Великий военный синдикат

           Thiswasnotadifficultduty,forsincethenewsoftheextraordinaryperformancesofthecrabshadbeenspreadabroad,nomerchantvessel,largeorsmall,caredtoapproachthatport;andstrictordershadbeenissuedbytheBritishAdmiraltythatnovesselofthenavyshould,untilfurtherinstructed,engageincombatwiththepeculiarcraftoftheSyndicate.Untilaplanofactionhadbeendeterminedupon,itwasverydesirablethatEnglishcruisersshouldnotbeexposedtouselessinjuryanddanger.Thisbeingthestateofaffairs,amessagewassentfromtheofficeoftheSyndicateacrossthebordertotheDominionGovernment,whichstatedthattheseaportcitywhichhadbeenattackedbytheforcesoftheSyndicatenowlayunderthegunsofitsvessels,andincaseofanyovertactofwarbyGreatBritainorCanadaalone,suchastheentranceofanarmedforcefromBritishterritoryintotheUnitedStates,oracaptureoforattackuponanAmericanvessel,navalorcommercial,byaBritishman-of-war,oranattackuponanAmericanportbyBritishvessels,thecitywouldbebombardedanddestroyed.Thismessage,whichwas,ofcourse,instantlytransmittedtoLondon,placedtheBritishGovernmentintheapparentpositionofbeingheldbythethroatbytheAmericanWarSyndicate.ButiftheBritishGovernment,orthepeopleofEnglandorCanada,recognizedthispositionatall,itwasmerelyasatemporarycondition.