'Memorandum on Sheikh Said' [‎56r] (3/6)

S. 11. A 2
“ The Turkish Governor of Mocha, on hearing of the occu
pation, went there with 500 troops, and they are now encamped
under Bab-el-Mandeb hills, and intend to remain there until orders
come from Constantinople on the subject.
“ The object of the French appears to be to cut a canal through
the opening into the lake, and to cut docks, &c., in the lake large
enough to receive ships, and run out a pier or breakwater to the
north of the opening.
“ The place is of great importance, being the entrance to the
Rod Sea, and is capable of being strongly fortified.
“ A French brig was at anchor off the place, said to have guns
and stores on board. Wells have been dug there, and a stockade
is now building by the Turks and Arabs.
“ The French have 18 miles on each side of the Cape, and the
boundary marked off by posts with French colours.”
In January 1885 the Resident at Aden telegraphed
that a French gunboat had stayed 40 hours at
Sheikh Said and taken soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. . The captain
landed with an escort and interpreter, but was
warned off by the Turkish guard vessel. He left
saying that early action was certain, as the place
was purchased by France from the Sultan.
Shortly after this the Resident announced that
800 Turkish troops had occupied Sheikh Said, and
Letter from Aden, 19th October 1885. that information had been communicated to him by
(B. 6.) a correspondent at Hodeida, which appeared to in
dicate that the Turkish Government desired to make
a permanent settlement there.
Enclosure to Letter from Foreign Office, In the same year a French Naval Commission
llth March 18*5. Home Correspondence, a pp ea r to have inspected the locality. Lord Lyons
Yol. 71, p. 201. communicated an article from the “ Temps,” stating
that the French naval officers who were sent to
examine the place had given an unfavourable report
of it:—,
“ MM. le contre Amiral de Boissoudy et 1’ingenieur hydro-
graphe Gaspari font de retour de la mission qu’ils viennent de
remplir a Cheik Said. Ils estiment, croyous nous, que pour faire
de ce point une station serieuse il faudrait y depenser de sommes
tres considerables tant pour construire les jetees indispensables
pour un port en eau calme que pour les ouvrages de fortification
a etablir au sommet de la montagne qui commande Perim.”
Enclosure to Letter from Aden, No. 14, In 1887, Commander J. E. Blaxland, H.M.S.
18th July 1887. “ Griffin,” was instructed to visit Sheikh Said, and
gave the following description of the fort under
construction by the Turkish Government:—
“ I proceeded to Warner Point on the Arabian coast, and, in
company with Captain Lyde, Assistant Resident at Perim, visited
the fort which is being built by the Turkish Government at
that place. It is a closed work, situated on the spur of a hill,
some 250 feet above Warner Point. It is semi-circular on the sea
front, and is about 60 feet in diameter. The land face consists
of barracks for the accommodation of about 40 or 50 troops, and
through which is the entrance to the fort. I saw two bronze
15 cm. Krupp guns on field carriages outside the fort, but none
were in position inside the fort, which is not yet finished. There
is a second barrack on the same hill, and a third is to be built, I
was told.
“ The fort commands a great part of the small straits, and
bears N. 79° E., 4 miles from Perim lighthouse, and is distant
53 miles from the Perim harbour coal stores. It does not,
however, appear to be very formidable, and, the Colonel in
command of the Turkish troops informed me, is intended as a
protection for his men in the event of their being attacked by the
Arabs. At present they are encamped on the plain.”
A more detailed account was rendered by the
Assistant Resident at Perim who went to Sheikh
Said in October 1887. His report is as follows:—
“ According to instructions received, I beg to report that I
visited the Turkish commandant of the new Turkish fort at
Enclosure to Letter from Aden. No. 26,
dated 4th November 1887.