Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1908 — THE VANISHING FLEETS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE VANISHING FLEETS

By ROY NORTON

ILLUSTRATED BY A. WEIL

IM, V Suday Aafauaa*. _ CHAPTER XXIII. Peace Is Declared. The world had become an Instrument attuned to the breaking pitch, and awoke to have every string within it played upon in a day; It was a royal ttine in which city after city was called upon to contribute. London, Which had passed a sleepless night, was astir before dawn, aroused into a pitch of terrific excitement by the return of the Roberts, Which swooped down from the air aglow with light, and courting notice. At the iron gates in front of the palace, where the sentries were briskly tramping to and fro until called to gether by the descent of the radioplane, the Roberts came to the ground with every searchlight playing into the air. The alarm had been given before she came, and guards were turning out from their barracks and hurrying to the palace on the run, with arms in hand to defend Buckingham from the oncoming monster. Not until it was near the ground was it discovered that from the peaks floated three flags, the Union Jack, the Stars and Stripes and the white banner of truce.

In hasty formation the soldiers faced the place where the machine with its staring eyes would alight, and rank on rank presented a stubborn front to the visitor. Their astonishment was Incalculable when they recognized as the first man to emerge from the side of - this unexpected craft the missing king, followed by the prime minister and the head of the navy, as well, all smiling, and all taking quick cognizance of the array of defenders. The ranking officer of the guard recovered his poise, gave the command and the soldiers saluted, after which he stepped forward in response to the king’s beckoning and received instructions for" the safeguarding of the Roberts. Bevins and the secretary of ■tate, as they walked through the iron gates, guests of the British nation, heard the quick precise steps of men marching .to form a square round their craft, and pictured to themselves the curiosity which would be aroused when the day broke. Thus it was that within an hour after the’r arrival a crowd was collecting which outdid the one that assembled to view the Dreadnought on the day of her return. The strange and silent Roberts, resting In the roadway and floating the American and English flags, which had been intertwined by the fingers of a friendly breeze, was of greater interest than any other sight within memory. It was rumored through the throng that the king had returned; but the explanation of his absence was yet to come. For once officialdom did not hesitate, but sent to the newspapers of the city the full account of the visit to the United States, together with the reasons and results, and also the story of the fleet which had been given up for lost. It was intimated that the official overtures of the United States would be made known at a later hour of the day through due channels, and thus the air was charged with expectancy.

In the meantime Berlin too had been given its time of tumult. The return of the emperor had been no less astounding; but he with characteristic energy had no sooner stepped within the doors of his palace than he called his secretaries and dictated a complete explanation of his own disappearance, together with a statement of what had transpired in the United States and a summary of the pro posals for peace which had been formulated. The Ncrma waited for a brief time only, and then in full sight of an immense gathering of spectators turned her nose homeward to carry her report to Washington. This news was cabled to London, where its dissemination gave another impetus to speculation, and before it Had subsided the world's cables resumed operations. An operator in a transatlantic cable office, who for weeks had sat before his silent keys, saw a livid signal flash, and sprang excitedly to respond. Across the depths of the ecean came the words: “Afl embargos are removed. The United States of America gives greeting, and reiterates the message which was the first to be transmitted, ‘Peace en earth. Good will to men.’’’ Events were now moving with such prodigious rapidity that wherever wires of communication ran men left their occupations and waited for whatever other remarkable Information might be forthcoming. For once the nations seemed in such close touch that they reached out to each other to tell their own part In the unfolding of the great mystery. The whole civilised world knew speedily that the kaiser had been carried away by aocident, that his health had been improved, and that he bore nothing

but good will toward his captors. London transmitted the complete' story of the taking of the British fleet, elucidated the Dreadnought's singular return, and also made known that the king and his associates had visited and been detained in Washington by their own volition. In the United States the night had passed with most exceptional activity. The sight of the Roberts leaving

New York had been heralded from coast to coast, and the administration, . besieged for information, yielded to ' the popular demand and gavfe out the history of the war, including the account of the Invention and the creation of the plant on the Florida key. The IWe inventor and his daughter were thrown into the limelight, and ’ exaggerated accounts of their mar- ■ vefous work were spread over pages ! of extrsts wherever newspapers were printed. The public insistently clam--1 ored for news, more news, throughout I the hours, and seemed nevpr satiated. | All eyes were turned to the president, who finally, in desperation, de- , dined to make any further statements, and announced . that details, i would have to come in later sequence, I when time could be given to their dictation. From the great republic the cloak of mystery and inaction was thrown ■ aside and the cordons to the north and the south were being dissipated as if Iby magic. That menacing line of blue l along the Canadian border was crumbling with greater rapidity than ft had been formed. Here and there through the air swept 50 radioplanes carrying '■improvised passenger accommodations, the sun showing them as flashing birds of blue carrying the | hosts of the guard back to their arml orles, whence they might return to • their homes and occupations of peace. I 111 every city throughout the land asi tonished and exultant inhabitants j watched these friendly monsters i which had made the nation the most ' redoubtable in all the world. The ghns of ttie border were now standing unguarded, the bivouacs obliterated, and the paths of the sentries abandoned to the effacement of nature’s . kindly growth. | Seattle was at last liberated, and ( proceeded to astonish the world withaccounts of the imprisonment of the i Japanese fleet which had rested in • the waters of Lake Washington for so i many days. Photographs of it were . sent broadcast, together with inter- . views gained from the commanders I of the hapless expedition, and by special permission Admiral Kamjgawa was allowed to cable to his government the first full report of his disaster which went through uncensored and unchecked. The fact was made patent to Japan that her men were prisoners bn parole, her ships trapped I in a helpless position, and their fate : resting entirely on the mercy of the As if to add to the proof of helplessness, Tokio learned of the detention of the British ships, and knew that any or all alliances could depended . upon in the presence of such might ! as the Americans could being to baar. | Another day dawned in'Washington, . bringing with it the unconditional , capitulation of Japan. She appealed , for peace with dignity, and left the suggestion of terms to the nation with whom none might dispute, trusting to her magnanitnity. Congress had ; been called into being again, and, imbued with the spirit which had actuated the president through all his siege of stress and trial, fol’owed his I wishes. The lone man in the White | House loomed as something more than mortal, and was at last being appreciated. x Japan was told that the United i States demanded neither Indemnities I nor retention of the conquered fleet. . For the benefit of the public the latter would be conveyed to New York bay, whepe it would be liberated and restored to its crews. The only condl- . tlon was that on its return to Paclfle

waters It must withdraw all men it had placed in the Philippines and Hawaii, and restore the American flag with appropriate salutes. This then was the end of the great venture by the Island across the western sea, which had staked Its hope of advancement upon a ruthless descent on an unprepared and Apparently impotent nation. It had spent years in anticipation, had purchased the most deadly agents of destruction whenever presented, had worked night and day In its navy yards to build giant ships of war, had covered the United States with its spies until Its espionage reached everywhere, and all for this I (To be continued.)

Arma In Hand to Defend Buckingham.