Для того чтобы воспользоваться озвучкой предложений, необходимо
Войти или зарегистрироваться
Озвучка предложений доступна при наличии PRO-доступа
Купить PRO-доступ
The
opposition
papers
had
been
loud
and
reckless
in
their
denunciations
of
the
slowness
and
inadequacy
of
the
naval
preparations
,
and
loaded
the
Government
with
the
entire
responsibility
,
not
only
of
the
damage
which
had
already
been
done
to
the
forts
,
the
ships
,
and
the
prestige
of
Great
Britain
,
but
also
for
the
threatened
danger
of
a
sudden
descent
of
the
Syndicate
’
s
fleet
upon
some
unprotected
point
upon
the
coast
.
This
fleet
should
never
have
been
allowed
to
approach
within
a
thousand
miles
of
England
.
It
should
have
been
sunk
in
mid
-
ocean
,
if
its
sinking
had
involved
the
loss
of
a
dozen
men
-
of
-
war
.
In
America
a
very
strong
feeling
of
dissatisfaction
showed
itself
.
From
the
first
,
the
Syndicate
contract
had
not
been
popular
;
but
the
quick
,
effective
,
and
business
-
like
action
of
that
body
of
men
,
and
the
marked
success
up
to
this
time
of
their
inventions
and
their
operations
,
had
caused
a
great
reaction
in
their
favour
.
They
had
,
so
far
,
successfully
defended
the
American
coast
,
and
when
they
had
increased
the
number
of
their
vessels
,
they
would
have
been
relied
upon
to
continue
that
defence
.
Even
if
a
British
armada
had
set
out
to
cross
the
Atlantic
,
its
movements
must
have
been
slow
and
cumbrous
,
and
the
swift
and
sudden
strokes
with
which
the
Syndicate
waged
war
could
have
been
given
by
night
and
by
day
over
thousands
of
miles
of
ocean
.
Whether
or
not
these
strokes
would
have
been
quick
enough
or
hard
enough
to
turn
back
an
armada
might
be
a
question
;
but
there
could
be
no
question
of
the
suicidal
policy
of
sending
seven
ships
and
two
cannon
to
conquer
England
.
It
seemed
as
if
the
success
of
the
Syndicate
had
so
puffed
up
its
members
with
pride
and
confidence
in
their
powers
that
they
had
come
to
believe
that
they
had
only
to
show
themselves
to
conquer
,
whatever
might
be
the
conditions
of
the
contest
.
The
destruction
of
the
Syndicate
’
s
fleet
would
now
be
a
heavy
blow
to
the
United
States
.
It
would
produce
an
utter
want
of
confidence
in
the
councils
and
judgments
of
the
Syndicate
,
which
could
not
be
counteracted
by
the
strongest
faith
in
the
efficiency
of
their
engines
of
war
;
and
it
was
feared
it
might
become
necessary
,
even
at
this
critical
juncture
,
to
annul
the
contract
with
the
Syndicate
,
and
to
depend
upon
the
American
navy
for
the
defence
of
the
American
coast
.
Even
among
the
men
on
board
the
Syndicate
’
s
fleet
there
were
signs
of
doubt
and
apprehensions
of
evil
.
It
had
all
been
very
well
so
far
,
but
fighting
one
ship
at
a
time
was
a
very
different
thing
from
steaming
into
the
midst
of
a
hundred
ships
.
On
board
the
repeller
there
was
now
an
additional
reason
for
fears
and
misgivings
.
The
unlucky
character
of
the
vessel
when
it
had
been
the
Tallapoosa
was
known
,
and
not
a
few
of
the
men
imagined
that
it
must
now
be
time
for
some
new
disaster
to
this
ill
-
starred
craft
,
and
if
her
evil
genius
had
desired
fresh
disaster
for
her
,
it
was
certainly
sending
her
into
a
good
place
to
look
for
it
.
But
the
Syndicate
neither
doubted
nor
hesitated
nor
paid
any
attention
to
the
doubts
and
condemnations
which
they
heard
from
every
quarter
.
Four
days
after
the
news
of
the
destruction
of
the
Craglevin
had
been
telegraphed
from
Canada
to
London
,
the
Syndicate
’
s
fleet
entered
the
English
Channel
.
Owing
to
the
power
and
speed
of
the
crabs
,
Repeller
No
.
11
had
made
a
passage
of
the
Atlantic
which
in
her
old
naval
career
would
have
been
considered
miraculous
.
Craft
of
various
kinds
were
now
passed
,
but
none
of
them
carried
the
British
flag
.
In
the
expectation
of
the
arrival
of
the
enemy
,
British
merchantmen
and
fishing
vessels
had
been
advised
to
keep
in
the
background
until
the
British
navy
had
concluded
its
business
with
the
vessels
of
the
American
Syndicate
.
As
has
been
said
before
,
the
British
Admiralty
had
adopted
a
new
method
of
defence
for
the
rudders
and
screw
-
propellers
of
naval
vessels
against
the
attacks
of
submerged
craft
.
The
work
of
constructing
the
new
appliances
had
been
pushed
forward
as
fast
as
possible
,
but
so
far
only
one
of
these
had
been
finished
and
attached
to
a
man
-
of
-
war
.
The
Llangaron
was
a
recently
built
ironclad
of
the
same
size
and
class
as
the
Adamant
;
and
to
her
had
been
attached
the
new
stern
-
defence
.
This
was
an
immense
steel
cylinder
,
entirely
closed
,
and
rounded
at
the
ends
.
It
was
about
ten
feet
in
diameter
,
and
strongly
braced
inside
.
It
was
suspended
by
chains
from
two
davits
which
projected
over
the
stern
of
the
vessel
.
When
sailing
this
cylinder
was
hoisted
up
to
the
davits
,
but
when
the
ship
was
prepared
for
action
it
was
lowered
until
it
lay
,
nearly
submerged
,
abaft
of
the
rudder
.
In
this
position
its
ends
projected
about
fifteen
feet
on
either
side
of
the
propeller
-
blades
.
It
was
believed
that
this
cylinder
would
effectually
prevent
a
crab
from
getting
near
enough
to
the
propeller
or
the
rudder
to
do
any
damage
.
It
could
not
be
torn
away
as
the
stern
-
jacket
had
been
,
for
the
rounded
and
smooth
sides
and
ends
of
the
massive
cylinder
would
offer
no
hold
to
the
forceps
of
the
crabs
;
and
,
approaching
from
any
quarter
,
it
would
be
impossible
for
these
forceps
to
reach
rudder
or
screw
.
The
Syndicate
’
s
little
fleet
arrived
in
British
waters
late
in
the
day
,
and
early
the
next
morning
it
appeared
about
twenty
miles
to
the
south
of
the
Isle
of
Wight
,
and
headed
to
the
north
-
east
,
as
if
it
were
making
for
Portsmouth
.
The
course
of
these
vessels
greatly
surprised
the
English
Government
and
naval
authorities
.
It
was
expected
that
an
attack
would
probably
be
made
upon
some
comparatively
unprotected
spot
on
the
British
seaboard
,
and
therefore
on
the
west
coast
of
Ireland
and
in
St
.
George
’
s
Channel
preparations
of
the
most
formidable
character
had
been
made
to
defend
British
ports
against
Repeller
No
.
11
and
her
attendant
crabs
.
Particularly
was
this
the
case
in
Bristol
Channel
,
where
a
large
number
of
ironclads
were
stationed
,
and
which
was
to
have
been
the
destination
of
the
Llangaron
if
the
Syndicate
’
s
vessels
had
delayed
their
coming
long
enough
to
allow
her
to
get
around
there
.
That
this
little
fleet
should
have
sailed
straight
for
England
’
s
great
naval
stronghold
was
something
that
the
British
Admiralty
could
not
understand
.
The
fact
was
not
appreciated
that
it
was
the
object
of
the
Syndicate
to
measure
its
strength
with
the
greatest
strength
of
the
enemy
.
Anything
less
than
this
would
not
avail
its
purpose
.
Notwithstanding
that
so
many
vessels
had
been
sent
to
different
parts
of
the
coast
,
there
was
still
in
Portsmouth
harbour
a
large
number
of
war
vessels
of
various
classes
,
all
in
commission
and
ready
for
action
.
The
greater
part
of
these
had
received
orders
to
cruise
that
day
in
the
channel
.
Consequently
,
it
was
still
early
in
the
morning
when
,
around
the
eastern
end
of
the
Isle
of
Wight
,
there
appeared
a
British
fleet
composed
of
fifteen
of
the
finest
ironclads
,
with
several
gunboats
and
cruisers
,
and
a
number
of
torpedo
-
boats
.
It
was
a
noble
sight
,
for
besides
the
warships
there
was
another
fleet
hanging
upon
the
outskirts
of
the
first
,
and
composed
of
craft
,
large
and
small
,
and
from
both
sides
of
the
channel
,
filled
with
those
who
were
anxious
to
witness
from
afar
the
sea
-
fight
which
was
to
take
place
under
such
novel
conditions
.
Many
of
these
observers
were
reporters
and
special
correspondents
for
great
newspapers
.
On
some
of
the
vessels
which
came
up
from
the
French
coast
were
men
with
marine
glasses
of
extraordinary
power
,
whose
business
it
was
to
send
an
early
and
accurate
report
of
the
affair
to
the
office
of
the
War
Syndicate
in
New
York
.
As
soon
as
the
British
ships
came
in
sight
,
the
four
crabs
cast
off
from
Repeller
No
.
11
.
Then
with
the
other
two
they
prepared
for
action
,
moving
considerably
in
advance
of
the
repeller
,
which
now
steamed
forward
very
slowly
.
The
wind
was
strong
from
the
north
-
west
,
and
the
sea
high
,
the
shining
tops
of
the
crabs
frequently
disappearing
under
the
waves
.
The
British
fleet
came
steadily
on
,
headed
by
the
great
Llangaron
.
This
vessel
was
very
much
in
advance
of
the
others
,
for
knowing
that
when
she
was
really
in
action
and
the
great
cylinder
which
formed
her
stern
-
guard
was
lowered
into
the
water
her
speed
would
be
much
retarded
,
she
had
put
on
all
steam
,
and
being
the
swiftest
war
-
ship
of
her
class
,
she
had
distanced
all
her
consorts
.
It
was
highly
important
that
she
should
begin
the
fight
,
and
engage
the
attention
of
as
many
crabs
as
possible
,
while
certain
of
the
other
ships
attacked
the
repeller
with
their
rams
.
Although
it
was
now
generally
believed
that
motor
-
bombs
from
a
repeller
might
destroy
a
man
-
of
-
war
,
it
was
also
considered
probable
that
the
accurate
calculations
which
appeared
to
be
necessary
to
precision
of
aim
could
not
be
made
when
the
object
of
the
aim
was
in
rapid
motion
.
But
whether
or
not
one
or
more
motor
-
bombs
did
strike
the
mark
,
or
whether
or
not
one
or
more
vessels
were
blown
into
fine
particles
,
there
were
a
dozen
ironclads
in
that
fleet
,
each
of
whose
commanders
and
officers
were
determined
to
run
into
that
repeller
and
crush
her
,
if
so
be
they
held
together
long
enough
to
reach
her
.
The
commanders
of
the
torpedo
-
boats
had
orders
to
direct
their
swift
messengers
of
destruction
first
against
the
crabs
,
for
these
vessels
were
far
in
advance
of
the
repeller
,
and
coming
on
with
a
rapidity
which
showed
that
they
were
determined
upon
mischief
.
If
a
torpedo
,
shot
from
a
torpedo
-
boat
,
and
speeding
swiftly
by
its
own
powers
beneath
the
waves
,
should
strike
the
submerged
hull
of
a
crab
,
there
would
be
one
crab
the
less
in
the
English
Channel
.
As
has
been
said
,
the
Llangaron
came
rushing
on
,
distancing
everything
,
even
the
torpedo
-
boats
.
If
,
before
she
was
obliged
to
lower
her
cylinder
,
she
could
get
near
enough
to
the
almost
stationary
repeller
to
take
part
in
the
attack
on
her
,
she
would
then
be
content
to
slacken
speed
and
let
the
crabs
nibble
awhile
at
her
stern
.
Two
of
the
latest
constructed
and
largest
crabs
,
Q
and
R
,
headed
at
full
speed
to
meet
the
Llangaron
,
who
,
as
she
came
on
,
opened
the
ball
by
sending
a
"
rattler
"
in
the
shape
of
a
five
-
hundred
-
pound
shot
into
the
ribs
of
the
repeller
,
then
at
least
four
miles
distant
,
and
immediately
after
began
firing
her
dynamite
guns
,
which
were
of
limited
range
at
the
roofs
of
the
advancing
crabs
.
There
were
some
on
board
the
repeller
who
,
at
the
moment
the
great
shot
struck
her
,
with
a
ringing
and
clangour
of
steel
springs
,
such
as
never
was
heard
before
,
wished
that
in
her
former
state
of
existence
she
had
been
some
other
vessel
than
the
Tallapoosa
.
But
every
spring
sprang
back
to
its
place
as
the
great
mass
of
iron
glanced
off
into
the
sea
.
The
dynamite
bombs
flew
over
the
tops
of
the
crabs
,
whose
rapid
motions
and
slightly
exposed
surfaces
gave
little
chance
for
accurate
aim
,
and
in
a
short
time
they
were
too
close
to
the
Llangaron
for
this
class
of
gun
to
be
used
upon
them
.
As
the
crabs
came
nearer
,
the
Llangaron
lowered
the
great
steel
cylinder
which
hung
across
her
stern
,
until
it
lay
almost
entirely
under
water
,
and
abaft
of
her
rudder
and
propeller
-
blades
.
She
now
moved
slowly
through
the
water
,
and
her
men
greeted
the
advancing
crabs
with
yells
of
defiance
,
and
a
shower
of
shot
from
machine
guns
.
The
character
of
the
new
defence
which
had
been
fitted
to
the
Llangaron
was
known
to
the
Syndicate
,
and
the
directors
of
the
two
new
crabs
understood
the
heavy
piece
of
work
which
lay
before
them
.
But
their
plans
of
action
had
been
well
considered
,
and
they
made
straight
for
the
stern
of
the
British
ship
.
It
was
,
of
course
,
impossible
to
endeavour
to
grasp
that
great
cylinder
with
its
rounded
ends
;
their
forceps
would
slip
from
any
portion
of
its
smooth
surface
on
which
they
should
endeavour
to
lay
hold
,
and
no
such
attempt
was
made
.
Keeping
near
the
cylinder
,
one
at
each
end
of
it
,
the
two
moved
slowly
after
the
Llangaron
,
apparently
discouraged
.
In
a
short
time
,
however
,
it
was
perceived
by
those
on
board
the
ship
that
a
change
had
taken
place
in
the
appearance
of
the
crabs
;
the
visible
portion
of
their
backs
was
growing
larger
and
larger
;
they
were
rising
in
the
water
.
Their
mailed
roofs
became
visible
from
end
to
end
,
and
the
crowd
of
observers
looking
down
from
the
ship
were
amazed
to
see
what
large
vessels
they
were
.
Higher
and
higher
the
crabs
arose
,
their
powerful
air
-
pumps
working
at
their
greatest
capacity
,
until
their
ponderous
pincers
became
visible
above
the
water
.
Then
into
the
minds
of
the
officers
of
the
Llangaron
flashed
the
true
object
of
this
uprising
,
which
to
the
crew
had
seemed
an
intention
on
the
part
of
the
sea
-
devils
to
clamber
on
board
.
If
the
cylinder
were
left
in
its
present
position
the
crab
might
seize
the
chains
by
which
it
was
suspended
,
while
if
it
were
raised
it
would
cease
to
be
a
defence
.
Notwithstanding
this
latter
contingency
,
the
order
was
quickly
given
to
raise
the
cylinder
;
but
before
the
hoisting
engine
had
been
set
in
motion
,
Crab
Q
thrust
forward
her
forceps
over
the
top
of
the
cylinder
and
held
it
down
.
Another
thrust
,
and
the
iron
jaws
had
grasped
one
of
the
two
ponderous
chains
by
which
the
cylinder
was
suspended
.
The
other
end
of
the
cylinder
began
to
rise
,
but
at
this
moment
Crab
R
,
apparently
by
a
single
effort
,
lifted
herself
a
foot
higher
out
of
the
sea
;
her
pincers
flashed
forward
,
and
the
other
chain
was
grasped
.
The
two
crabs
were
now
placed
in
the
most
extraordinary
position
.
The
overhang
of
their
roofs
prevented
an
attack
on
their
hulls
by
the
Llangaron
,
but
their
unmailed
hulls
were
so
greatly
exposed
that
a
few
shot
from
another
ship
could
easily
have
destroyed
them
.
But
as
any
ship
firing
at
them
would
be
very
likely
to
hit
the
Llangaron
,
their
directors
felt
safe
on
this
point
.
Three
of
the
foremost
ironclads
,
less
than
two
miles
away
,
were
heading
directly
for
them
,
and
their
rams
might
be
used
with
but
little
danger
to
the
Llangaron
;
but
,
on
the
other
hand
,
three
swift
crabs
were
heading
directly
for
these
ironclads
.
It
was
impossible
for
Crabs
Q
and
R
to
operate
in
the
usual
way
.
Their
massive
forceps
,
lying
flat
against
the
top
of
the
cylinder
,
could
not
be
twisted
.
The
enormous
chains
they
held
could
not
be
severed
by
the
greatest
pressure
,
and
if
both
crabs
backed
at
once
they
would
probably
do
no
more
than
tow
the
Llangaron
stern
foremost
.
There
was
,
moreover
,
no
time
to
waste
in
experiments
,
for
other
rams
would
be
coming
on
,
and
there
were
not
crabs
enough
to
attend
to
them
all
.
No
time
was
wasted
.
Q
signalled
to
R
,
and
R
back
again
,
and
instantly
the
two
crabs
,
each
still
grasping
a
chain
of
the
cylinder
,
began
to
sink
.
On
board
the
Llangaron
an
order
was
shouted
to
let
out
the
cylinder
chains
;
but
as
these
chains
had
only
been
made
long
enough
to
allow
the
top
of
the
cylinder
to
hang
at
or
a
little
below
the
surface
of
the
water
,
a
foot
or
two
of
length
was
all
that
could
be
gained
.
The
davits
from
which
the
cylinder
hung
were
thick
and
strong
,
and
the
iron
windlasses
to
which
the
chains
were
attached
were
large
and
ponderous
;
but
these
were
not
strong
enough
to
withstand
the
weight
of
two
crabs
with
steel
-
armoured
roofs
,
enormous
engines
,
and
iron
hull
.
In
less
than
a
minute
one
davit
snapped
like
a
pipe
-
stem
under
the
tremendous
strain
,
and
immediately
afterward
the
windlass
to
which
the
chain
was
attached
was
torn
from
its
bolts
,
and
went
crashing
overboard
,
tearing
away
a
portion
of
the
stern
-
rail
in
its
descent
.
Crab
Q
instantly
released
the
chain
it
had
held
,
and
in
a
moment
the
great
cylinder
hung
almost
perpendicularly
from
one
chain
.
But
only
for
a
moment
.
The
nippers
of
Crab
R
still
firmly
held
the
chain
,
and
the
tremendous
leverage
exerted
by
the
falling
of
one
end
of
the
cylinder
wrenched
it
from
the
rigidly
held
end
of
its
chain
,
and
,
in
a
flash
,
the
enormous
stern
-
guard
of
the
Llangaron
sunk
,
end
foremost
,
to
the
bottom
of
the
channel
.
