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tent; and at the beginning of December 8 party of 150 Afghans assembled at Karachi were dispersed by the capture and imprisonment of 25 of their number, on the eve of their departure by steamer. By these measures, however, we could only hope to touch the fringe of the movement; for there was no efficient means as yet of preventing the more enterprising spirits amongst the Afghans from secretly chartering sailing craft at more secluded Indian ports, and in them making the voyage across to the Arabian coast. One was faced, therefore, with the practical certainty that considerable portion of the Afghans who had set forth from their homes well supplied with money, would persist in leaving no stone unturned to reach Masqat.

The continued running of the gauntlet of the patrolling ships by fast-sailing dhows from the Arabian coast had still, therefore, to be reckoned with; and much importance naturally hinged on timely information being conveyed of these intended trips, and their probable destination on the Persian coast, in order to facilitate the capture of arms on the high seas. The task of the Navy was difficult and onerous to a degree; for it must be borne in mind there were some 350 miles of coastline in Persian Baluchistan, between Gwatar to the east and Minab to the west, which were open to the gun-runners whereon to land their consign

ments of arms from Masqat, and other points along the Arabian coast. The distance across from Masqat to any point on the Persian coast between the Indo-European Telegraph - stations of Jashk and Chahbar nowhere exceeded 150 miles; so fast dhows could make the trip, under favourable conditions of wind and weather, in little more than twenty-four hours. But by coasting north from Masqat, in territorial waters, towards Ras Masandam, and then darting across the intervening space to the Biaban coast, the distance would be reduced to forty or fifty miles. This passage could therefore be accomplished during the hours of darkness, and the arms landed and removed inland before daylight.

The problem confronting the naval authorities, who were ill-found in patrolling ships, and received little or no timely information as to sailings from the Arabian coast, nor the likely destination of these dhows on the opposite coast, was in consequence praotically insoluble under the conditions obtaining up to the to the cold weather of 1909-10, and easily explains the comparative illsuccess of their previous endeavours to disorganise the traffic in arms. In fact, little more than a happy fluke, such as a dhow being becalmed within the beat of a patrolling ship, was in the least likely to lead to an important capture.

As a first measure towards improving existing matters at sea, Rear-Admiral Sir Edmond

Slade, the Naval Commanderin-Chief, East Indies, had proposed to the Admiralty that his ships in Eastern waters should be augmented by three second- and third-class oruisers, in order the more effectively to patrol the sea between the Arabian and Persian coasts. These did not, however, reach (in their entirety) the Gulf until the season was somewhat advanced; and early in Deoember 1909 Captain Hunt, R.N., of H.M.S. Fox (4600 tons), the senior naval officer in the Gulf, had at his disposal only three ships his own, which was broken down in one engine, and therefore barely capable of steaming eight knots with one propeller; the Lapwing, an antiquated R.I.M. ship of 850 tons, with a speed of about seven knots; and H.M.S. Philomel (2600 tons), which had lately arrived from Bombay. To these must be added the Whimbrel, a sailingboat of about 5 tons register, whose cheery captain and crew enjoyed a spicy and adventurous career, particularly when a stiff "shamal" was blowing and Afghans were lying in wait for her, in the hope that they might be able to greet her with a fusilade should she attempt to seek shelter in some neighbouring oreek.

The Royal Indian Marine further added to the gaiety of nations by lending a hand, at times, with two other old tubs of theirs, dating back, I should say, to the "early 'forties," and yolept the Sphinx and Redbreast. The former was

provided with paddle-wheels, but there was little else of mystery about her, as one could hear her churning her way through a choppy sea, in the dim distance, almost before she appeared in sight herself. Her speed was not excessive ; and as a dhow would always locate her, even if she didn't see her, and could, without much difficulty, make rings round her, the chances of this battle-ship overhauling a dhow, except in a dead calm, were distinctly remote. Still, she could patrol a beat.

At a later date, too, when the activities of the gunrunners embraced a still wider stretch of the Persian coastline, extending well to the west of Bandar Abbas, a fleet of mosquito craft, consisting of some eight tugs and launches, armed with maxims, and a three-pounder in the bow, were added to the patrolling strength of the ships in the Gulf, and performed most useful service. These were "mothered" by another R.I.M. ship, the Minto, which was a small up-to-date trooper.

The next step was to arrange for timely information being conveyed to the patrolling ships of intended sailings by dhows loading up with arms on the Arabian coast, as also of their probable destinations on the Persian coast. By this means it was hoped that even if the ships at sea were eluded, the dhows might run into ships' cutters carefully concealed in creeks or inlets near the proposed landing-places. With the object

Between Bombay and Karaohi I had as a fellow-traveller Mr Gregson of the Punjab Police, who was chiefly responsible for the admirable police arrangements denying facilities to Afghans to proceed to Masqat from Indian ports.

of acquiring this information, by mail steamer in time to and to keep in close touch with catch the next fast Gulf the Navy, arrangements were mail leaving that port for made for stationing secret-ser- Masqat. vice agents in and about Masqat, and along the Makran coast. It was their duty to supply news as gained to some one in authority either at Masqat, Jashk, or Chahbar, whence the information would be passed on at once to the Navy. In furtherance of these plans I was ordered from Simla to the Persian Gulf in November 1919, with instructions to make my headquarters at Jashk. Here it was intended shortly to erect a wireless installation, by means of which I could communicate freely in cipher all information received to the ships patrolling at sea,

Admiral Slade, in a letter to the Government of India in November, had pointed out the futility of confining his operations to the sea alone; and strongly advocated the fitting out of a transport ship to carry a mixed force (the composition of which could be subsequently decided upon), which would enable him to make raids on those stores of arms and ammunition that were still within striking distance of the coast -pending the arrival of the Afghan caravans from the interior to remove them. To discuss this and other problems with Admiral Slade, in my new capacity as Naval Intelligence Officer, I was direoted first to report to the Naval C.-in-C. at Bombay, and then to proceed to Karachi

As we were to cooperate in this important particular, it was of great advantage to both of us to meet in this way, and to discuss matters before we reached Karachi, whence I continued by fast mail to Masqat on 4th December 1909.

That steamer was also boarded at Karachi by two highly-trained secret-service agents, whom I will designate as A. and B., and with whom I was very closely associated during the next few months. Both proved themselves men of great intelligence and resource, and rendered most valuable services in connection with the operations to be described. A. was to be landed at Masqat, which would remain his special sphere of activity; whilst B. was to proceed to Bandar Abbas, and join me later at Jashk by the next down-mail calling at that place. It is perhaps unnecessary for me to add that, to all outward appearances, these these men were complete strangers to me during the time we travelled together between Karachi and Masqat.

There are probably few travellers who have not been impressed on obtaining their first view, at dawn, of the barren nature of the boldlyserrated rooky mountains which rise abruptly out of the sea along the Arabian coast in the vicinity of Masqat. The approach to that port is so skilfully hidden that it is hard to imagine there can be any passage through those forbidding cliffs to a peaceful harbour within their embrace. But 88 the steamer plies steadily up the coast, comparatively close inshore, a narrow opening is suddenly revealed; and, changing course, the ship glides in between threatening headlands-for all the world like the entrance to the "Pirates' Cove" of one's boyhood's imagination

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soon casts anchor in a diminutive expanse of still water encircled by bare frowning heights. On these, conspicuous masonry watch towers catch the eye, perched at intervals high up on the hillsides, thereby increasing the resemblance to a haunt of the bloodthirsty buccaneer of romance. But 8 sense of security is restored when one observes that the steep slopes are emblazoned in many places with formidable capitals, spelling out the names of numerous ships of the British Navy which for generations past have put in a tour of service in the Gulf. This fact has been commemorated by their

II.

enterprising bluejackets scaling giddy inclines, and insoribing the titles of their ocean homes in prominent positions on the everlasting rooks which for a time afforded them an asylum within this tranquil basin.

The small town of Masqat extends to the water's edge at the end of the harbour, and is built on a narrow strip of comparatively level ground, bounded olosely by the same desolate hills rising behind it. Like all Arab towns, the streets are confined and crooked, little more than alleys in appearance, and thronged with a heterogeneous mixture of nationalities, including Arabs, Indians, Parsees, Baluchis, Persians, and other Oriental races as remote as Swahilis from Zanzibar and Mombasa.

In the early December of 1909 the arms shops were still very much in evidence, though a somewhat subdued air was already noticeabledue probably to the fact that it was now fully realised Great Britain intended to put a stop to this traffic in arms. Moreover, during the course of the past few days, the Fox had captured, near Khor Fakkan, 430 rifles and 220,000 rounds of ammunition; the Lapwing, 1650 rifles and 200,000 rounds, thirty miles S.E. of Chahbar; and the Philomel, 824 rifles and 55,000 rounds, and their six Afghan owners, some fifty miles E.N.E. of Masqat. In early November the Fox had

captured 1300 rifles and of orushed date- stones and 117,000 rounds in Limah Bay; pounded dry fish! Yet, so almost within the last strange to relate, there is no month the seizures at sea pronounced fishy flavour in had amounted to 4200 rifles, the milk they give. and close on 600,000 rounds of ammunition-a highly satisfactory start on the season's operations, and one which caused the Afghans furiously to think.

The town of Masqat has but a small sea-front, and the local coast-trade by dhows employed in the arms traffic, and other legitimate trade pursuits, was chiefly to and from the small port of Matrah, a few miles farther up the coast. It was the land-locked harbour of Masqat, however, that all naval ships and mail steamers entered; for here were not only the various European consulates, and the Sultan himself, located, but the sole coaling station to be found on the Persian and Arabian coasts of the Gulf was there established; and it is, moreover, connected with India and the Gulf ports by submarine cable. The climate in winter and spring is pleasant enough, but it may be imagined the spot is a perfect inferno during the hot weather. Not a blade of grass is to be seen

at any time of the year, though a small narrow valley, down which a stream of fresh water trickles, and in which the renowned Masqat datepalms flourish, enters the far end of the town. The harbour swarms with fish, and in default of other fodder the few domestic milch-cows and goats ashore are fed on a mixture

On entering Masqat harbour we found the Fox had already arrived to replenish her coal supply, and a launch from her soon came alongside to take off their mails and convey me to the cruiser, where I was met on board by Captain Hunt, R.N. He had kindly arranged to give me a passage to Jashk in his ship, and I was soon placed au courant by him with the latest news, and the present beats of the patrolling ships under his command. A considerable portion of the Fox's crew and boats were out watching Khor Fakkan, and the Biaban coast in the neighbourhood of Ziarat. The Philomel was out some 50 miles N.E. of Masqat, patrolling along a N.W. and S.E. beat 40 to 50 miles in length, in the hope of intercepting dhows leaving Matrah for any point on the Persian coast between Jashk and Chahbar; whilst the Lapwing and Whim brel were in the vicinity of Chahbar, with boats out along the coast-line to seize them should they attempt landings near by.

The British Consul, Mr R. E. Holland, I.C.S., also came aboard presently, and I was able to discuss with him proposals for the employment of A., which were to be put in train as soon as A, was released from his period of quarantine ashore. A. landed in Masqat in the guise of a teacher of

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