Professor Whiteman had remained at the observatory, in anticipation of such a summons, and soon he, with other leading members of the scientific assembly, was at the side of the operator in the wireless room.
Almost immediately after the call:
“KWO—KWO—KWO!”
went forth into the ether, there came a response and the operator started writing:
“To the Presiding officer of the International Scientific Congress:
“Communicate this to the various governments of the earth:
“As a preliminary to the establishment of my sole rule throughout the world, the following demands must be complied with:
“First: All standing armies shall be disbanded, and every implement of warfare, of whatsoever nature, destroyed.
“Second: All war vessels shall be assembled—those of the Atlantic fleets midway between New York and Gibraltar, those of the Pacific fleets midway between San Francisco and Honolulu—and sunk.
“Third: One-half of all the monetary gold supply of the world shall be collected and turned over to my agents at places to be announced later.