THE CHRISTMAS RAIDERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 698, 24 December 1909, Page 11

THE CHRISTMAS RAIDERS.

By " ECHELON." •

It wis Christmas Eve on die wa.ter.. About 9 p.m.—.vpitch-black nighty with not-n breath of wind to stir the . summer' •haze' whiclb. had shut out tho stars—the 'intercolonial turbine ilier Taniwha was within threo liours of, Pe- ■ carrow Head, on her direct run from Sydney to .Wellington. She was-crammed full of passengers, and . steaming to beat all ■ previous records, licr* cut-water cleaving tho . glassy .sea at a 20-knot clip. Down-in tho - Bnlodn<" tho skipper was'presiding at a carol concert.-"He had just announced the nest item, when the engine-room telegraph rang out sharply,and the engines stopped. So did the concert. "It's all right," said the skipper easily, "just pulling up for tho fog. Go .011 with, your concert. I'll slip up and see what's doing." With that, lie went up on .deck, and, as ho gained -the. bridge, the. telegraph rang for • "full-speed astern." - ' , "What on earth— —he began. / "Steamer right ahead; sir—without lighte,". said tho officer on • watch. ■ . " "Without' lights! What the—." ■ He" got no further, for at that instant tho blinding glare of a searchlight flashed in his eyes, and a sharp query came across tho wafer froni a megaphone: "What ship is that?'? ' Tho-. skipper. picked up his megaphone, and replied: "Taniwha, Sydney to" Wellington! \\ho arc-you? .and'what the .deuce d'ye Wan by holding us up like this? -"-Where are-your lightsf , .. . ' ~ "This is his ' Imperial German Majesty's cruiser Strasburg!"-: answer. "You will bo good enough. to, ; stand by to receivc a- boat. Don't attempt-to run; you are-sur-rounded.' The searchlight was then cut oil', and the pitch-blackness, once again encompassed- the scene. "By Jove! So we are, sir,", said the second officer to ..the skipper. /"Look, there!" Our of the darkness ,there presently' loomed up a black shape on the starboard- bow; another appeared just off the- port bow, while a third .was observed to be coming up astern, the white phosphorescent froth at her cut-; water just faintly, discerniblo in the darkness. A boat shot across ! tho intervening spaco between the Strasburg and the Taniwhaj and glided into the glare of the lights from, the ianiwlia's cabin windows. By this time everybody had como on deck to, sco what had happened, and tlw German naval officer. ..who mounted tho gaugway w-hioli had been lowered to:receive him was subjected to'tho curious, gazoof several hundred eyes. The skipper stood at' the. head of the ladder, and greeted lus visitor, with : tho . stillest of ■ acknowlc^g-' nients. "Well, sir?" ; . - The, officer inclined Ills head.. "Not here," i. quiet insistence. The skipper l wheeled, and led tlio ' way; to liis cabill. •- ilnl about' ten minutes,, the two; reappeared, ami walked quickly to ; the gangway) Tlio iriavall .olncer.-as he prepared to descend, turned,, and ' "Bemcmbor-be- as"quick as'possible."': Ihe skipper bowed. "I have no alternative," J}®, Then lie summoned" his officers, .gentlemen, war .lias been, declared'. between ureat Britain and Germany"—ho raised Ins t ' j no i a lvord now; Wo have been captured by a raiding' squadron of. cruisers, which has been■looking -out' for "us ever sinco wo left Sydney. Wo have. just, fifteen , minutes in winch to tl'ansfer every ' blessed, soul—passengers and all—to the Strasburg."He jerked thumb, in tho. direction .of . tho cruiser, . which was slowly drawing closer . in.: , Wily they want us to leave the Taniwha,; goodness only , knows. However, .we've,, got; no., option; ,uet' a .niovo oil." . -i-i Tlio •transfer, once begun'; . warqiiicldy acco,m- : piislied.., Alio cruiser on tlio port bow of.the laniwha had meanwhile "edged closer-.in,'-,'and' the last of the. captured-flier'? complement had JUSt left tho ship, when a .Gorman prizo : crcw 1 took charge of her,'while company after; company: of armed marines swarmed up - the rope ladders, and were pocked like sardines wherever men 'could bo put. In la quarter: of an.' hour, tho whole business was over, and tho Taniwha was headed at top speed for Wellington Heads,' Jicr,lights brilliantlj«illutiiinStiHg ; tho darkness around her. Her late skipper, 'leaning. over the. rail of the Strasburg, .was puzzled. What's tlieir game? lie muttered'to his first officer; Suddenly ho clenched', liisdfist and .shook }it impotently in. the, direction " of .the- fast-disap-pearing steamer. "Merciful Heavens!" ho -•shouted, "they'll : get past the forts!"

REVELRY. Tho still clear balmy air of the soft summer night wis rent-with -the noises of shrill squeakers, the waitings. of tin trumpets; the-olang-clang-clang of passing. 6ars. - The shops Were ablaze. A. vast moving crowd';, throngedthe streets, and-eddied in and out of they shops., "It was Christmas Eve .in' Wellington.There was'plenty of ihonc'y about, and -tho jerspiriiig shopkeepers shook hands with them- , selves, and said; that there , never had , been, such a Christmas. . .;.< »■ : - ! A gilded youth; dressed: to - kill, his -'straw: oil'the back of his head, the crook of a goldmounted walking-cano over his arm, and ' a cigarette between his lips,' stood'on! .the, .edge of the pavement, eyeing the crowd with' the fattfousair of . abstraction peculiar to ' his class.! Presently, another of his kind disengaged himself .-from the mass ef-huinanitv- -in . front, ■caught, the- other's eye,'.fand jerked "his head, in the direction of the - nearest, hoteh - "Bitslow, Billy, ain't it?" he;said,'.as^thcy'crossedthe pavement. - ,- . <•>'-<'■ ; ;. ■ -..VV ."It is. a -bit," replied.the^other. -"'Tvo lost the mob." • ', ~ • • '■ " • " "They're in here,"-remarked Billy, as••■he'' pulled aside the swing!door,.and Jet.the other pass, "and : they're . not doin' any harni either, what, d'ye: think?" . 'They 'passed in,the door. swung to, and a, shout, went "up:, frbm tho ' bar. : "JFo—r they': are jolly • gtjod 1 fellows!" sang a' youth, who.i'deaf ,'to::,tlie;.cn'---treaties of the maid- behind the bar,. sat .'up among- the glasses, "and waved his hatr towards .them. The groupr-they. were all of the same species—opened out and received,'tliem.- Ho on ,tlie bar did- the honours. ...He had "taken another" with a',' good many that evening. . "Well, chaps," ho said, What-arc: wo goin' to do about it?" ' ; . "About what?" he was asked; "About this war. ■ Don't you know? Haven't you read the paper? War—glorious war, dear friends. We'll: all bo killed in pur.; beds; 1 Nov—mind—oh with tho dance! let joy be unconfincd!" ■ "Hot!" • ' ■'Taint .rot."' He - fumbled in his pocket, : fished otit a/crumpled, newspaper,, spread it out, .and cleared/ : his x throat. • "Aheml—Fricnas! Eomans!., Cbuntrymen! . Lend 'rnov.your silly" ears."'"- -■' , "Chuck'it—pull 'itn ..off! the. bar," said! some-, one, catching the .orator .by the legs. •; . ;■ ("Stick to- it); Jerry !":, cried l the ..others, and Jerry, kicking his, legs . free, proceeded. "Momentous news, gentlemen, ;excee—dingly- momentous news. 'Strained Relations—Will: there bo War?— Cabinet Summoned 'to LondonFleet in Eeadiness—All Leave Stopped'—How's ' that' for a start?" ■ ' : '' * -1; ! , .- "■ 'Nother blooming scare—they want somomore Dreadnoughts out of us—proceed, Jeremiah." 4 . .. ■ Jerry looked disdainfully at the' interrupter, and proceeded. "The British.Cabinet ■ has been hurriedly summoned':,to' London.' It is authorivly—author—i—tatively stated' that tho situation between Britain and Germany has unexpectedly assumed an aspect of the gravest danger to "the status ;quo—what's; the status quo?"': :• "As: you- used . to' was —- see?" liberally interpreted someone. : ... "On, yes—yes. Much ■ obliged. To proceed. 'Danger to the status quo. . It is believed that if the.,present-tension is not immediately re; lieved, diplomatic relations will: be severed! Tho fleet is in readinesii. All leave has been Btopped, and officors ordered to rejoin tlieir coinmqnds at once. Latet—Cabinet is still sitting.' That's, all, so far. This paper <is about five hours old by now." . ' "We're gottiri' fed.up on this sort of thing, —all bunkum." - . i '.'Tcn o'clock! You'll have to go now, boys," said the girl. : ' i ."Righto! . One more, chaps. Hero's luck to tho proud invader, anyway. . What a cliawnce 'o's got—what?" They drank. , : ! Then they went Out. ■ A crowd was collected on the pavement just < outside the hotel door. "What's the row? asked: Jerry.: : "Navals 1 -goin' out to ther forts," said'.&■ man. ■• "Gee whiz! AVar declared?" "Dunno," said the man. "Three cheers for the Navals!"' cried, Jerry. The crowd, which had 'silently been watching the gunners passing along on their way to the wharf, was startled out of its absorption, and a mighty cheer went up. •■ * , v : ; ' ■ ■ "It would take a pretty good ship'to: dodgo past these chaps—oh, Billy?" "You're right, Jerry—a fort is more than a match for.'a ship," 6aid Billv. . . "Kather—the big guns could ;knock,;'em kite high—what?. Where's the .volunteers?" ;.-■' "All out, too, 'I hear—all': over tlio place." ■: Then they went along to the nearest newspaper office,,, A big crowd was gathered round, a small placard, 6ilcnt, fascinated by ' the

single sentcnc© which sprawled across tho shoot in staring letters -. "All cable communication'with Australia - ; ■ ami Now Zealand is interrupted*" ' i ' ; ■ CONSPIRACY. , \ Joo Ivhnger s fried.fish shop was an uninvitiug establishment.: There was nothing about its external appearance to inspiro:Uio appetite. A, dirty; placard ..inscribed "Fish. suppers—oys- . ri!. ters : ,in season" leanedup againstan undisciplined company of ginger beer and raspberry -■ , fizz liottleSiV.Which' stood upon aiiuntidy fly- v' ; bespeckcdNpieco of American oilcloth; ■> A faded \ cretonne curtain, 'hung, . upon a, string which sagged .dejectedly in the middle, served to - 1 serpen 7 the. interior from the gazo of the public, ■ I commercial aspect; of the;, place suggested 1 ■ ':!'i I jjnminent bankruptcy. Joe's fried fish suppers : ; '\fdronot 'popular. ;' His: . season—• : :. v ; v>cro atrpciousi Yet Joe Klingcr survived. Ha ■ never went bankrupt., Ilis rent/was "always up ' to date, his. fish and oyster bills •wcjc promptly , -:' l ' ccttlcd, and lie gave no trouble 1 to tho police. v! 'He was-one of the mysteries' of Wellington.'V.'.'i Night.after.night Joo'sat at the.reccipt of ciis- ; ." ; :-V v Vi atom behind his greasy counter; puffing his pipo, viand gazing, abstractedly at his goldfish, which :■ •Irifted wearily aboujt in.their, glojss casQ. His chair seemed to be part of him, for ho had never been scciv.io Koi)arr.taVjii W solf ; .f r om-'it.' , a customer untcrcrt lie. would take his pipo.' ' out of lus mouth, listen, to * the order, ■ and ■ • suinnion an untidy servitor. 1 : "Vish- von," ho • • would grunt. Tlio servitor afoi'csaid would show i .tlic customer to;'a table-Without a J word, and • - " uopart; hastily to .the . kitchen,'whencd would . ~ ;' presently' emanate the smell .of frying fish. 13ut • customers} were. few. , A brisker trade was dono ; -•' in ginger beer and raspberry, fizz,'bottles of ovs- ■ ters.-tiud other side .lines, which were huddled ' on-the gloomy shelves. • i -About 10 o'clock on Christmas Eve 1 Joe Klin-' - 1 -S.;i B_er S; establishniQiit was empty—a - depressing : v, cirbumstahco which Joe .'viewed with undis- --.■■■■ wturbed' equanimity.- Ho summoned his . coolc, ; - -,--'fjj "You• vill go home—zuppors vas oil." . Tho ' ■ ■■■ --i cook'departed with alacrity.- ■ 'On tho-' threshold , ; vhe paused. "Merry Christmas,' Joe," lio 10marked perfunctorily, as ho litVa cigaretto. i His master grunted. "It vill* lie—goot night." Five liilnutes passed, then; ten struck'Ovear .and ..f S ' full m tho'. still air.'. ,' A ; man ente'feu. Ho' :■ " looked like a'-labourer-.': in: holiday,attire. : 1 .VKnppers oiff" • '.•■Virjfi . | Joe inclined his head. "Got any oj-stcrsf"' ' ' "Dev vas out of,xeason." • "Any,:eagles?"- v ;':V _: Joe-sat'up in his chair, and sharplj: scrutin:.the "Any vatf", hct.in<iuii«d. lnaii; did.';not reply;.. Instead,.;h'e .pulled, out'' :':'Kj -.lus.. watoh;' a lever, pressed the',' casQ-sp'ringi- th© t' and,' disclosed,. pasted' invtho in- ' . side, tlio picture of . a black: eagle. -" lie lhen> .' 'iV; ' snapped; .the lid .quickly, reDlaced tho';vvatch,' :and looked inquiringly at Joe. "TJpsthirs,'' ■ said that individual. ':,.'Hi©: innnpassed -through tho shop' and silently mounted tile stairs at the rear. -.- . ""ThisKhappened.;not.'onco but-.many. ; times. Auout-a quarter to eliven JCo ro&eand put his'; shiittors .up. Then- lie locked."tho door, -:':' : extinguished the. gas, went upstairs, and en-',; /.'a tored. a'. dimly-lighted . room, in which wer« • assembled . about 50 ■ men. • ', . '

. : "Right ?" asked a tall: mar.,, wlip 1 was seated' <i;?K on. a chair at the window;': Joo nodded. The at', • the window;; called for attend fion. ■ "I'm .going out now. You-hovo > - our ' >. orders. You know whero '. .to. fuid. 'your ■,mcii.v',.one bf you will' remain-''at'., the. win-. S '.doij'-j. If. the : white light turn's to? red you ' -'SJ'i -*vyiil : 'act.'.vNo mistakes, mindf; All. wires must 1;%J; .'l)o.',,cut, . all icommunicatiohs',. severed.v. What- , * • ever, happens, you must not • |ail : toi: completely ; -i",;] ■ disconnect overv .part oftlwff:district,, loolato''i',i ■every 'conlre. ( Above : all, act.quietlv. Kill, if ; -nece^snrj'—no shooting,•though.; .Wo already hold the signal-station. -Our men -know' tho; .harbour ■ V :, ; signals,' and ho suspicion will arise." .The speal or then rose,- buttoned his, about,, him, , and 'left tlio .room',., ; ' About,, 20, .minutes later, the watcher at .the window saw 'a ;staall wliito , ]teht on that part of the hiU~'"4oiiinianded by .- his window.- 'It 'was just an'' ordiu.ir.v lijrjit, ■such''asflight liayo appeared \throwh' the Window of a house when the blind wag sud- ' dcply drawn up.' "Get ready,"' ho said;: --"v^- :i v., Nearly a-'hour'piissbd boforo niiyono spokb i agaiif. "y. ■ - .■; ■, ! "Visk'.zuppers vas 'off,"'-remarked Joo .'Klin.'"' : ger,'meaningly. I ,', V. "We must wait," said tho niaiv at'-tho win-. '■ dow.' ."Hal'the signal'at last.", They,,crowded . about tho window. The light.had.enanged to red. ."Gentlemen,",',said .' the "last;' speaker, •?&. , "there ■ is. no. time ■ -to; lose.'.' -Within .tho hour, v ,lVniwhai . with' tho ' troops ori 'board, Will arrive in tho : stream'.'. .'How.- nicely 'wolmvoX fooled everybody! . ;.You all know your ..duties. Leavo .nothing the- com-; munications. -Go!", They trooped -silently out ' of the roolnl - arid" .dispersed,'-;'iiiidste'utatiously. in various directions. Joe'. Klinger --Ventbed.; '■ - .-■- ■ - ; . RAIDED!- , .." About.!half-past' oiio.;' in :tho -. 'morning '. of -':V ,! --'Vv Christmas " Day; the ■: constable." oil', .the, boat looked; in dt.'the. telephone \exchange; ; to wish i Mi-' tho nigliC operators , f'A. Merry.'; .Christmas." ihero was" no one there,';.'••>■ The", place■ wa'S *$5 wrecked—instruments-"'' smashed,: 1 indescribaWo" ruin everywhere.. Jle ran all tlio-wily;'back'"'-'V;Sfe 16 'the;station -to report.- ; i\Had> ho .searched fur-,v'-:;l tlier- found, the . tivo -'operators, sitting ill" the cloakroom, ', bbund -' arid gagged.. -Just about 2 b!clock in.the morning a. mounted.■ orderly bn'his : WaT. to ; -Malianga-Bay was hdd ;: ;;y r up-by, an --ambushed.' patrol■ -when .'half-way - -m across.-thq,,Miramar : ;Isthmus-. jHalf/an hour -i 'Jii' later; .tho ..sentries. and reliefs', at 'the 'forts. wcro surprised l ': by,. ni^o'YerwMming.'jforce,of' tho''v''-W •enemy,- and. captured 'and iriado .prisoners witli- v ,'out a .shot .being- fired.; A similar fato over-' took.the garrison- at. Fort, Kelb'urnc; ;At diwa four grey, cruisers,-their decks cleared for lie. lion, steamed slowly'iiito thdC harbour. By moon tho Admiral , coniniMidihg'! the"'squadron, > ' • by- threatening'' to bombard the cityi' had- Ax- 1 ■> ;• acted from tlio- authorities "full coal supplies' l for his cruisers, clcaned out banks, destiojed .the wharves, rendered useless tho of the'forts and thl? field artiljeiy, appiopriated' the ammunition >snppHesj : . and-set fire 'to ; tlio railway rolling stock, At 3 o'clock m.the afternoon his cruisers were hull down on tlio' . • horizon.- Threo hours later, a British cruiser- ■" ' !

battleship, with four cruisers,, appeared' off tho;!K| ■Heads, and , signalled "A Merry, Christmas• ; ;?3 .They were 100 laic.