Page:The Next Naval War - Eardley-Wilmot - 1894.djvu/17

 them. These agents had been secretly warned. The notices calling out the reserves up to the age of thirty-five had been posted on the afternoon of February 28th. The next day 10,000 men were on their way by train for the chief naval port of their district. Long existent arrangements with the railway companies enabled this to be carried out without delay or difficulty. There was some resistance to the decree among certain of the coast fishermen, who endeavoured to avoid service by putting to sea in their fishing boats, but these were in nearly all cases pursued and arrested. As a choice between prison and service, they readily chose the latter.

The Maritime Prefects at all the naval ports had also been warned previously of what was contemplated. Without any unusual stir they saw that the various stores for every ship in the reserve were provided and ready for shipment, while lighters were placed in convenient positions for this service. When, therefore, the single word "mobilise" was telegraphed from the Ministry of Marine in Paris at 8 a.m. the next morning to the ports, there was no confusion. The trains had been coming in during the night with the reserve seamen, who on arrival were marched into barracks, told off to their ships, given their kit and breakfast, so that when the order arrived they were at once marched on board. By 2 o'clock in the afternoon the port officials could report to the