Великий военный синдикат

           Itwasbelievedthatthiscylinderwouldeffectuallypreventacrabfromgettingnearenoughtothepropellerortheruddertodoanydamage.Itcouldnotbetornawayasthestern-jackethadbeen,fortheroundedandsmoothsidesandendsofthemassivecylinderwouldoffernoholdtotheforcepsofthecrabs;and,approachingfromanyquarter,itwouldbeimpossiblefortheseforcepstoreachrudderorscrew.TheSyndicate’slittlefleetarrivedinBritishwaterslateintheday,andearlythenextmorningitappearedabouttwentymilestothesouthoftheIsleofWight,andheadedtothenorth-east,asifitweremakingforPortsmouth.ThecourseofthesevesselsgreatlysurprisedtheEnglishGovernmentandnavalauthorities.ItwasexpectedthatanattackwouldprobablybemadeuponsomecomparativelyunprotectedspotontheBritishseaboard,andthereforeonthewestcoastofIrelandandinSt.George’sChannelpreparationsofthemostformidablecharacterhadbeenmadetodefendBritishportsagainstRepellerNo.11andherattendantcrabs.ParticularlywasthisthecaseinBristolChannel,wherealargenumberofironcladswerestationed,andwhichwastohavebeenthedestinationoftheLlangaroniftheSyndicate’svesselshaddelayedtheircominglongenoughtoallowhertogetaroundthere.ThatthislittlefleetshouldhavesailedstraightforEngland’sgreatnavalstrongholdwassomethingthattheBritishAdmiraltycouldnotunderstand.ThefactwasnotappreciatedthatitwastheobjectoftheSyndicatetomeasureitsstrengthwiththegreateststrengthoftheenemy.