ZANZIBAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 203, 28 August 1896, Page 3

ZANZIBAR.

BOMBARDED ' BY BRITISH WARSHIPS.

SUDDEN DEATH OF THE

SULTAN.

SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN

POISONED.

Zanzibar, Augusb 26. Abdul Khaled controls 2,500 troops and the Palace guns were trained on the harbour. The British warships, Thrush, Sparrow and Philomel were moored opposite, and on the arrival of the St. George, the flagship, 250 men were landed, and Rear-Admiral H. Rawson, of the latter vessel, sent an ultimatum that unless Khaled completely submitted by nine o'clock to-day, the palace would be bombarded. The British residents in Zanzibar have been ordered on board the vessels. Hamid, the late Sultan, died suddenly, and it is supposed that he #as poisoned. Khaled had the tody burned within a couple of hours after death, and he told Mr Basil. S. Cave, the British Consul, that he preferred to die before he would quit the palace. The local opinion favours the abolition ot the Sultanate and the hoisting of the British flag. London, Augusb 27. Abdul Khaled, declining to submit to the British, the Admiral of the fleet opened fire on the palace, and the bombardment continued for upwards of an hour, and then began to cease. The extent of damage or loss of life is not known.