Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1908 — THE VANISHING FLEETS [ARTICLE]

THE VANISHING FLEETS

ROY NORTON

ILLUSTRATED BY A. WEIL

The Roberts had ascended to an altitude above the others of the American fleet, and was resting in mid air. It was very still, the light hum of a small dynamo from behind the partitions being the only disturber of 'silence. He opened the document and read:

“You are instructed to Intercept the British fleet and assure its officers of the good will of the United States toward bls majesty, King Edward VII., and all his subjects. You are to explain to them that the United States is compelled, in pursuance of its adopted policy formulated at the commencement of the war with Japan, to maintain the secret of its power until such time as it is deemed expedient to announce it to the world. You will then endeavor to Induce the British fleet to surrender Itself into your hands as guests of this country, assuring those in command that all damages accruing will be repaired by the United States. You are U> use all due caution to avoid injury to life, property, or pride, and to transport the entire fleet o the waters of Chesapeake bay, after which for a brief period the officers and men of Great Britain will be entertained by the United States.” Bevins stopped and looked into the faces confronting him, which expressed a variety of emotions, running the gamut from stolidity to wonder, and from compliance to indignation. The paper in his hands gave out a crinkling noise as he turned it backward and forward between his fingers. The British admiral’s visage was a frowning one. “Your country asks too much!” he said, almost explosively. “And really it volunteers no explanation of its acts or intentions.” Some of his companions nodded their heads in approval. "We can’t accept."

Bevins reopened the parchment. “I must then read you the concluding clause,” he said, and began: “K is strongly desired that there be no clash at arms; but in any event you are to return with the fleet” There was brief silence in the room, which was broken by Fields, who jumped to his feet. Bevins rose, and the other officers did likewise. The situation threatened unhappy conclusions; but Bevins held up a restraining hand and went on: "Here! Before you underestimate the force of this last clause, let me give you a demonstration of what we can do and how difficult It would be for you to offer any defense or effective resistance whatever.”

He turned to a speaking tube, gave a curt order and requested his visitors to look through the transparent ports, which were suddenly opened beneath their feet. The Roberts swept up into the air to such a prodigious height that the Internal pressure against her shell became terrific. She was at such an altitude that no mortal being could have withstood the strain, and only her splendid anchorable construction and cohesive qualities kept her from flying apart The world below was reduced in appearance until its surface was obliterated in a dull haze and the shadows of the sun were marked against its eastern outline.

In great circles she descended, untlf the water again became visible, then the vessels upon it, and last of all the crests of the waves. Now she swooped lower, and then at a speed of nearly 600 miles an hour whipped a straight line close above the tops of the fighting masts* slowed down, and whirled In and out, about and abovs the British ships as easily as would a swallow in playful flight On ths decks of the vessels men stared in wide-eyed amazement at this demon of the air, at first fearing that control had been lost and the lives of those aboard were In Then at the splendid exhibition of speed and handling they were dumbfounded. The Roberts then rose in one quick lift until it was above the plane of altitude assumed by the other machines, poised for a moment and came to a stop. In all this time no one had spoken a word. Now they turned to the American, unloosing their convulsive clutches from the seats and liberated from the spell.

“Admiral, do you think there is any gunnery that can hurt us, anything that can overtake us, or that if we wish to we may not master the world?” he asked in a voice of extreme quiet Fields shrugged Ms shoulders hopelessly, made a grimace, and looked at Ite fellows. “Gentlemen," he said in s dry tone, “It -seems to me that we should without any delay accept the hospitality which the United States has extended so courteously.” , The others appreciated the grim humor of the situation, and in like veto acquiesced. The surprise which they had undergone was nothing compared to that with which, as the day waned, they witnessed the lifting of their Craft from the waters. With the utmost care the task was aocom-

pushed, and everything made ready for the westward journey. Only one mishap occurred beyond the necessary damage to the ships, and that was not discovered until the following day. A sailor of the Dreadnought, maddened by the spectacle he had witnessed, had unleashed a life raft unobserved and thrown himself and It Into the water by the use of its tackle at some hour of darkness when the vessels were traveling at slow speed and close to the surface of the waves. Bevins grieved more over this Incident than any other; for he had set his heart upon a bloodless victory. Thus It was that on the following day there rested in the Chesapeake a fleet whose fires were banked, whose men were prohibited from shore leave and whose chief officers were guests in the principal hotels of New York and Washington under pledge of secrecy. But in this they might take heart; although some slight damage had been Inflicted oh the vessels, in no Instance did the flag come dowp, and from each staff floated the union jack unsullied. Communication between ships and shores was Interdicted; so even the inhabitants of the borders could do no more than look and guess as to how the fleet had sailed in without attracting attention or meeting with rebuff. Another report came from China that the fleet of the dragon was still under waiting orders; hence there was nothing for the administration to dobut mark time, which it did with poor grace. Within a few days, however, a more disturbing report came from Europe by way of Canada, the usual source of communication. It was to the effect that the kaiser, learning of the disappearance of the British fleet, and believing It destroyed, was showing quick signs of aggression. Vainly the administration hoped that his belligerent Intentions might be overestimated; but the passage of days proved that he might be a menace to the general plan. It was hourly expected that the presence of the radioplanes would be required In the west to meet the Chinese. In view of this necessity, it was decided to dispatch Brockton and Jenkins to Berlin on a mission of diplomacy. They were ordered to visit the kaiser at night, landing at a time and place where they could escape observation, Induce the emperor and' his chancellor to get aboard the radioplane, and then, after it had been demonstrated that Germany would be powerless in the event of war, to deliver messages announcing that the United States purposed to gain what support she could for a world’s peace voluntarily, but would compel It if need be. Jenkins was familiar with the German capital, having been naval attache there for a number of years. It was he who evolved the details. The American ambassador was unaware of his country’s defense until informed on the night of the arrival, and was speedily enlisted in the enterprise. Through him the kaiser granted the interview, which led to his visiting the radioplane which had been brought to rest beyond the outskirts of the city. Brockton’s task proved a most difficult one; for the emperor, a man of science and Interested .in all engines of warfare, insisted on being conveyed not only to the plant on the key, but across Chesapeake bay, where he might look down upon the British fleet The night was Ideal for the purpose, Nature seeming to lend herself in behalf of peace. The Norma, now fully fitted and comfortable, was utilized for the mission. Like all others of the American fleet, she carried provisions sufficient to enable her to pass many times round the world in case of emergency. The kaiser marveled at the display of ingenuity, and was told all but the secret, without which no one could cast the radioactive metal. He was even permitted to handle the steering levers and direct her flight for a time, and entered into this with the enthusiasm of a boy. He would have driven her through the air at a speed which would have heated her interior had he not been cautioned, and relinquished his place in the hood only when the shores of the western continent were reached and loomed darkly far below.

It had not been Brockton’s intention to show him dver the plant on the key; but the sovereign Insisted that he permitted to alight, it being bis first visit to America, which he had always longed to make, but had never anticipated. He was permitted to traverse the great machine shops and view the working of the blast furnace, and also to gaze at the formidable fleet of monsters that rested idly along the beach. Muffled in his great coat to avoid recognition, he was strictly incognito, and met neither the inventor, “the assistant,” nor Bevlhs, who many hours before had retired to their rest t His mood of curiosity had given way to one of thoughtfulness when the Norma again took him aboard and started northward. He sat silently to the central chamber of the radloplane, taking no part in the conversation between the chancellor and Brockton, until the machine hovered over the waters of the Chesapeake, on the bosom of which, at anchor, rested the British fleet, and then discussed the possibilities of crossing the continent to Lake Washington. Brockton was compelled to enter a protest, explaining that inasmuch as the element of time for hte return must enter Into their calculations, they had only a small margin. The kaiser remembered that ho was to a machine which annihilated space; but that in traveling from the west to the eaat the difference to the rising hour of the stm meant much to maintaining secrecy; m he reluctantly relinquished the idea.

I “But it will not trouble yon, win IV to carry me across the cordon which has been established between your country and Canada on the homeward flight?" he asked, and to this Brockton assented. They turned to the north, and at a high altitude saw far below them the constant glow of searchlights dotting out in streamers of white the boundary line between the two countries. As fas as the eye could reach to the east and the west the watch was being maintained unceasingly. The kaiser recovered his good humor, laughed, and then, having nothing more to view below, returned to the hood, where he again asked to manipulate the ma- ■ chine. (To be continued.)

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