Великий военный синдикат

           WerethesesixcrabsandonerepellerboundtotheBritishIsles?Andifso,whatdidtheyintendtodowhentheygotthere?ItwasnowgenerallyadmittedthatoneoftheSyndicate’scrabscoulddisableaman-of-war,thatoneoftheSyndicate’srepellerscouldwithstandtheheaviestartilleryfire,andthatoneoftheSyndicate’smotor-bombscoulddestroyavesselorafort.Butthesethingshadbeenprovedinisolatedcombats,wherethenewmethodsofattackanddefencehadhadalmostundisturbedopportunityforexhibitingtheirefficiency.ButwhatcouldarepellerandhalfadozencrabsdoagainstthecombinedforceoftheRoyalNavy,—anavywhichhadinthelastfewyearsregaineditssupremacyamongthenations,andwhichhadmadeGreatBritainoncemorethefirstmaritimepowerintheworld?Thecrabsmightdisablesomemen-of-war,therepellermightmakehercalculationsanddischargeherbombatashiporafort,butwhatwouldthemainbodyofthenavybedoingmeanwhile?Overwhelming,crushing,andsinkingtothebottomcrabs,repeller,motorguns,andeverythingthatbelongedtothem.InEnglandtherewasafeelingofstrongresentmentthatsuchalittlefleetshouldbeallowedtosailwithsuchintentintoBritishwaters.Thisresentmentextendeditself,notonlytotheimpudentSyndicate,buttowardtheGovernment;andtheoppositionpartygaineddailyinstrength.