Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 80: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

220 Sir Augustus looked annoyed. “My dear monsieur,’ he said, “Canada will have to look after her- self. The interests which we three rep- resent are Europe’s financiers; we are not patriotic nationals. As far as | am concerned, they may destroy Canada. However, we shall have plenty of troops to land in Montreal and beat off American attacks with the aid of the Canadians.” The Frenchman shook his head. “1 cannot forget that I am also a patriotic Frenchman, in addition to being the representative of moneyed private citizens. If you are prepared to sacrifice Canada, why should I ob- ject? “ However, to induce my people to go to war with America, she must com- mit some overt act, and how to make such a spineless government affront any foreign nation? Observe to what America submits from weak Mexico, which has been flouting her and mur- dering her citizens for twenty years unpunished.” ‘“ Animosity to Europe is being skill- fully aroused in the United States,” replied the Englishman. “ Our agents are very active, and the ignorant Yan- kees play into their hands. —We have spent millions in the past two or three years awakening racial antagonism, and resentment against our efforts to have the war debts canceled is working on our side. “One fine day a note from our four nations couched in such a way that it will infuriate America will be present- ed, and the same day we shall mobilize as secretly as possible. The note will demand that America recognize condi- tions in Europe to the extent not only of canceling the war debts, but assum- ing the responsibility for all private loans to Europe from American citi- zens. “This will be denied in an insolent manner, and declarations of war im- mediately will be passed in our national parliaments. But before the declara- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. tions, our fleets and transports will have taken the sea and the air. Upon the day of the declarations the descent will be made upon America.” “Very good,” agreed Herr Stutt. “When is der Tag?” “T need another six months to whip our government into the proper frame of mind,” admitted Sir Augustus. “Six months, at least,” agreed the Frenchman. “IT could be ready in three months,” said the German. ‘“ Now, Sir Augus- tus, what do your spies report regard- ing these mysterious American gasses. Have they any formidable secret de- fenses ?” “Let me ask if you Germans, who boast of being the world’s greatest chemists, have inventéd a gas which will destroy a city?” “ Certainly not,” replied Herr Stutt. “We have made certain improve- ments upon gasses used in the World War, and we have invented means of making them innoxious by counter dis- charges of gas.” “The Americans have powerful gas which will destroy all life within a limited radius, and so have we; and they have also improved masks so that persons properly equipped will be un- harmed by them. “They have done much with counter gasses. I believe they are ahead of our chemical department in that respect. But gas will not play anything like as important a role in this war as has been prophesied. I doubt, in view of mod- ern methods of defense, if it will do as much damage as it did in the World War.” “Yet we should have to be very sure that they have nothing up their sleeves,” said Stutt. “ How about their airplanes? Recent statistics show that they have more commercial planes than all Europe put together.” “The planes are unarmed, and they have not even built guns for them. ‘They have a very limited number of fast pursuit planes, and while heavy Gomichboo S (c (E@)