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destruction of the unfinished works of Fort Pilcher； it would be impossible
to determine until an official survey had been made of the ruins； but； in
any event； it would be wise and humane not to expose the garrison of the
fort on the south side of the harbour to the danger which had overtaken the
works on the opposite shore。 If； contrary to the opinion of the commandant；
the garrisoned fort were really mined； the following day would probably
prove the fact。 Until this point should be determined it would be highly
judicious to temporarily evacuate the fort。 This could not be followed by
occupation of the works by the enemy； for all approaches； either by troops
in boats or by bodies of confederates by land； could be fully covered by
the inland redoubts and fortifications。 When the orders for evacuation
reached the commandant of the fort； he protested hotly； and urged that his
protest be considered。 It was not until the command had been reiterated
both from London and Ottawa； that he accepted the situation； and with
bowed head prepared to leave his post。 All night preparations for
evacuation went on； and during the next morning the garrison left the fort；
and established itself far enough away to preclude danger from the
explosion of a mine； but near enough to be available in case of necessity。
During this morning there arrived in the offing another Syndicate vessel。
This had started from a northern part of the United States； before the
repellers and the crabs； and it had been engaged in laying a private
submarine cable； which should put the office of the Syndicate in New
York in direct communication with its naval forces engaged with the
enemy。 Telegraphic connection between the cable boat and Repeller No。 1
having been established； the Syndicate soon received from its Director…in…
chief full and comprehensive accounts of what had been done and what it
was proposed to do。 Great was the satisfaction among the members of the
Syndicate when these direct and official reports came in。 Up to this time
they had been obliged to depend upon very unsatisfactory intelligence
communicated from Europe； which had been supplemented by wild
statements and rumours smuggled across the Canadian border。 To
counteract the effect of these； a full report was immediately made by the
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THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
Syndicate to the Government of the United States； and a bulletin distinctly
describing what had happened was issued to the people of the country。
These reports； which received a world… wide circulation in the newspapers；
created a popular elation in the United States； and gave rise to serious
apprehensions and concern in many other countries。 But under both
elation and concern there was a certain doubtfulness。 So far the Syndicate
had been successful； but its style of warfare was decidedly experimental；
and its forces； in numerical strength at least； were weak。 What would
happen when the great naval power of Great Britain should be brought to
bear upon the Syndicate； was a question whose probable answer was likely
to cause apprehension and concern in the United States； and elation in
many other countries。 The commencement of active hostilities had been
precipitated by this Syndicate。 In England preparations were making by
day an by night to send upon the coast…lines of the United States a fleet
which； in numbers and power； would be greater than that of any naval
expedition in the history of the world。 It is no wonder that many people of
sober judgment in America looked upon the affair of the crabs and the
repellers as but an incident in the beginning of a great and disastrous war。
On the morning of the destruction of Fort Pilcher； the Syndicate's vessels
moved toward the port； and the steel net was taken up by the two crabs；
and moved nearer the mouth of the harbour； at a point from which the fort；
now in process of evacuation； was in full view。 When this had been done；
Repeller No。 2 took up her position at a moderate distance behind the net；
and the other vessels stationed themselves near by。 The protection of the
net was considered necessary； for although there could be no reasonable
doubt that all the torpedoes in the harbour and river had been exploded；
others might be sent out against the Syndicate's vessels； and a torpedo
under a crab or a repeller was the enemy most feared by the Syndicate。
About three o'clock the signals between the repellers became very
frequent； and soon afterwards a truce…boat went out from Repeller No。 1。
This was rowed with great rapidity； but it was obliged to go much farther
up the harbour than on previous occasions； in order to deliver its message
to an officer of the garrison。 This was to the effect that the evacuation of
the fort had been observed from the Syndicate's vessels； and although it
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THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
had been apparently complete； one of the scientific corps； with a powerful
glass； had discovered a man in one of the outer redoubts； whose presence
there was probably unknown to the officers of the garrison。 It was；
therefore； earnestly urged that this man be instantly removed； and in order
that this might be done； the discharge of the motor…bomb would be
postponed half an hour。 The officer received this message； and was
disposed to look upon it as a new trick； but as no time was to be lost； he
sent a corporal's guard to the fort； and there discovered an Irish sergeant
by the name of Kilsey； who had sworn an oath that if every other man in
the fort ran away like a lot of addle…pated sheep； he would not run with
them； he would stand to his post to the last； and when the couple of ships
outside had got through bombarding the stout walls of the fort； the world
would see that there was at least one British soldier who was not afraid of
a bomb； be it little or big。 Therefore he had managed to elude observation；
and to remain behind。
The sergeant was so hot…headed in his determination to stand by the
fort； that it required violence to remove him； and it was not until twenty
minutes past four that the Syndicate observers percei