The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-06-01

scheme. Rifles by the thousand began to arrive
at Muscat from Europe and the Sultan, by impos-
ing six per cent duty on all imports and ex-
ports of arms, etc, saw his income increasing by
leaps and bounds. The traders sent their agents
to Muscat and arranged for the arms to be con-
veyed in dhows across the Gulf of Oman to Per
sia, while parties of Afghans down to the
Mekran coast, collected camels and transported
the northward to their own country
This treaty of 1864 is thus the secret of the
whole of the trouble. Efforts were made at the
190S-9 International Arms Traffic convention held
at Brussels to induce the French government to
annul the treaty, but in vain. The result is that
the British East Indies squadron had to be
strengthened and a rigorous blockade of the
Gulf Of Oman established, involving great ex-
pense to both British and Indian governments.
Could this fftyyear-old treaty be annulled the
British warships would prevent arms being land
ed at Muscat and the whole gun-running business
would collapse.
Steamers of many natonalities land arms at
Muscat, where they are stored until the gun-run-
ming season" begins. This lasts from December
to April, the heat at other times being oppres-
sive. Caravans can only travel when food and
water is obtainabe for the cames.
Some of the arms are conveyed to Matarah a
port about three miles from Muscat At these
two ports dhows laden with arms under
cover Of night and leave whenever opportunity
offers. By keeping within three miles of the
Arabian coast dhow is free from capture, but
outside that limit the nakoda (captain) cannot
say word if his rifles are confscated and his
vessel sunk by British man-of-war Sonar is
another depot for arms and is supplied from
Muscat Three courses are open to dhows.
I. To make bold dash from Muscat to Per-
sia. This is dangerous, involving long passage,
part of which must nece ssairly be in daylight.
2. To hug the coast to the westward and with
a favorable breeze to negotiate the thirty miles
or so across dark night.
3. To creep along the coast to the south, using
Karyat as a jumping-off place. A dhow would
then steer for Karachi, and at the approach of
night would alter course and make straight for
the vicinity of Givadar
The blockadng squadron consists of H. M.
ships Fox, Philomel, Proserpne, Perseus Alert
Odin, Sphinx, Redbreast and Espiegle and is
called the Persian Gulf division In addition there
are seven steam launches hired from the British
India Steamship company by the India govern
ment and armed These launches are oficered
and partly manned by the royal navy. Of course
this squadron cannot be maintained in the gulf
at full strength anything like it. as ships must
periodically reft and the crews recuperate at
Bombay or Colombo The organization of the
blockade is in the hands of Capt A. T. Hunt of
the Fox, whose ability in coping with the traffic
has obtained double reward-an admiralty ex-
tension Of his appointment and the execrations
of the bafled trades of Kabul.
The system of intelligence which has been or
ganized is nearly perfect. The wireless station
at Jask transmits to the Fox news. Of the depart
ure of dhows from Muscat and also any informa-
ton regarding the presence of Afghan caravans
or the landing of arms on the Persian coast Cap
tain Hunt disposes his available vessels along
the Mekran coast according to the needs of the
moment. Ships cutters and pinnaces, armed
with maxim guns, are sent away in charge of
officers and lie in near likely landing places
They are provisioned for about fortnight and