General Pearson wrote to the President that there was no denying the fact that the situation was critical and that the enemy had something up their sleeve and that unless every effort was made to forestall their move, he feared a repetition of the terrible disaster at San Francisco. He sent the record of Robert Gordon. Said that while he was a young man, he was one of the bravest aviators that he had ever known; that he was not only bright but brilliant. He believed he was a genius. That he had had a long talk with him and that Gordon had asked to be released and permitted to return to his laboratory in New York where he believed he could complete a valuable invention which would prove a great help to the country. The General recommended that Gordon be released and permitted to return to New York and given a chance. Said that this was the age of the young men because they were progressive and up to the times.

The President wrote General Pearson to use his own judgment and send Gordon to New York if he thought best. General Pearson gave orders that Robert Gordon be brought to him. He communicated the good news, gave him a passport and told him to proceed immediately to New York and work just as rapidly as possible to perfect any kind of invention that would help defeat the enemy's plans.

CHAPTER XXVII

When Robert arrived in New York, Edna told him about the great fortune which she had made on the short side of the market and how when she received the good news by secret radio of his capture of the "Tokyo J-1" she calculated that as soon as it was generally known, it would restore confidence and stocks would have a big rally. She hastily covered all the short contracts and bought stocks for long account. The following afternoon when the big headlines announced the capture of the Tokyo, traders all rushed to buy and the market advanced rapidly. She said "Mr. Gordon, do you know the market is following the forecast which you mapped out in 1927?" He said, "I have been so worried over the war and my dishonor that I haven't had time to think about making money. If General Pearson hadn't proved to be a good friend, I would still be in prison. Now I must use some of my inventions to help my country and prove to them that I did act for the best and that I am loyal." Edna asked if he thought there was any hope of the terrible war ending soon. "No," he replied, "it will get worse in 1931 when many other nations will join against us. The end will not come until the Summer or Fall of 1932." "That is dreadful," she said, "if it lasts that long, they will destroy every large city in the United States unless something is done to beat them."

In the latter part of October, 1930, Robert returned to Denver, Colorado, where General Pearson had moved the aviation headquarters, and was moving heaven and earth to prevent the advance of the enemy toward the East. Many people on the coast had become frightened and moved to Denver for protection. Robert brought the new invention which he called the "Radio Annulifier." The Spaniards and Japanese were making use of Robert's secret radio, which was one of the most valuable discoveries up to that time. The Annulifier was now placed on scouting airplanes and they were sent out. They found that it would work a distance of several hundred miles. This disorganized the enemy forces because they did not understand what had gone wrong with the secret mechanism of the Pocket-Radio with which they were able to transmit orders without sound or fear of detection. They had to resort to the old method of using radios and wireless. Robert had invented a new machine to record either sound or communications by light waves. He soon secured the plans of the enemy and reported to General Pearson, who was still in command for the Aviation Corps, that the enemy was planning to attack from the Gulf of Mexico, follow up the Mississippi River, take New Orleans and at the same time make a joint attack across the Great Lakes, cutting off the Government's forces and the wing which was holding across from Denver, Colorado to Canada on the North and the border of Texas on the Southwestern side. When General Pearson received this disappointing news, he realized that the situation was desperate. He communicated with the President of the United States, who immediately called the Cabinet together. All the Army Officers were called in conference to discuss plans as to the best thing to do to forestall the attack. They were forced to admit the painful truth that the fleet of airplanes was not sufficient to withdraw enough forces from the Western line to send to the North and South, to protect Chicago and the Mississippi valley. General Pearson made plain to the War Council the great value of Robert Gordon and suggested that he be restored to his former rank for what he had already done. They agreed with him and Robert Gordon was made Colonel in the early part of November, 1930. Walter Kennelworth, for his great services in working with Robert, was also promoted to Colonel.

When Colonel Gordon informed General Pearson that Mrs. Kennelworth was his sole secret aid in completing the Annulifier which had helped him to get the enemy's plans, this news was conveyed by the General to the President of the United States who ordered Mrs. Kennelworth to report immediately at headquarters in Washington. The President thanked her personally for the great service she had rendered the country and told her that she was the greatest woman since Molly Pitcher, who had taken her husband's place at the cannon. He conferred upon her the title of Captain of Inventions and ordered her to return to her laboratories in New York and continue her scientific work. This brought great rejoicing to Colonel Gordon and Colonel Kennelworth and they redoubled their efforts to do everything to help save the country, but they were not in the War Council and had nothing to say in regard to the plans of protection or attack.

Complications came thick and fast, the enemy was landing more planes in Mexico, bringing up reinforcements. They moved part of their army from San Francisco north, and in December, 1930, after a short engagement, captured Seattle and Portland. The War Council knew that this left the enemy in command of the entire Pacific Coast as most all of the smaller towns had been abandoned because they feared destruction and the next attack would probably be either on the South or the East. They were satisfied that they would probably attack from the Gulf of Mexico and try to get a good hold on the Southeastern part of the United States and, if successful, would then attack from Canada and the Great Lakes. The United States Government was making airplanes as fast as possible, but they were so far behind and lacked trained men to man them, that the situation was very tense and the Government officials freely expressed their anxiety. People in the East were excited and scared. They feared an attack upon the defenseless cities at any time and that the destruction of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle might be repeated. The crushing blows that the Government had received in the loss of the Pacific Coast had weakened the morale of the people and they had lost confidence in the Government and its officials. The fact that the enemy had made no attempt to set a fixed ransom on any of the cities captured showed that they were looking for something bigger before trying to enforce their demands upon the United States. The Government officials knew that the Japanese would demand California or the greater part of the Pacific Coast territory. They were hoping that further attacks could be staved off until they were better prepared to meet them. Army officials, as usual, thought they were handling everything for the best and paid no attention to the counsel of men who might be able to help.

Colonel Kennelworth confided to some of the Generals that Colonel Gordon and himself had some great discoveries which, when and if completed would beat the enemy, but they paid little attention to his statements, and after Walter and Robert had a conference, they decided to keep quiet and say nothing further about them until the time when the Government was in desperation and would listen to reason.

1931

After months of waiting and only a few scouting expeditions on the part of the enemy, a sudden attack occurred in March. A large fleet of airplanes sailed up the Mississippi River and attacked New Orleans. Destruction was swift and severe. The United States started to withdraw forces from across the Central part and from Texas, but they soon realized that somewhere out in the Atlantic Ocean or in the Gulf of Mexico, there was a secret base of supplies and they suspected that England had already joined forces with the enemy. The enemy's planes were so superior, their poisonous gas and bombs so effective that New Orleans fell within three days. The alarm spread so fast over the United States that people were panic-stricken. There was a panic in Wall Street. Stocks crashed rapidly and Captain Edna Kennelworth was again on the short side and had made a large amount of money for the firm of Gordon & Kennelworth.