Page:The Siege of London - Posteritas - 1885.djvu/47

 of a November night, and steaming into the Atlantic, and favoured by heavy fogs that enveloped the British Islands, crept north, or rather sped, for their vessels were capable of steaming twenty-five knots an hour. They made the Sutherlandshire coast without being detected; and by means of specially-constructed rafts they succeeded in landing 10,000 men in the Kyle of Scow, where they immediately intrenched themselves to wait for reinforcements. The news of the successful carrying out of the operations was signalled at once to Brest by means of a line of small steamers cruising about at intervals of ten miles. The pioneer force having thus effected a landing, a still larger force was despatched, while a naval attack was made against Plymouth, the result of which we deal with further on. The effect of this landing on English minds was that of an electric shock. The dream of insular security was rudely dispelled, and the question was, Could the foe be beaten back? Ireland had caused a tremendous drain on the regular Army, and the Volunteers and Militia were largely occupied in other parts of the kingdom. But, nevertheless, 100,000 men of all arms, chiefly Volunteers, were despatched north with all speed, and the London and North-Western, the Midland, and Great Northern lines of railway sent away train-load after train-load of troops as fast as they could be moved out of the stations.

While this was being done a great battle. Forts Ironclads, was being fought at Plymouth. A most daring and determined attempt had been made by a French squadron to effect a landing in the neighbourhood. Five tremendous ironclads, attended by two light-draught steamers, approached under cover of night. The tenders steamed close in shore, and were actually in the act of disembarking several boat-loads of marines, when they were discovered by means of the electric light. Instantly all the forts within range opened a withering fire. One of the tenders was sunk and every soul drowned, but the other effected its escape. The fire was returned by the ironclads, which by skilful manoeuvring were enabled to effect terrible destruction without at first suffering themselves to any appreciable degree.

The scene is described as awful and weird. The night