Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-22


explanation which the former was not
the least inclined to believe.
| Firm IN the belief. therefore. that
| some political move OF great tmpor-
| lance was afloat. if not afoot the gov
ernor, in order first OF all to gain time
| gave orders to go very tortoise-like on
the repairs and then set TO work to
( take the Frenchmen off their guard by
giving q succession of such entertain
ments as both his slender means and
the awful barrenness 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 TO
the governor of Alden as before, and
in spite Of all possible delay the re
pairs were nearly completed.
Now, It happened that the wife OF
the governor possessed an Irish maid,
who had Geen receiving attentions
from one of the French petty officers
attentions which the girl did not re
gard seriously. 1t occurred to the gov
ernor that by such means something
ul20L De IeAEnSu "a NACAEO~S~~
visitors plans, and private CONVEX
sation between the governors wire
and her maid resulted in another be
tween the latter and her French ad-
mirer, by which it was discovered
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, Pc
rim, as commanding the southern en-
trance to the Red sea, in the middle
of the strait of Bab-el-A1andeb, would
be a place of great strategic impor-
lance, over which. without doubt, it
was tSe intention of the French ad-
miral TO hoist the tricoloT.
Secretly giving orders, therefore. for
a gunboat to Immediately embark
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
ingly have dispensed. for he 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
machinery at Alden.
So the dinner and party In due
course came of. the governor being in
high spirits, because IN the meantime
he had received the news OF the occu-
patton of Perrin, which under the cir
cumstances would surely be followed
by the Ionged for promotion, and the
French admiral was equally happy.
for he hoped on the morrow to add
the same important little speck Of land
to 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. the French squadron
sailed away to an OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
destination, until. when clear OF the
land, the course was laid fullsspeed di-
rect for Perrin island.
Then, what were the dismay and dis
appointment OF the French admiral
and his officers when. on coming in
sight OF their destination, they beheld
the British nag flying and accompany
of soldiers .dTn vyn up to- give, them
proper salute is said the French
admiral was so mortified at being thus
outwiteed that he FIRST flung his cock
ed hat overheard and then followed it
himself iutosthessea.
Be this as it may, as Perrin was
clearly already occupied by the Brit
ish, the only counter move which the
French could make was, to take pos
session oE a strip Of the foreshore ON
the opposite Arabian coast where
they built the fortified white house In
question. but as the place was entirely
at the mercy of the guns on Perrin is
land it was shortly abandoned, to re-
main to this day as a monument Of
French admirafs undoing