seized on by the cheaper evening papers, which
rushed out edition after edition on the strength of it, until the
_St. James's Gazette_ put an end to the excitement by publishing a
telegram from the Mayor of Liverpool denouncing the report as an
insane and criminal hoax.

The next edition of the _St. James's_, however, contained a telegram
from Hiorring, in Denmark, _via_ Newcastle, which was of almost, if
not quite, as startling and disquieting a nature, and which,
moreover, contained a very considerable measure of truth. The
telegram ran as follows:--

NAVAL DISASTER IN THE BALTIC.

_The Sound forced by a Russian Squadron, assisted by a
Terrorist Air-Ship._

(_From our own Correspondent._)

Hiorring, _June 28th_, 8 A.M.

With the deepest regret I have to record the first naval disaster
to the British arms during the present war. As soon as it became
dark last night heavy firing was heard from Copenhagen to the
southward, and before long the sound deepened into an almost
continuous roar of light and heavy guns.

Our naval force in the Baltic was so strong that it was deemed
incredible that the Russian fleet, which we have held imprisoned
here since the commencement of hostilities, should dream even of
making an attempt to escape. The cannonade, however, was the
beginning of such an attempt, and it is useless disguising the
fact that it has been completely successful. That this would have
been the case, or, indeed, that the attempt would ever have been
made by the Russian fleet alone, cannot be for a moment credited.
But, incredible as it seems, it is nevertheless true that it was
assisted, and that in a practically irresistible fashion, by one
of those air-ships which have hitherto been believed to belong
exclusively to the Terrorists, that is to say, to the deadliest
enemies that Russia possesses.

As nearly as is known the Russian fleet consisted of twelve
battleships, twenty-five armoured and unarmoured cruisers, and
about forty torpedo-boats. These came charging ahead at full
speed into the entrance to the Sound in spite of the overwhelming
force of the Allied fleets, supported by the fortresses of
Copenhagen and Elsinore. The attack was so sudden and so
completely unexpected, that it must be confessed the defenders
were to a certain extent taken unawares. The Russians came