Великий военный синдикат

           Thecrabswereelevatedtocruisingheight,therepellertakenintow,andbytheafternoonofthenextdaythefleetwaslyingoffCaerdaff.Anotewassentonshoretotheofficerincommand,statingthatthebombardmentwouldbeginatteno’clockinthemorningofthenextdaybutone,andrequestingthatinformationofthehourappointedbeinstantlytransmittedtoLondon.Whenthishadbeendone,thefleetsteamedsixorsevenmilesoffshore,whereitlaytoorcruisedaboutfortwonightsandaday.AssoonastheGovernmenthadselectedCaerdaffforbombardment,immediatemeasuresweretakentoremovethesmallgarrisonsandtheinhabitantsofthefishingvillagefrompossibledanger.WhentheSyndicate’snotewasreceivedbythecommandantofthefort,hewasalreadyinreceiptofordersfromtheWarOfficetoevacuatethefortifications,andtosuperintendtheremovalofthefishermenandtheirfamiliestoapointofsafetyfartherupthecoast.Caerdaffwasaplacedifficultofaccessbyland,thenearestrailroadstationsbeingfifteenortwentymilesaway;butonthedayafterthearrivaloftheSyndicate’sfleetintheoffing,thousandsofpeoplemadetheirwaytothispartofthecountry,anxioustosee—ifperchancetheymightfindanopportunitytosafelysee—whatmighthappenatteno’clockthenextmorning.Officersofthearmyandnavy,Governmentofficials,presscorrespondents,ingreatnumbers,andcuriousandanxiousobserversofallclasses,hastenedtotheWelshcoast.