Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-01-28
A BIT OF DIPLOMACY
An English Official Who 0utwit-
ted a French Admiral.
HOW PERRIN ISLAND WAS WON
The interesting Story That Is Told by
a White House on the Foreshore Of
the Arabian Coast at the Southern
Entrance to the Red Sea.

a White House on the Foreshore Of
the Arabian Coast at the Southern
Entrance to the Red Sea.
On the foreshore of the Arabian
coast in the strait of Bah ell Mandeb.
ut the southern entrance to the Red
sea. stands a large white house con
cerning which the travellers to the far
east may hear curious story. In the
when NJ. de Lesseps after many diff
cnlties had successfully fOated the
Suez Canal company. the governor Of
the British port of Alden. about 100
miles distant, was surprised one morn
ing by the visit Of French squadron
IF very unusual size for that part of
the orient. which, having encountered
terrific storm off 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 command, curiosity
which increased as he found It 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 afOat, 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 10
take the Frenchmen off their guard by
giving a 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 mystery to
the governor of Alden as before, and
in spite of all possible delay the re,
pairs were nearly completed.
Now, II 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 re
gard seriously. 1t 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 wifi
and her maid resulted in another be
tween the latter and her French ad
mirer, by which 1t was discovered
that Perrin island was the objective
point
At this information the governor
opened his eyes wide indeed, for. i
the Sucz 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-Mandeb, would
be place of great strategic impor
tance, over which, without doubt, 1
was the intention of the French ad
miral to hoist the tricolor.
Secretly giving orders, therefore, fo
a gunboat to Immediately embark
detachment of soldiers and steal ava,
In the night for Perrin island. the gov
ernor then announced farewell ban
quet and ball for the day but one fol
lowing, final act of courtesy Will
which the French admiral would will
ingly have dispensed, for he was anx
i0us to sail, but which he could no
well refuse on account of the use b,
had made OF the British supplies ant
machinery at Alden.
So the dinner and party in du
course came off. the governor being Il
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 followe,
by the longed for promotion, and tn
French admiral was equally happy
for he hoped on the morrow to adj
the same important little speck of lam
to the dominion of his own country
thereby covering his breast with th
stars and himself with maritime glory
Next day, after an interchange o
cordial farewells, the French squadro
sailed away to an apparently unknow
destination, until, when clear of tn
land, the course was laid full speed d
rect for Perrin island.
Then what were the dismay and dis
appointment of the French admire
and his officers when, on coming
sight of their destination, they behel
| the British flag flying and Il compan
| of soldiers drawn up to give them
proper salute. 1t is said the Frenc
admiral was so mortified at being thu
outwitted that he first flung his cocl
ed hat overheard and then followed
himself into the sea.
Be this as it may, as Perrin wa
clearly already occupied by the Bri
ish. the only counter move which th
French could make was to take po
session of a strip of the foreshore o
the opposite Arabian coast, whel
they built the fortified white house
question, but as the place was entirel
at the mercy of the guns on Perrin i
land it was shortly abandoned, to r
main to this day as IL monument Of
French admiral's undoing chang