Prime Minister John Russell's good mood did not last long. News from the Colony of British Honduras left him both shocked and furious.
They had lost an entire regiment, along with several hundred tons of supplies. John Russell could not understand what the Governor of Honduras and the Colonial Office had been thinking. Why stir up such trouble at the border? Was the world not chaotic enough already?
Now the Austrians had set a great fire along the border, and both men and supplies had vanished. As for the natives, they had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind nothing but ash-covered mountains.
The Austrian Empire explained it as "burning the mountains to clear land," while Britain had no way to publicize its own losses. In the end, it could only lodge a protest, receiving nothing more than token compensation from the Austrian Empire.
The Austrian Central American Colony provided the Colony of British Honduras with two thousand pounds sterling in bereavement compensation, intended to cover Britain's losses in the fire.
John Russell summoned the Duke of Northumberland, the Naval and Colonial Secretary. He wanted to know just what the other man was trying to do.
"Do you think Britain has been at peace for too long?"
"No, Prime Minister. You jest. We only just emerged from a war."
The Duke of Northumberland clearly had not realized the seriousness of the matter.
"Then why did you mass troops and supplies along the border between Honduras and Ecuador? If the Austrians discovered it, could it trigger another round of border clashes? Did you consider that?"
Facing John Russell's questioning, the Duke of Northumberland replied without the slightest hurry.
"Prime Minister, that was an order from the former Naval Secretary. It has nothing to do with me."
The Duke of Northumberland's calm honesty