Ladies and gentlemen, I have a grave announcement to make.
Incredible as it may seem, both the observations of science and the evidence of our eyes lead to the inescapable assumption that those strange beings who landed in the Paragon City tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from another planet.
The battle which took place tonight in Founder's Falls has ended in one of the most startling defeats ever suffered by an army in modern times; seven thousand men armed with rifles and machine guns pitted against the invaders. One hundred and twenty known survivors. The rest strewn over the battle area from Peregrine Island to Steel Canyon, crushed and trampled to death under the feet of the monsters, or burned to cinders by their heat rays.
They are now in control of the middle section of Paragon and have effectively cut the city through its center.
Railroad tracks are torn and service from Galaxy City to Steel Canyon to Skyway City is discontinued except routing some of the trains through King's Row and Talos Island.
Highways to the north, south, and west are clogged with frantic human traffic. Police and army reserves are unable to control the mad flight. By morning the fugitives will have swelled neighboring cities, it is estimated, to twice their normal population.
Martial law prevails throughout Rhode Island.
At this time we take you to Washington for a special broadcast on the National Emergency... the Secretary of the Interior...
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
Citizens of the nation: I shall not try to conceal the gravity of the situation that confronts the country, nor the concern of your government in protecting the lives and property of its people. However, I wish to impress upon you private citizens and public officials, all of you the urgent need of calm and resourceful action.
Fortunately, this formidable enemy is still confined to a comparatively small area, and we may place our faith in the military forces to keep them there.
In the meantime placing our faith in God we must continue the performance of our duties each and every one of us, so that we may confront this destructive adversary with a nation united, courageous, and consecrated to the preservation of human supremacy on this earth.
I thank you.
**adapted from the War of the Worlds radio broadcast**
