CHAPTER I.
THE UNITED STATES AGAINST THE WORLD.
"War is declared!"
"Impossible!"
"It is true. The news has just come by telephone from the cabinet chamber at Washington."
"And against whom?"
"Against the world!"
"Are you joking, Andy?"
"Oscar, I was never more serious in my life. The War Department has just sent the news to the office. The three new warships we are building must be completed without delay. The firm is offered a bonus of fifty thousand dollars if we can float them complete by the first of July."