Великий военный синдикат

           Organizationandconstructionmightstillgoon,and,shoulditbenecessary,thearmyandnavycouldstepintothecontestfreshandwellprepared.AllbranchesoftheGovernmentunitedinacceptingtheofferoftheSyndicate.Thecontractwassigned,andtheworldwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappennext.TheinfluencewhichforyearshadbeenexertedbytheinterestscontrolledbythemencomposingtheSyndicate,haditseffectinproducingapopularconfidenceinthepowerofthemembersoftheSyndicatetoconductawarassuccessfullyastheyhadconductedothergiganticenterprises.Therefore,althoughpredictionsofdisastercamefrommanyquarters,theAmericanpublicappearedwillingtowaitwithbutmoderateimpatiencefortheresultofthisnovelundertaking.TheGovernmentnowproceededtomasstroopsatimportantpointsonthenorthernfrontier;fortsweresuppliedwithmenandarmaments,allcoastdefenceswereputinthebestpossiblecondition,thenavywasstationedatimportantports,andworkattheshipyardswenton.Butwithoutreferencetoallthis,theworkoftheSyndicateimmediatelybegan.Thisbodyofmenwereofvariouspoliticsandofvariouspursuitsinlife.Butpoliticswerenomoreregardedintheworktheyhadundertakenthantheywouldhavebeeninthepurchaseoflandorofrailroadiron.Nomanifestoesofmotivesandintentionswereissuedtothepublic.TheSyndicatesimplywenttowork.