By midnight on Sunday the appalling1 news had spread everywhere. Though the full details of the terrible naval2 disasters were not yet to hand, yet it was vaguely3 known that our ships had been defeated in the North Sea, and many of them sunk.
Before 7 a.m. on Monday, however, telegrams reaching London by the subterranean4 lines from the north gave thrilling stories of frightful5 disasters we had, while all unconscious, suffered at the hands of the German fleet.
With London, the great cities of the north, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham, awoke utterly6 dazed. It seemed incredible. And yet the enemy had, by his sudden and stealthy blow, secured command of the sea and actually landed.
The public wondered why a formal declaration of war had not previously8 been made, ignorant of the fact that the declaration preceding the Franco-German War was the first made by any civilised nation prior to the commencement of hostilities9 for one hundred and seventy years. The peril10 of the nation was now recognised on every hand.
Eager millions poured into the City by every train from the suburbs and towns in the vicinity of the Metropolis11, anxious to ascertain12 the truth for themselves, pale with terror, wild with excitement, indignant that our land forces were not already mobilised and ready to move eastward13 to meet the invader14.
As soon as the banks were opened there was a run on them, but by noon the Bank of England had suspended all specie payments. The other banks, being thus unable to meet their engagements, simply closed the doors, bringing business to an abrupt15 standstill. Consols stood at 90 on Saturday, but by noon on Monday were down to 42—lower even than they were in 1798, when they stood at 47?. Numbers of foreigners tried to speculate heavily, but were unable to do so, for banking16 being suspended they could not obtain transfers.[17]
On the Stock Exchange the panic in the afternoon was indescribable. Securities of every sort went entirely17 to pieces, and there were no buyers. Financiers were surprised that no warning in London had betrayed the position of affairs, London being the money centre of the world. Prior to 1870 Paris shared with London the honour of being the pivot18 of the money market, but on the suspension of cash payments by the Bank of France during the Franco-German War, Paris lost that position. Had it not been that the milliards comprising the French War indemnity19 were intact in golden louis in the fortress20 of Spandau, Germany could never have hoped to wage sudden war with Great Britain before she had made Berlin independent of London in a money sense, or, at any rate, to accumulate sufficient gold to carry on the war for at least twelve months. The only way in which she could have done this was to raise her rate so as to offer better terms than London. Yet directly the Bank of England discovered the rate of exchange going against her, and her stock of gold diminishing, she would have responded by raising the English bank-rate in order to check the flow. Thus competition would have gone on until the rates became so high that all business would be checked, and people would have realised their securities to obtain the necessary money to carry on their affairs. Thus, no doubt, the coming war would have been forecasted had it not been for Germany's already prepared war-chest, which the majority of persons have nowadays overlooked. Its possession had enabled Germany to strike her sudden blow, and now the Bank of England, which is the final reserve of gold in the United Kingdom, found that as notes were cashed so the stock of gold diminished until it was in a few hours compelled to obtain from the Government suspension of the Bank charter. This enabled the Bank to suspend cash payment, and issue notes without a corresponding deposit of the equivalent in gold.
The suspension, contrary to increasing the panic, had, curiously21 enough the immediate22 effect of somewhat allaying23 it. Plenty of people in the City were confident that the blow aimed could not prove an effective one, and that the Germans, however many might have landed, would quickly be sent back again. Thus many level-headed business men regarded the position calmly, believing that when our command of the sea was again[18] re-established, as it must be in a day or two, the enemy would soon be non-existent.
Business outside the money market was, of course, utterly demoralised. The buying of necessities was now uppermost in everyone's mind. Excited crowds in the streets caused most of the shops in the City and West End to close, while around the Admiralty were great crowds of eager men and women of all classes, tearful wives of bluejackets jostling with officers' ladies from Mayfair and Belgravia, demanding news of their loved ones—inquiries which, alas24! the casualty office were unable to satisfy. The scene of grief, terror, and suspense25 was heartrending. Certain ships were known to have been sunk with all on board after making a gallant26 fight, and those who had husbands, brothers, lovers, or fathers on board wept loudly, calling upon the Government to avenge27 the ruthless murder of their loved ones.
In Manchester, in Liverpool, indeed, all through the great manufacturing centres of the north, the excitement of London was reflected.
In Manchester there was a panic "on 'Change," and the crowd in Deansgate coming into collision with a force of mounted police, some rioting occurred, and a number of shop windows broken, while several agitators28 who attempted to speak in front of the infirmary were at once arrested.
Liverpool was the scene of intense anxiety and excitement, when a report was spread that German cruisers were about the estuary29 of the Mersey. It was known that the coal staithes, cranes, and petroleum30 tanks at Penarth, Cardiff, Barry, and Llanelly had been destroyed; that Aberdeen had been bombarded; and there were rumours31 that, notwithstanding the mines and defences of the Mersey, the city of Liverpool, with all its crowd of valuable shipping32, was to share the same fate.
The whole place was in a ferment33. By eleven o'clock the stations were crowded by women and children sent by the men away into the country—anywhere from the doomed34 and defenceless city. The Lord Mayor vainly endeavoured to inspire confidence, but telegrams from London, announcing the complete financial collapse35, only increased the panic.
In London all through the morning, amid the chaos[19] of business in the City, the excitement had been steadily36 growing, until shortly after three o'clock the "Daily Mail" issued a special edition containing a copy of a German proclamation which, it was said, was now posted everywhere in East Norfolk, East Suffolk, and in Maldon in Essex, already occupied by the enemy.
The original proclamation had been found pasted by some unknown hand upon a barn door near the town of Billericay, and had been detached and brought to London in a motor-car by a correspondent.
It showed plainly the German intention was to deal a hard and crushing blow, and it struck terror into the heart of London, for it read as will be seen on next page.
Upon the walls of the Mansion37 House, the Guildhall, outside the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange, upon the various public buildings within the city wards38, and westward39 beyond Temple Bar, proclamations were being posted. Indeed, upon all the hoardings in Greater London appeared various broadsheets side by side. One by the Chief Commissioner40 of Police, regulating the traffic in the streets, and appealing to the public to assist in the preservation41 of order; and a Royal Proclamation, brief but noble, urging every Briton to do his duty, to take his part in the defence of King and country, and to unfurl the banner of the British Empire that had hitherto carried peace and civilisation42 in every quarter of the world. Germany, whose independence had been respected, had attacked us without provocation43; therefore hostilities were, alas, inevitable44.
When the great poster printed in big capitals and headed by the Royal Arms made its appearance it was greeted with wild cheering.
It was a message of love from King to people—a message to the highest and to the lowest. Posted in Whitechapel at the same hour as in Whitehall, the throngs45 crowded eagerly about it and sang "God Save our Gracious King," for if they had but little confidence in the War Office and Admiralty, they placed their trust in their Sovereign, the first diplomat46 in Europe. Therefore the loyalty47 was spontaneous, as it always is. They read the royal message, and cheered and cheered again.
As evening closed in yet another poster made its appearance in every city, town, and village in the country, a poster issued by military and police officers, and naval officers in charge of dockyards—the order for mobilisation.
[20]
PROCLAMATION.
WE, GENERAL COMMANDING THE 3rd GERMAN ARMY,
HAVING SEEN the proclamation of His Imperial Majesty48 the Emperor William, King of Prussia, Chief of the Army, which authorises the generals commanding the different German Army Corps49 to establish special measures against all municipalities and persons acting50 in contradiction to the usages of war, and to take what steps they consider necessary for the well-being51 of the troops.
HEREBY GIVE PUBLIC NOTICE:
(1) THE MILITARY JURISDICTION52 is hereby established. It applies to all territory of Great Britain occupied by the German Army, and to every action endangering the security of the troops by rendering53 assistance to the enemy. The Military Jurisdiction will be announced and placed vigorously in force in every parish by the issue of this present proclamation.
(2) ANY PERSON OR PERSONS NOT BEING BRITISH SOLDIERS, or not showing by their dress that they are soldiers:
(a) SERVING THE ENEMY as spies;
(b) MISLEADING THE GERMAN TROOPS when charged to serve as guides;
(c) SHOOTING, INJURING, OR ROBBING any person belonging to the German Army, or forming part of its personnel;
(d) DESTROYING BRIDGES OR CANALS, damaging telegraphs, telephones, electric light wires, gasometers, or railways, interfering54 with roads, setting fire to munitions55 of war, provisions, or quarters established by German troops;
(e) TAKING ARMS against the German troops,
WILL BE PUNISHED BY DEATH.
IN EACH CASE the officer presiding at the Council of War will be charged with the trial, and pronounce judgment56. Councils of War may not pronounce ANY OTHER CONDEMNATION57 SAVE THAT OF DEATH.
THE JUDGMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED.
(3) TOWNS OR VILLAGES in the territory in which the contravention takes place will be compelled to pay indemnity equal to one year's revenue.
(4) THE INHABITANTS MUST FURNISH necessaries for the German troops daily as follows:—
1 lb. 10 oz. bread. 1 oz. tea. 1? pints59 beer, or 1 wine-
13 oz. meat. 1? oz. tobacco or 5 cigars. glassful of brandy or
3 lb. potatoes. ? pint58 wine. whisky.
The ration7 for each horse:—
13 lb. oats. 3 lb. 6 oz. hay. 3 lb. 6 oz. straw.
(ALL PERSONS WHO PREFER to pay an indemnity in money may do so at the rate of 2s. per day per man.)
(5) COMMANDERS OF DETACHED corps have the right to requisition all that they consider necessary for the well-being of their men, and will deliver to the inhabitants official receipts for goods so supplied.
WE HOPE IN CONSEQUENCE that the inhabitants of Great Britain will make no difficulty in furnishing all that may be considered necessary.
(6) AS REGARDS the individual transactions between the troops and the inhabitants, we give notice that one German mark shall be considered the equivalent to one English shilling.
The General Commanding the Ninth German Army Corps,
VON KRONHELM.
Beccles, September the Third, 1910.
THE ENEMY'S FAMOUS PROCLAMATION. THE ENEMY'S FAMOUS PROCLAMATION.
The[21] public, however, little dreamed of the hopeless confusion in the War Office, in the various regimental dep?ts throughout the country, at headquarters everywhere, and in every barracks in the kingdom. The armed forces of England were passing from a peace to a war footing; but the mobilisation of the various units—namely, its completion in men, horses, and material—was utterly impossible in the face of the extraordinary regulations which, kept a strict secret by the Council of Defence until this moment, revealed a hopeless state of things.
The disorder61 was frightful. Not a regiment60 was found fully62 equipped and ready to march. There was a dearth63 of officers, equipment, horses, provisions—of, indeed, everything. Men had guns without ammunition64; cavalry65 and artillery66 were without horses; engineers only half equipped; volunteers with no transport whatever; balloon sections without balloons, and searchlight units vainly trying to obtain the necessary instruments.
Horses were being requisitioned everywhere. The few horses that, in the age of motor-cars, now remained on the roads in London were quickly taken for draught67, and all horses fit to ride were commandeered for the cavalry.
During the turmoil68 daring German spies were actively69 at work south of London. The Southampton line of the London and South-Western Railway was destroyed—with explosives placed by unknown hands—by the bridge over the Wey, near Weybridge, being blown up; and again that over the Mole70, between Walton and Esher, while the Reading line was cut by the great bridge over the Thames at Staines being destroyed. The line, too, between Guildford and Waterloo, was also rendered impassable by the wreck71 of the midnight train, which was blown up half-way between Wansborough and Guildford, while in several other places nearer London bridges were rendered unstable72 by dynamite73, the favourite method apparently74 being to blow the crown out of an arch.
The well-laid plans of the enemy were thus quickly revealed. Among the thousands of Germans working in London, the hundred or so spies, all trusted soldiers, had passed unnoticed but, working in unison75, each little[22] group of two or three had been allotted76 its task, and had previously thoroughly77 reconnoitred the position and studied the most rapid or effective means.
The railways to the east and north-east coasts all reported wholesale78 damage done on Sunday night by the advance agents of the enemy, and now this was continued on the night of Monday in the south, the objective being to hinder troops from moving north from Aldershot. This was, indeed, effectual, for only by a long détour could the troops be moved to the northern defences of London, and while many were on Tuesday entrained, others were conveyed to London by the motor omnibuses sent down for that purpose.
Everywhere through London and its vicinity, as well as Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Coventry, Leeds, and Liverpool, motor-cars and motor-omnibuses from dealers79 and private owners were being requisitioned by the military authorities, for they would, it was believed, replace cavalry to a very large extent.
Wild and extraordinary reports were circulated regarding the disasters in the north. Hull80, Newcastle, Gateshead, and Tynemouth had, it was believed, been bombarded and sacked. The shipping in the Tyne was burning, and the Elswick works were held by the enemy. Details were, however, very vague, as the Germans were taking every precaution to prevent information reaching London.
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1
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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6
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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7
ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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8
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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12
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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invader
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| n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者 | |
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15
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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16
banking
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| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
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17
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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18
pivot
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| v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的 | |
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19
indemnity
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| n.赔偿，赔款，补偿金 | |
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20
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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21
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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allaying
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的现在分词 ) | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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25
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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26
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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27
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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28
agitators
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| n.（尤指政治变革的）鼓动者( agitator的名词复数 )；煽动者；搅拌器；搅拌机 | |
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29
estuary
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| n.河口，江口 | |
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30
petroleum
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| n.原油，石油 | |
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31
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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32
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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33
ferment
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| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
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34
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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35
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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36
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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37
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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38
wards
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| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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41
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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42
civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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43
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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44
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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45
throngs
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| n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群，挤满( throng的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
diplomat
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| n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人 | |
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47
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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48
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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49
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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50
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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51
well-being
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| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
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52
jurisdiction
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| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
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53
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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54
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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55
munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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56
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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57
condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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58
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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pints
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| n.品脱( pint的名词复数 )；一品脱啤酒 | |
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60
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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61
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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62
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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63
dearth
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| n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨 | |
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64
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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65
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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66
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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67
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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68
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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69
actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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70
mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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71
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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72
unstable
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| adj.不稳定的，易变的 | |
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73
dynamite
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| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
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74
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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75
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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76
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
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78
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
参考例句： |
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79
dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 | |
参考例句： |
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80
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
参考例句： |
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