“His Majesty expects the _Goeben_ and the _Breslau_ to succeed in breaking through!” Such was the wireless that reached these vessels at Messina at five o’clock in the evening of August 4th. The twenty-four hours’ stay permitted by the Italian Government had nearly expired. Outside, in the Strait of Otranto, lay the force of British battle-cruisers, sending false radio messages to the Germans instructing them to rush for Pola. With bands playing and flags flying, the officers and crews having had their spirits fired by speeches and champagne, the two vessels started at full speed head on toward the awaiting British fleet. The little _Gloucester_, a scout boat, kept in touch, wiring constantly the German movements to the main squadron. Suddenly, when off Cape Spartivento, the _Goeben_ and the _Breslau_ let off into the atmosphere all the discordant vibrations which their wireless could command, jamming the air with such a hullabaloo that the _Gloucester_ was unable to send any intelligible messages. Then the German cruisers turned south and made for the Ægean Sea. The plucky little _Gloucester_ kept close on their heels, and, as my daughter had related, had even once audaciously offered battle. A few hours behind the British squadron pursued, but uselessly, for the German ships, though far less powerful in battle, were much speedier. Even then the British admiral probably thought that he had spoiled the German plans. The German ships might get first to the Dardanelles, but at that point stood international law across the path and barring the entrance! Meanwhile Wangenheim had accomplished his great diplomatic triumph. From the _Corcovado_ wireless station in the Bosphorus he was sending the most agreeable news to Admiral Souchon. He was telling him to hoist the Turkish flag when he reached the Strait, for Admiral Souchon’s cruisers had suddenly become parts of the Turkish Navy, and, therefore, the usual international prohibitions did not apply! These cruisers were no longer the _Goeben_ and the _Breslau_, for, like an oriental magician, Wangenheim had suddenly changed them into the _Sultan Selim_ and the _Medilli_. The fact was that the German Ambassador had cleverly taken advantage of the existing situation to manufacture a “sale.” As I have already told, Turkey had two dreadnoughts under construction in England [Illustration: “Goeben” in the Sea of Marmora. [_To face p. 48._ ] [Illustration: “Breslau” (left) at the Golden Horn.]