Evening star., 1952-02-17
Rockville Navy Officer on Yemen Expedition IS Safe

.OCkVIIIe N0v
Comdr. Charles Herbert Gill;
land, 40, Of Rockville, Md, who
fed for his life from the ancient
capital Of the Queen Of Sheba in
Yemen after wild tribal soldiers
attacked the archaeological expe-
dition to which he was attached,
is safe in the British protectorate
of Alden.
News that he was safe, came yes
terday in a cable to his wife at
their home at HOS EdmonstonI
drive. Rockville, and in Associated
Press dispatches from Alden de-
scribing the attack on the scientific
expedition. Comdr. Gilliland was
assigned to the expedition as a
medical officer by the Navy.
The expedition. led by Wendell
Phillips, 30-year -old California
explorer, left behind in the city
of Marib equipment valued at
more than $250,000 and priceless
archaeological treasures.
Convoy Surrounded.
Tribesmen surrounded the mo-
torized convoy Of the expedition.
They smashed in the windows Of
the leading truck and poked rifles
at the driver. Comdr. Gilliland
was among those taken into Gus
tody by the tribesmen.
After they were released, mem-
bers OF the expedition fled to Bel
han. a border town in the British
protectorate. Part Of the group, |
including Comdr. Gilliland, was
flown from Beihan to Alden. i
King Ahmed of Yemen had
given guarantees Of safety to the
Phillips expedition which was
made up Of about 20 scientists
and technicians. most of them
Americans. The group set up
headquarters in Marib about the
middle of January.
The tribeSrnen who attacked the
expedition appeared to be soldiers
of Prince Hassan, a brother Of
the King and Viceroy Of San'a,
capital of Yemen.
Wife Mystified by Attack.
Mrs. Gilliland, who lives with
her four children in Rockville, said
she was mystified by the attack.
Her husbands cable did not ex-
plain it, and all Of his proceeding
letters had told of courteous treat
ment the expedition received when
1t arrived in Yemen.
Mr.. Phillips, president of the
Foundation for the
Study Of Man. and other members
Of the expedition were received
at the palace when they arrived
IN Yemen last month.
Comdr. Gilliland, who had been
on duty at the Naval Medical
Center, Bethesda, for the past
three years, was notified inI
November of his assignment to
accompany the expedition.
With other members of the ex-
petition, he sailed from New York
December % aboard the American
vessel Steel Seafarer. Mrs. Gill;
and went up to see him of. The
ship was caught in the southernl
fringe Of the storm tnaE smashed
The Flying Enterprise. but was
able to get through the Suez Canal
safely before fighting broke out be-
,ween British and Egyptians
broke. The vessel carried some
"A 900 cases of dynamite to the
Near East.
Landed at Alden.
About January 13, the expedi-
lion landed at Alden. Apparently
the equipment the party had with
it was not allowed into Yemen
Immediately. Mrs. Gilliland has
mad eight letters and a cable from
ner husband.
Comdr. Gilliland set out to erect
q field dispensary at Marib. The
expedition was there last year and
discovered the Moon Temple, but
the commander was not with it
then.
This time. he was to take Off
cial pictures in addition to his
medical duties.
Born in Melrose, Iowa, Septem-
Der 26, 1911. he taught school inl
Iowa for two years, got his degree
in pharmacy in 1885 from the
University of Florida and then
graduated from the University Of
Iowa Medical School in 1941. Hel
entered the Navy in July 1912, was
stationed at Great Lakes, Ill, PEN
sacola and Key West and had re-
cruiting duty at st. Louis.
During the summers when he
was going to school. he worked on
a vessel on the Great Lakes, the
South American of the Chicago,
Duluth and Georgian Bay Line.
And that's how he met his wife,
for she also worked on the ship.
Her father, Capt. j. Oscar Spjut,
now commands the vessel.
Another Marylander on the ex-
pedition is John H.. Scarf, Balti-
more architect. Harry c. Scarf,
a cousin, lives in Monkton, Md.
Charter Bill Would Staguer|