Великий военный синдикат

           Assoonasthreeofthespring-armouredvesselsandfive"crabs"werecompleted,theSyndicatefeltitselfreadytobeginoperations.Itwasindeedtime.TheseashadbeencoveredwithAmericanandBritishmerchantmenhasteninghomeward,ortofriendlyports,beforetheactualcommencementofhostilities.Butallhadnotbeenfortunateenoughtoreachsafetywithinthelimitsoftimeallowed,andseveralAmericanmerchantmenhadbeenalreadycapturedbyfastBritishcruisers.ThemembersoftheSyndicatewellunderstoodthatifawarwastobecarriedonastheydesired,theymuststrikethefirstrealblow.Comparativelyspeaking,averyshorttimehadelapsedsincethedeclarationofwar,andtheopportunitytotaketheinitiativewasstillopen.Itwasinordertotakethisinitiativethat,intheearlyhoursofaJulymorning,twooftheSyndicate’sarmouredvessels,eachaccompaniedbyacrab,steamedoutofaNewEnglandport,andheadedforthepointontheCanadiancoastwhereithadbeendecidedtoopenthecampaign.ThevesselsoftheSyndicatehadnoindividualnames.Thespring-armouredshipsweretermed"repellers,"andwerenumbered,andthecrabswereknownbythelettersofthealphabet.EachrepellerwasinchargeofaDirectorofNavalOperations;andthewholenavalforceoftheSyndicatewasunderthecommandofaDirector-in-chief.OnthismomentousoccasionthisofficerwasonboardofRepellerNo.1,andcommandedthelittlefleet.