Великий военный синдикат

           Inthespringofacertainyear,notfarfromthecloseofthenineteenthcentury,whenthepoliticalrelationsbetweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritainbecamesostrainedthatcarefulobserversonbothsidesoftheAtlanticwereforcedtothebeliefthataseriousbreakintheserelationsmightbelookedforatanytime,thefishingschoonerElizaDrumsailedfromaportinMaineforthebanksofNewfoundland.ItwasinthisyearthatanewsystemofprotectionforAmericanfishingvesselshadbeenadoptedinWashington.EveryfleetofthesevesselswasaccompaniedbyoneormoreUnitedStatescruisers,whichremainedonthefishinggrounds,notonlyforthepurposeofwarningAmericancraftwhomightapproachtoonearthethree-milelimit,butalsotooverlooktheactionoftheBritishnavalvesselsonthecoast,andtointerfere,atleastbyprotest,withsuchseizuresofAmericanfishingboatsasmightappeartobeunjust.Intheopinionofallpersonsofsoberjudgment,therewasnothingintheconditionofaffairsatthistimesodangeroustothepeaceofthetwocountriesasthepresenceoftheseAmericancruisersinthefishingwaters.TheElizaDrumwaslateinherarrivalonthefishinggrounds,andhaving,underordersfromWashington,reportedtothecommanderoftheLennehaha,theUnitedStatesvesselinchargeatthatplace,hercaptainandcrewwentvigorouslytoworktomakeupforlosttime.