THE DEFENCES OF SOUTH LONDON on Sept 26th THE DEFENCES OF
SOUTH LONDON
on Sept 26th
Kennington, for instance, was practically surrounded by barricades, tons upon tons of earth being dug from the "Oval" and the "Park." Besides the barricades in Harleyford Road and Kennington Lane, all the streets converging11 on the "Oval" were blocked up, a huge defence arm just being completed across the junction12 of Kennington and Kennington Park Roads, and all the streets running into the latter thoroughfare from that[216] point to the big obstruction13 at the "Elephant" were blocked by paving-stones, bags of sand, barrels of cement, bricks, and such-like odds14 and ends impervious15 to bullets. In addition to this, there was a double fortification in Lambeth Road—a veritable redoubt—as well as the barricade9 at Lambeth Bridge, while all the roads leading from Kennington into the Lambeth Road, such as St. George's Road, Kennington Road, High Street, and the rest, had been rendered impassable and the neighbouring houses placed in a state of defence. Thus the whole district of Kennington became therefore a fortress16 in itself.
This was only a typical instance of the scientific methods of defence now resorted to. Mistakes made in North London were not now repeated. Day and night every able-bodied man, and woman too, worked on with increasing zeal17 and patriotism18. The defences in Haverstock Hill, Holloway Road, and Edgware Road, which had been composed of overturned tramcars, motor 'buses, household furniture, etc., had been riddled19 by the enemy's bullets. The lesson had been heeded20, and now earth, sand, tiles, paving-stones, and bricks were used.
From nearly all the principal thoroughfares south of the river the paving-stones were being rapidly torn up by great gangs of men, and whenever the artillery21 brought up a fresh Maxim22 or field-gun the wildest demonstrations23 were made. The clergy24 held special services in churches and chapels, and prayer meetings for the emancipation25 of London were held twice daily in the Metropolitan26 Tabernacle at Newington. In Kennington Park, Camberwell Green, the Oval, Vauxhall Park, Lambeth Palace Gardens, Camberwell Park, Peckham Rye and Southwark Park a division of Lord Byfield's army was encamped. They held the Waterloo terminus of the South-Western Railway strongly, the Chatham Railway from the Borough27 Road Station—now the terminus—the South-Eastern from Bricklayers' Arms, which had been converted into another terminus, as well as the Brighton line, at Battersea Park and York Road.
The lines destroyed by the enemy's spies in the early moments of the invasion had long ago been repaired, and up to the present railway and telegraphic communication south and west remained uninterrupted. The "Daily Telegraph" had managed to transfer some of its staff to the offices of a certain printer's in Southwark,[217] and there, under difficulties, published several editions daily despite the German censorship. While northern London was without any news except that supplied from German sources, South London was still open to the world, the cables from the south coast being, as yet, in the hands of the British, and the telegraphs intact to Bristol and to all places in the West.
Thus, during those stifling28 and exciting days following the occupation, while London was preparing for its great uprising, the "South London Mirror," though a queer, unusual-looking sheet, still continued to appear, and was read with avidity by the gallant29 men at the barricades.
Contrary to expectation, Von Kronhelm was leaving South London severely30 alone. He was, no doubt, wise. Full well he knew that his men, once within those narrow, tortuous31 streets beyond the river, would have no opportunity to man?uvre, and would, as in the case of the assault of Waterloo Bridge, be slaughtered32 to a man. His spies reported that each hour that passed rendered the populace the stronger, yet he did nothing, devoting his whole time, energy, and attention to matters in that half of London he was now occupying.
Everywhere the walls of South London were placarded with manifestoes of the League of Defenders. Day after day fresh posters appeared, urging patience and courage, and reporting upon the progress of the League. The name of Graham was now upon every one's lips. He had, it seemed, arisen as saviour33 of our beloved country. Every word of his inspired enthusiasm, and this was well illustrated34 at the mass meeting on Peckham Rye, when, beneath the huge flag of St. George, the white banner with the red cross—the ancient standard of England—which the League had adopted as theirs, he made a brilliant and impassioned appeal to every Londoner and every Englishman.
Report had it that the Germans had set a price upon his head, and that he was pursued everywhere by German spies—mercenaries who would kill him in secret if they could. Therefore he was compelled to go about with an armed police guard, who arrested any suspected person in his vicinity. The Government, who had at first laughed Graham's enthusiasm to scorn, now believed in him. Even Lord Byfield, after a long council, declared that his efforts to inspire enthusiasm had been amazingly successful, and it was now well known that the[218] "Defenders" and the Army had agreed to act in unison35 towards one common end—the emancipation of England from the German thraldom36.
Some men of the Osnabrück Regiment37, holding Canning Town and Limehouse, managed one night, by strategy, to force their way through the Blackwall Tunnel and break down its defences on the Surrey side in an attempt to blow up the South Metropolitan Gas Works.
The men holding the tunnel were completely overwhelmed by the number that pressed on, and were compelled to fall back, twenty of their number being killed. The assault was a victorious38 one, and it was seen that the enemy were pouring out, when, of a sudden, there was a dull, heavy roar, followed by wild shouts and terrified screams, as there rose from the centre of the river a great column of water, and next instant the tunnel was flooded, hundreds of the enemy being drowned like rats in a hole.
The men of the Royal Engineers had, on the very day previous, made preparations for destroying the tunnel if necessary, and had done so ere the Germans were aware of their intention. The exact loss of life is unknown, but it is estimated that over 400 men must have perished in that single instant, while those who had made the sudden dash towards the Gas Works were all taken prisoners, and their explosives confiscated39.
The evident intention of the enemy being thus seen, General Sir Francis Bamford, from his headquarters at the Crystal Palace, gave orders for the tunnels at Rotherhithe and that across Greenwich Reach, as well as the several "tube" tunnels and subways, to be destroyed, a work which was executed without delay, and was witnessed by thousands, who watched for the great disturbances40 and upheavals41 in the bed of the river.
In the Old Kent Road the bridge over the canal, as well as the bridges in Wells Street, Sumner Road, Glengall Road, and Canterbury Road, were all prepared for demolition42 in case of necessity, the canal from the Camberwell Road to the Surrey Dock forming a moat behind which the defenders might, if necessary, retire. Clapham Common and Brockwell Park were covered with tents, for General Bamford's force, consisting mostly of auxiliaries43, were daily awaiting reinforcements.
Lord Byfield, now at Windsor, was in constant communication by wireless44 telegraphy with the London[219] headquarters at the Crystal Palace, as well as with Hibbard on the Malvern Hills and Woolmer at Shrewsbury. To General Bamford at Sydenham came constant news of the rapid spread of the national movement of defiance45, and Lord Byfield, as was afterwards known, urged the London commander to remain patient, and invite no attack until the League were strong enough to act on the offensive.
Affairs of outpost were, of course, constantly recurring46 along the river bank between Windsor and Egham, and the British Free-shooters and Frontiersmen were ever harassing47 the Saxons.
Very soon Von Kronhelm became aware of Lord Byfield's intentions, but his weakness was apparent when he made no counter-move. The fact was that the various great cities he now held required all his attention and all his troops. From Manchester, from Birmingham, from Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, and Hull48 came similar replies. Any withdrawal49 of troops from either city would be the signal for a general rising of the inhabitants. Therefore, having gained possession, he could only now sit tight and watch.
From all over Middlesex, and more especially from the London area, came sensational50 reports of the drastic measures adopted by the Germans to repress any sign of revolt. In secret, the agents of the League of Defenders were at work, going from house to house, enrolling51 men, arranging for secret meeting-places, and explaining in confidence the programme as put forward by the Bristol committee. Now and then, however, these agents were betrayed, and their betrayal was in every case followed by a court-martial at Bow Street, death outside in the yard of the police station, and the publication in the papers of their names, their offence, and the hour of the execution.
Yet, undaunted and defiantly52, the giant organisation53 grew as no other society had ever grown, and its agents and members quickly developed into fearless patriots54. It being reported that the Saxons were facing Lord Byfield with the Thames between them, the people of West London began in frantic haste to construct barricades. The building of obstructions55 had, indeed, now become a mania56 north of the river as well as south. The people, fearing that there was to be more fighting in the streets of London, began to build huge defences[220] all across West London. The chief were across King Street, Hammersmith, where it joins Goldhawk Road, across the junction of Goldhawk and Uxbridge Roads, in the Harrow Road where it joins Admiral Road, and Willesden Lane, close to the Paddington Cemetery57, and the Latimer Road opposite St. Quintin Park Station. All the side streets leading into the Goldhawk Road, Latimer Road, and Ladbroke Grove58 Road were also blocked up, and hundreds of houses placed in a state of strong defence.
With all this Von Kronhelm did not interfere59. The building of such obstructions acted as a safety-valve to the excited populace, therefore he rather encouraged than discountenanced it. The barricades might, he thought, be of service to his army if Lord Byfield really risked an attack upon London from that direction.
Crafty60 and cunning though he was, he was entirely61 unaware62 that those barricades were being constructed at the secret orders of the League of Defenders, and he never dreamed that they had actually been instigated63 by the British Commander-in-Chief himself.
Thus the Day of Reckoning hourly approached, and London, though crushed and starving, waited in patient vigilance.
At Enfield Chase was a great camp of British prisoners in the hands of the Germans, amounting to several thousands. Contrary to report, both officers and men were fairly well treated by the Germans, though with his limited supplies Von Kronhelm was already beginning to contemplate64 releasing them. Many of the higher-grade officers who had fallen into the hands of the enemy, together with the Lord Mayor of London, the Mayors of Hull, Goole, Lincoln, Norwich, Ipswich, and the Lord Mayors of Manchester and Birmingham, had been sent across to Germany, where, according to their own reports, they were being detained in Hamburg and treated with every consideration. Nevertheless, all this greatly incensed65 Englishmen. Lord Byfield, with Hibbard and Woolmer, was leaving no stone unturned in order to reform our shattered Army, and again oppose the invaders66. All three gallant officers had been to Bristol, where they held long consultation67 with the members of the Cabinet, with the result that the Government still refused to entertain any idea of paying the indemnity68. The Admiralty were confident now that the command of[221] the sea had been regained69, and in Parliament itself a little confidence was also restored.
Yet we had to face the hard facts that nearly two hundred thousand Germans were upon British soil, and that London was held by them. Already parties of German commissioners70 had visited the National Gallery, the Wallace Collection, the Tate Gallery, and the British and South Kensington Museums, deciding upon and placing aside certain art treasures and priceless antiques ready for shipment to Germany. The Raphaels, the Titians, the Rubenses, the Fra Angelicos, the Velasquezes, the Elgin Marbles, the best of the Egyptian, Assyrian, and Roman antiques, the Rosetta Stone, the early Biblical and classical manuscripts, the historic charters of England, and such-like treasures which could never be replaced, were all catalogued and prepared for removal. The people of London knew this; for though there had been no newspapers, information ran rapidly from mouth to mouth. German sentries71 guarded our world-famous collections, which were now indeed entirely in the enemy's hands, and which the Kaiser intended should enrich the German galleries and museums.
One vessel72 flying the British flag had left the Thames laden73 with spoil, in an endeavour to reach Hamburg, but off Harwich she had been sighted and overhauled74 by a British cruiser, with the result that she had been steered75 to Dover. Therefore our cruisers and destroyers, having thus obtained knowledge of the enemy's intentions, were keeping a sharp lookout76 about the coast for any vessels77 attempting to leave for German ports.
Accounts of fierce engagements in the Channel between British and German ships went the rounds, but all were vague and unconvincing. The only solid facts were that the Germans held the great cities of England, and that the millions of Great Britain were slowly but surely preparing to rise in an attempt to burst asunder78 the fetters79 that now held them.
Government, Army, Navy, and Parliament had all proved rotten reeds. It was now every man for himself—to free himself and his loved ones—or to die in the attempt.
Through the south and west of England Graham's clear, manly80 voice was raised everywhere, and the whole population were now fast assembling beneath the banner of the Defenders, in readiness to bear their part in[222] the most bloody81 and desperate encounter of the whole war.
The swift and secret death being meted82 out to the German sentries—or, in fact, to any German caught alone in a side street—having been reported to Von Kronhelm, he issued another of his now famous proclamations, which was posted upon half the hoardings in London; but the populace at once amused themselves by tearing it down wherever it was discovered. Von Kronhelm was the arch-enemy of London, and it is believed that there were at that moment no fewer than five separate conspiracies83 to encompass84 his death. Londoners detested85 the Germans, but with a hatred86 twenty times the more intense did they regard those men who, having engaged in commercial pursuits in England, had joined the colours and were now acting87 as spies.
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1
convened
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| 召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
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2
chapels
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| n.小教堂， （医院、监狱等的）附属礼拜堂( chapel的名词复数 )；（在小教堂和附属礼拜堂举行的）礼拜仪式 | |
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3
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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6
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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7
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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8
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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9
barricade
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| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
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barricades
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| 路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 ) | |
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11
converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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12
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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13
obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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14
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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15
impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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16
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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17
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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18
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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19
riddled
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| adj.布满的；充斥的；泛滥的v.解谜，出谜题(riddle的过去分词形式) | |
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20
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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22
maxim
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| n.格言，箴言 | |
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23
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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24
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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25
emancipation
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| n.（从束缚、支配下）解放 | |
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26
metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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27
borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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28
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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29
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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30
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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31
tortuous
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| adj.弯弯曲曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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32
slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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34
illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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35
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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36
thraldom
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| n.奴隶的身份，奴役，束缚 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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38
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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39
confiscated
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| 没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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41
upheavals
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| 突然的巨变( upheaval的名词复数 )； 大动荡； 大变动； 胀起 | |
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42
demolition
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| n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹 | |
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43
auxiliaries
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| n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员 | |
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44
wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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45
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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46
recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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47
harassing
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| v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人） | |
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48
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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49
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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50
sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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51
enrolling
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| v.招收( enrol的现在分词 )；吸收；入学；加入；[亦作enrol]( enroll的现在分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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52
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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53
organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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54
patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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55
obstructions
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| n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 )；阻碍物；阻碍；阻挠 | |
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56
mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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57
cemetery
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| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
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58
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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59
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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60
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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61
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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62
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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63
instigated
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| v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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65
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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66
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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67
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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68
indemnity
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| n.赔偿，赔款，补偿金 | |
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69
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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70
commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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71
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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80
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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meted
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conspiracies
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| n.阴谋，密谋( conspiracy的名词复数 ) | |
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84
encompass
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| vt.围绕，包围；包含，包括；完成 | |
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85
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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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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