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THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
considered expedient to put them in commission。 This action caused
surprise and disappointment in many quarters。 It had been supposed that
the Syndicate； through its agents scattered all over the world； would
immediately acquire； by purchase or lease； a fleet of fine ironclads culled
from various maritime powers。 But the Syndicate having no intention of
involving； or attempting to involve； other countries in this quarrel； paid no
attention to public opinion； and went to work in its own way。
Its vessels； eight of which were on the Atlantic coast and two on the
Pacific； were rapidly prepared for the peculiar service in which they were
to be engaged。 The resources of the Syndicate were great； and in a very
short time several of their vessels； already heavily plated with steel； were
furnished with an additional outside armour； formed of strips of elastic
steel； each reaching from the gunwales nearly to the surface of the water。
These strips； about a foot wide； and placed an inch or two apart； were each
backed by several powerful air…buffers； so that a ball striking one or more
of them would be deprived of much of its momentum。 The experiments
upon the steel spring and buffers adopted by the Syndicate showed that the
force of the heaviest cannonading was almost deadened by the powerful
elasticity of this armour。
The armament of each vessel consisted of but one gun； of large calibre；
placed on the forward deck； and protected by a bomb…proof covering。
Each vessel was manned by a captain and crew from the merchant service；
from whom no warlike duties were expected。 The fighting operations were
in charge of a small body of men； composed of two or three scientific
specialists； and some practical gunners and their assistants。 A few bomb…
proof canopies and a curved steel deck completed the defences of the
vessel。 Besides equipping this little navy； the Syndicate set about the
construction of certain sea…going vessels of an extraordinary kind。 So great
were the facilities at its command； and so thorough and complete its
methods； that ten or a dozen ship…yards and foundries were set to work
simultaneously to build one of these ships。 In a marvellously short time
the Syndicate possessed several of them ready for action。
These vessels became technically known as 〃crabs。〃 They were not
large； and the only part of them which projected above the water was the
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THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
middle of an elliptical deck； slightly convex； and heavily mailed with ribs
of steel。 These vessels were fitted with electric engines of extraordinary
power； and were capable of great speed。 At their bows； fully protected by
the overhanging deck； was the machinery by which their peculiar work
was to be accomplished。 The Syndicate intended to confine itself to
marine operations； and for the present it was contented with these two
classes of vessels。 The armament for each of the large vessels； as has been
said before； consisted of a single gun of long range； and the ammunition
was confined entirely to a new style of projectile； which had never yet
been used in warfare。 The material and construction of this projectile were
known only to three members of the Syndicate； who had invented and
perfected it； and it was on account of their possession of this secret that
they had been invited to join that body。
This projectile was not； in the ordinary sense of the word； an explosive；
and was named by its inventors； 〃The Instantaneous Motor。〃 It was
discharged from an ordinary cannon； but no gunpowder or other explosive
compound was used to propel it。 The bomb possessed； in itself the
necessary power of propulsion； and the gun was used merely to give it the
proper direction。
These bombs were cylindrical in form； and pointed at the outer end。
They were filled with hundreds of small tubes； each radiating outward
from a central line。 Those in the middle third of the bomb pointed directly
outward； while those in its front portion were inclined forward at a slight
angle； and those in the rear portion backward at the same angle。 One tube
at the end of the bomb； and pointing directly backward； furnished the
motive power。
Each of these tubes could exert a force sufficient to move an ordinary
train of passenger cars one mile； and this power could be exerted
instantaneously； so that the difference in time in the starting of a train at
one end of the mile and its arrival at the other would not be appreciable。
The difference in concussionary force between a train moving at the rate
of a mile in two minutes； or even one minute； and another train which
moves a mile in an instant； can easily be imagined。
In these bombs； those tubes which might direct their powers
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THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
downward or laterally upon the earth were capable of instantaneously
propelling every portion of solid ground or rock to a distance of two or
three hundred yards； while the particles of objects on the surface of the
earth were instantaneously removed to a far greater distance。 The tube
which propelled the bomb was of a force graduated according to
circumstances； and it would carry a bomb to as great a distance as accurate
observation for purposes of aim could be made。 Its force was brought into
action while in the cannon by means of electricity while the same effect
was produced in the other tubes by the concussion of the steel head against
the object aimed at。
What gave the tubes their power was the jealously guarded secret。
The method of aiming was as novel as the bomb itself。 In this process
nothing depended on the eyesight of the gunner； the personal equation was
entirely eliminated。 The gun was so mounted that its direction was
accurately indicated by graduated scales； there was an instrument which
was acted upon by the dip； rise； or roll of the vessel； and which showed at
any moment the position of the gun with reference to the plane of the sea