BOMBARDED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 969, 9 November 1910, Page 5

BOMBARDED.

SULTAN'S PALACE AT ZANZIBAR. AN INCIDENT IN BRITISH NAVAL HISTOEY. Captain W. D. R. Barclay writes as follows:— Sir, —In further reference to the bombardment of the Sultan's Palace in 1896 the "Zanzibar Gazette" of September 2 of that'year gives particulars which may interest your readers. News of the death of the Sultan haying been confirmed, Mr. Basil S. Cave, her Majesty's acting-diplomatic agent and General Sir Lloyd Mathews, the Sultan's Prime Minister, went to the palace together, but had only just tiino to order | everything to 'be closed when Sayid Khalid Vin Burgath, who had caused trouble on the occasion of the accession of the deceased Sultan, in spite of the warnings of both these high officials, forced Ins way into the palace, followed by a force of armed men, the entry being effected by the smashing of a window. Gum Run Into Position. Their remonstrances being disregarded these officials withdrew, thereupon the armed force being rapidiy augmented, quick-firing and . other guns were run into position so as to command the approaches to the palace. There were between 500 and 600 armed men in the palace and some 700 more with nine guns holding the square. This force was eventually joined by some two thousand Persians, Alaskas, slaves, and the riff-raff of the town.

The question to be settled was that Sayid Khalid must be ejected from the palace or his claim to succeed to the Sultanate admitted.

The public announcement of the Tsar-like self-crowning by a salute being fired in the harbour from the s.s. Glasgow, the late Sultan's man-o'-war, and notices wore sent to the different Consulates to the effect 'that Sayid Khalid had succeeded to the Throne of Hamid Vin Thwain, and demanding recognition. To these notices came the general reply that when such recognition was obtained from the British authorities his claim would he admitted. ' Meanwhile all the different flags remained at half-mast. The next day the dead-lock continued, and the situation was enlivened by the arrival from the south of H.M.S. Racoon, which joined the other warships—viz., the Thrush, Sparrow, and Philomel. The arrival of the flagship St. George was signalled with the Admiral on board. The'flagship'was not expected till two days' later, but. the Admiral. lost no time, and was soon in conference with the heads of departments on the spot more messages were sent te the refractory Sayid Khalid. An Ultimatum.. The morning of the next day all was eager anticipation. It was known that at 7 o'clock' an ultimatum was to he sent to. the Palace, and that if the flag was not hauled down at 9 o'clock the ships would'open fire. Eight o'clock brought boats ' from the flagshipj and the English ladies and children' were taken off to the St. George. The different ships in harbour then shifted their positions to get out of the line of fire from the Palace. . The Thrush, Sparrow, Racoon, and Philomel took up their respective positions, and by the moving of the other ships, the "Sultan's man-o'-war" Glasgow was left free to firo -where she listed, but her broadside was ■ exposed to the stern guns'of the St.. George, should it be necessary to silence her.

At'a quarter to nine a small, swift launch was seen coming from shore, and !-a : message was anticipated, but it was soon evident that.she boro a command to the Glasgow to tako part in what might happen. Her decks immediately were' oleared for action, and her guns were trained on the St.. George. Tho ladies were now put in as'safe a place as .possible, yet, so that they might see sorhethiug of what 1 was going on. The ladies had been received on board by the Admiral himself at the gangway. Firing Commences. ■ "Two bells" struck out from the ships, beiiig a little ahead of the.Palace, time. The signal to prepare for action had been given five minutes before; then followed three minutes' suspense waiting for the Palace clock to strike.. The, hour struck, tho flag at the Palace remained up—up went, the ship's signal ; to open fire, and tho first long roll of smoke and tongue of flame Shot out from the Thrush. Almost simultaneously, the' Racoon and the. Sparrow opened with shell at the palace towers. . I

Immediately the fire, was answered from all parts of the palace, and an especially heavy fire from the landing pier. The Glasgow had opened fire on the St. George. The compliment was at once acknowledged and a return shot from one of the flagship's light guns was the form of reply. This shot crashed into her wooden side, and the Racoon and Philomel dealt with her from other angles. The Glasgow opened fire again, and had to receive from the St. George a silencer from her 6-in. stern gun. The Philomel had planted a shot right into the Glasgow's bows, and shortly after the Racoon cleared the Glasgow's deck with a shell. Down Fluttered the Flag. Tho bombardment had lasted some twenty minutes, and still the firo was returned. Now from the palace down fluttered the flag, and things flying in the air ashore showed that everything was breaking up in the middle palace. A pause was now made to see if resistance were ended. "Cease fire" was sounded thirty-seven minutes after tho bombardment had begun.

. Just before this the Glasgow had hauled down the Sultanate flag, and had hoisted the Jack at the mainmast. The Glasgow" eventually went down, after the wounded had been taken off. Palace on Fire. On shore it was seen that the middle palace was -gone and only the back wall remained. The fire was creeping along the whole length of the building, some 300 feet, and devouring every thing in its path. News that Sayid Khalid the usurper had taken refuge in the German Consulate was now current, but he and his force had been disarmed by a party of marines, though they had no notion who he was. .'' .

Nothing of special interest occurred until news was received that all the preliminaries to the proclamation of the new Sultan were concluded. The for-, mal meeting or conference was held in the Customhouse, and the flag was displayed at the corner of tho public palace, a salute of twenty-one guns was fired by H.M. ships, and on the St. George the Sultan's Anthem was played, by the band of the Admiral's flagship. Tho bombardment and its was accomplished. The display of forco was the wholesome correction of extraordinary, inadequate idea of what a great Power has behind it to enforce correspondence with advice proffered, and a course- of action it has determined should be followed. Proclamation Announced. With this stormy preface the proclamation of the accession of Sayyid Hamond Byn Mohamed Byn Said was announced. Of the riff-raff which ran through the streets firing indiscriminately at man, woman, or child, thirty were killed, and the wounded and their victims filled the hospitals. Two hundred and fifty prisoners were captured, ap.d'2oo rifles, weraj

covered. Only one serious injury was received by a bluejacket on board the Thrush. After the proclamation of the new Sultan, that • dignitary held a durbar, and at that function decorated those ladies who had been on board the St. George, and had had the unique experience of being on board a British man-o'-war whilst in action. Of these ladies one is at present resident in New Zealand. The decoration is a handsome gold ornament, with tiic Sultan's monogram thereon in Arabic letters.