Inherstreetsonefoundtheextremesofmagnificenceandmisery，ofcivilisationanddisorder。Inonequarter，palacesofmarble，lacedand，crownedwithlightandflameandflowers，toweredupintohermarvelloustwilightsbeautiful，beyonddescription;inanother，ablackandsinisterpolyglotpopulationswelteredinindescribablecongestioninwarrens，andexcavationsbeyondthepowerandknowledgeofgovernment。Hervice，hercrime，herlawalikewereinspiredbyafierceandterribleenergy，andlikethegreatcitiesofmediaevalItaly，herwaysweredarkandadventurouswithprivatewar。
ItwasthepeculiarshapeofManhattanIsland，pressedinbyarmsoftheseaoneitherside，andincapableofcomfortableexpansion，exceptalonganarrownorthwardbelt，thatfirstgavetheNewYorkarchitectstheirbiasforextremeverticaldimensions。Everyneedwaslavishlysuppliedthem——money，material，labour;onlyspacewasrestricted。Tobegin，therefore，theybuilthighperforce。Buttodosowastodiscoverawholenewworldofarchitecturalbeauty，ofexquisiteascendantlines，andlongafterthecentralcongestionhadbeenrelievedbytunnelsunderthesea，fourcolossalbridgesovertheeastriver，andadozenmono—railcableseastandwest，theupwardgrowthwenton。InmanywaysNewYorkandhergorgeousplutocracyrepeatedVeniceinthemagnificenceofherarchitecture，painting，metal—workandsculpture，forexample，inthegrimintensity，ofherpoliticalmethod，inhermaritimeandcommercialascendancy。Butsherepeatednopreviousstateatallinthelaxdisorderofherinternaladministration，alaxitythatmadevastsectionsofherarealawlessbeyondprecedent，sothatitwaspossibleforwholedistrictstobeimpassable，whilecivilwarragedbetweenstreetandstreet，andforAlsatiastoexistinhermidstinwhichtheofficialpoliceneversetfoot。Shewasanethnicwhirlpool。Theflagsofallnationsflewinherharbour，andattheclimax，theyearlycomingandgoingoverseasnumberedtogetherupwardsoftwomillionhumanbeings。ToEuropeshewasAmerica，toAmericashewasthegatewayoftheworld。
ButtotellthestoryofNewYorkwouldbetowriteasocialhistoryoftheworld;saintsandmartyrs，dreamersandscoundrels，thetraditionsofathousandracesandathousandreligions，wenttohermakingandthrobbedandjostledinherstreets。Andoverallthattorrentialconfusionofmenandpurposesflutteredthatstrangeflag，thestarsandstripes，thatmeantatoncethenoblestthinginlife，andtheleastnoble，thatistosay，Libertyontheonehand，andontheotherthebasejealousytheindividualself—seekerfeelstowardsthecommonpurposeoftheState。
FormanygenerationsNewYorkhadtakennoheedofwar，saveasathingthathappenedfaraway，thataffectedpricesandsuppliedthenewspaperswithexcitingheadlinesandpictures。TheNewYorkersfeltperhapsevenmorecertainlythantheEnglishhaddonethatwarintheirownlandwasanimpossiblething。InthattheysharedthedelusionofallNorthAmerica。Theyfeltassecureasspectatorsatabullfight;theyriskedtheirmoneyperhapsontheresult，butthatwasall。AndsuchideasofwarasthecommonAmericanspossessedwerederivedfromthelimited，picturesque，adventurouswarofthepast。Theysawwarastheysawhistory，throughaniridescentmist，deodorised，scentedindeed，withallitsessentialcrueltiestactfullyhiddenaway。
Theywereinclinedtoregretitassomethingennobling，tosighthatitcouldnolongercomeintotheirownprivateexperience。
Theyreadwithinterest，ifnotwithavidity，oftheirnewguns，oftheirimmenseandstillmoreimmenseironclads，oftheirincredibleandstillmoreincredibleexplosives，butjustwhatthesetremendousenginesofdestructionmightmeanfortheirpersonallivesneverenteredtheirheads。Theydidnot，sofarasonecanjudgefromtheircontemporaryliterature，thinkthattheymeantanythingtotheirpersonallivesatall。TheythoughtAmericawassafeamidstallthispilingupofexplosives。Theycheeredtheflagbyhabitandtradition，theydespisedothernations，andwhenevertherewasaninternationaldifficultytheywereintenselypatriotic，thatistosay，theywereardentlyagainstanynativepoliticianwhodidnotsay，threaten，anddoharshanduncompromisingthingstotheantagonistpeople。TheywerespiritedtoAsia，spiritedtoGermany，sospiritedtoGreatBritainthattheinternationalattitudeofthemothercountrytohergreatdaughterwasconstantlycomparedincontemporarycaricaturetothatbetweenahen—peckedhusbandandaviciousyoungwife。Andfortherest，theyallwentabouttheirbusinessandpleasureasifwarhaddiedoutwiththemegatherium……
Andthensuddenly，intoaworldpeacefullybusiedforthemostpartuponarmamentsandtheperfectionofexplosives，warcame;
cametheshockofrealisingthatthegunsweregoingoff，thatthemassesofinflammablematerialallovertheworldwereatlastablaze。
2
TheimmediateeffectuponNewYorkofthesuddenonsetofwarwasmerelytointensifyhernormalvehemence。
ThenewspapersandmagazinesthatfedtheAmericanmind——forbooksuponthisimpatientcontinenthadbecomesimplymaterialfortheenergyofcollectors——wereinstantlyacoruscationofwarpicturesandofheadlinesthatroselikerocketsandburstlikeshells。Tothenormalhigh—strungenergyofNewYorkstreetswasaddedatouchofwar—fever。Greatcrowdsassembled，moreespeciallyinthedinnerhour，inMadisonSquareabouttheFarragutmonument，tolistentoandcheerpatrioticspeeches，andaveritableepidemicoflittleflagsandbuttonssweptthroughthesegreattorrentsofswiftlymovingyoungpeople，whopouredintoNewYorkofamorningbycarandmono—railandsubwayandtrain，totoil，andebbhomeagainbetweenthehoursoffiveandseven。Itwasdangerousnottowearawarbutton。Thesplendidmusic—hallsofthetimesankeverytopicinpatriotismandevolvedscenesofwildenthusiasm，strongmenweptatthesightofthenationalbannersustainedbythewholestrengthoftheballet，andspecialsearchlightsandilluminationsamazedthewatchingangels。Thechurchesre—echoedthenationalenthusiasmingraverkeyandslowermeasure，andtheaerialandnavalpreparationsontheEastRiverweregreatlyincommodedbythemultitudeofexcursionsteamerswhichthronged，helpfullycheering，aboutthem。Thetradeinsmall—armswasenormouslystimulated，andmanyoverwroughtcitizensfoundanimmediaterelieffortheiremotionsinlettingofffireworksofamoreorlessheroic，dangerous，andnationalcharacterinthepublicstreets。Smallchildren’sair—balloonsofthelatestmodelattachedtostringbecameaseriouschecktothepedestrianinCentralPark。AndamidstscenesofindescribableemotiontheAlbanylegislatureinpermanentsession，andwithageneroussuspensionofrulesandprecedents，passedthroughbothHousesthelong—disputedBillforuniversalmilitaryserviceinNewYorkState。
CriticsoftheAmericancharacteraredisposedtoconsider——thatuptotheactualimpactoftheGermanattackthepeopleofNewYorkdealtaltogethertoomuchwiththewarasifitwasapoliticaldemonstration。Littleornodamage，theyurge，wasdonetoeithertheGermanorJapaneseforcesbythewearingofbuttons，thewavingofsmallflags，thefireworks，orthesongs。
Theyforgotthat，undertheconditionsofwarfareacenturyofsciencehadbroughtabout，thenon—militarysectionofthepopulationcoulddonoseriousdamageinanyformtotheirenemies，andthattherewasnoreason，therefore，whytheyshould，notdoastheydid。Thebalanceofmilitaryefficiencywasshiftingbackfromthemanytothefew，fromthecommontothespecialised。
Thedayswhentheemotionalinfantrymandecidedbattleshadpassedbyforever。Warhadbecomeamatterofapparatusofspecialtrainingandskillofthemostintricatekind。Ithadbecomeundemocratic。Andwhateverthevalueofthepopularexcitement，therecanbenodenyingthatthesmallregularestablishmentoftheUnitedStatesGovernment，confrontedbythistotallyunexpectedemergencyofanarmedinvasionfromEurope，actedwithvigour，science，andimagination。Theyweretakenbysurprisesofarasthediplomaticsituationwasconcerned，andtheirequipmentforbuildingeithernavigablesoraeroplaneswascontemptibleincomparisonwiththehugeGermanparks。StilltheysettoworkatoncetoprovetotheworldthatthespiritthathadcreatedtheMonitorandtheSouthernsubmarinesof1864
wasnotdead。ThechiefoftheaeronauticestablishmentnearWestPointwasCabotSinclair，andheallowedhimselfbutonesinglemomentoftheposturingthatwassouniversalinthatdemocratictime。\"Wehavechosenourepitaphs，\"hesaidtoareporter，\"andwearegoingtohave，’Theydidalltheycould。’
Nowrunaway！\"
Thecuriousthingisthattheydidalldoalltheycould;thereisnoexceptionknown。Theironlydefectindeedwasadefectofstyle。Oneofthemoststrikingfactshistoricallyaboutthiswar，andtheonethatmakesthecompleteseparationthathadarisenbetweenthemethodsofwarfareandthenecessityofdemocraticsupport，istheeffectualsecrecyoftheWashingtonauthoritiesabouttheirairships。Theydidnotbothertoconfideasinglefactoftheirpreparationstothepublic。TheydidnotevencondescendtotalktoCongress。Theyburkedandsuppressedeveryinquiry。ThewarwasfoughtbythePresidentandtheSecretariesofStateinanentirelyautocraticmanner。Suchpublicityastheysoughtwasmerelytoanticipateandpreventinconvenientagitationtodefendparticularpoints。Theyrealisedthatthechiefdangerinaerialwarfarefromanexcitableandintelligentpublicwouldbeaclamourforlocalairshipsandaeroplanestodefendlocalinterests。This，withsuchresourcesastheypossessed，mightleadtoafataldivisionanddistributionofthenationalforces。ParticularlytheyfearedthattheymightbeforcedintoaprematureactiontodefendNewYork。TheyrealisedwithpropheticinsightthatthiswouldbetheparticularadvantagetheGermanswouldseek。Sotheytookgreatpainstodirectthepopularmindtowardsdefensiveartillery，andtodivertitfromanythoughtofaerialbattle。Theirrealpreparationstheymaskedbeneathostensibleones。TherewasatWashingtonalargerelserveofnavalguns，andtheseweredistributedrapidly，conspicuously，andwithmuchpressattention，amongtheEasterncities。Theyweremountedforthemostpartuponhillsandprominentcrestsaroundthethreatenedcentresofpopulation。TheyweremounteduponroughadaptationsoftheDoanswivel，whichatthattimegavethemaximumverticalrangetoaheavygun。Muchofthisartillerywasstillunmounted，andnearlyallofitwasunprotectedwhentheGermanair—fleetreachedNewYork。Anddowninthecrowdedstreets，whenthatoccurred，thereadersoftheNewYorkpaperswereregalingthemselveswithwonderfulandwonderfullyillustratedaccountsofsuchmattersas:——
THESECRETOFTHETHUNDERBOLT
AGEDSCIENTISTPERFECTSELECTRICGUN
TOELECTROCUTEAIRSHIPCREWSBYUPWARDLIGHTNING
WASHINGTONORDERSFIVEHUNDRED
WARSECRETARYLODGEDELIGHTED
SAYSTHEYWILLSUITTHEGERMANSDOWNTOTHEGROUND
PRESIDENTPUBLICLYAPPLAUDSTHISMERRYQUIP
3
TheGermanfleetreachedNewYorkinadvanceofthenewsoftheAmericannavaldisaster。ItreachedNewYorkinthelateafternoonandwasfirstseenbywatchersatOceanGroveandLongBranchcomingswiftlyoutofthesouthwardseaandgoingawaytothenorthwest。TheflagshippassedalmostverticallyovertheSandyHookobservationstation，risingrapidlyasitdidso，andinafewminutesallNewYorkwasvibratingtotheStatenIslandguns。
Severaloftheseguns，andespeciallythatatGiffordsandtheoneonBeaconHillaboveMatawan，wereremarkablywellhandled。
Theformer，atadistanceoffivemiles，andwithanelevationofsixthousandfeet，sentashelltoburstsoclosetotheVaterlandthatapaneofthePrince’sforwardwindowwassmashedbyafragment。ThissuddenexplosionmadeBerttuckinhisheadwiththecelerityofastartledtortoise。Thewholeair—fleetimmediatelywentupsteeplytoaheightofabouttwelvethousandfeetandatthatlevelpassedunscathedovertheineffectualguns。TheairshipslinedoutastheymovedforwardintotheformofaflattenedV，withitsapextowardsthecity，andwiththeflagshipgoinghighestattheapex。ThetwoendsoftheVpassedoverPlumfieldandJamaicaBay，respectively，andthePrincedirectedhiscoursealittletotheeastoftheNarrows，soaredoverUpperBay，andcametorestoverJerseyCityinapositionthatdominatedlowerNewYork。Therethemonstershung，largeandwonderfulintheeveninglight，serenelyregardlessoftheoccasionalrocketexplosionsandflashingshell—burstsinthelowerair。
Itwasapauseofmutualinspection。Foratimenaivehumanityswampedtheconventionsofwarfarealtogether;theinterestofthemillionsbelowandofthethousandsabovealikewasspectacular。Theeveningwasunexpectedlyfine——onlyafewthinlevelbandsofcloudsatsevenoreightthousandfeetbrokeitsluminousclarity。Thewindhaddropped;itwasaneveninginfinitelypeacefulandstill。Theheavyconcussionsofthedistantgunsandthoseincidentalharmlesspyrotechnicsatthelevelofthecloudsseemedtohaveaslittletodowithkillingandforce，terrorandsubmission，asasaluteatanavalreview。
Below，everypointofvantagebristledwithspectators，theroofsofthetoweringbuildings，thepublicsquares，theactiveferryboats，andeveryfavourablestreetintersectionhaditscrowds:
alltheriverpiersweredensewithpeople，theBatteryParkwassolidblackwitheast—sidepopulation，andeverypositionofadvantageinCentralParkandalongRiversideDrivehaditspeculiarandcharacteristicassemblyfromtheadjacentstreets。
ThefootwaysofthegreatbridgesovertheEastRiverwerealsocloselypackedandblocked。Everywhereshopkeepershadlefttheirshops，mentheirwork，andwomenandchildrentheirhomes，tocomeoutandseethemarvel。
\"Itbeat，\"theydeclared，\"thenewspapers。\"
Andfromabove，manyoftheoccupantsoftheairshipsstaredwithanequalcuriosity。NocityintheworldwaseversofinelyplacedasNewYork，somagnificentlycutupbyseaandbluffandriver，soadmirablydisposedtodisplaythetalleffectsofbuildings，thecompleximmensitiesofbridgesandmono—railwaysandfeatsofengineering。London，Paris，Berlin，wereshapeless，lowagglomerationsbesideit。ItsportreachedtoitsheartlikeVenice，and，likeVenice，itwasobvious，dramatic，andproud。
Seenfromaboveitwasalivewithcrawlingtrainsandcars，andatathousandpointsitwasalreadybreakingintoquiveringlight。NewYorkwasaltogetheratitsbestthatevening，itssplendidbest。
\"Gaw！Whataplace！\"saidBert。
Itwassogreat，andinitscollectiveeffectsopacificallymagnificent，thattomakewaruponitseemedincongruousbeyondmeasure，likelayingsiegetotheNationalGalleryorattackingrespectablepeopleinanhoteldining—roomwithbattle—axeandmail。Itwasinitsentiretysolarge，socomplex，sodelicatelyimmense，thattobringittotheissueofwarfarewaslikedrivingacrowbarintothemechanismofaclock。Andthefish—likeshoalofgreatairshipshoveringlightandsunlitabove，fillingthesky，seemedequallyremotefromtheuglyforcefulnessofwar。ToKurt，toSmallways，toIknownothowmanymoreofthepeopleintheair—fleetcamethedistinctestapprehensionoftheseincompatibilities。ButintheheadofthePrinceKarlAlbertwerethevapoursofromance:hewasaconqueror，andthiswastheenemy’scity。Thegreaterthecity，thegreaterthetriumph。Nodoubthehadatimeoftremendousexultationandsensedbeyondallprecedentthesenseofpowerthatnight。
Therecameanendatlasttothatpause。Somewirelesscommunicationshadfailedofasatisfactoryending，andfleetandcityrememberedtheywerehostilepowers。\"Look！\"criedthemultitude;\"look！\"
\"Whataretheydoing？\"
\"What？\"……Downthroughthetwilightsankfiveattackingairships，onetotheNavyYardonEastRiver，onetoCityHall，twooverthegreatbusinessbuildingsofWallStreetandLowerBroadway，onetotheBrooklynBridge，droppingfromamongtheirfellowsthroughthedangerzonefromthedistantgunssmoothlyandrapidlytoasafeproximitytothecitymasses。Atthatdescentallthecarsinthestreetsstoppedwithdramaticsuddenness，andallthelightsthathadbeencomingoninthestreetsandhouseswentoutagain。FortheCityHallhadawakenedandwasconferringbytelephonewiththeFederalcommandandtakingmeasuresfordefence。TheCityHallwasaskingforairships，refusingtosurrenderasWashingtonadvised，anddevelopingintoacentreofintenseemotion，ofhecticactivity。
Everywhereandhastilythepolicebegantocleartheassembledcrowds。\"Gotoyourhomes，\"theysaid;andthewordwaspassedfrommouthtomouth，\"There’sgoingtobetrouble。\"Achillofapprehensionranthroughthecity，andmenhurryingintheunwonteddarknessacrossCityHallParkandUnionSquarecameuponthedimformsofsoldiersandguns，andwerechallengedandsentback。InhalfanhourNewYorkhadpassedfromserenesunsetandgapingadmirationtoatroubledandthreateningtwilight。
ThefirstlossoflifeoccurredinthepanicrushfromBrooklynBridgeastheairshipapproachedit。WiththecessationofthetrafficanunusualstillnesscameuponNewYork，andthedisturbingconcussionsofthefutiledefendinggunsonthehillsaboutgrewmoreandmoreaudible。Atlasttheseceasedalso。A
pauseoffurthernegotiationfollowed。Peoplesatindarkness，soughtcounselfromtelephonesthatweredumb。Thenintotheexpectanthushcameagreatcrashanduproar，thebreakingdownoftheBrooklynBridge，theriflefirefromtheNavyYard，andtheburstingofbombsinWallStreetandtheCityHall。NewYorkasawholecoulddonothing，couldunderstandnothing。NewYorkinthedarknesspeeredandlistenedtothesedistantsoundsuntilpresentlytheydiedawayassuddenlyastheyhadbegun。\"Whatcouldbehappening？\"Theyaskeditinvain。
Along，vagueperiodintervened，andpeoplelookingoutofthewindowsofupperroomsdiscoveredthedarkhullsofGermanairships，glidingslowlyandnoiselessly，quitecloseathand。
Thenquietlytheelectriclightscameonagain，andanuproarofnocturnalnewsvendorsbeganinthestreets。
Theunitsofthatvastandvariedpopulationboughtandlearntwhathadhappened;therehadbeenafightandNewYorkhadhoistedthewhiteflag。
4
ThelamentableincidentsthatfollowedthesurrenderofNewYorkseemnowintheretrospecttobebutthenecessaryandinevitableconsequenceoftheclashofmodernappliancesandsocialconditionsproducedbythescientificcenturyontheonehand，andthetraditionofacrude，romanticpatriotismontheother。
Atfirstpeoplereceivedthefactwithanirresponsibledetachment，muchastheywouldhavereceivedtheslowingdownofthetraininwhichtheyweretravellingortheerectionofapublicmonumentbythecitytowhichtheybelonged。
\"Wehavesurrendered。Dearme！HAVEwe？\"wasratherthemannerinwhichthefirstnewswasmet。Theytookitinthesamespectacularspirittheyhaddisplayedatthefirstapparitionoftheair—fleet。Onlyslowlywasthisrealisationofacapitulationsuffusedwiththeflushofpassion，onlywithreflectiondidtheymakeanypersonalapplication。\"WEhavesurrendered！\"camelater;\"inusAmericaisdefeated。\"Thentheybegantoburnandtingle。
Thenewspapers，whichwereissuedaboutoneinthemorningcontainednoparticularsofthetermsuponwhichNewYorkhadyielded——nordidtheygiveanyintimationofthequalityofthebriefconflictthathadprecededthecapitulation。Thelaterissuesremediedthesedeficiencies。TherecametheexplicitstatementoftheagreementtovictualtheGermanairships，tosupplythecomplementofexplosivestoreplacethoseemployedinthefightandinthedestructionoftheNorthAtlanticfleet，topaytheenormousransomoffortymilliondollars，andtosurrendertheintheEastRiver。Therecame，too，longerandlongerdescriptionsofthesmashingupoftheCityHallandtheNavyYard，andpeoplebegantorealisefaintlywhatthosebriefminutesofuproarhadmeant。Theyreadthetaleofmenblowntobits，offutilesoldiersinthatlocalisedbattlefightingagainsthopeamidstanindescribablewreckage，offlagshauleddownbyweepingmen。AndthesestrangenocturnaleditionscontainedalsothefirstbriefcablesfromEuropeofthefleetdisaster，theNorthAtlanticfleetforwhichNewYorkhadalwaysfeltanespecialprideandsolicitude。Slowly，hourbyhour，thecollectiveconsciousnesswokeup，thetideofpatrioticastonishmentandhumiliationcamefloatingin。Americahadcomeupondisaster;suddenlyNewYorkdiscoveredherselfwithamazementgivingplacetowrathunspeakable，aconqueredcityunderthehandofherconqueror。
Asthatfactshapeditselfinthepublicmind，theresprangup，asflamesspringup，anangryrepudiation。\"No！\"criedNewYork，wakinginthedawn。\"No！Iamnotdefeated。Thisisadream。\"
BeforedaybroketheswiftAmericanangerwasrunningthroughallthecity，througheverysoulinthosecontagiousmillions。
Beforeittookaction，beforeittookshape，themenintheairshipscouldfeelthegiganticinsurgenceofemotion，ascattleandnaturalcreaturesfeel，itissaid，thecomingofanearthquake。ThenewspapersoftheKnypegroupfirstgavethethingwordsandaformula。\"Wedonotagree，\"theysaidsimply。
\"Wehavebeenbetrayed！\"Mentookthatupeverywhere，itpassedfrommouthtomouth，ateverystreetcornerunderthepalinglightsofdawnoratorsstoodunchecked，callinguponthespiritofAmericatoarise，makingtheshameapersonalrealitytoeveryonewhoheard。ToBert，listeningfivehundredfeetabove，itseemedthatthecity，whichhadatfirstproducedonlyconfusednoises，wasnowhumminglikeahiveofbees——ofveryangrybees。
AfterthesmashingoftheCityHallandPost—Office，thewhiteflaghadbeenhoistedfromatoweroftheoldParkRowbuilding，andthitherhadgoneMayorO’Hagen，urgedthitherindeedbytheterror—strickenpropertyownersoflowerNewYork，tonegotiatethecapitulationwithVonWinterfeld。TheVaterland，havingdroppedthesecretarybyaropeladder，remainedhovering，circlingveryslowlyabovethegreatbuildings，oldandnew，thatclusteredroundCityHallPark，whiletheHelmholz，whichhaddonethefightingthere，roseoverheadtoaheightofperhapstwothousandfeet。SoBerthadanearviewofallthatoccurredinthatcentralplace。TheCityHallandCourtHouse，thePost—OfficeandamassofbuildingsonthewestsideofBroadway，hadbeenbadlydamaged，andthethreeformerwereaheapofblackenedruins。Inthecaseofthefirsttwothelossoflifehadnotbeenconsiderable，butagreatmultitudeofworkers，includingmanygirlsandwomen，hadbeencaughtinthedestructionofthePost—Office，andalittlearmyofvolunteerswithwhitebadgesenteredbehindthefiremen，bringingouttheoftenstilllivingbodies，forthemostpartfrightfullycharred，andcarryingthemintothebigMonsonbuildingcloseathand。
Everywherethebusyfiremenweredirectingtheirbrightstreamsofwateruponthesmoulderingmasses:theirhoselayaboutthesquare，andlongcordonsofpoliceheldbackthegatheringlackmassesofpeople，chieflyfromtheeastside，fromthesecentralactivities。
Inviolentandextraordinarycontrastwiththissceneofdestruction，closeathandwerethehugenewspaperestablishmentsofParkRow。Theywereallalightandworking;theyhadnotbeenabandonedevenwhiletheactualbombthrowingwasgoingon，andnowstaffandpresseswerevehementlyactive，gettingoutthestory，theimmenseanddreadfulstoryofthenight，developingcommentand，inmostcases，spreadingtheideaofresistanceundertheverynosesoftheairships。ForalongtimeBertcouldnotimaginewhatthesecallouslyactiveofficescouldbe，thenhedetectedthenoiseofthepressesandemittedhis\"Gaw！\"
Beyondthesenewspaperbuildingsagain，andpartiallyhiddenbythearchesoftheoldElevatedRailwayofNewYork（longsinceconvertedintoamono—rail），therewasanothercordonofpoliceandasortofencampmentofambulancesanddoctors，busywiththedeadandwoundedwhohadbeenkilledearlyinthenightbythepanicuponBrooklynBridge。Allthishesawintheperspectivesofabird’s—eyeview，asthingshappeninginabig，irregular—shapedpitbelowhim，betweencliffsofhighbuilding。
NorthwardhelookedalongthesteepcanonofBroadway，downwhoselengthatintervalscrowdswereassemblingaboutexcitedspeakers;andwhenheliftedhiseyeshesawthechimneysandcable—stacksandroofspacesofNewYork，andeverywherenowoverthesethewatching，debatingpeopleclustered，exceptwherethefiresragedandthejetsofwaterflew。Everywhere，too，wereflagstaffsdevoidofflags;onewhitesheetdroopedandflappedanddroopedagainovertheParkRowbuildings。Andupontheluridlights，thefesteringmovementandintenseshadowsofthisstrangescene，therewasbreakingnowthecold，impartialdawn。
ForBertSmallwaysallthiswasframedintheframeoftheopenporthole。Itwasapale，dimworldoutsidethatdarkandtangiblerim。Allnighthehadclutchedatthatrim，jumpedandquiveredatexplosions，andwatchedphantomevents。Nowhehadbeenhighandnowlow;nowalmostbeyondhearing，nowflyingclosetocrashingsandshoutsandoutcries。Hehadseenairshipsflyinglowandswiftoverdarkenedandgroaningstreets;watchedgreatbuildings，suddenlyred—litamidsttheshadows，crumpleatthesmashingimpactofbombs;witnessedforthefirsttimeinhislifethegrotesque，swiftonset，ofinsatiableconflagrations。
Fromitallhefeltdetached，disembodied。TheVaterlanddidnotevenflingabomb;shewatchedandruled。ThendowntheyhadcomeatlasttohoveroverCityHallPark，andithadcreptinuponhismind，，chillingly，terrifyingly，thattheseilluminatedblackmassesweregreatofficesafire，andthatthegoingtoandfroofminute，dimspectresoflantern—litgreyandwhitewasaharvestingofthewoundedandthedead。Asthelightgrewclearerhebegantounderstandmoreandmorewhatthesecrumpledblackthingssignified……
HehadwatchedhourafterhoursincefirstNewYorkhadrisenoutoftheblueindistinctnessofthelandfall。Withthedaylightheexperiencedanintolerablefatigue。
Heliftedwearyeyestothepinkflushinthesky，yawnedimmensely，andcrawledbackwhisperingtohimselfacrossthecabintothelocker。Hedidnotso。muchliedownuponthatasfalluponitandinstantlybecomeasleep。
There，hoursafter，sprawlingundignifiedandsleepingprofoundly，Kurtfoundhim，averyimageofthedemocraticmindconfrontedwiththeproblemsofatimetoocomplexforitsapprehension。Hisfacewaspaleandindifferent，hismouthwideopen，andhesnored。Hesnoreddisagreeably。
Kurtregardedhimforamomentwithamilddistaste。Thenhekickedhisankle。
\"Wakeup，\"hesaidtoSmallways’stare，\"andliedowndecent。\"
Bertsatupandrubbedhiseyes。
\"Anymorefightin’yet？\"heasked。
\"No，\"saidKurt，andsatdown，atiredman。
\"Gott！\"hecriedpresently，rubbinghishandsoverhisface，\"butI’dlikeacoldbath！I’vebeenlookingforstraybulletholesintheair—chambersallnightuntilnow。\"Heyawned。\"Imustsleep。You’dbetterclearout，Smallways。Ican’tstandyouherethismorning。You’resoinfernallyuglyanduseless。Haveyouhadyourrations？No！Well，goinandget’em，anddon’tcomeback。Stickinthegallery……\"
5
SoBert，slightlyrefreshedbycoffeeandsleep，resumedhishelplessco—operationintheWarintheAir。Hewentdownintothelittlegalleryasthelieutenanthaddirected，andclungtotherailattheextremeendbeyondthelook—outman，tryingtoseemasinconspicuousandharmlessafragmentoflifeaspossible。
Awindwasrisingratherstronglyfromthesouth—east。ItobligedtheVaterlandtocomeaboutinthatdirection，andmadeherrollagreatdealasshewenttoandfrooverManhattanIsland。Awayinthenorth—westcloudsgathered。Thethrob—throbofherslowscrewworkingagainstthebreezewasmuchmoreperceptiblethanwhenshewasgoingfullspeedahead;andthefrictionofthewindagainsttheundersideofthegas—chamberdroveaseriesofshallowripplesalongitandmadeafaintflappingsoundlike，butfainterthan，thebeatingofripplesunderthestemofaboat。ShewasstationedoverthetemporaryCityHallintheParkRowbuilding，andeverynowandthenshewoulddescendtoresumecommunicationwiththemayorandwithWashington。ButtherestlessnessofthePrincewouldnotsufferhimtoremainforlonginanyoneplace。NowhewouldcircleovertheHudsonandEastRiver;nowhewouldgouphigh，asiftopeerawayintothebluedistances;onceheascendedsoswiftlyandsofarthatmountainsicknessovertookhimandthecrewandforcedhimdownagain;andBertsharedthedizzinessandnausea。
Theswayingviewvariedwiththesechangesofaltitude。Nowtheywouldbelowandclose，andhewoulddistinguishinthatsteep，unusualperspective，windows，doors，streetandskysigns，peopleandtheminutestdetails，andwatchtheenigmaticalbehaviourofcrowdsandclustersupontheroofsandinthestreets;thenastheysoaredthedetailswouldshrink，thesidesofstreetsdrawtogether，theviewwiden，thepeopleceasetobesignificant。Atthehighesttheeffectwasthatofaconcavereliefmap;Bertsawthedarkandcrowdedlandeverywhereintersectedbyshiningwaters，sawtheHudsonRiverlikeaspearofsilver，andLowerIslandSoundlikeashield。EventoBert’sunphilosophicalmindthecontrastofcitybelowandfleetabovepointedanopposition，theoppositionoftheadventurousAmerican’straditionandcharacterwithGermanorderanddiscipline。Below，theimmensebuildings，tremendousandfineastheywere，seemedlikethegianttreesofajunglefightingforlife;theirpicturesquemagnificencewasasplanlessasthechancesofcragandgorge，theircasualtyenhancedbythesmokeandconfusionofstillunsubduedandspreadingconflagrations。IntheskysoaredtheGermanairshipslikebeingsinadifferent，entirelymoreorderlyworld，allorientedtothesameangleofthehorizon，uniforminbuildandappearance，movingaccuratelywithonepurposeasapackofwolveswillmove，distributedwiththemostpreciseandeffectualco—operation。
ItdawneduponBertthathardlyathirdofthefleetwasvisible。