THE INVASION OF 1910.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13273, 4 September 1906, Page 3

THE INVASION OF 1910.

PUBLISHED BY; SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

WITH A FULL ACCOUNT OP ■ THE SIEGE

OP LONDON.

WILLIAM LE QUEUX.

With Naval Chapters by H. W. \Vilso» [Copyright by William Le Queux. ,1900.J

NARROW ESCAPE OF VON , KRON-

HELM.

Ox October 8 the following .was. published in the London newspapers [—',;. .. ■

At Charing Cross the fight went.'.on until, owing to the withdrawal of German troops to the west and south ;of the 'metropolis, where uprisings,, were in progress, the fire, of the ; enemy was gradually silenced. Some well-directed shells into the German barricade across Whitehall made a large breach in it, while the one across Cockspur-street was almost equally ..damaged. ■ The Defenders' saw how 'demoralised the invaders bad ; become now that they were playing a losing game, and presently, with ringing cheers and'..a ; great rush, .-' they dashed across ■ the; square, stormed the'' obstruction at the end-of Charing Cross protecting Whitehall, and after a fierce encounter the German flag was replaced by the British, and dozens upon dozens of Germans were slaughtered. With the methods of "the Executioner" still within their memory, the starving Londoners held the enemy in deadly hatred. The war had been started by the surreptitious landing upon our coast, and there had been nothing open or- honest about the whole affair. Von Kronhelm had ~ proved a crafty.foe,.: unscrupulous to a degree; while the commanders of the various army corps struck hard with the mailed fist of their Emperor. With the sweeping away of the Whitehall defences a dash was at once made for the War Office, in an endeavour to recapture it and take. Von Kronhelm himself a prisoner. The enemy, however, had foreseen this eventuality, and though the German Field-Marshal had .been at work in his room up to a-quarter of an hour before, regarding the fighting as "the vain endeavour of a disorderly rabble," as he had termed it, he was compelled to resort to an ignominious flight. It is said that he was forced to exchange his uniform, for that of a Magdeburg trooper, and thus" escape into the street, and across St. James' Park, just before the Defenders poured into Whitehall. He glanced at the advancing crowd, roaring and excited, - as they filled the broad roadway, and then entering the Horse Guards passed unrecognised even by his own people across to St. James' Palace.*; " Meanwhile the angry mob were planning to storm the enemy's headquarters. Sight of Von KronbelnVs flag flying far above irritated them/ beyond, measure, and without much ado they commenced to storm the great, handsome building, which only four years before had been completed. The attack they made upon it was desperate, but the enemy, fearing that this might happen, had already placed the building in a state of defence, and almost before the Londoners were ' aware of ■it a hot fire was poured upon them from every Avindpw and from the roof. This fire was returned, although the attacking party were at' a great disadvantage and lost heavily fat every volley. The door was, however, smashed in very quickly, and a dozen gallant men rushed forward, leading the way into the headquarters, only, however, to be met by a sharp volley, which felled every one of'them upon the stones. Not to be outdone, another storming party, encouraged by the shouts of a young $nd enthusiastic lieutenant of volunteers, who beaded them, dashed . forward, &only to meet -with the same fate/ '•-'•"•• ; " ■ While this was going on some of the Defenders, threw ,'a ■ petrol bomb ' into awindow, and in a moment tongues of flame leapt forth., and it was seen' that the building was 'on fire. , If Von Kronhelm and his staff could, not be captured, they should be burned like rats in a hayrick. The Germans,' however, recognised their peril, and after, very great*difficulty succeeded in extinguishing the fire'•by means of their hydrants, though outside the fighting still continued. • ~,■,' >'-" The War Office was' the objective of the great multitude, and they meant to recapture it. i What Lord By'field and General Bain ford were doing is not exactly known, but it is evident" that they are now engaged upon some plan by which to strike a sudden and decisive blow in order to corner the invaders once and for all. Again and again the gallant Londoners tried to storm .the military headquarters in order to hold them I'm- Lord By'field, but without success, until at last." probably in response to telephonic orders, large reinforcements of Germans, mostly cavalry, wore .seen advancing along Par-liament-street in the scene. As they approached the cavalry came at a gallop, and "quickly cut their way into the surging mob. At first.they made but little impression, but such a force the Londoners could not withstand, and were at Inst compelled to fall back upon Trafalgar Square with their object unaccomplished. However., they drove the invaders back from Charing Cross, and held, the barricades there, afterwards pressing up through Pall Mall, St. James'-street, and the Haymarket to Piccadilly ,and Regentstreet, exterminating wery German they could find. ' Von Kronhelm was in flight. His army was unaware of it. Indeed, no one knew of it save his private secretary, who had assisted him into the'. private's uniform which he had always kept in readiness as disguise. More than once he. had used it when desirous of making private inquiries about his various camps, and now it stood him in very good stead. As he had hurried across St. James' Park his thoughts must assuredly have been full of grave anxiety. • Though he held the South London. Defenders in check at all the bridges, save two, yet he knew that to do so much longer would be utterly impossible, now that daily risings were occurring in all parts of the metropolis, necessitating the constant concentration of troops at various points. What would occur when the millions in South London broke their bounds and poured into London proper he dreaded to think. The massacre of every man in German uniform would probablv be the result. Nevertheless." he still held the great towns in the .North, and held them strongly. Though the League of Defenders have risen' in Manchester, Birmingham, 1 ' Sheffield, and Hull,- with such drastic measures have the revolts been suppressed that at this moment the big manufacturing cities are comparatively quiet again. Lou--don is now the centre of all things. To lose London will mean to Von Kronhelm the loss of everything. To-night all softs of wild rumours are current. One is that the Kaiser has succeeded in getting to London by motor-car from Scarborough, and is in conference with Von Kronhelm. This, however, is .inicoiitirnied". ,Jt i* now quite clear that the Emperor* did land ;in Scarborough, and did occupy the house called "The Belvedere, " upon the South Cliff, but where he is now is quite uncertain. In any. case the present moment must, 'he an anxious one to him. - ,"' From the disturbed areas'in London the women and children have now entirely disappeared, save, of course, across the Thames.

Every hour brings us nearer to our inevitable blow for vengeance; '['he local revolts are planned by the Defenders merely in order to harass the enemy and to divert hi« attention from the bridges. Each day inflicts heavy losses upon him of men, of positions, and of guns. Thousands upon thousands of armed patriots are impatiently awaiting i the signal to advance across the Thamesmen who have come long distances, even from Scotland and Ireland, and are burning for the fray. What can be expected of such men when they find themselves face to face with the invader?.

Had all these men been trained to shoot, as advocated by Lord Roberts in 1906, then the Germans would never have been suffered to get near London. As matters' stand, however,;, we are'making the best and most valiant defence possible in the circumstances. * Every Englishman to-day is a patriot, and many are the gallant deeds done that will remain for ever unrecorded. The universal training of all men as marksmen would have rendered us invulnerable, but the short-sighted policy of both public and Government in the past has only brought upon us the present ruin of our beloved country. Ever since the fourth day after the first news of the surprise invasion business in London has been at a complete standstill. Many traders and*manufactories have been irretrievably ruined, for their trade has gone to foreign countries, where labour is cheaper, while others with huge contracts, arid unable to complete them, have only bankruptcy staring them in the face. Whatever now happens, England must feel for a decade or more the disastrous effect of the war.

London is struggling valiantly to free herself. The wave of indignation that has spread all over the country is now making itself felt, and every man is bent upon .sweeping the Germans off the face of the earth.

The latest news to-night from the northern suburbs reports hot fighting, in which many of the enemy have lost their lives. Any German found is given no quarter. Small parties have been surprised in the narrower streets and simply shot down like vermin. The throwing down of arms or the exhibition of the white-flag has no effect upon these madly angry London crowds, who are now engaged in taking a life for a life. Up to the present Von Kronhelm is holding South London in check from Blackfriars .to Kew Bridges. But how long will this last? How long can he lio'd back those overwhelming masses of Defenders, who, sooner or later', must overrun the metropolis and sweep every German into eternity? To-night everyone is asking what Von' Kronhelm, the Field-Marshal masquerading as a Magdeburg trooper, will do next. FIGHTING IN WEST LONDON. HAS THE TIDE TURNED? The following was published in London on October 10: — Unparalleled scenes are now being witnessed in London.

Throughout the whole of yesterday and to-day there has been fierce righting in every quarter, from Willesden across to Bow and from Hampstead to the river. Von Kronhelm is back again at the War Office, and is now making a final stand against the Defenders. The Germans are no longer acting upon the aggressive, but on tho defensive. Hourly it is expected that the flood-gates of South London will be burst open, and then woe betide the invaders. The Defenders have sworn to give no quarter. From every district north of the Thames comes the same story of revolt and attack upon the enemy. Among the incidents of yesterday was a terrible encounter in Ladbroke Grove and the adjoining streets. From the account of one of our reporters it seems that a body of Defenders who had come up from Oxford, and included a number x of undergraduates, were entering London by the Uxbridge Road, and had passed the barricade across the junction with the Goldhawk Road, when, in Holland Park Avenue, near the Tube Station, they were attacked by a body of Germans marching in the opposite direction. The Defenders, fresh in London, and spoiling for a fight, instantly replied to the enemy's ,fire. From the squad of undergraduates rose ringing cheers as they went to the attack. The Maxim they had with them was quickly placed in position, and in a few minutes began to sound its spiteful rattle. The noise instantly alarmed the whole neighbourhood, and from every home emerged men armed with anything that came handiest, to assist in the defence. At first, so stubborn was the: resistance of the Germans that it seemed doubtful whether tho Defenders would not be- driven back. The invaders, however, were inferior in point of numbers, and very soon became attacked in the rear by an armed rabble which came forth from the side streets, east of Ladbroke Grove. 'Then it became incumbent upon the enemy to place themselves upon the defensive and fight for. their lives. One big German captain, flourishing his sword, shouted encouragement to his men, but next'moment he fell forward in the roadway, shot through the heart. ' '. :' ; . ' -•From the neighbouring houses a hot rifle fire began to pour upon the Germans, who were gradually forced round the corner into Lfidbroke Grove, where another body. I .of Defenders, emerging from Ladbroke Square' and Stanley Crescent, caught them in the rear. Irritated beyond measure and flushed with success, the men. from Oxford and Reading threw themselves upon the ..Germans, who, in their turn, fought desperately, knowing the terrible odds now against them. To obtain reinforcements was out of the ques- ; tion. Some of them took refuge in neighbouring houses, and, barricading themselves in, poured out a rifle lire from the windows. Others fought hand-to-hand with the combined force of Londoners and men from Oxfordshire, and fell after a desperate struggle. The scene was one of horrible bloodshed ; indeed, it was little short of a massacre. The time was past for the taking of prisoners. Yon Kleppen's inhuman treatment of the unfortunate men and women, discovered in the act of aiding the' Defender.; was now remembered by everyone, and the English were taking their vengeance. Q In one house close to the corner of Hanover Terrace about thirty Germans had taken refuge, and having barricaded the doors and lower windows were harassing the Defenders from the upper windows and neighbouring roofs. A number of Londoners, most of them of the lower class of Notting Date, noticing this, resolved upon a terrible revenge. " Kill them!" they shouted madly. . "Don't let a single one escape!" The ■ house was stormed, but in vain. Time after time an attempt was made to smash in the door, but on each occasion those who-rushed forward paid the penalty with their lives. One young costermonger, however, ran round 'to a cycle shop in the vicinity and obtained a can of petrol, while in the meantime a dozen others had broken a hole through' the shutters of one of the lower windows. Through this the whole of the inflammable spirit was poured, and then a match was thrown in. A second' later great red flames belched forth, lapping the walls almost to the roof, amid the jeers of the armed Londoners. The Germans were in a death-trap. To emerge meant death at the hands of the infuriated mob; to remain meant being burnt, alive. The mob, seeing the scared look upon the faces of the doomed soldiers, yelled with delight. They now regarded the Germans as so much vermin to be exterminated by any means so long as, it was fatal. Besides, had not the enemv invited this by delivering the first blow? The horrified screams of the men as the flames wrapped about them were terrible. The house, an old one. and not very well built, burned like straw, the fire spreading quickly on either side. The enemy upon the roof were quickly suffocated- by the smoke, and as the flames roared and increased in volume the rifle-fire, from the burning house became silenced. And so of the thirty Germans who had established a position there, not a single one escaped. While this revenge was. in progress the fight further up Ladbroke Grove continued right up to the junction of Portobello Road. The Defenders gathered strength as they went on, but the enemy were gradually being wiped out. The Germans, in face of their hopeless position, showed considerable pluck and determination. Every man knew himself to be in a death-trap, and that however valiantly he might fight for the Fatherland, the result must for him be. the same—ignominious death at the hands of an infuriated multitude. Still, for a full half-hour longer, the fight was kept up. All the officers had already fallen. One lieutenant had been practically torn limb from limb, and died a most awful death. The whole roadway from Holland Park Avenue to the railway station was strewn with dead and dying Germans. The Defenders, of course, lost some men. The Oxford undergraduates, keen fellows all,, and most of them able to shoot well, regarded the fight iu the light of an amusement, and were

delighted to have an opportunity of bearing their part in the defence of London against the- Kaiser's hordes. , At last the tide-; turned. The Germans, finding all defence -useless, turned and fled. They, however, did not calculate their chances .sufficiently well, for as soon as they turned they found themselves between two fires. '■"..*.' -;J'|t" -■ ; - .;■'-..''' j Then it became, a fight to the death.. Not la ■' German was spared. Von Kleppen's brutality was being avenged, and one after another the enemy were shot down until not a man in jGerman uniform remained, and loud ringing : British cheers signalised the victory complete. > This, however, is only one typical instance of the intense hatred of London against the invader, and of the unrelenting revenge now meted out in every streetacross the metropolis. (To be continued daily.) NEXT SATURDAY. In next Saturday's Supplement readers will find the opening chapters of one of A. W. MARCHMONT'S brilliant novels, "IX THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM," a charming love story, the scene of which is laid in Russia, where the principal characters are unwittingly involved in the political turmoil in that country, which is now attracting the attention of the civilised world.