February, igo6.] 



KNOWLEDGE & SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



367 



fortifications, while the army was properly organised 

 for a great counter attack. On this account did the 

 invaders receive but little opposition on their advance 

 towards London, and within a few days they had formed 

 up in positions opposite our southern line of forts. 

 Englishmen were confident that their position would 

 remain as it was until our forces were ready to assume 

 the offensive, when the invading army would be driven 

 back and the harbours on the south coast, now used as 

 their bases of supply, re-taken. It was once thought 

 that England could be starved out in a few days, but 

 those who held such a belief proved to be greatly mis- 

 taken. Not only were enormous supplies imported 

 when it became evident that they would be required, 

 but now every man, woman, and child cheerfully com- 

 plied with the edict to go on quarter rations, and con- 

 tented themselves with the meagre portion doled out, 

 under ofiicial supervision, to all alike. In this way the 

 country was able to hold out four times as long as had 

 been anticipated. 



But a surprise was again awaiting the anxious 

 Britishers. More Yankee notions were to prove their 

 value. Dynamite guns and machine rifles wrought 

 terrible havoc, but the most formidable innovation was 

 the Subterranean Torpedo, capable of burrowing its 

 way through the ground like a huge mechanical mole, 

 and, at a given moment, raising a veritable volcano. 

 Its progress underground was slow but very sure. The 

 hydraulic drills which protruded from its head could 

 bore into the hardest rock at a rate of 3 inches a minute, 

 but this implied an advance of 120 yards a day. Within 

 a week three of the principal forts had literally been 

 blown into the air. The triumphant army then marched 

 unhindered on London. 



It was a frightful blow to England, but the opposite 

 feeling in the States exceeded all bounds. Yesterday it 

 was England's great first line of defence, the sea, that 

 had yielded to the attack, and to-day her downfall was 

 completed by the breaking down of her land defences. 



Tumultuous exultation reigned everywhere. The 

 President's last ovation could not be exceeded. Yet 

 something must be done to celebrate this great occasion. 

 The first vanquishing of a mighty power by the new 

 nation, the conquest of an Empire of such huge pro- 

 portions. America to rule the world ! England's 

 navy vanquished would leave that of the United States 

 far superior to that of any other nation. Canada would, 

 of cour.se, be annexed to the States. Wild words are 

 spoken on such occasions, and when it was suggested, 

 half jokingly, that this mighty nation should be formed 

 into an Empire, and the President chosen Emperor, the 

 crv was vigorously taken up. Tush, wherever he went, 

 was vociferously cheered and met with cries of 

 " Emperor," " Founder of the Empire." 



Those who may have gained some idea of Tush's real 

 nature can imagine how things struck him. The first 

 time he heard the suggestion his mind was made up. 

 Why should he hang back when others pushed him for- 

 ward ? The result was — for he took good care to strike 

 while the iron was hot — that within forty-eight hours 

 the proclamation was issued that, by the unanimous 

 consent of the citizens of the United States, Cornelius 

 Jehoshaphat Tush was proclaimed Emperor of all the 

 territories of North America ! 



1 he people of the States were in boisterous jubilation. 

 But tliey were soon to receive a sad blow. This was 

 not the first time in history when public rejoicings have 

 proved to be a little premature. When the news came 

 that the invading army had not yet actually entered 

 Lontkin, it was considered merely a politic dohiv, and 



that the forts subdued and the way clear, the formal 

 entry would very shortly take place. It now transpired, 

 however, that one more obstacle had to be surmounted 

 before that could happen — the New Thames. The 

 northern bank of this great waterway was now found 

 to form one continuous fortification. Tier over tier of 

 rifle trenches had been constructed with loophoied steel 

 armour facing the masonry. There thousands of rifles 

 could belch forth their hail of bullets with practical 

 impunity. For the American bullets and even shells 

 struck harmlessly against these solid ramparts, except 

 they happened on one of the very small openings 

 through which the defenders' deadly missiles were 

 emitted. But the actual parapets formed so small a 

 target that very few projectiles struck them. The land 

 torpedoes could be of no use here. The pneumatic guns 

 threw their projectiles across, but they were unable to 

 destroy the lines of narrow trenches in the far banks 

 manned by thousands of British volunteers. After a 

 heavy bombardment with all their guns, of many hours 

 duration, the Americans were not able to advance in 

 force across the water. Boats were procured, but soon 

 sank under the tremendous rifle fire brought to bear 

 upon them. The bridges were already destroyed, and 

 all attempts to repair them under fire proved too costly 

 to be continued. Attempts were made to ford the great 

 stream in the shallow parts, but obstacles had been put 

 in the way, making this impossible. 



For two whole days the Yankees fought their hardest; 

 hundreds of shells were sent into the far bank, but so 

 well were the British entrenched that it was impossible 

 to materially keep down their fire. Hundreds of the 

 invaders were shot down in trying various methods of 

 crossing, they being fully exposed to the British 

 musketry fire. During the darkness of night boats full 

 of men were pushed across, but it was found that there 

 was a system of torpedoes laid near the far bank, and 

 the only result was an appalling loss of life. Now for 

 the first time did the public realise the reasons why the 

 Government had insisted on the new river being made 

 so wide. An endeavour was next made to outflank 

 the position, but the far bank was found to be lined all 

 along. Down stream the prospects of crossing over 

 got more hopeless. Up stream the fight continued for 

 many miles, but it soon became apparent that the 

 passage of the big river, so well guarded, was a practical 

 impossibility. For this dashing inva.sion, this raid in 

 the enemy's country, no great store of supplies was 

 a\ailable, and those already landed were nearly ex- 

 hausted. The country through which they had marched 

 had been cleared out of all food stuffs and supplies. 

 For every available grain had been collected for the 

 provisioning of the great city. About this time news 

 filtered through that the great American submarine 

 battleship had mysteriously disappeared, having, 

 presumably, gone down with all hands. Now, too, the 

 remnants of the British Navy had as.scmbled together 

 at the Nore and Sheerness, and received such refitting 

 as was possible. .\t the same time came the news that 

 the ships in the Mediterranean, issuing under cover of 

 darkness, had suddenly attached and driven back the 

 United States squadrons set to guard that approach, 

 others having gone round the Cape and attacked them 

 in the rear. 



.So the tide had indeed turned. The main portion of 

 the .American Fleet rapidly went south to endeavour to 

 assist that part which was I)eing worsted off the coast 

 of Spain. The remainder had to meet the unexpected 

 attack of the desperate squadron from the Thames. 

 The results were everywhere fatal for the .-Xmericans. 



