The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-01-26
4 BIT OF DIPLOMACY
An English Official Who 0utwit-
ted a French Admiral.
HOW Perrin ISLAND WAS WON

Pho Interesting Story That Is Told By
White House on the Foreshors Of
tho Arabian Coast Al the Southern
Entrance to chs Red Sea.
on the foreshorc 81 the Arabian
coast 10 the strait Of Babel Mandeb,
at the southern entrance 10 the Red
sea. stands a large white house CON
corning 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 din.
cnlties had successfully fioated the
sues Canal company. the governor OF
the British port of Alden, about 100
miles distant. was surprised one morn
ing by the visit 81 i French squadron
Of very unusual size for that part Of
the orient, which. having encountered
terrific storm OF Sokotra. had put
IN for repairs.
n the mind Of the governor curiosity
was at onoe aroused as 10 the destlna-
ton Of 50 large a command. curiosity
which increased as he found t impos-
sible to extract any further informa
tion 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 70 believe
Firm ln the belief. therefore, that
some political move Of great impor-
lance was afioat. II not afoot. the gov
ernor. IN order FIRST 81 an 20 gain time
gare orders 70 81 very tortoise-llke co
the repairs and then set 10 work 70
take the Freuchmen on their guard by
giving succession az sHeh entertain
ments as both his slender means and
the awful harrcnness 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 a mystery f.
the governor of Alden as before, and
ii spite 81 ail possible delay che r.
pairs were nearly completed
Vow, It happened that the wife q
the governor possessed an Irish maid
who had been receiving attentions
from one 81 the French petty officers
attentions which the girl did not re-
gard seriously. n occurred 60 the gop
ernor that by such means something
might be learned 81 bis unexpected
visitors plans, and a private CONVEX
satlou between the governors wife
and her maid resulted Ia another he-
tween the latter aud her French ad-
mlrer. hy which f was discovered
that Perrin island was the objective
point
at this Information the governor
opened his eyes wide indeed for, II
the susz canal We're cut through Pc
RIM. as commanding the southern eH
trance % the Red sen, in the middle
of tie strait or Bah-el-Mandeb, would
be a place Of great strategic impor
tanee, over which, without doubt i
was the intention 81 the French al.
miral 10 boist the tricolor
Secretly giving orders. therefore, for
gunboat e Immediately embark q
detachment Of soldiers and steal away
In the night fer Perrin island, the gov
ernor then announced farewell ban
quet and bali FOR the dag but one fol (
lowing, hHal act Of courtesy with /
which the French admiral would with
ingly have dispensed. for he was anx.
lous to sail. but which be could not /
we'll refuse on account 81 the use De \
bad made Of the British supplies and (
machinery at Alden.
So The dinner and party ia due 1
course came or. Che governor being in /
high spirits. because NJ the meantime
be had received the news Of the oceu-
patton Of Perrin. which under the cir
cumstances would surely Be followed
by The lopeed for promotion, and tho
French admiral was equally happy,
for he hoped on the morrow to add
the same important little speck OF land
rs the dominion Of his own country
thereby covering his breast with the
stars and himself with maritime glory
Next day after an interchange Of
cordial farewells, Che French squadron
sailed away to an apparently unknown
destination. until. when clear Of the
land. the course was laid full speed di
rect for Perrin island
Then what were the dismay and dis
81 the French admiral
and his officers when on coming ii
siehtof their destination they beheld
the British Gag dying aud a company
Of soldiers drawn Hp to give them a
proper salute Il is said the French
admiral was So mortified q being thus
outwitted thai he first flung BIS cock
Cd hat overheard and then followed It
himself into the sen
Be this as Il may as Perrin was
clearly already occupied by the Brit.
ish. tie only counter move which Che
French could make was 60 take pos
session Of a strip of the foreshore Ga
the opposite Arablan coast where
they built the fortified white house 10
question. but the place was entirely
Il the mercy Sc the guns % Perrin IS
and It was shortly Abandoned % re
main 70 ibis day rs monument Of