Page 576 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

80 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF
only joined Captain Dick just after the firing had begun, and whether or not
he had been a party to the inception of the attack, on being called on by tho
Flag Captain, he seems to have endeavoured to stop it at some risk to him­
self. Meanwhile Major Heriot’s party had made a start to join the Captain,
but the firing became so rapid on the beach side that they thought they had
better make their way direct there. On arrival they found the boats and a
few men under Lieutenant Noakes who had already reached the shore, defend­
ing themselves against a heavy fire. Major Heriot was able to signal to
H. M. S. “ Hyacinth ” to bombard the town from the north side, and as the
result of a few shell and' the action of the Shaikh, firing soon ceased, and
Captain JDick was ultimately able to assemble his party on the beach and
return to the ship, having been on shore about 5 hours. .
The casualties on our side were 5 killed and 9 wounded, 8 of whom it is
believed eventually recovered- The Arabs were said to have lost 37 men.
The incident occurred on 24th December. News of it was received at
Bushire by the Admiral and the Resident by wireless on X’mas Day, and
the Flagship followed on 26th, having left H. M. S. “ Fox ” and other vessels
at Debai. His Excellency and the Resident left on 27th as soon as the Flag­
ship could proceed and only learned the details of wrhat had occurred, on the
way down.
On arrival at Debai, it was reported that many of the inhabitants, expect­
ing reprisals, had fled to the hinterland, and that the town generally was in
a state of imminent fear. The British Indian Banians alleged that the
inhabitants were, depending for immunity on their presence and would not
let them leave, but on the contrary had warned them that if any firing were
commenced by His Majesty's Ships, they would at once be murdered.
The Shaikh naturally feared to come off to the Flagship without a
written assurance that he would be allowed to return in safety, but having
received this in writing, he forthwith came on board with the Residency
Agent and his cousin, Butti-bin-Rashid.
Meanwhile the evidence of the several officers concerned appeared to
indicate that either from apathy or intention, the Shaikh had not taken the
trouble to prevent the attack, but that, when he saw how far it had gone, and
when specifically called on to do so by the Flag Captain, he had done his best
to stop the firing and had shewn himself able to do so. In fact it was clear
that, but for his eventual assistance, the losses to our party would have been
much heavier, if indeed they had not been annihilated.
In his interview with the Commandcr-in-Chief and the Resident, how­
ever, the Shaikh adopted an uncompromising attitude, alleging that no mes­
sage had reached him from the Flag Captain, that he had'heard nothing of
the landing party until it was ashore, and that by the time he had dressed
and hurried out, the mischief had commenced; and lastly that the firing had
been started by our men.
It appeared to His Excellency and the Resident essential that the matter
should be disposed of without the delay which a reference to Government
would have involved, having regard to the precarious means of communication
existing, and the uncertain state of the weather; the following demands were
accordingly made upon the Shaikh, to be complied with in 48 hours :—
(f) The replacement of a tide-pole which had been removed;
(ti) The acceptance of a telegraph installation at any time required by
Government, in accordance with treaty obligations;
(ill) The surrender of 400 rifles to be collected from the townsmen;
(iv) The payment of a fine of 50,000 rupees.
Shaikh Butti was informed that the restoration or retention of the
50,000 rupees in whole or part, would be contingent on his agreeing to accept,
when required, two further requirements—(i) the location of a British officer
as Agent of the Government of India, (ii) the acceptance of the change in the
unsatisfactory local postal arrangements at present in force to a proper post
office on the lines of those employed at other places of steamer-call in the