, 1914-06-03
AN UzsAmsFAcT0RY SITUATION.

protection Of the Bushire. Shiraz road. He
expressed himself as being extremely dIssatls-
fed With the situation IN kazerun aHd
district, and was determined to take action to
reestablish the supremacy OF the 8end"rmerle
there and throughout the entire length OF
the road. Nasr Diwan, Ktlantar Of Knze-
run, being most accessible, it was decided
that he should be captured, and arrangements
to this end were in preparation.
A Schneider gun was sent for from the
Mamasenni country, and this was expected
to reach Kazerun on the afternoon OF tebru-
AIRY rs. Nasr Diwan and his followers were
aware that this gun was onlts way and anflcl-
pated an attack on them as soon as it arrived.
The night before its arrival. therefore, was
chosen for the execution OF the design as
it was anticipated that the enemy might
then be taken by surprise. The plan in de-
tail was as foIlows:-Major Gibson with two
Swedish non,commissioned officers and 10
native gendarmes was to proceed to Nasr
Diwan's house, and blow up the entrance
gate with guncotton. A storming party OF
30 gendarmes was to set out simultaneously
by another road to surround the house and
80 more were to take up a position IN sup
port on the high ground in the vicinity. In
addition to this all the main exits from the
town were to be guarded to prevent any
escape.
The COMMAND OF A Gun.
An eight-centimetIe gun was in readiness
to take up q position on a hill commanding
the town, and l was to await orders
from my husband, and then proceed
with it to the place assigned. At l.3O q. m.
on the 9th my husband got up and informed
the native officers of his plan, which up
TO this moment he mad kept a profound
secret. Major Gibson set out from the bar
racks at about 3 u. ~, and | remained await
ing orders to start off with the big gun.
Not long after my husbands departure we
heard some shots being fired and suddenly
we found ourselves surrounded and hotly
attacked by :he enemy. The suddenness OF
this attack led me to suspect treachery. The
maxims were by my orders carried on to the
roof of the barracks, and from there VIC
opened q brisk fire on our assnilants. Shortly
after this, and while the fighting was still IN
progress. the men forming the parties sent
out for the capture of Nasr Diwan, returnet
to the barracks by twos and threes. Major
Gibson, however, had not yet put IN an
Appearance, but as | had no idea Of what had
happened was not alarmed for his safety,
and fully expected him to return at nightfalI.
In the afternoon the Schneider gun, escorted
by so mounted gendarmes, arrived at Bagh-
i-Nozar, and started q bombardment on the
town.
For six days and nights the fight con
tinued almost necessarily, and | was during
that time unable to disrobe, and had to take
what rest | could i'll the room occupied by
the native officers. Many of the g%endarmes
were badly wounded, and l had to witness
the terrible sufferings of these men awaiting
surgical aid. / attended to them with the
help of q native surgeon, and provided them
with food and saw to their comfort generally.
Threats Of The Enemy.
The Yelling and shouting of our enemies
during the lulls in the firing, especially at
night, was terrifying and resemblel more
the bowling of wild beasts than anything
human. Those occupying positions near the
barracks would scream threats at us, such rs
"When we get hold of you we shall gnaw the
flesh from your bones" Our supplies be-
came exhausted, and for nearly two days we
had to subsist almost entirely upon tea. One
of the native officers, however, by q strata
gem succeeded in Selling a quantity of rice
and meat, which reached US only just IN
time.
On the fifth day intense excitement was
aroused by the discovery that an attempt
was being made to mine the barracks. This