Chapter XXV

THE INVASION OF 1910 with a full account of the siege of London William le Queux Naval Chapters By H. W. Wilson CONTENTS BOOK I CHAP. PAGE I. The Surprise 3 II. Effect in the City 20 III. News of the Enemy 30 IV. A Prophecy Fulfilled 48 V. Our Fleet Taken Unawares 60 VI. Fierce Cruiser Battle 77 VII. Continuation of the Struggle at Sea 94 VIII. Situation in the North 108 IX. State of Siege Declared 118 X. How the Enemy Dealt the Blow 131 XI. Germans Landing at Hull and Goole 154 XII. Desperate Fighting in Essex 171 XIII. Defence at Last 202 XIV. British Success at Royston 221 XV. British Abandon Colchester 235 XVI. Fierce Fighting at Chelmsford 255 XVII. In the Enemy's Hands 266 XVIII. The Feeling in London{xii} 279 BOOK II I. The Lines of London 287 II. Repulse of the Germans 299 III. Battle of Epping 310 IV. Bombardment of London 326 V. The Rain of Death 344 VI. Fall of London 357 VII. Two Personal Narratives 372 VIII. Germans Sacking the Banks 393 IX. What was Happening at Sea 413 X. Situation South of the Thames 444 XI. Defences of South London 456 XII. Daily Life of the Beleaguered 466 XIII. Revolts in Shoreditch and Islington 477