Великий военный синдикат

           EveryoneineverybranchoftheBritishGovernment,and,infact,nearlyeverythinkingpersonintheBritishislands,hadbeenrackinghisbrains,orherbrains,thatnight,overtheastoundingsituation;andthenoteoftheSyndicateonlyaddedtotheperturbationoftheGovernment.Therewasastrongfeelinginofficialcirclesthattheinsolentlittleenemymustbecrushed,ifthewholeBritishnavyshouldhavetorushuponit,andallsinktogetherinacommongrave.Buttherewerecoolerandmoreprudentbrainsattheheadofaffairs;andthesehadalreadydecidedthatthecontestbetweentheoldenginesofwarandthenewoneswasentirelyone-sided.Theinstinctsofgoodgovernmentdictatedtothemthattheyshouldbeextremelywaryandcircumspectduringthefurthercontinuanceofthisunexampledwar.Therefore,whenthenoteoftheSyndicatewasconsidered,itwasagreedthatthetimehadcomewhengoodstatesmanshipandwisediplomacywouldbemorevaluabletothenationthantorpedoes,armouredships,orheavyguns.TherewasnottheslightestdoubtthatthecountrywoulddisagreewiththeGovernment,butonthelatterlaytheresponsibilityofthecountry’ssafety.Therewasnothing,intheopinionoftheablestnavalofficers,topreventtheSyndicate’sfleetfromcominguptheThames.Instantaneousmotor-bombscouldsweepawayallfortsandcitadels,andexplodeanddestroyalltorpedodefences,andLondonmightlieunderthegunsoftherepeller.