_ In the course of the great Syndicate War a life had
been lost. Thomas Hutchins, while assisting in the
loading of coal on one of the repellers, was
accidentally killed by the falling of a derrick.
The Syndicate gave a generous sum to the family of
the unfortunate man, and throughout the United States
the occurrence occasioned a deep feeling of sympathetic
regret. A popular subscription was started to build a monument
to the memory of Hutchins, and contributions came, not only
from all parts of the United States, but from many
persons in Great Britain who wished to assist in the
erection of this tribute to the man who had fallen
in the contest which had been of as much benefit to
their country as to his own.
Some weeks after the conclusion of the treaty, a
public question was raised, which at first threatened
to annoy the American Government; but it proved to be
of little moment. An anti-Administration paper in
Peakville, Arkansas, asserted that in the whole of the
published treaty there was not one word in regard to
the fisheries question, the complications arising from
which had been the cause of the war. Other papers took
up the matter, and the Government then discovered that
in drawing up the treaty the fisheries business had
been entirely overlooked. There was a good deal of
surprise in official circles when this discovery was
announced; but as it was considered that the fisheries
question was one which would take care of itself, or be
readily disposed of in connection with a number of
other minor points which remained to be settled between
the two countries, it was decided to take no notice of
the implied charge of neglect, and to let the matter
drop. And as the opposition party took no real
interest in the question, but little more was said
about it.
Both countries were too well satisfied with the
general result to waste time or discussion over small
matters. Great Britain had lost some forts and some
ships; but these would have been comparatively useless
in the new system of warfare. On the other hand, she
had gained, not only the incalculable advantage of the
alliance, but a magnificent and unsurpassed landlocked
basin on the coast of Wales.
The United States had been obliged to pay an
immense sum on account of the contract with the War
Syndicate, but this was considered money so well spent,
and so much less than an ordinary war would have cost,
that only the most violent anti-Administration journals
ever alluded to it.
Reduction of military and naval forces, and gradual
disarmament, was now the policy of the allied nations.
Such forces and such vessels as might be demanded for
the future operations of the War Syndicate were
retained. A few field batteries of motor-guns were all
that would be needed on land, and a comparatively small
number of armoured ships would suffice to carry
the motor-guns that would be required at sea.
Now there would be no more mere exhibitions of the
powers of the instantaneous motor-bomb. Hereafter, if
battles must be fought, they would be battles of
annihilation.
This is the history of the Great Syndicate War.
Whether or not the Anglo-American Syndicate was ever
called upon to make war, it is not to be stated here.
But certain it is that after the formation of this
Syndicate all the nations of the world began to teach
English in their schools, and the Spirit of
Civilization raised her head with a confident smile.
THE END.
The Great War Syndicate, by Frank Stockton. _