Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1908 — THE VANISHING FLEETS [ARTICLE]

THE VANISHING FLEETS

By ROY NORTON

DLLUSTBATED BY A. WEIL

' The blue figure with Its flapping eoat tails swung back toward the open port with an air of decision, and the Japanese admiral knew that this was no time for the practice of deception and evasion. The man above was not one to be trifled with, and could be depended upon to keep his word unfalteringly, even though It might cost the lives of every prisoner taken. He hastened to relinquish his last hold ■ upon his vessels and men. “Wait a minute, admiral!” he hastened to call. “Toe can at least give me time to ask them their wishes?” S’| ’’You are not to ask them!" was the ' sharp reply from above. “You are to tell them that they can save their lives by giving their parole. There is i no alternative. I’m not asking favors,' but simply giving you a chance.” “But—” "That’s all! My country doesn’t have to beg favors from all nations combined. You have seen damned good evidence of that! It’s no favor to me if you give your parole. You can have 20 minutes!” The port above clanged shut, and ; Kamlgawa, his cup of bitterness filled to the brim, reluctantly signaled the other members of the fleet, who seemed less bent than he upon delay. As the darkness settled more closely found them and joined the blanket of shadows below, there floated from every captive ship the plain white flag betokening complete surrender. The sun banper—the emblem of Japanhad disappeared from the seas. She was no longer a naval power, and her brief encroachment, advancement, and season of truculence was at an end. As the last cloth of white fluttered out, the port above the Ito again opened, and a voice called down: “Thank you," and then continued; ■Tm sorry for you, Kamlgawa, but ft can’t be helped. It’s the fortune of war. Now we are going to bring your cruiser Yakumo alongside you and the Kashlma, and we want you to have all those aboard transfer at once. We can’t carry her any more.” Ho did not explain to the enemy that radioplan- Seventeen, which had been struck by a shell, feared that the heavy burden of transporting the Takumo would prove too much for a higher rate at speed. Steadily and without apparent effort the three radloplane's came together, until the cruiser nibbed sides with the two battleships. Here were no rolling swells and turbulent waves to prevent such a maneuver. In the quietude of that aerial tryst, ruffled only by the breeze of the night, the ponderous masses of steel were brought Into contact as gently as If held by giant hands. . Grouped around them were other dread machines, which suddenly, to facilitate the transfer, threw the brilliant beams of a score of searchlights upon the decks of the doomed Yakumo, their rays Illuminating and overflowing the upper works of • the Ito and the Kashlma, between which she was held motionlessly. The great guns of the tfikee war vessels stared open mouthed at each oth•r?.Their turrets loomed darkly, and cut off the farther rays of light, and In the white glare the faces of tho men standing upon the decks took on a ghastly hue. With muttered conversation and alert obedience to orders the men of the Yakumo stepped from their owe deck to those beside them, dividing' themselves Into equal parts. It was hard to realize In that spot of light, surrounded by the black shadows of the night, where all was still and stationary, that they were three miles above the surface of a tossing sea, and that to step out Into the gloom would be to step out of life. It was a ghostly Interchange in a world of unreality. Reluctantly and sorrowfully they took their places on the battle ships and turned to bld farewell to the beautiful cruiser which had been their home for so many nights. They were all clear now, and not a living thing was left upon her. Once more the dynamos of the radioplanes increased their speed. Slowly they drew apart, the one clasping tho cruiser alone remaining motionless. The searchlights, like steady eyes of tho night, still stared at tho cruiser whoso every gun and every bolt was brought out clear and distinct In tho radlhnce. During tho day her crew had cast off her broken top hamper, which In any ovont would have boon useless, and now, swept clean by tho wind, she seemed Illumined for her death. With tho parting rub of her armored sides against the Ito and tho Kashlma she had bade a last good-by to her sister ships, and now seemed the center of a tragedy of the night, waiting for her execution. From tho deck of every surrendered ship silent aad sorrowing men looked upon her as If fascinated, and something of pity crept Into tho eyes which watched her from the ports of that conquering fleet of tho air. They, too, were sail-

querors gave to her a last honor. The port of Seventeen opened, a rope ladder fell from jits metal doorstep, and down it passed a gray-haired man, who had once coinmanded and loved such a cruiser as was she. It was Brockton; The captives on the decks of the captive ships strained forward, wondering what it could mean. The blue-clad figure walked the length of the Yakumo, reached out a hand to a short halyard, and pulled down the flag of surrender. He rolled It Into a bundle and tossed It out Into the wall of darkness, and from beneath his coat Withdrew a bundle which he unfolded and affixed to the loops. Suddenly, as if bestowing a last honor upon the dying, he gave a tug, and the flag of Japan was flung to the breeze. The Yakumo should not pass to death unhonored, and was destined to be the only warrior to go down with colors flying. A wild cheer of short duration burst from the vanquished as the officer remounted his ladder and closed his port. - Then, released and liberated, she fell, the brilliant rays following her to the end.. Down, down, down, falling at first on an even keel, she plunged, her flag fluttering wildly In the descent Gradually she turned bow on as If preparing for the dive to death. With terrific force she returned to the waves of the Pacific, and entered them, throwing up In that mighty impact a tremendous cascade of foaming I waters, which lashed themselves Into the air in mad wraiths of ghostly . white, surged back in angry billows, and resumed their quietude. The Yakumo had gone to the graveyard of the valiant, and the searchlights showed nothing more than the crests of thei depths which had furnished her a shroud. The men of Japan who had wit* nessed her parting had been wrapped in breathless silence. Now It was broken by one great sob as the man who had commanded her turned away from the bridge of the Ito, blinded with tears. Above them the port re- ■ opened, and the fighting admiral ■ again addressed them;;.but in a voice . which told that he, too, was not without sympathy..; ' i>. I “Admiral," he.sald, ‘’order all your men to go below decks. We have ■ been loafing all day, and will have ito speed up now. It will be death to stay exposed." Aroused from their last look at the Yakumo, they were amazed at this Information, but compiled; and before the last man had crowded down the companionways the wind began shrill-' Ing about their ears. Away through the night with sudden velocity shot the radtoplanes at a speed which would bring them to the coast long before darkness had ceased. In all the American fleet there was not a man who did not know that Lake Washington at Seattle was their destination. Its landlocked sides, guarded by towering hills and giant forests, and overlooked by a splendid city, was to be the prison of the enemy’s craft. Its length, its breadth, and its depth Were sufficient to float the combined navies of the world. Their flight was wen timed; for it was still dark when they swam down through the air over the waters which were to reclasp the ships of Japan tn their usual environment. The Norma swooped lower and tower, decreased tho speed of her descent, passed over West Seattle on its little peninsula, the quiet Puget sound with Its long wharves, and then gently settled above the placid lake. Slowly, like a water fowl wearied of flight and seeking Its ease, it approached the surface, and with Infinite cane rested Its burden, until the Ito was again afloat. Norma, at her chosen post of duty, put out a tired hand to a controller, gently moved it a notch, turned off the current which made the radloplane a lodestone of terrific power, threw another switch as the admiral beckoned, and then, with a great sigh of relief, felt the machine lift Itself into the air. It came to a stop, and through a port, by tho side, she watched that procession of dull red lights emulate her example. Ship after ship was released, and Invariably the signal came flashing to the eyes: “Deposited without accident" There was hnbthef quick Interchange of orders; the Norma turned her beak toward the stars of the southeast, gathered headway, and led her followers back through the night in homing flight to the key which had seen their creation.

The admiral gave a great sigh of satisfaction for work well done, and stretched himself out on a settee to rest, looking curiously as he did so at the supple figure In the hood which for nearly 24 hours had steadily led him on to victory. He called to her, and tried to Induce her to accept relief; but she declined with a weary smile, saying: "No, not until wo get home. It will be but a little while now." ’ (To be continued.)