Primary tabs
Transcription
[Pae 67]
camels arrives off theTurkish lines, "Very good" says Abdul, and takes what he considers to be his share and allows the remainder to pass through into the town. On arriving in Aden the Sheik in charge of the caravan, is interviewed by the English Authorities and by application of a little practical judicial backsheesh the latest disposition of the Turks and their Arab and Somali friends is obtained. On the return journey the Caravan is held up by the Turks in their turn. More backsheesh changes hands and the faithfull Sheik imparts to the Turkish general the latest news from Aden. A very amiable and convenient arrangement for both sides.
It was only during the night that Abdul got really offensive. He would then open fire with small calibre guns 12 pdr. or 4" fire blindly in the direction of our lines, and hope for the best. He dare not fire by day knowing that did he do so our own artillery would soon spot the position of his gun or guns, and promptly knock them to blazes. He tried it once, when it was a case of once my ducky and only once, for what was left of that gun and its crew after our artillery had finished with it you could have put in an envelope and not been charged overweight.
By courtesy of the G.O.C. Aden a number of Officers and men of the Australian flotilla were motored out to the English lines and taken round the encampment. Afternoon tea (!) was served at G.H.Q, and from the roof of this building, through powerful glasses we were able to see enemy cavalry cavorting about some seven or eight miles off.
There were simply no signs of battle, murder or sudden death, no guns were being fired, no debris strewed the vicinity of our lines. Guns it is true were visible but recumbent, all looking as though they were as guiltless of evil intent as the Emden's gun in