the audience responded lustily.</p> + +<p>Then, almost before the last sound had died away, another +patriot of the people mounted upon his seat, crying—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +well-cut features. He was happy and easy-going, always +overflowing with genuine <i>bonhomie</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>Driving first to the house of his <i>fiancée</i>, 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 <i>People</i>. +Latest details. Serious scandal at the Forrin' Office."</p> + +<p>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:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="center">SCANDAL AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE.<br /> +<span class="smcap">A State Secret Divulged.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The little French clock on the mantelshelf chimed the hour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +of one upon its silvery bell; the lamp spluttered and burned +dim. Still he did not move; he was dumfounded, rooted to +the spot.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<h3>ARMING FOR THE STRUGGLE.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc029.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="L" title="L" /></div><p>ondon was amazed.</p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>Fierce antagonism rose spontaneously in every Briton's +heart, and during that never-to-be-forgotten day, at every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 depôts. 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +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?</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +where they could. Of tents they had scarcely any, and many +regiments were thus kept homeless and badly fed several days +before moving forward!</p> + +<p>Was there any wonder, then, that some men should lose +heart? Did not such defects portend—nay, invite disaster?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Words now and then escaped his compressed lips. They +were low and ominous; utterances of blank despair.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<h3>THE SPY.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc034.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="C" title="C" /></div><p>ount von Beilstein was a polished cosmopolitan. +He was in many ways a very +remarkable man.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Since his partnership with Sir Joseph Vayne, the well-known +shipowner, father of Geoffrey's <i>fiancée</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>How we of the world, however shrewd, are deceived by +outward appearances!</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>of the Moselle, between Alf and Cochem, was not an aristocrat +at all, and possessed no estate more tangible than the proverbial +château in Spain.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 393px;"> +<a href="images/i035-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i035-lo.jpg" width="393" height="600" alt=""COUNT VON BEILSTEIN WAS A SPY!"" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">"COUNT VON BEILSTEIN WAS A SPY!"</span> +</div> + +<p>Count von Beilstein was a <i>spy</i>!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 £20,000, and decamped.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There was a reason for all this. The Russian Government,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He read it through; then stared thoughtfully up at the +ceiling.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how are you?" Engleheart exclaimed, rising and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +shaking his hand. "You must really forgive me, Count, but I +quite forgot my appointment with you to-day."</p> + +<p>"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 <i>Times</i> and was soon absorbed +in it.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Count, casting the newspaper wearily aside, glanced at +his watch.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"All right. I'll run down in a cab as soon as I can get +away," answered Engleheart.</p> + +<p>"Good. Come on as soon as you can. Violet will be +expecting you, you know."</p> + +<p>"Of course I shall," replied his unsuspicious friend, and +they shook hands, after which the Count put on his hat and +sauntered jauntily out.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>That message contained an exact transcript of the secret +treaty!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i041-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i041-lo.jpg" width="600" height="389" alt="THE RUSSIAN SPY'S TELEGRAM." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE RUSSIAN SPY'S TELEGRAM.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was only the statement he read in the <i>People</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<h3>BOMBARDMENT OF NEWHAVEN.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc043.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /></div><p>t 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Yet the high officials at the War Office looked grave,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +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 manœuvring 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.</p> + +<p>Military experts did not overlook the fact that to Dunkirk, +Calais, Boulogne, Dieppe, Fécamp, 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 <i>contretemps</i>. 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 manœuvring 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Our great Empire was at stake.</p> + +<p>The power of steam to cause rapid transit by land and sea, +the uncertainty of the place of disembarkment, and the great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The French first-class battery cruiser <i>Tage</i>, the <i>Dévastation</i>, +the <i>Pothuau</i>, the <i>Aréthuse</i> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>Never during the century had such scenes been witnessed +in the streets of London as on that memorable Sunday +morning. The metropolis was thrilled.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The shadow of coming events was black and dim, like a +funeral pall. The fate of our Empire hung upon a thread.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Paris</i>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +about the ship, wrapping themselves about the two white +funnels and darting from every porthole.</p> + +<p>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 +manœuvres, 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 <i>Lavel</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>They were unaware that our Channel Fleet, our Coastguard +Squadron, and our Reserve were steaming away, leaving our +southern shores <i>practically unprotected</i>!</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<h3>LANDING OF THE FRENCH IN SUSSEX.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc048.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>he 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +Hôtel Métropole 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 +<i>Pjotr Velikij</i>, and the armoured cruisers <i>Gerzog Edinburskij</i>, +<i>Krejser</i>, and <i>Najezdnik</i>, 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 débris. 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 débris, or had their limbs shattered by flying +pieces of shell.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +scene more terrible than any witnessed in England during the +present century.</p> + +<p>And all this was the outcome of one man's indiscretion +and the cunning duplicity of two others!</p> + +<p>At high noon Newhaven fell into the hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In a word, we missed our chance to secure this inestimable +advantage afforded by the power of striking the first blow.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>To be strong is to stave off war; to be weak is to invite +attack. It was our policy of <i>laissez faire</i>, 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 <i>Army +and Navy Gazette</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But the dice had been thrown, and the sixes lay with +Moloch.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<h3>BOMB OUTRAGES IN LONDON.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc052.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="O" title="O" /></div><p>n 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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 façade of the Grand Hotel, they cheered +vociferously and sang the "Marseillaise" until the smoke half +choked them and their throats grew hoarse.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The homes of the people were threatened by double disaster—by +the attack of both enemy and "friend." The terrible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<h3>FATEFUL DAYS FOR THE OLD FLAG.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc057.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /></div><p> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At first the peaceful people of the villages gazed, wondered, +and admired, thinking some manœuvres were about to take +place—for military manœuvres 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.</p> + +<p>Tommy Atkins was now the idol of the hour.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>Alas! Moloch had grinned. He had sharpened his sickle +for the terrible carnage that was to spread through Albion's +peaceful land.</p> + +<p>Terrible was the panic that the invasion had produced in +the North.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Guardian</i> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It must be said that over the border the people were more +law-abiding. The Scotch, too canny to listen to the fiery<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<i>shushkas</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +young miners enrolled themselves in the local Volunteer corps, +and burned to avenge the affront to their country and their +sovereign.</p> + +<p>Those were indeed fateful, ever-to-be-remembered days.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>How different were German methods to those of the +British!</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +for Germany had considered it diplomatic to throw in her +fortune with Great Britain in this desperate encounter.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Immediately the truth was known efforts were made to +cancel the forged orders. But, alas! it was too late. Our +Fleets had already sailed!</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<h3>COUNT VON BEILSTEIN AT HOME.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc064.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="K" title="K" /></div><p>arl von Beilstein sat in his own comfortable +saddlebag-chair, in his chambers in +the Albany, lazily twisting a cigarette.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>The door opened to admit his valet, Grevel.</p> + +<p>"A message from the Embassy. The man is waiting," he +said.</p> + +<p>His master opened the note which was handed to him, read +it with contracted brows, and said—</p> + +<p>"Tell him that the matter shall be arranged as quickly as +possible."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nothing else?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing. I am leaving London, and shall not be back +for a week—perhaps longer."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Has the Ministry at Petersburg promised us protection at +last?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"In what direction are you now going?"</p> + +<p>"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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was like a razor.</p> + +<p>"A desperate errand—eh?" queried the valet, with a grin, +noticing how carefully the Count placed the murderous weapon +in his inner pocket.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered. "Desperate. A word sometimes +means death."</p> + +<p>And the simple rural vicar strode out and down the stairs, +leaving the crafty Pierre in wonderment.</p> + +<p>"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. <i>Bien!</i> 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! <i>You'll be in your grave!</i>"</p> + +<p>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 façade 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.</p> + +<p>The cause of this sudden manœuvre 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.</p> + +<p>"My man!" exclaimed von Beilstein, under his breath. +"He wants a cab. I wonder where he's going?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Are you remaining here long?" asked his clerical friend.</p> + +<p>"I—I really don't know," answered the officer hesitatingly. +"Possibly a day or so."</p> + +<p>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?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<h3>A DEATH DRAUGHT.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc069.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="O" title="O" /></div><p>n 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 débris. The barracks, +which had been one of the objects of attack, had suffered most +severely. Mélinite 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>One morning, after they had been there three days, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>His companion presently made a movement to reach it, +when the pleasant-spoken vicar took up the tongs quickly, +saying—</p> + +<p>"Allow me to assist you. One lump?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>Karl von Beilstein had reduced poisoning to a fine art.</p> + +<p>Not a muscle of his face contracted, though his keen eyes +never left the other's countenance.</p> + +<p>They talked on, the Commander apparently unaffected by +the draught; his friend smilingly complacent and confident.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, without warning, the officer's face grew ashen +pale and serious. A violent tremor shook his stalwart frame.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>The mild-mannered parson jumped to his feet, and stood +before his friend, watching the hideous contortions of his face.</p> + +<p>"Assistance!" his victim gasped, sinking inertly back in +the high-backed Windsor arm-chair. "Fetch me a doctor—quick."</p> + +<p>But the man addressed took no heed of the appeal. He +stood calmly by, contemplating with satisfaction his villainous +work.</p> + +<p>"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—<i>water</i>!"</p> + +<p>Still the spy remained motionless.</p> + +<p>"You—you refuse to assist me—you scoundrel! Ah!" he +cried hoarsely, in dismay. "Ah! I see it all now! <i>God! +You've poisoned me!</i>"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Quick as thought the Count unbuttoned the dead man's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The spy had accomplished his mission!</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<h3>THE MASSACRE AT EASTBOURNE.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc073.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="H" title="H" /></div><p>ourly 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.</p> + +<p>Nothing definite, however, was known. News travelled +slowly, and was always unreliable.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Samojed</i> and <i>Artelscik</i>, 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 débris 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.</p> + +<p>Along Terminus Road the grey-coated hordes of the Great +White Tsar looted the shops, and showed no quarter to those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The huge guns of the <i>Pamyat Azova</i>, the <i>Imperator Nicolai I.</i>, +the <i>Pjotr Velikij</i>, the <i>Krejser</i>, the <i>Najezdnik</i>, and others, had +belched forth their death-dealing missiles with an effect that +was appalling.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 428px;"> +<a href="images/i075-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i075-lo.jpg" width="428" height="600" alt="LANDING OF RUSSIANS, AND MASSACRE IN TERMINUS ROAD, EASTBOURNE." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">LANDING OF RUSSIANS, AND MASSACRE IN TERMINUS ROAD, EASTBOURNE.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +The massacre was frightful. Ruin and desolation were on +every hand.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 débris 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i078-hi.png"><img src="images/i078-lo.png" width="600" height="290" alt="MAP SHOWING THE POINTS WHERE THE INVADERS LANDED." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">MAP SHOWING THE POINTS WHERE THE INVADERS LANDED.</span> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<h3>IN THE EAGLE'S TALONS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc080.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="M" title="M" /></div><p>any 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 <i>le perfide Albion</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +that had been unheeded, and now the unexpected bursting of +the war cloud produced panic through our land.</p> + +<p>General Sir Archibald Alison struck an alarming note of +warning when he wrote in <i>Blackwood</i> 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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>What a mere handful they appeared side by side with these +huge European Armies!</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Already active steps had been taken towards the defence of +London.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The British Volunteer holds no romantic notions of "death +or glory," but is none the less prepared to do his duty, and is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The double-headed Eagle had set his talons in British soil!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<h3>FIERCE FIGHTING IN THE CHANNEL.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc085.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /></div><p>n the Channel disastrous events of a most +exciting character were now rapidly occurring.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Carpathian</i>, 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 <i>Gerzog Edinburskij</i>. 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +<i>Carpathian</i> was sunk near Start Point, and of the five hundred +passengers and crew scarcely a single person survived.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Centurion</i>. Already +her captain had witnessed the attack and sinking of the +<i>Carpathian</i>, 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 <i>Centurion</i>, 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 <i>Centurion</i> +was continuous, and the firing was much more accurate than +that of her opponent, nevertheless the latter was manipulated +with remarkable skill.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Centurion</i> abaft the funnel, and +for a moment stilled her guns.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Centurion</i>, this time carrying away one of her funnels +and killing a large number of men.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At that moment, however, even while the victorious shouts +resounded, the captain of the <i>Centurion</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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 manœuvred his ship. Once +again he touched the electric knob, and again a torpedo, +released from its tube, sped rapidly through the water.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There was a dead stillness, broken only by the wash of the sea.</p> + +<p>Then the smoke clearing showed the débris of the <i>Gerzog +Edinburskij</i> 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Partially crippled as she was, the <i>Centurion</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At full speed the British vessels steamed on throughout +that day, until at 8 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, when about twenty miles south +of Selsey Bill, they were joined by forces from the Solent. +These consisted of the turret-ship <i>Monarch</i>, the turret-ram +<i>Rupert</i>, the barbette-ship <i>Rodney</i>, the belted cruiser <i>Aurora</i>, +and the coast defence armour-clads <i>Cyclops</i> and <i>Gorgon</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>Two hours later the officers noticed that away on the +horizon a light suddenly flashed twice and then disappeared.</p> + +<p>One of the enemy's ships had signalled the approach of the +defenders!</p> + +<p>This caused the British Admiral to alter his course +slightly, and the vessels steamed along in the direction the +light had shown.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Presently, in the far distance a small patch of light in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +sky showed the direction of Brighton, and almost immediately +the Admiral signalled to the cruisers <i>Aurora</i>, <i>Galatea</i>, and +<i>Narcissus</i>, and the new battleship <i>Hannibal</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Soon after 2 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> 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 <i>Samojed</i> and <i>Olaf</i>, +<i>Krasnaya Gorka</i> and <i>Vladimir</i>, with two smaller ones—the +<i>Dnepr</i> and the <i>Artelscik</i>.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Olaf</i>, drew up quickly.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Abo</i>. The loss of life was terrible.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>Simultaneously with the first explosion, the guns of the +<i>Aurora</i>, <i>Galatea</i>, and <i>Narcissus</i> thundered out a terrible salute. +The bright search-lights of the Russian cruisers and of the +battleship <i>Navarin</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Quickly, however, the Russian vessels replied. Flame +flashed continuously from the turret of the <i>Navarin</i> and the +port guns of the <i>Opricnik</i> and the <i>Najezdnik</i>, while the search-lights +were at the same time shut off.</p> + +<p>At first the fire was very ineffectual, but gradually as the +vessels crept closer to each other the encounter became more +and more desperate.</p> + +<p>The Russian torpedo boats <i>Vzryv</i>, <i>Vindava</i>, and <i>Kotlinj</i> +were immediately active, and the <i>Narcissus</i> 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 <i>Navarin</i>, +was sent to the bottom by a single shot from the <i>Najezdnik</i>.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The <i>Navarin</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Lieut. Iljin</i> ripped up her deck and caused +severe loss of life, while in the course of half an hour one of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>the heavy turret guns of the <i>Navarin</i> had been disabled, and +two more Russian torpedo boats sunk. Our torpedo boat +destroyers operating on the Channel seaboard were performing +excellent work, the <i>Havock</i>, <i>Shark</i>, <i>Hornet</i>, <i>Dart</i>, <i>Bruiser</i>, <i>Hasty</i>, +<i>Teaser</i>, <i>Janus</i>, <i>Surly</i>, and <i>Porcupine</i> all being manœuvred with +splendid success. Several, however, were lost while sweeping +out the enemy's torpedo boat shelters, including the <i>Ardent</i>, +<i>Charger</i>, <i>Boxer</i>, and <i>Rocket</i>.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i091-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i091-lo.jpg" width="600" height="391" alt="SINKING OF H.M.S. "AURORA" BY A TORPEDO: "THE CRUISER ROSE AS IF SHE HAD RIDDEN OVER A VOLCANO."" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">SINKING OF H.M.S. "AURORA" BY A TORPEDO: "THE CRUISER ROSE AS IF SHE HAD RIDDEN OVER A VOLCANO."</span> +</div> + +<p>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 <i>Aurora</i>, she ceased firing and swung round, almost +colliding with the <i>Narcissus</i>. Her steam steering-gear had, +alas! been broken by the shot, and for a few moments her +officers lost control over her.</p> + +<p>A Russian torpedo boat in shelter behind the <i>Navarin</i>, +now seeing its chance, darted out and launched its projectile.</p> + +<p>The officers of the <i>Aurora</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>Immediately afterwards the <i>Navarin</i> 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.</p> + +<p>The <i>Narcissus</i> 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>On one side of her was the ponderous <i>Navarin</i>, from the +turret of which shells were projected with monotonous regularity, +while on the other the British cruiser was attacked +vigorously by the <i>Najezdnik</i>. The <i>Narcissus</i>, 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 <i>Navarin</i>, 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 manœuvring near.</p> + +<p>Both the <i>Galatea</i> and the <i>Hannibal</i> were in an equally +serious predicament. The enemy's torpedo boats swarmed +around them, while the cruisers <i>Opricnik</i>, <i>Admiral Korniloff</i>, +<i>Rynda</i>, and several other vessels, kept up a hot, incessant +fire, which was returned energetically by the British +vessels.</p> + +<p>The sight was magnificent, appalling! In the spreading +dawn, the great ships manœuvring 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.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless the British boats followed up their successes +by other brilliant deeds of daring, for one of them, with a +sudden dash, took the <i>Rynda</i> 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 <i>Asia</i>, and the last remaining transport the <i>Krasnaya +Gorka</i>, were both sinking.</p> + +<p>It was a ghastly spectacle.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>During the first few minutes following this sudden disaster +to the enemy the firing ceased, and the <i>Navarin</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Gangut</i>, <i>Alexander II.</i>, and +<i>Nicolai I.</i>, of the Baltic Fleet, the great turret-ship <i>Petr Veliky</i>, +the <i>Rurik</i>, 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 <i>Enara</i> and <i>Ischma</i>, with +three other cruisers and a large flotilla of torpedo boats. Accompanying +them were the French 10,000-ton armoured +barbette-ship <i>Magenta</i>, the central-battery ship <i>Richelieu</i>, the +armoured turret-ship <i>Tonnerre</i>, and the <i>Hoche</i>, one of the finest +vessels of our Gallic neighbour's Navy, as well as the torpedo +cruisers <i>Hirondelle</i> and <i>Fleurus</i>, and a number of swift torpedo +boats and "catchers."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Without delay the three vessels swung round with all +speed and were quickly headed down Channel, while the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +remaining attendant torpedo boats, noticing this sudden retreat, +also darted away. This manœuvre did not, of course, proceed +unchecked, the enemy being determined they should not escape. +Signals were immediately made by the <i>Alexander II.</i>, the flagship, +and the <i>Petr Veliky</i> and <i>Enara</i>, 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 <i>Narcissus</i> and <i>Galatea</i> +replied steadily with their 6-inch guns, while the heavy guns +of the <i>Hannibal</i> were also quickly brought into play.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the <i>Magenta</i> and <i>Tonnerre</i> with the +<i>Alger</i>, <i>Cécille</i>, and <i>Sfax</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<h3>BATTLE OFF BEACHY HEAD.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc097.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>he sun at last broke forth brilliantly, betokoning +another blazing day.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Opposite the Belle Tout lighthouse a disaster occurred to +the <i>Narcissus</i>. 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 <i>Sfax</i> and <i>Alger</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Onward steamed the <i>Galatea</i> and <i>Hannibal</i>, keeping up a +running fire with the four vessels pursuing them, while the two +cruisers engaging the <i>Narcissus</i> 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 <i>Alger</i>, and disabling one of her large bow guns.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>Just then, however, while the <i>Narcissus</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the <i>Galatea</i> and <i>Hannibal</i>, 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 <i>Narcissus</i>, when suddenly +one of the officers of the <i>Galatea</i> 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 <i>Monarch</i>, and those +of the second the great barbette-ship <i>Rodney</i>, while a +moment later it was discerned that the third vessel was the +<i>Gorgon</i>.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Soon, however, the <i>Rodney</i> drew within range. A puff of +white smoke from her barbette, and the <i>Cécille</i> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +her deck. This was followed by deafening discharges from the +four 25-ton guns of the <i>Monarch</i>, while the <i>Gorgon</i> 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 <i>Hirondelle</i>, +and wreckage mingled with human limbs shot into the air +amid a great sheet of flame.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The division of our Channel Fleet that had at last returned +consisted of the powerful battleship <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, flying the +Admiral's flag; the barbette-ships <i>Anson</i>, <i>Howe</i>, <i>Camperdown</i>, +and <i>Benbow</i>; the turret-ships <i>Thunderer</i> and <i>Conqueror</i>; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +cruisers <i>Mersey</i>, <i>Terpsichore</i>, <i>Melampus</i>, <i>Tribune</i>, <i>Latona</i>, <i>Immortalité</i>, +and <i>Barham</i>; with the torpedo gunboats <i>Spanker</i> and +<i>Speedwell</i>, and nineteen torpedo boats.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Amiral +Baudin</i>, <i>Formidable</i>, <i>Amiral Duperré</i>, <i>Brennus</i>, <i>Tréhouart</i>, +<i>Jemappes</i>, <i>Terrible</i>, <i>Requin</i>, <i>Indomptable</i>, <i>Caïman</i>, <i>Courbet</i>, +<i>Dévastation</i>, <i>Redoubtable</i>, and <i>Furieux</i>, together with nine +cruisers, and thirty-eight <i>torpilleurs de haute mer</i>.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Royal Sovereign</i> was +determined to exert every effort to repulse the enemy.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Indomptable</i> on the one side, and the great Russian +armoured cruiser <i>Nicolai I.</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 <i>Royal Sovereign</i> 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 <i>Nicolai's</i> +turret, rendering it useless, and then the captain of the <i>Royal +Sovereign</i>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> 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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i101-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i101-lo.jpg" width="600" height="426" alt="Nicolai I. Royal Sovereign. +BATTLE OFF BEACHY HEAD: H.M.S. "ROYAL SOVEREIGN" RAMMING THE "NICOLAI I."" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption"><i>Nicolai I.</i> <i>Royal Sovereign.</i><br /> +BATTLE OFF BEACHY HEAD: H.M.S. "ROYAL SOVEREIGN" RAMMING THE "NICOLAI I."</span> +</div> + +<p>Then, as the big guns in her rear barbette thundered out +upon the <i>Indomptable</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>The British captain now turned his attention to the French +ship, which had been joined in the attack by the <i>Brennus</i>, 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 <i>Royal Sovereign</i> caught the +<i>Indomptable</i> 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.</p> + +<p>The situation was awful, and the loss of life everywhere +enormous. Dense, blinding smoke, and the choking fumes of +mélinite, 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.</p> + +<p>The superiority of the French torpedo boats was, alas! +keenly felt by the British, for in the course of the first hour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +five of our cruisers—the <i>Terpsichore</i>, <i>Galatea</i>, <i>Melampus</i>, +<i>Tribune</i>, <i>Mersey</i>, the turret-ship <i>Conqueror</i>, and the battleships +<i>Hannibal</i> and <i>Rodney</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>The British, with all these fearful odds against them, still +continued a galling fire. The <i>Camperdown</i>, <i>Anson</i>, and <i>Benbow</i>, +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 <i>Anson</i>, entered her engine-room, +disabling a portion of her machinery, while a moment later a +shell from the <i>Amiral Duperré</i> 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.</p> + +<p>A second later, however, a shell from the <i>Benbow</i> struck +the <i>Amiral Duperré</i>, 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 <i>Tréhouart</i>, +which suddenly went astern, apparently to avoid a torpedo,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +crashed into her, with the result that she heeled right over +and quickly disappeared.</p> + +<p>The <i>Camperdown</i>, fighting fiercely with the <i>Requin</i>, the +<i>Terrible</i>, and the <i>Courbet</i>, 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 <i>Terrible</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Caïman</i>, which by some +means had come into slight collision with her; but scarcely +had the last terrified man left the sinking vessel, when the +<i>Camperdown's</i> powerful ram entered the <i>Caïman's</i> bows, +breaking her hull, and she also foundered, carrying down with +her not only her own crew, but also the survivors of the <i>Terrible</i>.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +the last for the honour of the Union Jack, which should never +be surmounted by the Tricolor.</p> + +<p>A moment later, the captain, standing with the Admiral, +who had just entered the conning-tower of the <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, +suddenly uttered a cry of dismay, and with transfixed, horrified +gaze pointed with his finger to the sea.</p> + +<p>Breathlessly the Admiral looked in the direction indicated.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was a critical moment.</p> + +<p>A small French vessel, the unarmoured cruiser <i>Faucon</i>, had +crept up unnoticed. The attention of the British officers had +been, until that moment, concentrated upon the three powerful +battleships, the <i>Requin</i>, the <i>Dévastation</i>, and the <i>Jemappes</i>, +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 <i>Faucon</i> directly at his ship!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Royal +Sovereign</i> 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.</p> + +<p>The <i>Faucon</i> was not given an opportunity to make a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +second attempt. The captain of the <i>Anson</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Shots came from the frowning barbettes of the <i>Camperdown</i>, +<i>Benbow</i>, and the turrets of the <i>Monarch</i> rapidly, the damage +and loss of life suffered by the enemy now being enormous. +The three French battleships engaging the <i>Royal Sovereign</i> at +close quarters received terrible punishment. One of the +75-ton guns of the <i>Requin</i> 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 <i>Jemappes</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Tonnerre</i> and +<i>Furieux</i> to assist them. Both vessels drew nearer, and soon +afterwards commenced pounding at the <i>Royal Sovereign</i>.</p> + +<p>The <i>Anson</i>, 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 <i>Furieux</i>, and sank her, +while almost at the same moment a torpedo, discharged from +one of the British boats, struck the <i>Tonnerre</i> right amidships, +dealing her a blow from which she could never recover. Five +minutes later, the <i>Gangut</i>, fighting desperately at close quarters +with the <i>Camperdown</i>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +fragments of wood, iron, and human bodies were precipitated +in all directions.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Sfax</i> by the French +battleship <i>Redoubtable</i>, which managed, however, to save the +greater portion of the crew, although her engines broke down.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On board the <i>Royal Sovereign</i> 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 <i>Redoubtable</i> +and getting the worst of it, when suddenly, having manœuvred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +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 <i>Royal Sovereign</i> entered the +broadside of the French ship with a loud crash, ripping her +almost in half.</p> + +<p>Backing again quickly as the <i>Redoubtable</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Fiercer and more fierce became the fight. A well-directed +shot from one of the 67-ton guns on the <i>Anson's</i> rear barbette +struck the conning-tower of the <i>Magenta</i>, blowing it away, +killing the captain and those who were directing the vessel.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Royal +Sovereign</i> a few minutes later ran up signals intimating to the +other vessels her intention.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At their head was the <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The struggle in this, the first naval battle in the defence of +our Empire, had been desperate, and the loss of life appalling.</p> + +<p>The First Act of the most sanguinary drama of modern +nations had closed.</p> + +<p>What would be its <i>dénouement</i>?</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> +<h1><i>BOOK II</i></h1> +<h2><i>THE STRUGGLE</i></h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<h3>THE DOOM OF HULL.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc113.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /></div><p>n 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Daily News</i>, containing a brief telegram +in large type, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +The Coastguard at Donna Nook report that a strong force of Russian war +vessels, including the turret-ship <i>Sevastopol</i> and the barbette-ships <i>Sinope</i> and +<i>Cizoi Veliky</i>, 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. +</div> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +strident tones that awoke the echoes of the quieter thoroughfares.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The suspense was awful. Men, women, and children, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +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 <i>Edinburgh</i> 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.</p> + +<p>It was evident by the firing that an attack upon the British +Squadron had commenced. The shadow of impending disaster +had fallen.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They were the search-lights of the battery at Paull.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Russian force, besides the three vessels already mentioned, +included the armoured cruiser <i>Dimitri Donskoi</i>, the +central-battery ship <i>Kniaz Pojarski</i>, the cruiser <i>Pamyat +Merkuriya</i>, two of the new armoured cruisers, <i>Mezen</i> and +<i>Syzran</i>, of the <i>Rurik</i> type, the corvette <i>Razboynik</i>, the +torpedo gunboats <i>Griden</i> and <i>Gaidamak</i>, and the armoured +gunboat <i>Gremyastchy</i>, with several torpedo boats.</p> + +<p>The manner in which they had manœuvred 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!</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The dark water rose here and there. The whole of the +mines had been simultaneously fired!</p> + +<p>Cheers rang out from the Russian vessels, sounding above +the heavy cannonade. The destruction of this most important<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +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 <i>Gremyastchy</i> that she slowly +foundered, and her crew were compelled to abandon her. A +portion of the men were rescued by the <i>Syzran</i>, but two boatloads +were precipitated into the water, and nearly all were +drowned. Two of the big guns of the <i>Dimitri Donskoi</i> 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 <i>Kniaz Pojarski</i> and the +four 13½-tonners of the <i>Mezen</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Both land and sea defences had been broken down! The +Russians were now free to advance upon Hull!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The horrors of that bombardment were frightful. At the +moment of the first shots, fired almost simultaneously from the +two big guns of the <i>Syzran</i>, 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!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +<a href="images/i119-hi.png"><img src="images/i119-lo.png" width="600" height="365" alt="MAP OF HULL AND THE HUMBER." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">MAP OF HULL AND THE HUMBER.</span> +</div> + +<p>Ere the horrified inhabitants could again draw breath, the +air was rent by a terrific crash, as simultaneously flame rushed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>from the guns of the <i>Kniaz Pojarski</i>, the <i>Pamyat Merkuriya</i>, +and the <i>Mezen</i>, 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.</p> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Lying off Salt End, the <i>Cizoi Veliky</i>, 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 mélinite shells had +set on fire the ruined houses.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Flame flashed from the muzzles of those great desolating +guns so quickly as to appear like one brilliant, incessant light. +Shells from the <i>Cizoi Veliky</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>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 <i>Syzran</i> 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 débris, and almost at the same instant a shot came through +the dome of the Council Chamber, totally destroying the +apartment.</p> + +<p>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 façade. 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +had without exception been destroyed, and both the Cannon +Street and Pier Stations had been completely wrecked and +unroofed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The glare lit the sky for many miles around. The immense +area of great burning buildings presented a magnificent, appalling +spectacle.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>TERROR ON THE TYNE.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc124.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="E" title="E" /></div><p>ngland 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Lazare Carnot</i>, flying the French Tricolor. +Immediately following her came a number of cruisers, gunboats, +and torpedo boats. They included the <i>Dimitri Donskoi</i>, +the <i>Kniaz Pojarski</i>, the <i>Pamyat Merkuriya</i>, the <i>Mezen</i>, the +<i>Syzran</i>, the <i>Griden</i>, and the <i>Gaidamak</i>, all of which had taken +part in the attack on Hull, while they had now been joined by +the French battleships <i>Masséna</i> and <i>Neptune</i>, the small cruisers +<i>Cosamo</i>, <i>Desaix</i>, <i>D'Estaing</i>, <i>Coetlogon</i>, and <i>Lalande</i>, the torpedo +gunboats <i>Iberville</i>, <i>Lance</i>, <i>Léger</i>, and <i>Fléche</i>, and the gun-vessels +<i>Etoile</i>, <i>Fulton</i>, <i>Gabes</i>, <i>Sagittaire</i>, and <i>Vipère</i>, with a large +number of torpedo boats and "catchers," in addition to those +which were at Hull.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, without warning, smoke tumbled over the bows +of the <i>Lazare Carnot</i>. There was a low boom, and one of the +ponderous guns in her turret sent forth an enormous shell,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +which struck the battery at Trow Point, blowing away a +portion of a wall.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In a few moments half a dozen of the ships lay broadside +on, and the great guns of the <i>Masséna</i> and <i>Neptune</i>, with those +of four other vessels, opened a terrible fire upon the fort, casting +their shells upon the British gunners with frightful effect.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the <i>Active</i>, <i>Bonaventure</i>, <i>Cambrian</i>, <i>Canada</i>, and +<i>Archer</i> 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.</p> + +<p>The conflict was fierce, but quickly ended.</p> + +<p>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 +<i>Canada</i>, blowing her up, while the engines of both the <i>Active</i> +and <i>Bonaventure</i> 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before half an hour had passed two Russian gunboats had +been torpedoed, and the French cruiser <i>D'Estaing</i>, having +caught fire, was burning furiously, many of her crew perishing +at their guns.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i127-hi.png"><img src="images/i127-lo.png" width="600" height="339" alt="MAP OF THE TYNE DISTRICT." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">MAP OF THE TYNE DISTRICT.</span> +</div> + +<p>The <i>Lazare Carnot</i> and the <i>Masséna</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Lazare Carnot</i>, another cut<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +through the funnel of the <i>Neptune</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>Night clouds gathered black and threatening, and it appeared +as if the enemy were carrying all before them. The +French battleship <i>Neptune</i>, 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 <i>Syzran</i>, +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 <i>Neptune</i>, 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 <i>Lance</i>.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +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 <i>Iberville</i> and +<i>Cassini</i> and the cruiser <i>Desaix</i>, the crews perishing.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In South Shields tragic scenes were being enacted. Shells<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +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 débris +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.</p> + +<p>The horrors of Hull were being repeated. The streets ran +with the life-blood of unoffending British citizens.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The crowds of idle shipping in the great Tyne Dock at +South Shields, and those in the Albert Edward and Northumberland<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Gabes</i>, and at the same time seriously injured +the propeller of the cruiser <i>Cosamo</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 mélinite 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +façade.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Chronicle</i> 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>The same fate had been shared by the Co-operative Wholesale +Society's warehouse, the Fish Market, the <i>Journal</i> office, +and both the Crown and Métropole Hotels at the bottom of +Clayton Street.</p> + +<p>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 débris, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> the bridges were demolished, and the débris, falling across +the stream, cut off all means of escape.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i137-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i137-lo.jpg" width="600" height="373" alt="NEWCASTLE BOMBARDED: BLOWING UP OF THE HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">NEWCASTLE BOMBARDED: BLOWING UP OF THE HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE.</span> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Everywhere the enemy were being cut to pieces.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Flashed throughout the land, the news of the enemy's +repulse, though gained at such enormous loss, excited a feeling +of profound satisfaction.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Neptune</i>, and no fewer than four of her cruisers.</p> + +<p>The surviving vessels, which retreated round the Black +Middens and gained the open sea, all more or less had their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +engines crippled, and not half the men that had manned +them escaped alive.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Alas, it was a black day in England's history!</p> + +<p>Was this to be a turning-point in the wave of disaster +which had swept so suddenly upon our land?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>HELP FROM OUR COLONIES.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc141.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="D" title="D" /></div><p>ays 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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-Saône, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +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 Jägers 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.</p> + +<p>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 Chambéry, +and now intended joining hands with the Germans at +Lyons.</p> + +<p>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 Saône 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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +although in a measure contravening International Law, she +had instructed her Admirals to bombard British seaports and +partially-defended towns.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Amiral Duperré</i>, a magnificent steel vessel +of eleven thousand tons; the <i>Neptune</i> and <i>Redoutable</i>, a trifle +smaller; the <i>Tonnerre</i>, the <i>Terrible</i>, the <i>Furieux</i>, the <i>Indomptable</i>, +the <i>Caïman</i>, all armoured ships, had been lost; while the +cruisers <i>D'Estaing</i>, <i>Sfax</i>, <i>Desaix</i>, <i>Cosamo</i>, <i>Faucon</i>, the despatch-vessel +<i>Hirondelle</i>, the gunboats <i>Iberville</i>, <i>Gabes</i>, and <i>Lance</i>, and +eleven others, together with sixteen torpedo boats and numbers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +of transports, had been either blown up, burned, or otherwise +destroyed.</p> + +<p>The losses the Russians had sustained, in addition to the +many transports and general service steamers, included the +great steel cruiser <i>Nicolai I.</i>, the vessels <i>Gerzog Edinburgskij</i>, +<i>Syzran</i>, <i>Rynda</i>, <i>Asia</i>, <i>Gangut</i>, <i>Kranaya Gorka</i>, <i>Olaf</i>, and the +torpedo boat <i>Abo</i>, with eight others.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Conqueror</i> had, alas! +been sacrificed; the fine barbette-ships <i>Centurion</i> and <i>Rodney</i> +had gone to the bottom; the splendid first-class cruiser <i>Aurora</i> +and the cruiser <i>Narcissus</i> had been blown up; while the cruisers +<i>Terpsichore</i>, <i>Melampus</i>, <i>Tribune</i>, <i>Galatea</i>, and <i>Canada</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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, Pondichéry and Karikal, were occupied by +British troops.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 £200,000,000 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The servants of the Embassy had fortunately escaped, otherwise +they would no doubt have fared badly at the hands of the +lawless assembly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +Whitechapel and Shoreditch, who, maddened by drink, were +determined to destroy everything belonging to the countries +which had brought disaster upon them.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +other places, at which men of all grades of society unanimously +decided by resolution to raise Volunteer regiments to take arms +against the foe.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Since they landed on English soil, they had met with a +boundless welcome.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"But can we do it?" queried the youngest of the trio, +aloud, pulling on his gloves, and settling the hang of his +sword.</p> + +<p>The grave elder man, commander of the brigade, glanced +quickly at his watch, with knit brows.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 398px;"> +<a href="images/i153-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i153-lo.jpg" width="398" height="600" alt="IRISH VOLUNTEERS HALTING IN KING'S CLIFFE." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">IRISH VOLUNTEERS HALTING IN KING'S CLIFFE.</span> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +<h3>RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN THE MIDLANDS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc155.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>hrough the land the grey-coated hordes of +the White Tsar spread like locusts—their +track marked by death and desolation.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +this the British were now watching the high ground that +stretched across to Horsham.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The survivors of this cavalry patrol succeeded in recrossing +the Arun, but their losses were exceedingly heavy.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The first general movement commenced at noon, when an +advance was made by two enormous columns of the enemy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>By this adroit manœuvre 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.</p> + +<p>This success gave the enemy the key to the situation.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +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 <i>en masse</i> 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 manœuvred with a force of all arms <i>for years</i>!</p> + +<p>Army organisation proved a miserable failure.</p> + +<p>The supply of ammunition was totally inadequate, and +a disgrace to a nation which held its head above all others. +It was true that depôts had been established at various centres, +yet with strange oversight no provision had been made for the +work of ammunition trains.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>The scheme, instead of being so arranged as to be carried out +without confusion, resulted in muddle and farcical humiliation.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +manœuvring, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 depôt on the Purley Road.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Men, women, even children, were slaughtered. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +massacre was frightful. Neither life nor property was respected; +in every thoroughfare brutal outrages and murders +were committed, and English homes were rendered desolate.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i164-hi.png"><img src="images/i164-lo.png" width="600" height="310" alt="THE BATTLEFIELD OF BIRMINGHAM." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE BATTLEFIELD OF BIRMINGHAM.</span> +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +from them came a storm of bullets that killed and wounded +dozens of the invaders.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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, manœuvred 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The losses on every side were appalling; the fortune of +war trembled in the balance.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +<h3>FALL OF BIRMINGHAM.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc168.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>he 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Bullets were singing along the valleys like swarms of +angry wasps, and the Russian losses in every direction were +enormous.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 manœuvre was commenced, +and although the marching ground was good, the British guns<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +swept them with their terrible fire, and hundreds of the Tsar's +soldiers dyed the meadows with their blood.</p> + +<p>It was a fierce, mad dash. The British attacked vigorously +on every side, fought bravely, straining every nerve to repulse +their foe.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +bayonets, charged almost before the Russians were aware of +their presence.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>An incident illustrative of the fierceness of the fight outside +the city was published in the <i>Times</i> 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:—</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +by sheer force of numbers, and afterwards again fell +further back towards our position on the high ground in +Hagley Road.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 398px;"> +<a href="images/i177-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i177-lo.jpg" width="398" height="600" alt="BIRMINGHAM OCCUPIED BY THE RUSSIANS." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">BIRMINGHAM OCCUPIED BY THE RUSSIANS.</span> +</div> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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!'</p> + +<p>"'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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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!</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>OUR REVENGE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc182.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="M" title="M" /></div><p>any 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Jupiter</i>, <i>Cæsar</i>, and <i>Victorious</i>, with the cruisers <i>Diana</i> and +<i>Dido</i>; the ironclads <i>Collingwood</i>, <i>Dreadnought</i>, <i>Hood</i>, <i>Inflexible</i>, +<i>Nile</i>, <i>Ramillies</i>, <i>Repulse</i>, <i>Sans Pareil</i>, <i>Trafalgar</i>, <i>Magnificent</i>, +<i>Empress of India</i>, and <i>Revenge</i>; the cruisers <i>Arethusa</i>, <i>Edgar</i>, +<i>Fearless</i>, <i>Hawke</i>, <i>Scout</i>, <i>Orlando</i>, <i>Undaunted</i>; the torpedo ram +<i>Polyphemus</i>; the torpedo gun-vessel <i>Sandfly</i>; the sloops <i>Dolphin</i>, +<i>Gannet</i>, <i>Melita</i>, and <i>Bramble</i>; and the despatch vessel <i>Surprise</i>, +with twenty-two torpedo boats and six destroyers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<i>Ramillies</i>, and afterwards published, together with the accompanying +sketch, in the <i>Illustrated London News</i>, as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +St. Tropez, near the Hyères Islands, in obedience to signals +from the flagship, the <i>Empress of India</i>, the ironclads <i>Jupiter</i>, +<i>Sans Pareil</i>, <i>Repulse</i>, with the cruisers <i>Edgar</i>, <i>Dido</i>, <i>Diana</i>, +<i>Orlando</i>, <i>Undaunted</i>, and <i>Scout</i>, the sloop <i>Gannet</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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. <i>We were to bombard Marseilles!</i></p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +semicircle of green hills stretching in the rear. Prominent in +the landscape is the church of Nôtre Dame de la Garde, perched +on the eminence on the right; while on the left there stands on +an island the Château 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 Cannebière 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!</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 Cannebière, and the Boulevard +de l'Empéreur.</p> + +<p>"The first taste of our guns had produced a terrible panic, +for a shell from the <i>Dreadnought</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +battery in the Château 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 Nôtre 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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 Hôtel du Louvre, in the +Cannebière. The French Tricolor on the flagstaff toppled over +into the street, and a second later the clouds of smoke and the +débris which shot up showed plainly the awful results of the +bursting shell.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +that offered targets. In an hour the Arsenal behind the Palais +de Justice was laid in ruins, the fine Hôtel de Ville was a mere +heap of smouldering débris, the Bourse, and the great Library in +the Boulevard du Musée were half wrecked by shells, and the +Custom House, the Gendarmerie, and the Prefecture were +burning furiously. The Château 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 Nôtre 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 <i>Ramillies</i> 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.</p> + +<p>"Several shots from the Nôtre 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.</p> + +<p>"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 <i>Empress of +India</i> and the <i>Victorious</i> thundered forth our great projectiles +upon it in a manner which must have been terribly disconcerting. +The battery replied vigorously at first, but the <i>Nile</i>, +noticing the direction in which we had turned our attention, +trained her guns upon the same fort, and let loose a perfect<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Several of our vessels were, however, severely feeling the +fire from the Nôtre Dame Fortress and that of St. Jean. +Nearly one hundred men on board the <i>Trafalgar</i> 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 +<i>Dolphin</i>, which had severely suffered herself from the vigorous +fire from the Batterie du Phare. The funnel of the <i>Nile</i> 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 <i>Hood</i> 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 <i>Arethusa</i> were also broken.</p> + +<p>"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 Nôtre 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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> producing an appalling catastrophe from +which the fortress could never recover.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 650px;"> +<a href="images/i189-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i189-lo.jpg" width="600" height="372" alt="BOMBARDMENT OF MARSEILLES BY THE BRITISH: +"ONE OF OUR SHELLS HAD ENTERED THE POWDER MAGAZINE OF FORT ST. JEAN."" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">BOMBARDMENT OF MARSEILLES BY THE BRITISH: +"ONE OF OUR SHELLS HAD ENTERED THE POWDER MAGAZINE OF FORT ST. JEAN."</span> +</div> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 Château 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."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +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 cafés, the siesta was +not yet over.</p> + +<p>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 <i>mueddin</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Darkness crept on after a brief twilight. Moorish women, +wrapped in their white <i>haicks</i>, 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 <i>bel fresco</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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 cafés and bazaars around +were full of life, and the warm, balmy air was laden with the +scent of flowers.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>British war-vessels had crept up within range, and were +pouring the vials of Britain's wrath upon the ancient city of +the Deys!</p> + +<p>The detachment of vessels which, led by the new battleship +<i>Jupiter</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>How far the manœuvre succeeded is shown in the few +interesting details of the bombardment given in the course of +an interview which a reporter of the <i>Daily Telegraph</i> had with +Lieut. George Ingleton, of the first-class cruiser <i>Edgar</i>. The +officer said:—</p> + +<p>"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 République,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 <i>Jupiter</i>, while +others rendered useless several of her machine guns. A shell +penetrated the <i>Gannet</i>, unfortunately killing fourteen bluejackets; +and had it not been that the deck of the <i>Edgar</i> 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.</p> + +<p>"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. Eugène.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>A NAVAL FIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 110px;"> +<img src="images/dc196.jpg" width="110" height="100" alt='"T' title="T" /></div> +<p>he 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 <i>Petropavlovsk</i> of 10,960 tons, +with a speed of 17 knots; the great turret-ship +<i>Dvenadsat Apostoloff</i> of 8076 tons; the +two new barbette-ships <i>Kama</i> and <i>Vologda</i> of the <i>Cizoi Veliky</i> +type; the <i>Tchesmé</i> of 10,181 tons, the <i>Gheorghy Pobyednosets</i> +of 10,280 tons, and the powerful <i>Tria Sviatitelia</i> of 12,480 +tons; the two enormous new cruisers <i>Tiumen</i> and <i>Minsk</i>, both +of 17,000 tons, and running at 20 knots; the <i>Vladimir Monomach</i> +of 5754 tons; the armoured gunboat <i>Otvazny</i>, and the +new rams <i>Admiral Seniavine</i> and <i>Admiral Uschakoff</i>, with +thirty torpedo boats, including the <i>Kodor</i>, <i>Reni</i>, <i>Anakria</i>, and +<i>Adler</i>, the latter being able to run at 27·4 knots.</p> + +<p>"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 <i>Jupiter</i>, <i>Repulse</i>, <i>Sans Pareil</i>, +<i>Undaunted</i>, <i>Orlando</i>, <i>Diana</i>, <i>Scout</i>, and <i>Gannet</i> joined in noisy +chorus. The 12-inch guns in the turrets of the <i>Petropavlovsk</i> +and the four big guns in the barbettes of the +<i>Tria Sviatitelia</i> crashed out together, and almost immediately +afterwards we found ourselves being swept from stem to stern<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 +<i>Société Slav de Bienfaisance</i> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +monasteries, converting the place into a clerical settlement. +This fact was pointed out by the <i>Pall Mall Gazette</i> as far back +as 1893, but the British public at that time failed to detect any +Russian intrigue.</p> + +<p>"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!</p> + +<p>"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 Ægina. 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!</p> + +<p>"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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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 +<i>Vladimir Monomach</i> 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.</p> + +<p>"Just at this moment I found we were being attacked on +the port bow by the enormous new turret-ship <i>Petropavlovsk</i> and +the <i>Dvenadsat Apostoloff</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Jupiter</i>, steaming about two miles away on our starboard +quarter, was apparently holding her own against the +barbette-ships <i>Tchesmé</i> and <i>Gheorghy Pobyednosets</i>, the cruiser +<i>Tiumen</i>, one of the largest in the world, and the new ram +<i>Admiral Seniavine</i>. 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 +<i>Gheorghy Pobyednosets</i> and the wrecked superstructure of the +<i>Tchesmé</i>, the <i>Jupiter's</i> heavy armaments were executing good +work, notwithstanding the strength of the <i>Tchesmé's</i> six 50-ton +guns, admirably arranged in pairs in the centre of the vessel.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Diana</i> and <i>Sans Pareil</i>, lying near to one another, were +desperately resisting the vigorous attack made by the <i>Admiral +Uschakoff</i>, <i>Minsk</i>, <i>Otvazny</i>, <i>Kama</i>, and <i>Vologda</i>; and here again, +amid smoke and flying débris, I could distinguish that the +67-tonners of the <i>Repulse</i>, in co-operation with the lighter +weapons of the <i>Undaunted</i>, were giving the enemy a taste of +what British courage could accomplish.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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 <i>Dido</i> +and <i>Jupiter</i>.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Around two of the quick-firing guns on our port quarter +lay the guns' crews, mutilated by shells from the <i>Vladimir +Monomach</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Those were terrible moments. The captain suddenly +noticed the movements of the <i>Vladimir Monomach</i>, and divined +her intentions. She had ceased firing, and by a neatly executed +manœuvre was preparing to ram us. In a moment our helm +was put over again, and the <i>Edgar</i> answered to it immediately.</p> + +<p>"'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.</p> + +<p>"The seconds seemed hours. Suddenly there was a loud +explosion, a great column of water rose under the Russian's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +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 <i>Vladimir Monomach's</i> +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.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Petropavlovsk</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Dvenadsat Apostoloff</i> 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 <i>Sans Pareil</i> attracted my attention, and, +turning, I saw amid the smoke-clouds débris precipitated high +into the air. A shot from one of her 111-ton guns had penetrated +to the magazine of the <i>Admiral Seniavine</i>, 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 <i>Dvenadsat Apostoloff</i>.</p> + +<p>"Again another frightful explosion sounded loud above the +incessant din, and to my satisfaction I saw a great column of +water rise around the <i>Admiral Uschakoff</i>, which, fighting at close +quarters with the <i>Dido</i>, had apparently been torpedoed. Not +satisfied with this, the captain of the <i>Dido</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>"It was nearly three bells, and the sun was setting. A +galling fire from the machine guns in the foretop of the <i>Dvenadsat +Apostoloff</i> suddenly swept our deck, killing a dozen poor fellows<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +who were at work clearing away some débris, 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 <i>Anakria</i> shoot suddenly +across our bows, then quickly slacken as she got to starboard +of us.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 <i>Edgar</i> 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.</p> + +<p>"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 <i>Dvenadsat Apostoloff's</i> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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 <i>Jupiter</i>, <i>Sans Pareil</i>, <i>Repulse</i>, and <i>Undaunted</i>, +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 <i>Edgar</i> had +sunk, a line of low dark cliffs was sighted ahead.</p> + +<p>The officers of the <i>Diana</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>Altering their course, they headed due north, still keeping +up a running fire, but the Russians prevented them making +headway.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Undaunted</i> nearly amidships. +Still the doomed vessel managed to evade a second attack, +and by a desperate manœuvre the captain succeeded in turning +and heading for land.</p> + +<p>The remaining ships, in their terribly crippled condition, +would, the Russians anticipated, soon fall an easy prey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a loud shouting on board the <i>Jupiter</i>, +and signals were, a moment later, run up to her half-wrecked +top. The captain of the <i>Dido</i>, 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!</p> + +<p>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 +<i>Lepanto</i>, opened fire upon the <i>Petropavlovsk</i>, and was quickly +followed by others, until the action became general all round.</p> + +<p>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 manœuvre attempted unsuccessfully. The Italian Fleet, as +it loomed up in the falling gloom, included no fewer than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +twenty-six warships and forty-three torpedo boats. The +vessels consisted of the barbette-ship <i>Lepanto</i> of 15,000 +tons; the <i>Sardegna</i>, <i>Sicilia</i>, and <i>Re Umberto</i> of 13,000 +tons; the <i>Andrea Doria</i>, <i>Francesca Morosini</i>, and <i>Ruggiero +di Lauria</i> of 11,000 tons; the turret-ships <i>Dandolo</i> and +<i>Duilio</i> of the same size; the <i>Ammeraglio di St. Bon</i> of 9800 +tons; the armoured cruisers <i>Ancona</i>, <i>Castelfidardo</i>, and <i>Maria +Pia</i>, and the <i>San Martino</i>, each of about 4500 tons; the +gun-vessels <i>Andrea Provana</i>, <i>Cariddi</i>, <i>Castore</i>, <i>Curtatone</i>; the +torpedo gunboats <i>Aretusa</i>, <i>Atlante</i>, <i>Euridice</i>, <i>Iride</i>, <i>Montebello</i>, +and <i>Monzambano</i>; the despatch vessels <i>Galileo</i> and <i>Vedetta</i>; and +the first-class torpedo vessels <i>Aquila</i>, <i>Avvoltoio</i>, <i>Falco</i>, <i>Nibbio</i>, +and <i>Sparviero</i>, and thirty-eight others.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Andrea Doria</i>, <i>Francesca Morosini</i>, +and <i>Ruggiero di Lauria</i> crashed and roared time after +time, their great shots causing frightful havoc among the +Russian ships, the four 100-tonners of the <i>Lepanto</i> and the +67-tonners of the <i>Re Umberto</i>, <i>Sardegna</i>, and <i>Sicilia</i> simply +knocking to pieces the <i>Petropavlovsk</i>. The Russian ships were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +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 <i>Lepanto</i> the fine Russian battleship <i>Gheorghy Pobyednosets</i> +and the great new cruiser <i>Minsk</i> of 17,000 tons had been +rammed and sunk, the former by the <i>Duilio</i>, and the latter +by the <i>Re Umberto</i>, while the <i>Tchesmé</i> and the gunboat +<i>Otvazny</i> had been torpedoed, and scarcely a soul saved out of +1500 men who were on board.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the <i>Sicilia</i>, which had been fighting the Russian +flagship, the <i>Tria Sviatitelia</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Quickly this success was followed by others—the blowing +up of the monster new cruiser <i>Tiumen</i>, the sinking of the +<i>Adler</i> 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 <i>Kodor</i> had been sunk. +The Russians thus captured were the battleships <i>Petropavlovsk</i> +of 10,960 tons, the <i>Dvenadsat Apostoloff</i> of 8076 tons, the +two new barbette-ships, <i>Kama</i> and <i>Vologda</i>, both of whose +engines had broken down, and fifteen torpedo boats.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<a href="images/i207-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i207-lo.jpg" width="600" height="372" alt="Ruggiero di Lauria. Re Umberto. Duilio. Tchesmé. 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."" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption"><br /><i>Ruggiero di Lauria. +Re Umberto. Duilio. +Tchesmé. Dvenadsat Apostoloff.<br /> +H.M.S. Edgar.</i><br /> +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."</span> +</div> + +<p>At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>The strongest division of Russia's Fleet had been totally +destroyed, and the Tsar's power in the Mediterranean was +broken.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>PANIC IN LANCASHIRE.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc210.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>he 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 +<i>Evening News</i>—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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +flank, which had bivouaced on Wittington Heath, near Lichfield, +and occupied the barracks there.</p> + +<p>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 échelon 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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Thus Manchester was defended by a force of 38,000 cavalry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE EVE OF BATTLE.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc217.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="S" title="S" /></div><p>ome 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—</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>Many British heroes fell pierced by a dozen bullets; still +their comrades, seeking what shelter they could, continued the +defensive.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +<a href="images/i221-hi.png"><img src="images/i221-lo.png" width="600" height="446" alt="THE BATTLEFIELD OF MANCHESTER." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE BATTLEFIELD OF MANCHESTER.</span> +</div> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>sentries between Heald Green and Appletree were driven back +on their piquets, the latter extending in skirmishing order. +Such a manœuvre, 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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>, 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +fought desperately, and inflicted enormous loss upon the +enemy.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Thus passed the stormy, oppressive night, till the grey +dawn of a fateful day.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>MANCHESTER ATTACKED BY RUSSIANS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc224.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="W" title="W" /></div><p>ith 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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +London Road at Longsight, the Hyde Road opposite Belle Vue +Prison, and at Ivy Place in the Ashton Old Road.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The embankment which thus fell into the hands of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +infantry, artillery, and two companies of engineers, with +pontoon sections, as well as a ballooning party and two field +hospitals.</p> + +<p>The British detachment that had crossed the river were, +however, unaware of the enemy's intention until too late. +The manœuvres of the Russians were being watched by a +British balloon sent up from Old Trafford, but the signals made +by the aëronaut 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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>GALLANT DEEDS BY CYCLISTS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc232.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="N" title="N" /></div><p>oon 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a href="images/i233-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i233-lo.jpg" width="404" height="600" alt="GALLANT STAND BY CYCLISTS IN PARR WOOD." title="" /></a> +<br /><span class="caption">GALLANT STAND BY CYCLISTS IN PARR WOOD.</span> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +Hall, and lined the railway embankment in force as far as +Chorlton-with-Hardy.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Irons then re-formed his squad, one of whom had been shot +and another wounded, and, taking the wounded man with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +were forced to retire, leaving more than half their number dead +and many wounded.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Another British battery was then hurried forward, and +after a stubborn fight the remainder of the invaders who had +crossed surrendered.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Russian Eagle was at last being forced to bite the +dust!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>GREAT BATTLE ON THE MERSEY.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc239.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>he long blazing day was one of many battles and +much toilsome combat.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The British reserves at Newton-in-Makerfield, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A battery we had established on the crown of the hill at +Werneth was charged again and again by Cossacks and Dragoons,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +but our men, displaying cool courage at the critical moments, +fought desperately, and mowed down the foe in a manner that +was remarkable.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>What occurred is, perhaps, best related by one of the special +correspondents of the <i>Daily News</i>, who, in his account of the +battle, published two days later, said—</p> + +<p>"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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Still it was impossible to keep them back, for the force +effecting a passage was very much larger than we had anticipated.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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!</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"The men who had attacked us were a fierce-looking set,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FATE OF THE VANQUISHED.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc244.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="W" title="W" /></div><p>hile this vigorous attack on the right flank was +in progress, the enemy made a sudden dash +upon Stretford.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>At last, with a swiftness that was surprising, the expected +assault was made. Its strength was terrific, and the carnage +on both sides appalling.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Of the three, the strongest, of course, was that upon Stretford. +The enemy had, by a good deal of neat manœuvring, +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Russian shells bursting in Stretford killed and injured large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +numbers of the defenders. Two of them struck the Old Cock +in rapid succession, almost completely demolishing it, but the +débris 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +entered, the safes blown open, and large sums in gold and +notes abstracted, shops were entered and looted, and houses +ransacked for jewellery.</p> + +<p>Thus Stretford fell.</p> + +<p>Its streets ran with blood; and on, over the bodies of its +brave defenders, the hordes of the Great White Tsar marched +towards Manchester.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The men in the entrenchments saw the foe were falling +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i249-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i249-lo.jpg" width="600" height="394" alt="RUSSIANS ATTACKING THE BARRICADE IN STRETFORD ROAD, MANCHESTER." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">RUSSIANS ATTACKING THE BARRICADE IN STRETFORD ROAD, MANCHESTER.</span> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + +<p>Manchester was safe, and the public rejoicings throughout +that night were unbounded.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> +<h1><i>BOOK III</i></h1> +<h2><i>THE VICTORY</i></h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> +<h3>A SHABBY WAYFARER.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc257.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /></div><p>n 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"To-night. To-night at sundown!" he muttered to himself, +as he bent his head to the wind.</p> + +<p>Involuntarily he placed his hand to his hip to reassure +himself that a letter he carried was still safe.</p> + +<p>"Bah!" he continued, "I declare I feel quite timid to-night.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +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. +<i>Bien! that is full of truth.</i>"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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, <i>Admiral +Orlovski</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"I desire to see Prince Feodor Mazaroff, Admiral of the +Fleet."</p> + +<p>"I am at your service, m'sieur," the other replied in French, +motioning him to a chair.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Admiral broke the seals, and glanced eagerly through +the contents, with evident satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Now, what is the general condition of the south of Scotland?" +the Prince asked, lounging back, twirling his moustache +with a self-satisfied air.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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"—</p> + +<p>A ray of brilliant white light streamed for a moment +through the port of the cabin, and then disappeared.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Admiral Orlovski</i>, +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>LANDING OF THE ENEMY AT LEITH.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc263.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /></div><p>ll the vessels were now under steam and +approaching Inchkeith, when suddenly two +shells struck the <i>Admiral Orlovski</i> amidships, +carrying away a portion of her superstructure.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 débris fell heavily upon the deck, and the disaster, being +witnessed by the spy, caused him considerable anxiety for his +own safety.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>At the moment this disaster occurred, the <i>Admiral Orlovski</i>, +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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. <i>Durham</i> 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.</p> + +<p>In addition to being attacked from the forts on the island, +and on land, the Russians were now being vigorously fired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +upon by the British Coastguard ship <i>Impérieuse</i>, which, with +the cruiser <i>Active</i>, and the gunboat cruisers <i>Cockchafer</i>, <i>Firm</i>, +and <i>Watchful</i>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 455px;"> +<a href="images/i265-hi.png"><img src="images/i265-lo.png" width="455" height="500" alt="POSITIONS FOR THE DEFENCE OF EDINBURGH." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">POSITIONS FOR THE DEFENCE OF EDINBURGH.</span> +</div> + +<p>Ere the sun rose, a huge force of 60,000 men had commenced +a march upon Edinburgh and Glasgow!</p> + +<p>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:—</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 débris, and the mangled remains +of those who a second before had been elated beyond measure +by their success.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>ATTACK ON EDINBURGH.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc271.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /></div><p>n 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>coup</i> 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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The story he told the General commanding was at first +looked upon as ludicrous. In the dim candlelight in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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"—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>"THE DEMON OF WAR."</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc276.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>wo 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Russians were busily completing their arrangements +for striking an appalling blow.</p> + +<p>Concealed by a line of trees and a number of farm buildings, +the little section of the enemy had worked indefatigably for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>It was a huge and curiously-shaped air-ship, and was to be +used for dropping great charges of mélinite 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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 aëronaut.</p> + +<p>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 mélinite, 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 6½ miles, had rightly been named by the Pole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +who had perfected Tissandier's invention—"The Demon of +War."</p> + +<p>While the two officers of the Russian balloon section, both +experienced aëronauts, 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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +gun to emit a low hissing sound, like escaping steam. Then +he stepped back to the officers, saying—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour had thus elapsed, when Mackenzie +suddenly shouted, "Look, lads! <i>There she goes!</i> Now, let's +teach 'em what Scots can do."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Missed! <i>missed!</i>" 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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Dynamite shells, ejected at the rate of 50 a minute, +rushed from the muzzle, and sped away.</p> + +<p>But the Demon of War, with its whirling propellers, continued +on its swift, silent mission of destruction.</p> + +<p>"Missed again!" cried one of the men, in despair. "See! +it's gone! We've—good heavens!—<i>why, we've lost it—lost it!</i>"</p> + +<p>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. "<i>They've +outwitted us, the brutes, and nothing now can save Edinburgh +from destruction!</i>"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a loud, exultant cry from Mackenzie caused his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +companions to strain their eyes away to Duddingston, and +there they saw high in the air the monster aërial machine +gradually looming through the mist, a vague and shadowy +outline. It had passed through a bank of cloud, and was +gradually reappearing.</p> + +<p>"Quick! There's not a moment to lose!" shrieked +Mackenzie, springing to the lever with redoubled enthusiasm, +an example followed by the others.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"<i>Now!</i>" he ejaculated, as he suddenly pulled the lever, and +for the last time sent forth the automatic shower of destructive +shells.</p> + +<p>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 débris 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.</p> + +<p>As the débris 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>The disaster was awful in its suddenness, appalling in its +completeness. The aëronauts, totally unprepared for such an +attack, had been blown to atoms just when within an ace of +success.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;"> +<a href="images/i283-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i283-lo.jpg" width="406" height="600" alt=""IN EDINBURGH THE FIGHTING WAS FIERCEST ALONG PRINCES STREET."" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">"IN EDINBURGH THE FIGHTING WAS FIERCEST ALONG PRINCES STREET."</span> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER OUTSIDE GLASGOW.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc286.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /></div><p>t 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Such an attack was, of course, very vigorously defended, +but it was a smart manœuvre 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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i287-hi.png"><img src="images/i287-lo.png" width="600" height="600" alt="MAP OF THE BATTLEFIELD OUTSIDE GLASGOW." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">MAP OF THE BATTLEFIELD OUTSIDE GLASGOW.</span> +</div> + +<p>Meanwhile<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The sun that day was obscured by dark thunder-clouds, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +swirling Clyde flowed on black beneath its many bridges, and +the outlook was everywhere gloomy and ominous.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Daily Graphic</i>.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"As the railway had not been destroyed, I thought that +possibly the invaders intended to use the line <i>viâ</i> 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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +morning they had seen small detachments of Russian cavalry +pass through from Bankle, and proceed north along the Cleland +road.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"On receipt of this intelligence, Colonel Cumberland +executed a manœuvre 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.'</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +and cool courage that was in the highest degree commendable.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +and as he neared us I could see he was the civilian. I knew I +must stop him at all costs.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i297-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i297-lo.jpg" width="600" height="394" alt="DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS AT BAILLIESTON, NEAR GLASGOW." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS AT BAILLIESTON, NEAR GLASGOW.</span> +</div> + +<p>"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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>MARCH OF THE FRENCH ON LONDON.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc300.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="S" title="S" /></div><p>outh 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.</p> + +<p>Sussex had been devastated, but Kent still held out, and +Chatham remained in the possession of the defenders.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +commanded the valleys lying away to the south, and effected +splendid defensive work.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i305-hi.png"><img src="images/i305-lo.png" width="600" height="398" alt="BRITISH VOLUNTEER POSITIONS ON THE SURREY HILLS." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">BRITISH VOLUNTEER POSITIONS ON THE SURREY HILLS.</span> +</div> + +<p>Indeed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 manœuvred over +that ground at many an Eastertide had little dreamed that they +would have one day to raise their rifles in earnest for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +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 manœuvre 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>viâ</i> Sydenham to Lewisham and Greenwich.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>Grim, spectral, unseen, the Destroying Angel held the +sword over her, ready to strike!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<h3>LOOTING IN THE SUBURBS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc311.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="W" title="W" /></div><p>hile 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span></p> + +<p>London waited. Dark storm-clouds scudded across the +moon. The chill wind swept up the river, and moaned mournfully +in doors and chimneys.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 mélinite 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.</p> + +<p>The bombardment had actually commenced! London, the +proud Capital of the World, was threatened with destruction!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<h3>LONDON BOMBARDED.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc316.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>he Hand of the Destroyer had reached England's +mighty metropolis. The lurid scene was +appalling.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>sauve qui peut</i> to the northern suburbs, the weaker fell and +were trodden under foot.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +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 mélinite 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +the ruin was even greater, and the destruction of property +enormous.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 Athenæum 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.</p> + +<p>Up Regent Street shells were sweeping with frightful +effect. The Café 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +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 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +débris, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>About half-past three a frightful disaster occurred at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +débris in the adjoining courts; both the half-wrecked offices<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +of the <i>Daily Telegraph</i> and the <i>Daily Chronicle</i> were being +consumed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 mélinite, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The bodies, mutilated, torn limb from limb, were sickening +to gaze upon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<h3>BABYLON BURNING.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc323.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="D" title="D" /></div><p>ynamite had shattered Charing Cross Station +and the Hotel, for its smoke-begrimed façade +had been torn out, and the station yard was +filled with a huge pile of smouldering débris. +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.</p> + +<p>The burning of Babylon was a sight of awful, appalling +grandeur.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span></p> + +<p>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 mélinite, +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.</p> + +<p>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 débris +of their homes, or burned to death. The disasters wrought by +the Frenchmen's improved long-range weapons were frightful.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<a href="images/i325-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i325-lo.jpg" width="600" height="409" alt="THE FRENCH BOMBARDING LONDON FROM THE CRYSTAL PALACE PARADE." title="" /></a> +<br /><span class="caption">THE FRENCH BOMBARDING LONDON FROM THE CRYSTAL PALACE PARADE.</span> +</div> + +<p>Neither<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +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 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>, on their +way to London.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>fête champêtre</i>, where splendid satin-coated +<i>beaux</i>, all smiles and <i>ailes de pigeon</i>, whispered scandal +behind the fans of dainty dames in high-dressed wigs and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span>patches, or, clad as Watteau shepherds, had danced the <i>al fresco</i> +minuet with similarly attired shepherdesses, and later on +played <i>piquet</i> and drank champagne till dawn.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i331-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i331-lo.jpg" width="600" height="397" alt="GOORKAS SLAUGHTERING THE FRENCH ARTILLERY AT GREENWICH OBSERVATORY." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">GOORKAS SLAUGHTERING THE FRENCH ARTILLERY AT GREENWICH OBSERVATORY.</span> +</div> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +some hours later, the roads were heaped with the corpses of +those whose mission it had been to destroy London.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<h3>FIGHTING ON THE SURREY HILLS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc335.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="O" title="O" /></div><p>ur 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.</p> + +<p>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 manœuvred, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +our line had been filled up by strong reinforcements, and the +enemy driven from the high ground between Box Hill and +Guildford.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The butchery was awful.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>NAVAL BATTLE OFF DUNGENESS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc340.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="O" title="O" /></div><p>n 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Empress of India</i>, +<i>Inflexible</i>, <i>Nile</i>, <i>Trafalgar</i>, <i>Magnificent</i>, <i>Hood</i>, <i>Warspite</i>, <i>Dreadnought</i>, +<i>Camperdown</i>, <i>Blenheim</i>, <i>Barham</i>, <i>Benbow</i>, <i>Monarch</i>, +<i>Anson</i>, <i>Immortalité</i>, and <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, with four of the new +cruisers built under the Spencer programme, viz. the <i>Terrible</i>, +<i>Powerful</i>, <i>Doris</i>, and <i>Isis</i>, and a number of smaller vessels, +torpedo boats, and "destroyers."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span></p> + +<p>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 <i>Baden</i>, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral +Koester; the <i>Sachen</i>, commanded by Prince Henry +of Prussia; the <i>Würtemberg</i>, and the <i>Bayern</i>—all of 7400 tons, +and each carrying 18 guns and nearly 400 men; while the +despatch boat <i>Pfeil</i>, the new dynamite cruiser <i>Trier</i>, and a +number of torpedo boats, accompanied them. The second +division, under Rear-Admiral von Diederichs on board the +<i>König Wilhelm</i>, consisted of the <i>Brandenburg</i>, <i>Kürfurst +Friedrich Wilhelm</i>, and <i>Wœrth</i>, each of 10,300 tons, and +carrying 32 guns; the <i>Deutschland</i> and the <i>Friedrich der Grosse</i>, +with the despatch vessel <i>Wacht</i>, and several torpedo gunboats +and other craft.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Little time was occupied in preliminaries. Soon our ships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +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 <i>Camperdown</i> and <i>Blenheim</i>, 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, <i>Jauréguiberry</i>, <i>Jemappes</i>, and <i>Dévastation</i>, and the +submarine torpedo boat <i>Gustave Zédé</i>, fiercely attacked the +<i>Brandenburg</i> and the <i>König Wilhelm</i>; while the <i>Camperdown</i>, +<i>Anson</i>, <i>Dreadnought</i>, and <i>Warspite</i> 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 +manœuvres 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +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 <i>Immortalité</i> and the <i>Tréhouart</i>. +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 +<i>Immortalité's</i> 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 <i>Fusiliers Marins</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>Humanely, our vessel, the <i>Immortalité</i> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +stern. As morning wore on, the enemy met with one or two +successes. Our two new cruisers <i>Terrible</i> and <i>Powerful</i> had +been sunk by French torpedoes; the <i>Hood</i> had been rammed +by the <i>Amiral Baudin</i>, and gone to the bottom with nearly +every soul on board; while the German despatch boat <i>Wacht</i> +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 <i>Formidable</i> +blew up with a terrific report, filling the air with débris, her +magazine having exploded; while just at that moment the +<i>Courbet</i>, whose 48-tonners had caused serious damage to the +<i>Warspite</i>, was suddenly rammed and sunk by the <i>Empress of +India</i>.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Through the dull, gloomy afternoon the battle continued. +Time after time our ships met with serious reverses, for the +<i>Anson</i> was sunk by the Russian flagship <i>Alexander II.</i>, +assisted by two French cruisers, and this catastrophe was +followed almost immediately by the torpedoing of the new +British cruiser <i>Doris</i>, and the capture of the new German +dynamite cruiser <i>Trier</i>.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 800px;"> +<a href="images/i345-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i345-lo.jpg" width="600" height="462" alt="H.M.S. Royal Sovereign. H.M.S. Camperdown. Amiral Baudin. Russian flagship blown up. +H.M.S. Warspite. Cécille. +FINAL BATTLE OFF DUNGENESS: "THE SCENE OF DESTRUCTION WAS APPALLING."" title="" /></a> +<br /><span class="caption"><i>H.M.S. Royal Sovereign. +H.M.S. Camperdown. Amiral Baudin. +Russian flagship blown up.<br /> +H.M.S. Warspite. Cécille.</i><br /> +FINAL BATTLE OFF DUNGENESS: "THE SCENE OF DESTRUCTION WAS APPALLING."</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span></p> +<p>By this time, however, the vessels had approached within +three miles of Dungeness, and the <i>Camperdown</i>, <i>Empress of +India</i>, <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, <i>Inflexible</i>, and <i>Warspite</i>, lying near one +another, fought nine of the enemy's vessels, inflicting upon +them terrible punishment. Shots from the 67-tonners of the +<i>Empress of India</i>, <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, and <i>Camperdown</i>, combined +with those from the 22-tonners of the <i>Warspite</i>, 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 +<i>Alexander II.</i>, 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 <i>Camperdown</i> +rammed the <i>Amiral Baudin</i>, while the <i>Warspite</i> sank the +French cruiser <i>Cécille</i>, the submarine boat <i>Gustave Zédé</i>, and +afterwards captured the torpedo gunboat <i>Bombe</i>.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Jauréguiberry</i> 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 <i>Dévastation</i>, which had been engaging the <i>Royal +Sovereign</i>, 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!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The struggle had been frightful, but the victory was +magnificent.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>Thus, at the eleventh hour, the British Navy had shown +itself worthy of its reputation, and England regained the +supremacy of the seas.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE DAY OF RECKONING.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc350.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>he Day of Reckoning dawned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +depôt 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Standard</i>. He wrote—</p> + +<p>"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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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!</p> + +<p>"Shortly afterwards we were vigorously attacked, and our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"With the fierce flames and blinding smoke from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 587px;"> +<a href="images/i356-hi.png"><img src="images/i356-lo.png" width="587" height="600" alt="THE BATTLE OF CATERHAM: PLAN OF THE BRITISH POSITIONS." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE BATTLE OF CATERHAM: PLAN OF THE BRITISH POSITIONS.</span> +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Gradually our Volunteer brigades occupying the long range +of hills united with our Regulars still on the enemy's right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<h3>"FOR ENGLAND!"</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc362.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /></div><p>hrough 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span>many deeds worthy their traditions as the most +courageous and undaunted among nations.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i363-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i363-lo.jpg" width="403" height="600" alt="BRITISH BLUEJACKETS MARCHING THROUGH THE STRAND AFTER THE VICTORY." title="" /></a> +<br /><span class="caption">BRITISH BLUEJACKETS MARCHING THROUGH THE STRAND AFTER THE VICTORY.</span> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>After these three breathless days of butchery and bloodshed +England was at last victorious!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Britain had at last vanquished the two powerful nations +that had sought by ingenious conspiracy to accomplish her +downfall.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +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 débris 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 fêtes were organised, and delighted Britons gaily +celebrated their magnificent and overwhelming triumph.</p> + +<p>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 Elysée.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 Sâone.</p> + +<p>Ten days later France was forced to accept the preliminaries +of a treaty which we proposed. This included the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> +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 £250,000,000. 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<h3>DAWN.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/dc368.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /></div><p> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Glancing furtively around at the grey dismal landscape, he +shuddered. Beside and behind him soldiers tramped on in silence.</p> + +<p>The officer's sword grated along the gravel.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 401px;"> +<a href="images/i369-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i369-lo.jpg" width="401" height="600" alt="EXECUTION OF VON BEILSTEIN ON THE HORSE GUARDS' PARADE." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">EXECUTION OF VON BEILSTEIN ON THE HORSE GUARDS' PARADE.</span> +</div> + +<p>They raised their rifles. There was a momentary pause. +In the distance a dog howled dismally.</p> + +<p>A sharp word of command broke the quiet.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was the spy and murderer, Karl von Beilstein!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The young French clerk who had been engaged at the +Admiralty, and who had committed murder for gold, escaped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> +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 <i>Globo</i>, 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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The dreary gloom of winter passed, and there dawned a +new era of prosperity for England.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="center"> +THE END.<br /> +<br /> +MORRISON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +<i>Ready shortly, price 6s.</i><br /> +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth gilt. +</div> + +<h2>ZORAIDA.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<i>A ROMANCE OF THE HAREM AND THE DESERT.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">By WILLIAM LE QUEUX, F.R.G.S.</span>,<br /> +AUTHOR OF "THE GREAT WAR IN 1897."<br /> +<i>PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED BY H. PIFFARD.</i> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +<i>Ready shortly, price 6s.</i><br /> +THE TOWER ROMANCE LIBRARY. VOL. I. +</div> + +<h2>A TORQUAY MARRIAGE.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +A NEW MODERN NOVEL OF TO-DAY.<br /> +<span class="smcap">By G. RAYLEIGH VICARS and EDITH VICARS.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +<i>Ready shortly, price 6s.</i><br /> +VOL. II. +</div> + +<h2>IN QUEST OF A NAME.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<span class="smcap">By MRS. HENRY WYLDE.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +<i>Ready shortly.</i> +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth, price 6s.<br /> +<i>With numerous Illustrations by E. S. Hope.</i> +</div> + +<h2>THE OUTLAWS OF THE AIR.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<span class="smcap">By GEORGE GRIFFITH,</span><br /> +AUTHOR OF "THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION," "OLGA ROMANOFF," ETC. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +<i>Now ready. Picture Cover. Price 1s.</i> +</div> + +<h2>BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<i>A POLITICAL DREAM.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">By GEOFFREY DANYERS.</span><br /> +A Vision of the Reunited Anglo-Saxondom asserting the +Dominion of the Sea. +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<i>Now ready. Eleventh Edition. Price 6s.</i> +</div> + +<h2>THE GREAT WAR IN ENGLAND IN 1897.</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<span class="smcap">By</span> WILLIAM LE QUEUX, F.R.G.S.<br /> +<i>With Numerous Illustrations by T. S. Crowther and Captain C. Field, and +Nine Military Maps.</i> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +The Opinions of some Great Authorities. +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><span class="smcap">The Duke of Cambridge</span>, 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."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Field Marshal Lord Wolseley</span> says: "A pleasure to peruse it."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Marquis of Salisbury</span> says: "It is very realistic and interesting."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lord George Hamilton</span> says: "It is very striking and original."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir C. Dilke</span> says: "I think it is most valuable as tending to make people realise how +little we are prepared for war."</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +Opinions of the London Press. +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><i>The Times</i> says: "Everything that can spice a sensational volume."</p> + +<p><i>The Morning Post</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>The Standard</i> says: "Full of excitement and realism."</p> + +<p><i>The Globe</i> says: "It is vigorous and rousing.... Will do a public service."</p> + +<p><i>The Sun</i> says: "Mr. Le Queux' narrative is well and spiritedly written."</p> + +<p><i>The Evening News</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>The Daily Graphic</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>Naval and Military Record</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>Admiralty and Horse Guards Gazette</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>Army and Navy Gazette</i> says: "The story is a capital one, full of interest and incident, +well sustained and well told."</p> + +<p><i>The Idler</i> says: "Mr. Le Queux writes brilliantly, sensibly, and with a thorough mastery +of his subject."</p> + +<p><i>The Sketch</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>The World</i> says: "It serves to bring home in a very realistic fashion the horrors of a war +brought into our very midst."</p> + +<p><i>To-Day</i> says: "A mastery of military and naval details is displayed with conception and +execution."</p> + +<p><i>The Review of Reviews</i> says: "The story is useful as a warning, and is worked out with +much knowledge."</p> + +<p><i>The Gentlewoman</i> says: "Once having started, I couldn't lay it down till I had made an +end thereto."</p> + +<p><i>The Literary World</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>The Publishers' Circular</i> says: "Mr. Le Queux shows us what will happen if we do not +better prepare ourselves."</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +Read what the Country Press say. +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><i>Manchester Evening News</i> says: "Lovers of exciting literature will be satisfied to the full +with the graphic story."</p> + +<p><i>Liverpool Daily Mercury</i> says: "Extremely interesting, and well worth reading."</p> + +<p><i>Liverpool Daily Chronicle</i> says:—"The story is full of stirring episode."</p> + +<p><i>Birmingham Daily Post</i> says: "The scenes are marked with real and affecting power."</p> + +<p><i>Sheffield Daily Telegraph</i> says: "We offer criticism in no carping spirit, but as part of +our grateful acknowledgment for a brilliant, patriotic, and useful work."</p> + +<p><i>Yorkshire Post</i> says: "Well calculated to make the nervous tremble at every rumour of +foreign complications."</p> + +<p><i>The Scotsman</i> says: "Strategical and other problems are elaborately worked out.... +Amusing, entertaining, and exciting."</p> + +<p><i>The North British Mail</i> says: "It is a very powerful work."</p> + +<p><i>Glasgow Herald</i> says: "One of the best books we have read on a subject on which it is +only too easy to be tiresome."</p> + +<p><i>Glasgow Evening News</i> says: "Whether as a romance or as a prophecy it is highly +interesting."</p> + +<p><i>The Western Morning News</i> says: "Very exciting reading. Of real literary merit."</p> + +<p><i>Bradford Daily Argus</i> says: "Full of interesting and exciting reading."</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +Read what the Foreign and Colonial Press say. +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Sydney Daily Telegraph</i> says: "The writer's capability to speak regarding his subject is +displayed on every page of the book. It is splendidly written."</p> + +<p><i>The Belgian News</i> says: "The book is a remarkable and a phenomenal success."</p> + +<p>The <i>Palladium</i> (Newhaven, Conn.) says: "One of the most successful books of the +season."</p> + +<p>"Il Capitano Nemo," the well-known Italian naval writer, in <i>L'Opinione</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>The Italia Marinara</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>Il Secolo</i> 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."</p> + +<p><i>The China Telegraph</i> says it is "of really intense and thrilling interest."</p></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<i>Now ready. Sixth Edition. Price 6s.</i><br /> +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth gilt.<br /> +</div> + +<h2>THE CAPTAIN OF THE MARY ROSE.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<i>A TALE OF TO-MORROW.</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">By W. LAIRD CLOWES</span>,<br /> +U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE.<br /> +With 60 Illustrations by the Chevalier de Martino and Fred. T. Jane. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="center"> +THE FOLLOWING ARE A FEW PRESS OPINIONS. +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"Deserves something more than a mere passing notice."—<i>The Times.</i></p> + +<p>"Full of exciting situations.... Has manifold attractions for all +sorts of readers."—<i>Army and Navy Gazette.</i></p> + +<p>"The most notable book of the season."—<i>The Standard.</i></p> + +<p>"A clever book. Mr. Clowes is pre-eminent for literary touch and +practical knowledge of naval affairs."—<i>Daily Chronicle.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. W. Laird Clowes' exciting story."—<i>Daily Telegraph.</i></p> + +<p>"We read 'The Captain of the Mary Rose' at a sitting."—<i>The +Pall Mall Gazette.</i></p> + +<p>"Written with no little spirit and imagination.... A stirring +romance of the future."—<i>Manchester Guardian.</i></p> + +<p>"Is of a realistic and exciting character.... Designed to show +what the naval warfare of the future may be."—<i>Glasgow Herald.</i></p> + +<p>"One of the most interesting volumes of the year."—<i>Liverpool +Journal of Commerce.</i></p> + +<p>"It is well told and magnificently illustrated."—<i>United Service +Magazine.</i></p> + +<p>"Full of absorbing interest."—<i>Engineers Gazette.</i></p> + +<p>"Is intensely realistic, so much so that after commencing the story +every one will be anxious to read to the end."—<i>Dundee Advertiser.</i></p> + +<p>"The book is splendidly illustrated."—<i>Northern Whig.</i></p> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<i>Ninth Edition, Price 6s.</i><br /> +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth gilt.<br /> +<i>Uniform with "The Captain of the Mary Rose," with numerous Illustrations by +Fred T. Jane and Edwin S. Hope.</i> +</div> + +<h2>THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +A TALE OF THE COMING TERROR.<br /> +<span class="smcap">By GEORGE GRIFFITH.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +<i>A FEW PRESS OPINIONS.</i> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"Since the days of the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, we know of no writer +who 'takes the cake' like Mr. George Griffith."—<i>Daily Chronicle.</i></p> + +<p>"A really exciting and sensational romance."—<i>Literary World.</i></p> + +<p>"As a work of imagination it takes high rank."—<i>Belfast News Letter.</i></p> + +<p>"Full of absorbing interest."—<i>Barrow Herald.</i></p> + +<p>"This powerful story."—<i>Liverpool Mercury.</i></p> + +<p>"An entirely new departure in fiction."—<i>Reynolds' Newspaper.</i></p> + +<p>"Of exceptional brilliancy and power."—<i>Western Figaro.</i></p> + +<p>"This remarkable story."—<i>Weekly Times and Echo.</i></p> + +<p>"There is a fascination about his book that few will be able to resist."—<i>Birmingham +Gazette.</i></p> + +<p>"This exciting romance."—<i>Licensing World.</i></p> + +<p>"A work of strong imaginative power."—<i>Dundee Courier.</i></p> + +<p>"We must congratulate the author upon the vividness and reality with +which he draws his unprecedented pictures."—<i>Bristol Mercury.</i></p> + +<p>"Is quite enthralling."—<i>Glasgow Herald.</i></p> + +<p>"A striking and fascinating novel."—<i>Hampshire Telegraph.</i></p> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +Demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth, price 6s.<br /> +<i>With Frontispiece by Edwin S. Hope.</i> +</div> + +<h2>OLGA ROMANOFF;</h2> + +<div class="center"> +Or, The Syren of the Skies.<br /> +<span class="smcap">By GEORGE GRIFFITH</span>,<br /> +AUTHOR OF "THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION," "THE OUTLAWS OF THE AIR." +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +Dedicated to Mr. HIRAM S. MAXIM. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>A sequel to the author's striking and successful romance. <i>The +Angel of the Revolution</i>, 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 <i>The Angel</i> sinks almost +into insignificance.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +SOME PRESS OPINIONS. +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"Mr. George Griffith has made himself a high reputation as an imaginative +novelist by his brilliant romances, <i>The Angel of the Revolution</i> and <i>The Syren of +the Skies</i>."—<i>Sketch.</i></p> + +<p>"This is quite as imaginative, as clever, and as enthralling a book as its +predecessor."—<i>Glasgow Herald.</i></p> + +<p>"The book is a wild one, but its wildness and imaginative boldness make it +uncommonly interesting."—<i>Scotsman.</i></p> + +<p>"The flights of fancy and imagination displayed by the author show a most +marvellous power and conception."—<i>Aberdeen Free Press.</i></p> + +<p>"An entrancing book."—<i>Birmingham Post.</i></p> + +<p>"Full of originality in its rendition.... A marvel of imaginative strength +and picturesque pen painting."—<i>European Mail.</i></p> + +<p>"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."—<i>Admiralty +and Horse Guards Gazette.</i></p> + +<p>"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."—<i>Morning Post.</i></p> + +<p>"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.'"—<i>Weekly Times +and Echo.</i></p> + +<p>"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."—<i>Bradford Daily Argus.</i></p> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> + +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>Click on the drawings and maps to see high-resolution images.</p> + +<p>Hyphens removed: muzzle[-]loaders (p. 127), look[-]out (p. 164), +short[-]sightedness (p. 176), blood[-]stained (p. 325).</p> + +<p>p. 67: "Termius" changed to "Terminus" (over the débris in Terminus Road).</p> + +<p>p. 72: "Halsted" changed to "Halstead" (Surrey to Halstead in Kent).</p> + +<p>p. 92: "crusier" changed to "cruiser" (the unarmoured cruiser <i>Faucon</i>).</p> + +<p>p. 119: "thousand" changed to "thousands" (thousands fleeing into the country).</p> + +<p>p. 159: "fusilade" changed to "fusillade" (commenced a terrific fusillade).</p> + +<p>p. 160: "momemt" changed to "moment" (Our situation at that moment).</p> + +<p>p. 240: "Hundred" changed to "Hundreds" (Hundreds of tons).</p> + +<p>p. 257: "evacute" changed to "evacuate" (to evacuate Edinburgh).</p> + +<p>p. 316: "detatched" changed to "detached" (came upon a detached post).</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +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-h.htm or 37470-h.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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