i2 4 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



nentals — that goes without saying — because they were islanders; 

 but were they altogether wise in carrying the war, in this 

 fashion, on to the mainland ? Where was their common sense ? 

 But, after all, they were mere tyros at this sort of thing ; we 

 must all live and learn. 



Nevertheless, in spite of his complacency, there lingered a 

 certain doubt in his own infallibility. The Germans had set 

 to work in a very calm and deliberate fashion to construct a 

 fleet. They had expressed the intention of becoming lords of 

 the Atlantic. They had shaken a mailed fist in the air. At 

 the outset he was inclined to regard this exhibition with some 

 amusement. He knew, of course, that the Germans, situated 

 as they were in the midst of possible enemies, were obliged 

 to maintain a vast and very efficient army ; and he did not 

 consider it possible that a nation would make the necessary 

 sacrifices to be strong on the sea as well as on the land. But, 

 as time went on, and the German navy steadily increased, 

 his amusement gave place to wonderment, then to gravity, 

 finally to no little consternation. It dawned upon him slowly, 

 very slowly, that a great continental State was about to fly in 

 the face of Providence and actually challenge his sea-supremacy. 

 His consternation was accentuated by the attitude of his 

 Government. The latter, far from accepting the challenge 

 boldly and building ships and recruiting additional men, and 

 all the other things that are necessary to ensure naval supremacy, 

 sought to induce the Germans to change their mind ; with the 

 result, as was only to be foreseen by every man of common 

 sense, that they, believing the British to be afraid of them, 

 built ships more rapidly, and in greater numbers, than before. 



The citizen commenced to regard his Government with 

 great contempt. One good had, however, resulted from its 

 action, or lack of action. The Empire, as a whole, had been 

 convinced that the Germans were the aggressors; and the 

 Dominions were displaying a very pronounced inclination to 

 support the Mother Country. The citizen had visions of 

 Canadians and Australians and New Zealanders and even of 

 Boers and Indians marching shoulder to shoulder against the 

 common foe; but whether the march was to take place on 

 the Continent or in his own country he did not stop to consider. 



It was about this time that his business called for a rapid 

 visit to Australia. During the long and wearisome voyage he 



