St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
A BIT OF DIPLOMACY
An English Official Who 0utwit.
ted a French Admiral.
HOW PERRIN ISLAND WAS WON

q White House on the Foreshore o.
the Arabian Coast at the Southern
Entrance TO the Red Sea.
On the foreshore Of the Arabian
coast In the strait Of Bab-el-Mandeb
at the southern entrance TO the Red
sea, stands a large white house con
cerning which the travellers to the far
east may hear a curious story. In the
middle of the nineteenth century
when NJ. dc Lesseps after many dlffi.
culties had successfully 6oated the
suez Canal company. the governor OF
miles distant. was surprised one morn.
ing by the visit Of French squadron
Of very unusual size for that part OF
the orient. which. having encountered
q terrific storm or Sokotra. had put
In for repairs.
In the mind Of the governor curiosity
was at once aroused as to the destina-
ton Of 30 large command. curiosity
which increased as he found II impos-
sible to extract any further informa.
ton from the French admiral or his
officers beyond the statement that
they were upon an ordinary cruise. an
explanation which the former was not
the least inclined to believe.
Firm In the belief. therefore. that
some political move Of great impor.
tance was afioat. II not afoot. the gov.
ernor In order first of ail to gain time.
gave orders to go very tortolse-like on
the repairs and then set to work to
take the Frenchmen or their guard by
giving a succession Of such entertain.
ments as both his slender means and
the awful bnrrenncss Of the place
would AFFORD.
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
remained as much Of n mystery to
the governor Of Alden as before. and
In spite OF all possible delay the re-
pairs were nearly completed.
Now. Il happened that the wife OF
tho governor possessed an Irish maid,
who had been receiving attentions
from one Of the French petty officers
attentions which the girl did not 70.
gnrd seriously. IL occurred TO the gov.
ernor that by such means something
might be learned OF his unexpected
visitors plans. and a private conver.
sation between the governors wife
and her maid resulted In another be-
tween tho latter and her French nd.
In xghlaA 10 AlaaANATaA
that Perrin island was the objective
point
At this information the governor
opened his eyes wide indeed. for. II
the Suez canal were cut through. Pe-
rim. as commanding the southern en-.
trance 10 the Red sen. In the middle
Of the strait Of ab-el.Mandeb. would
be a place Of great strategic impor.
tance. over which. without doubt. Il
was tho intention OF tho French ad-
miral 70 hoist the tricolor.
Secretly giving orders. therefore. for
q gunboat 20 Immediately embark q
detachment OF soldiers and steal away
In the night for Perrin island. the gov
ernor then announced a farewell ban.
quet and ball for the day but one fol.
lowing. a final act OF courtesy with
which the French admiral would will
lngly have dispensed. for be was anx-
Ious TO sail. but which he could not |
well refuse on account OF the use he |
had made OF the British supplies and
nc Alden.
So the dinner and party In due |
'ourse came on. the governor being In
high spirits. because IN the meantime
10 had received the news Of the occu.
,ation OF Perrin. which under the cir.
would surely DO followed
~ the longed for promotion. and the
French admiral was equally happy.
or he hoped ON the morrow 10 add
he same important little speck OF land
O the dominion OF his own country.
hereby covering his breast with the
tars and himself with maritime glory.
Next day. after an interchange OF
ordial farewelis. the French squadron
allied away TO an apparently unknown
until. when clear Of the
md. the course was laid full speed di.
ect for Perrin island.
Then what were the dismay and dis
ppointment Of the French admiral
nd his officers when. on coming In
ght Of their destination. they beheld
,e British dag dying and a company
soldiers drawn up TO give them a
roper salute. II Is said the French
fmiral was so mortified at being thus
ltwitted that he first dung his cock
hat overheard aud then followed II
lmself into the sea.
Be this as II may. as Perrin was
early already occupied by the Brit.
b. the only counter move which the
rench could make was to take pos
ssion or strip Of the foreshore on r
70 opposite Arabian coast, where
ey built the fortified white house In
iestion. but as the place was entirely
the mercy Of the guns on Perrin is- p
nd 1t was shortly abandoned. TO re-
ain to this day as a monument Of
-Qnnh aAmira IA nuAafp4 Ew.hau.a / n