position _x_ on the day of its alleged discovery; its direction and
speed designated _y_ and _z_, then at the time of contact designated
_n_, it would infallibly come into contact with the earth's atmosphere,
and the consequences deduced would certainly come to pass, viz., either
the earth would combine with it, and be transformed into a
semi-incandescent body, or the terrestrial atmosphere would become a
fire mist which would destroy all animal and vegetable life upon the
planet within the space of a few minutes.

The second communication was a joint-note from the Emperor of Austria,
the President of the Hague Council, the President of the French
Republic, and the Tsar of Russia, protesting against the bombardment of
London or any other defenceless town by the airships. The note set forth
that these were purely engines of war, and ought not to be used for
purposes of mere terrorism and murder. Their war employment on land or
water, or against fortified positions, was perfectly legitimate, but
against unarmed people and defenceless towns it was held to be contrary
to all principles of humanity and civilisation, and it was therefore
requested by the signatories that, in order to prevent serious
differences between the Allies, it should cease forthwith.

The result of this communication was of course a Council of War, which
was anything but a harmonious gathering, especially as several of the
older officers agreed with the tone of it, and told the Kaiser plainly
that they considered that there was quite enough in the actual business
of war for the _Flying Fishes_ to do; and the Chancellor did not
hesitate to express the opinion that the majority of the peoples of
Europe, and possibly large numbers of their own soldiers, who, after
all, were citizens first and soldiers afterwards, would strongly resent
such operations, especially when it became known that the Emperor's own
Allies had protested against it; the result of the Council was that
William the Second saw that he was clearly in a minority, and had the
good sense to issue a General Order there and then that all aerial
bombardments, save as part of an organised attack, should cease from
that day.

The events of the next twenty days were, as may well be imagined, full
of momentous happenings, which it would require hundreds of pages to
describe in anything like detail, and therefore only quite a brief
sketch of them can be given here. This will, however, be sufficien