Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-05-25
IA BIT OF DIPLOMACY.
CLEVER TRICK OF AN ENGLISH Gov
ERNOR OF THE PORT OF ALDEN.

The Curious story Connected With
the White House of Bab-el-Msndeb.
A Monument of the Undoing OF a
French Admiral.
On the foreshore of the Arabian coast
in the strait of Babel Mandeb, at the
southern entrance to the Red sea.
stands large white house concerning
which the travellers to the far east may
hear n curious story. In the middle OF
the nineteenth century. when M. de
Lesseps, after many difficulties, had
successfully foated the Suez Canal
company, the governor Of the British
port Of Alden. about 100 miles distant,
was surprised one morning by the visit
Of French squadron of very unusual
size for that part of the orient which,
having encountered terrific storm of
Sokotra, had put in for repairs.
In the mind Of the governor curiosity
was at once aroused as to the destina-
ton of so large a command, curiosity
which increased as he found 1t impossi-
BILE to extract any further information
from the French admiral or his officers
beyond the statement that they were
upon an ordinary cruise, an explana-
ton which the former was not the
least inclined to believe.
Firm in the belief, therefore, that
some political move of great impor-
lance was afloat If not afoot, the gov
ernor, in order first Of all to gain time,
gave orders to go very tortoiselike on
the repairs and then set to work to take
the Frenchmen off their guard by CIV
Ing q succession of such entertainments
as both his slender means and the aw-
full barrenness of the place would af-
ford.
But though at the end Of two weeks
the French and British officers had got
upon the best Of terms the immediate
destination of the French squadron re-
NAMED as much Of a mystery to the
governor OF Alden as before, and In
spite of all possible delay the repairs
were nearly completed.
Now, 1t happened that the wife of
the governor possessed an Irish maid,
who had been receiving attentions
from one Of the French petty officers
attentions which the girl did not regard
seriously. 1t occurred to the governor
, that by such means something might
be learned of his unexpected visitor
plans, and private conversation be-
tween the governors wife and her
maid resulted in another between the
latter and her French admlrer, by
J which II was discovered that Perrin Is
land was the objective point.
! At this Information the governor
opened his eyes wide indeed. for, If the
Suez canal were cut through. Perrin. as
commanding the southern entrance to
the Red sea. In the middle Of the strait
Of Babel Mandeb. would be a place OF
great strategic Importance, over which,
without doubt, 1t was the Intention OF
the French admiral to hoist the tri'
color.
Secretly giving orders, therefore, for
gunboat to Immediately embark de.
tachment of soldiers and steal away In
the night for Perrin island, the govern
or then announced a farewell banquet
and ball for the day but one following,
q final act Of courtesy with which the
French admiral would willingly have
dispensed, for he was anxious to sail
but which he could not well refuse on
account of the use he had made Of the
British supplies and machinery al
Alden.
So the dinner and party In due course
came off, the governor being In high
spirits, because In the meantime he had
received the news Of the occupation OF
J Perrin, which under the circumstances
would surely be followed by the longed
for promotion, and the French admiral
was equally happy. for he hoped on the
morrow to add the same important lit
tie speck of land to the dominion of his
own country, thereby covering bis
breast with the stars and himself with
maritime glory.
Next day, after an interchange OF
cordial farewells, the French squadron
sailed away to an apparently unknown
destination, until. when clear OF the
land, the course was laid full speed d.
rect for Perrin island.
Then what was the dismay and dis
appointment of the French admiral and
his officers when, on coming in sight OF
their destination, they beheld the Brit
ish flag flying and a company Of sol
diers drawn up to give them a proper
salute. 1t is said the French admiral
was so mortified at being thus outwit
ted that he first flung his cooked hat
overheard and then followed 1t himself
into the sea.
Be this as 1t may, as Perrin was
clearly already occupied by the British
the only counter move which the
French could make was to take posses
sion Of a strip Of the foreshore on the
opposite Arabian coast, where they
built the fortified white house In ques
ton, but as the place was entirely al
the mercy Of the guns on Perrin island
1t was shortly abandoned, to remain tc
this day as q monument OF French
admiral's MISUNDERSTANDING.
Inopportune.