Великий военный синдикат

           ThreeofHerMajesty’sshipsofwar,equippedandreadyforaction,hadsailedoutoftheharbour,andanapparentlyinsignificantenemy,withoutfiringagun,hadputthemintosuchaconditionthattheywereutterlyunfitforservice,andmustbetowedintoadrydock.HowcouldtheGovernment,themunicipality,thearmy,orthenavyexplainthis?Theanxiety,theexcitement,thenervousdesiretoknowwhathadhappened,andwhatmightbeexpectednext,spreadthateveningtoeverypartoftheDominionreachedbytelegraph.Themilitaryauthoritiesinchargeofthedefencesofthecitywereasmuchdisturbedandamazedbywhathadhappenedasanyciviliancouldpossiblybe,buttheyhadnofearsforthesafetyoftheplace,fortheenemy’svesselscouldnotpossiblyenter,norevenapproach,theharbour.Thefortificationsontheheightsmountedgunsmuchheavierthanthoseonthemen-of-war,andshotsfromthesefiredfromanelevationmightsinkeventhose"underwaterdevils."But,morethanontheforts,theyreliedupontheiradmirablesystemoftorpedoesandsubmarinebatteries.Withtheseinpositionandreadyforaction,astheynowwere,itwasimpossibleforanenemy’svessel,floatingonthewaterorunderit,toentertheharbourwithoutcertaindestruction.Bulletinstothiseffectwerepostedinthecity,andsomewhatallayedthepopularanxiety,althoughmanypeople,whowerefearfulofwhatmighthappennext,leftbytheeveningtrainsfortheinterior.ThatnightthenewsofthisextraordinaryaffairwascabledtoEurope,andthencebacktotheUnitedStates,andallovertheworld.