Mr. F. H. Hemming, Consul for Venezuela, confirms the story -
of the sale of infernal machines for the destruction of vessels. He declares that a vessel has just left France for one of the prin- cipal ports of Venezuela with a supply of these infernal machines, with which it is intended to destroy a number of merchant steamers loaded with merchandise of no account, but heavily insured. He himself had seen the machines, and he found that the British Government was well aware of the facts. Mr_ Hemming has done a public service in warning the public, though he accidentally gives us a credit due, as we stated at the time, entirely to the Birmingham Daily Post. We repeat, if the awe- with which these machines appear to inspire every one who sees them is well founded, they are dangerous weapons of war which Mr. Goschen should examine. What stops their being thrown like shells, when three of them might sink the Devastation. As described, they must all explode downwards, the precise danger to which two years ago we called attention. It is with these- chemical combinations that our greatest danger now rests.
Previous page
