THE INVASION OF 1910

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 14060, 15 May 1906, Page 8

THE INVASION OF 1910

IN FOUR YEARS TIME! IS ENGLAND UNPREPARED ? THE CLOUD “NO BIGGER THAN A MAN’S HAND I” THE STORY OF THE CENTURY! The Proprietors of the “ Canterbury Times ” have pleasure in announcing that upon WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, next, the popular family journal will commence the' publication of the most thrilling story of modern times, Mr William Le Qucux’s “THE INVASION OF 1910.” This graphic, picturesque and sensational story, founded upon a basis of inevitable and convincing truth, purposes to show in narrative form, ,tbo unpreparednesg of Great Britain for a descent upon her shores by a powerful Foreign -Power. Tho story is written with all the emphatic Impress of conviction. It is absolute in its technique, startling in the fidelity of its detail, convincing in its manner, prophetic in its unfailing hostility to the methods of the War Department, sure in its touch, and uncompromisingly hostile to the attitude of “ laissez faire” which has characterised the administration of the Army and Navy for years past. Speaking of this remarkable novel in the House of Lords, Lord Roberts said: It is to the people of the country I appeal to take’ up the question of tho Army in a’ sensible, practical manner. For the sake of ■nil they hold dear, let them bring home to themselves what would be the condition of Great Britain if it were to lose it? wealth, its power, its position. The catastrophe that may happen if we still remain in our present state of unpreparednesa is vividly and forcibly illustrated in Mr Le Queux’s new book,’ which I recommend to tho perusal of everyone who has the welfare of tho British Empire -at heart. The copyright of the novel has been purchased by tho proprietors of the “ Canterbury Times ” at great cost, and the story will bo given to its readers in substantial weekly instalments.^ The opening chapters relate in detail .the story of the landing of the Germans in Gre ; at Britain upon the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk. Tho landing is supposed to have been effected at Lowestoft, on the morning of Sunday, September 2, 1910. The first intimation of the descent of the Gormans was gathered through tho “ Weekly Despatch” being cut off whilst in tho receipt of some important news telegrams from Yarmouth. Inquiry disclosed that the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts were both completely cut off from telephone and telegraph communication. Tho authorities were mystified and alarmed, for there had been no climatic disturbances of such a nature as to break down five separate routes of communication. At the height of tho confusion which ensued ■ there came a call from the Ipswich office, where a breathless motorist had a story to tell. The motorist stated that he started in his motor-car alone from Lowestoft to London at halfpast past three in the morning, and just as it was getting light ho was passing along tho edge of Menham Park, between Waugford village and Blythburgh, when he saw three men apparently repairing the telegraph wires. One was up the pole and the other two were standing below. As he'passed he saw a flash, for, to ,his sux-priso, one of tho men fired point-blank at him with a revolver. Fortunately, tho shot went wide, and ho at once put on a move and got down into Blythburgh village, oven though one of the tyres went down. It had probably been pierced by tho bullet fired at him, as the puncture was unlike any he had ever had before. At Blythburgh he informed the police of the outrage, and the constable in turn woke up the postmaster, who tried to telegraph back to tho police • at ; Wrontham, but found Ithat the line was interrupted. Was it possible that the men were cutting the wires, instead of repairing them? He says that after repairing this puncture ho took the village constable and three other men on his car and went back to the spot, ■where, ‘ although the trio had escaped, they saw that wholesale havoc had been wrought with the telegraphs. The lines had been severed in four or five places, and whole lengths tangled up into great masses. A number of poles had been sawn down, and were lying about the roadside. Seeing that nothing could be done, the gentleman remounted his car, came on to Ipswich, and reported the damage at the call office. The verification of the story quickly followed, and a tardy attempt to interview the War Office authorities was frustrated Jfy the fact that it was Sunday morning, and that nobody save a few understrappers, who were disposed to treat the story with oonte-upt, were in charge. At last those to whom the position had been made known managed to find the Under-Secretary of State for War, who, hastening to London, arrived to find the city in an uproar and a ferment of horror and fear. The steps that were taken to combat the invasion, the ultimate result of the campaign, and the dreadful disasters and phenomenal 1 triumphs which accompanied it, are. worked out in a masterly and graphic manner. The story develops .with startling rapidity, and the accuracy of its detail is only surpassed by the vivid interest which has been cast into its construction. Nothing of such phenomenal fictional excitement, or of such lively importance, has been published for years. _ The Story is: A FRANK AND FORCEFUL CRITICISM OP DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION. A GRAPHIC PROPHECY OF FEARLESS PROMINENCE. AN INVINCIBLE INDICTMENT OP INEPTITUDE. A POWERFUL PROTEST AGAINST POLITICAL PROSTITUTION. A BREATHLESS AND SOUL-STIR-RING STORY. Its publication will begin in the “Canterbury Times of WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, and will continue from week to week. As the issue will bo a limited one, it will be necessary for agents and. individuals to place their orders at once. Remember, WEDNESDAY, MAY 16. Do not miss the First Number.