TEUTA SENT LEGER'S DIARY.
August 19, 1907.
We had a journey to-day that was simply glorious. We had been
waiting to take it for more than a week. Rupert not only wanted the
weather suitable, but he had to wait till the new aeroplane came
home. It is more than twice as big as our biggest up to now. None
of the others could take all the party which Rupert wanted to go.
When he heard that the aero was coming from Whitby, where it was sent
from Leeds, he directed by cable that it should be unshipped at
Otranto, whence he took it here all by himself. I wanted to come
with him, but he thought it better not. He says that Brindisi is too
busy a place to keep anything quiet--if not secret--and he wants to
be very dark indeed about this, as it is worked by the new radium
engine. Ever since they found radium in our own hills he has been
obsessed by the idea of an aerial navy for our protection. And after
to-day's experiences I think he is right. As he wanted to survey the
whole country at a glimpse, so that the general scheme of defence
might be put in hand, we had to have an aero big enough to take the
party as well as fast enough to do it rapidly, and all at once. We
had, in addition to Rupert, my father, and myself, Sir Colin and Lord
High Admiral Rooke (I do like to give that splendid old fellow his
full title!). The military and naval experts had with them
scientific apparatus of various kinds, also cameras and range-
finders, so that they could mark their maps as they required.
Rupert, of course, drove, and I acted as his assistant. Father, who
has not yet become accustomed to aerial travel, took a seat in the
centre (which Rupert had thoughtfully prepared for him), where there
is very little motion. I must say I was amazed to see the way that
splendid old soldier Sir Colin bore himself. He had never been on an
aeroplane before, but, all the same, he was as calm as if he was on a
rock. Height or motion did not trouble him. Indeed, he seemed to
ENJOY himself all the time. The Admiral is himself almost an expert,
but in any case I am sure he would have been unconcerned, just as he
was in the Crab as Rupert has told me.
We left just after daylight, and ran down south. When we got to the
east of Ilsin, we kept slightly within the border-line, and went
north or east as it ran, making occasional loops inland over the
mountains and back again. When we got up to our farthest point
north, we began to go much slower. Sir Colin explained that for the
rest all would be comparatively plain-sailing in the way of defence;
but that as any foreign Power other than the Turk must attack from
seaward, he would like to examine the seaboard very carefully in
conjunction with the Admiral, whose advice as to sea defence would be
invaluable.
Rupert was fine. No one could help admiring him as he sat working
his lever and making the great machine obey every touch. He was
wrapped up in his work. I don't believe that whilst he was working
he ever thought of even me. He IS splendid!
We got back just as the sun was dropping down over the Calabrian
Mountains. It is quite wonderful how the horizon changes when you
are sailing away up high on an aeroplane. Rupert is going to teach
me how to manage one all by myself, and when I am fit he will give me
one, which he is to have specially built for me.
I think I, too, have done some good work--at least, I have got some
good ideas--from our journey to-day. Mine are not of war, but of
peace, and I think I see a way by which we shall be able to develop
our country in a wonderful way. I shall talk the idea over with
Rupert to-night, when we are alone. In the meantime Sir Colin and
Admiral Rooke will think their plans over individually, and to-morrow
morning together. Then the next day they, too, are to go over their
idea with Rupert and my father, and something may be decided then.
RUPERT'S JOURNAL--Continued.
August 21, 1907.
Our meeting on the subject of National Defence, held this afternoon,
went off well. We were five in all, for with permission of the
Voivode and the two fighting-men, naval and military, I brought Teuta
with me. She sat beside me quite quietly, and never made a remark of
any kind till the Defence business had been gone through. Both Sir
Colin and Admiral Rooke were in perfect agreement as to the immediate
steps to be taken for defence. In the first instance, the seaboard
was to be properly fortified in the necessary places, and the navy
largely strengthened. When we had got thus far I asked Rooke to tell
of the navy increase already in hand. Whereupon he explained that,
as we had found the small battleship The Lady of an excellent type
for coast defence, acting only in home waters, and of a size to take
cover where necessary at many places on our own shores, we had
ordered nine others of the same pattern. Of these the first four
were already in hand, and were proceeding with the greatest
expedition. The General then supplemented this by saying that big
guns could be used from points judiciously chosen on the seaboard,
which was in all so short a length that no very great quantity of
armament would be required.
"We can have," he said, "the biggest guns of the most perfect kind
yet accomplished, and use them from land batteries of the most up-to-
date pattern. The one serious proposition we have to deal with is
the defence of the harbour--as yet quite undeveloped--which is known
as the 'Blue Mouth.' Since our aerial journey I have been to it by
sea with Admiral Rooke in The Lady, and then on land with the
Vladika, who was born on its shores, and who knows every inch of it.
"It is worth fortifying--and fortifying well, for as a port it is
peerless in Mediterranean seas. The navies of the world might ride
in it, land-locked, and even hidden from view seawards. The
mountains which enclose it are in themselves absolute protection. In
addition, these can only be assailed from our own territory. Of
course, Voivode, you understand when I say 'our' I mean the Land of
the Blue Mountains, for whose safety and well-being I am alone
concerned. Any ship anchoring in the roads of the Blue Mouth would
have only one need--sufficient length of cable for its magnificent
depth.
"When proper guns are properly placed on the steep cliffs to north
and south of the entrance, and when the rock islet between has been
armoured and armed as will be necessary, the Mouth will be
impregnable. But we should not depend on the aiming of the entrance
alone. At certain salient points--which I have marked upon this map-
-armour-plated sunken forts within earthworks should be established.
There should be covering forts on the hillsides, and, of course, the
final summits protected. Thus we could resist attack on any side or
all sides--from sea or land. That port will yet mean the wealth as
well as the strength of this nation, so it will be well to have it
properly protected. This should be done soon, and the utmost secrecy
observed in the doing of it, lest the so doing should become a matter
of international concern."
Here Rooke smote the table hard.
"By God, that is true! It has been the dream of my own life for this
many a year."
In the silence which followed the sweet, gentle voice of Teuta came
clear as a bell:
"May I say a word? I am emboldened to, as Sir Colin has spoken so
splendidly, and as the Lord High Admiral has not hesitated to mention
his dreaming. I, too, have had a dream--a day-dream--which came in a
flash, but no less a dream, for all that. It was when we hung on the
aeroplane over the Blue Mouth. It seemed to me in an instant that I
saw that beautiful spot as it will some time be--typical, as Sir
Colin said, of the wealth as well as the strength of this nation; a
mart for the world whence will come for barter some of the great
wealth of the Blue Mountains. That wealth is as yet undeveloped.
But the day is at hand when we may begin to use it, and through that
very port. Our mountains and their valleys are clad with trees of
splendid growth, virgin forests of priceless worth; hard woods of all
kinds, which have no superior throughout the world. In the rocks,
though hidden as yet, is vast mineral wealth of many kinds. I have
been looking through the reports of the geological exports of the
Commission of Investigation which my husband organized soon after he
came to live here, and, according to them, our whole mountain ranges
simply teem with vast quantities of minerals, almost more precious
for industry than gold and silver are for commerce--though, indeed,
gold is not altogether lacking as a mineral. When once our work on
the harbour is done, and the place has been made secure against any
attempt at foreign aggression, we must try to find a way to bring
this wealth of woods and ores down to the sea.
"And then, perhaps, may begin the great prosperity of our Land, of
which we have all dreamt."
She stopped, all vibrating, almost choked with emotion. We were all
moved. For myself, I was thrilled to the core. Her enthusiasm was
all-sweeping, and under its influence I found my own imagination
expanding. Out of its experiences I spoke:
"And there is a way. I can see it. Whilst our dear Voivodin was
speaking, the way seemed to clear. I saw at the back of the Blue
Mouth, where it goes deepest into the heart of the cliffs, the
opening of a great tunnel, which ran upward over a steep slope till
it debouched on the first plateau beyond the range of the
encompassing cliffs.
Thither came by various rails of steep gradient, by timber-shoots and
cable-rails, by aerial cables and precipitating tubes, wealth from
over ground and under it; for as our Land is all mountains, and as
these tower up to the clouds, transport to the sea shall be easy and
of little cost when once the machinery is established. As everything
of much weight goes downward, the cars of the main tunnel of the port
shall return upward without cost. We can have from the mountains a
head of water under good control, which will allow of endless
hydraulic power, so that the whole port and the mechanism of the town
to which it will grow can be worked by it.
"This work can be put in hand at once. So soon as the place shall be
perfectly surveyed and the engineering plans got ready, we can start
on the main tunnel, working from the sea-level up, so that the cost
of the transport of material will be almost nil. This work can go on
whilst the forts are building; no time need be lost.
"Moreover, may I add a word on National Defence? We are, though old
in honour, a young nation as to our place amongst Great Powers. And
so we must show the courage and energy of a young nation. The Empire
of the Air is not yet won. Why should not we make a bid for it? As
our mountains are lofty, so shall we have initial power of attack or
defence. We can have, in chosen spots amongst the clouds, depots of
war aeroplanes, with which we can descend and smite our enemies
quickly on land or sea. We shall hope to live for Peace; but woe to
those who drive us to War!"
There is no doubt that the Vissarions are a warlike race. As I
spoke, Teuta took one of my hands and held it hard. The old Voivode,
his eyes blazing, rose and stood beside me and took the other. The
two old fighting-men of the land and the sea stood up and saluted.
This was the beginning of what ultimately became "The National
Committee of Defence and Development."
I had other, and perhaps greater, plans for the future in my mind;
but the time had not come for their utterance.
To me it seems not only advisable, but necessary, that the utmost
discretion be observed by all our little group, at all events for the
present. There seems to be some new uneasiness in the Blue
Mountains. There are constant meetings of members of the Council,
but no formal meeting of the Council, as such, since the last one at
which I was present. There is constant coming and going amongst the
mountaineers, always in groups, small or large. Teuta and I, who
have been about very much on the aeroplane, have both noticed it.
But somehow we--that is, the Voivode and myself--are left out of
everything; but we have not said as yet a word on the subject to any
of the others. The Voivode notices, but he says nothing; so I am
silent, and Teuta does whatever I ask. Sir Colin does not notice
anything except the work he is engaged on--the planning the defences
of the Blue Mouth. His old scientific training as an engineer, and
his enormous experience of wars and sieges--for he was for nearly
fifty years sent as military representative to all the great wars--
seem to have become directed on that point. He is certainly planning
it all out in a wonderful way. He consults Rooke almost hourly on
the maritime side of the question. The Lord High Admiral has been a
watcher all his life, and very few important points have ever escaped
him, so that he can add greatly to the wisdom of the defensive
construction. He notices, I think, that something is going on
outside ourselves; but he keeps a resolute silence.
What the movement going on is I cannot guess. It is not like the
uneasiness that went before the abduction of Teuta and the Voivode,
but it is even more pronounced. That was an uneasiness founded on
some suspicion. This is a positive thing, and has definite meaning--
of some sort. We shall, I suppose, know all about it in good time.
In the meantime we go on with our work. Happily the whole Blue Mouth
and the mountains round it are on my own property, the portion
acquired long ago by Uncle Roger, exclusive of the Vissarion estate.
I asked the Voivode to allow me to transfer it to him, but he sternly
refused and forbade me, quite peremptorily, to ever open the subject
to him again. "You have done enough already," he said. "Were I to
allow you to go further, I should feel mean. And I do not think you
would like your wife's father to suffer that feeling after a long
life, which he has tried to live in honour."
I bowed, and said no more. So there the matter rests, and I have to
take my own course. I have had a survey made, and on the head of it
the Tunnel to the harbour is begun.
