Part 45 (1/2)
CHAPTER x.x.x
THE STOLEN SUBMARINE
As the full extent of this audacious plot was laid bare before my eyes I had a difficulty in believing in its reality.
I was obliged to remind myself of some of the maneuvres which have marked German statecraft in the recent past, of the forgeries and ”reinsurance” treaties of Bismarck, of the patronage extended to Abdul Hamid, of the secret intrigue that brought about the disasters of Greece.
If I had had any scepticism left, the Emperor would have dispelled it by the clear and business-like explanations which followed.
His majesty produced a chart of the North Sea, showing the coasts of Great Britain and Germany, with the Kiel Ca.n.a.l and so forth. Half-way between the opposite sh.o.r.es a dotted outline marked the situation of the great shoals which attract the fish, and from which the harvests of the sea are gathered by the brave and industrious toilers of Grimsby, Hull, and many another port.
From the northern point of Denmark, two lines in red ink were drawn right down the map to where the North Sea narrows into the Straits of Dover.
The first of these lines was fairly direct, pa.s.sing about thirty miles to the eastward of the great fis.h.i.+ng grounds.
The second line took a wide curve to the west, and crossed right over the center of a shoal marked ”Dogger Bank.”
The Kaiser proceeded to explain.
”This is a duplicate of the charts used by the pilots of the North Sea. I have offered my brother Nicholas as a special favor the services of German pilots, and they will board the vessels of the Baltic Fleet as soon as it leaves Danish waters.
”As you see, the right course would take the fleet a long way off the English fis.h.i.+ng-boats. But the pilots who go on board will receive secret orders at the last moment to take the Russian s.h.i.+ps over the Dogger Bank, and, if possible, into the very midst of any fis.h.i.+ng fleet that may be there.
”Then all that is required is that you should be on the spot, and should fire the first shot from the midst of the fis.h.i.+ng-boats.”
I endeavored to preserve a calm demeanor.
”May I suggest to your majesty that the presence of a torpedo boat among them is likely to arouse suspicion beforehand. The English sailors have keen eyes.”
”I have thought of that. It will be necessary for you to have a submarine.”
”A submarine, sire!”
”Certainly. I have had six submarine torpedo boats built by my own designs at Kiel since this war broke out, for use in defending the approaches to the Ca.n.a.l.
”These boats are now lying in the inner harbor, all fitted out and ready for sea.
”You will take one, with a crew of your own, whom you must enlist secretly, and slip out through the Ca.n.a.l into the North Sea.
”You will proceed, keeping under the surface, till you reach the Dogger Bank, and find yourself among the trawl nets of the English fishermen.
”There you will wait till such time as the Russian s.h.i.+ps come up.
”As soon as the right moment has arrived, you will rise to the surface and discharge a torpedo. As soon as you have drawn the fire of the Russians, and have seen an English fis.h.i.+ng-boat struck, you can go beneath the surface again, and make the best of your way back to Kiel.”
”Your plan is perfection itself, sire!” I exclaimed with an admiration which was not wholly pretended, since the idea really was not lacking in cleverness.
The Kaiser nodded good-humoredly.