Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/55

Rh a battlefield. Night came on without either party gaining any material advantage. Being now thoroughly exasperated with one another, and regardless of consequences, both parties manned their war-ships the next day and brought them into action. A fierce and bloody engagement took place. Although the vessels were only fourth-class and were badly provided with munitions of war, the contest was obstinately maintained for hours, and only ceased when several ships had been totally wrecked and some thousands of men killed. The Anglo-Saxons on the whole had the worst of the fight, since their opponents had been secretly making preparations for the conflict a long time before.

As soon as the battle was over, both parties despatched the swiftest interstellar ships they had with the news to their respective Governments. At Kairet the news was received with enthusiasm by both Government and people, and they