Великий военный синдикат

           GreatwasthesatisfactionamongthemembersoftheSyndicatewhenthesedirectandofficialreportscamein.UptothistimetheyhadbeenobligedtodependuponveryunsatisfactoryintelligencecommunicatedfromEurope,whichhadbeensupplementedbywildstatementsandrumourssmuggledacrosstheCanadianborder.Tocounteracttheeffectofthese,afullreportwasimmediatelymadebytheSyndicatetotheGovernmentoftheUnitedStates,andabulletindistinctlydescribingwhathadhappenedwasissuedtothepeopleofthecountry.Thesereports,whichreceivedaworld-widecirculationinthenewspapers,createdapopularelationintheUnitedStates,andgaverisetoseriousapprehensionsandconcerninmanyothercountries.Butunderbothelationandconcerntherewasacertaindoubtfulness.SofartheSyndicatehadbeensuccessful;butitsstyleofwarfarewasdecidedlyexperimental,anditsforces,innumericalstrengthatleast,wereweak.WhatwouldhappenwhenthegreatnavalpowerofGreatBritainshouldbebroughttobearupontheSyndicate,wasaquestionwhoseprobableanswerwaslikelytocauseapprehensionandconcernintheUnitedStates,andelationinmanyothercountries.ThecommencementofactivehostilitieshadbeenprecipitatedbythisSyndicate.InEnglandpreparationsweremakingbydayandbynighttosenduponthecoast-linesoftheUnitedStatesafleetwhich,innumbersandpower,wouldbegreaterthanthatofanynavalexpeditioninthehistoryoftheworld.