•.v One the most remarkable features of the now historic Dreadnought .ib.oax. is- (says tb© .'JDaily .Express' 9,.the: f apt that, . despite the wonderful.complstieiiess.of their preparations, the "Abyssinian princes" who visited the battle ship were nearly discovered owing to, a' trifling flaw. Their "interpreter" when he arived on board mentioned that at the hour of- sunset his ,"roya,l" charges to a man would.' prostrate themselves with their faces towards •Mecca. .It did not-apparently occu^to him— nor to the naval officer who swallowed the. story — thatihe member'a^of the Abyssinian, royal family are Coptic Christians, arid therefore would, bano moTe likeJy to.turntowards ..Mecc^at sunset than towards Battersea. The officer in ; however, not only iwallowed the story, but for some'reason determined if possible to "prevent any religious exercises of ;the kind taking place on his deck. Therefore he followed the precedent of Josh-, ua, and determined to delay the -sun in its course, and "along the line .the .signal ran" that the sunset bugle was not to be blown until further orders. Twenty bugler boys, mystified and de? cidedly chilly, waited on the bridges of twiehty warships until the flagship, had signified that the sun was at liberty to set; and -not until the last' of 'the "royal gvests had left the ship was th« belated signal given. / '■■•
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19100413.2.68
Bibliographic details
Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12767, 13 April 1910, Page 4
Word Count
215Untitled Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12767, 13 April 1910, Page 4
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