Великий военный синдикат

           Withregardtoarepeller,orspring-armouredvessel,theAdamantwouldrelyuponherexceptionallypowerfularmament,anduponhergreatweightandspeed.Shewasfittedwithtwinscrewsandenginesofthehighestpower,anditwasbelievedthatshewouldbeabletooverhaul,ram,andcrushthelargestvesselarmouredorunarmouredwhichtheSyndicatewouldbeabletobringagainsther.Someofhergunswereofimmensecalibre,firingshotweighingnearlytwothousandpounds,andrequiringhalfatonofpowderforeachcharge.Besidestheseshecarriedanunusuallylargenumberoflargecannonandtwodynamiteguns.Shewassoheavilyplatedandarmouredastobeproofagainstanyknownartilleryintheworld.Shewasafloatingfortress,withmenenoughtomakeupthepopulationofatown,andwithstores,ammunition,andcoalsufficienttolastforalongtermofactiveservice.SuchwasthemightyEnglishbattleshipwhichhadcomeforwardtoraisethesiegeoftheCanadianport.TheofficersoftheSyndicatewerewellawareofthecharacteroftheAdamant,herarmamentandherdefences,andhadbeeninformedbycableofhertimeofsailingandprobabledestination.TheysentoutRepellerNo.7,withCrabsJandK,tomeetherofftheBanksofNewfoundland.ThisrepellerwasthelargestandstrongestvesselthattheSyndicatehadreadyforservice.Inadditiontothespringarmourwithwhichthesevesselsweresupplied,thisonewasfurnishedwithasecondcoatofarmouroutsidethefirst,theelasticsteelribsofwhichranlongitudinallyandatrightanglestothoseoftheinnerset.