THE HMS PERSEUS  DIARY 9
2nd  Exercised General Qrtrs. & fired Cannon Tube. During day exercised prepare for battle. At 5 p.m. two dhows were sighted, proved to be No 1 dhow with another dhow in tow, filled with rifles, ammunition & barrels of sulphur intended for the Mullah. She fought hard to get away but the men of No 1 dhow caught her killing 2 and wounding two. No casualties to speak of on our side. This is a version of the affair, which was in the papers entitled Battle between Dhows. During afternoon Lieut Bevans men�s sighted three dhows & gave chase, 2 being swift sailors got away, the other one was caught up with. Lieut. Bevan ordered her to hove to, the reply was a fusillade of bullets all falling short. Then the men of the Perseus knew they were in for a tough job. The 3 pounder gun was quickly brought into action.  Accurate shooting was impossible owing to motions of dhow. The mast was quickly brought down & the helmsman was blown sky high by J. Russel A.B. Still the niggers kept a fire on our dhow but all escaped miraculously. Our dhow was brought alongside the enemy & into her jumped a dozen bluejackets armed with pistols and cutlasses. It was soon over, every nigger was cut about, but they dived into the sea & escaped ashore or else were drowned. Only 4 were took on board our dhow. 2 killed only the legs of the helmsman & 2 niggers badly wounded. The killed were given a watery grave and the wounded were attended to as best as possible. The dhow was then took in tow & our fellows were anxiously looking for the Perseus to to them. The Perseus took captured stores and wounded on board & took both dhows in tow & headed for Aden. During the night the ship was stopped for the wounded niggers to be operated on.

3rd  Bluejackets forming dhows crew came on board. We anchored in outer harbour of Aden 7 p.m. Halstead P.O. 2nd Class Alderton & Russel A.B.s recommended to Admiral for gallantry in dhow action. Boat went ashore & bought off rumour of peace in S Africa.

4th  Proceeded into inner harbour 5 a.m. Turned captured dhow & arms over to proper authorities
and sent wounded prisoners to European hospital. RIMS Mayo arrived with news of Mad Mullahs approach near Berbera. We prepared for sea at once, coaled ship 300 tons & left for Berbera 7 p.m. Two companies of seamen & stokers were told off in readiness to land if their services were required by Colonel Swayne at Berbera. The two wounded prisoners captured in the dhow died in Aden from the effects of wounds received.

5th we arrived in Berbera at 10 a.m.

6th  Boats crews were exercised during forenoon. Recreation party landed.

7th  Had a recreation and seigning party during evening.

8th  Sunday. Divine service.

9th  Started painting ship.

10th  Painting ship. Recreation party during evening.

11th  Pistol firing carried out. Weather very hot.

15th  Divine Service held.

16th  Man and arm ship.

17th  Weighed & left Berbera at 3 p.m. Fired torpedoes in entrance to harbour. At 7p.m. left for Aden.

18th  Anchored in Aden & found three Italian men of war here. Also HMS Dryad, which ship, was lent to this station from the Mediterranean to assist in naval duties at Aden.

19th Italian officers paid visit, which was returned. Surveyed cable during day.

20th  �Vesuvio�, Italian warship left.

21st  Italian gunboat �Governolo� left.

22nd  Divine Service held.

23rd  Exercised boats crews.

24th  Employed in preparing ship for canon action day.

25th  Reuters telegram containing news  of the King�s illness & postponement of the Coronation till an indefinite period.

26th  Last nights news confirmed. Received by ship�s company with deep regret. The day recognised by the Navy as a general holiday.

27th  Prepared ship for sea. Sailing postponed.

29th  Divine Service held.

30th  Exercised General Quarters. 10 p.m. exercised night quarters.

July 2nd  Exercised small arm companies.

3rd  Prepared for sea. Italian Warship �Governolo� arrived. & at 6 p.m. we left Aden.

4th  Arrived and anchored off Ras-al-Ara. At 8 a.m. cutters sent ashore armed & searched all dhows in the bay. 10 p.m. left and proceeded.

5th  Arrived Aden 1.30 p.m. after cruising along Arabian coasts.

6th  Divine Sevice held.
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