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My report met with the approbation of the authorities. I could not help being hugely delighted on meeting in St James's Street, the day after my report went in, the new quartermaster-general, Sir A. Herbert. His first words were, "That is a splendid report of yours." H.R.H. directed an official letter to be written expressing his satisfaction:

"HORSE GUARds, War Office, June 1882.

"SIR, His Royal Highness Commanding-in-Chief has read with great interest the report on Egypt prepared for the Intelligence Department by Major Tulloch, Welsh Regiment, D.A.Q.M.G. at Portsmouth.

"His Royal Highness is aware that, owing to the state of affairs in Egypt, Major Tulloch must have experienced many difficulties in obtaining the information contained in his report, and that had he not acted with great tact and discretion it would have been impossible for him to have collected the details. which have made it most valuable.

"I am directed to request that you will be so good as to convey to Major Tulloch his Royal Highness's high appreciation of the excellent work that officer has done. A. HERBERT, Quartermaster-General.

"To Lieut.-General PRINCE EDWARD OF SAXE-WEIMAR,

Commanding Southern District.”

The report was printed by the War Office confidential press in May, and in June, after the massacre at Alexandria, copies were given to the Cabinet Ministers, and also sent to the French and Indian Gov

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ernments. I was repaid my actual expenses-a little over £100-from, I understood, the Consolidated Fund. It was a great personal satisfaction to me that I had done what was right in getting, on my own initiative, information which ultimately proved to be so useful.

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CHAPTER XIX.

MEDITERRANEAN FLEET.

WHEN the news of the massacre at Alexandria in June arrived I happened to be in London, attending at the Admiralty about that portion of my report referring to the protection of the Canal and the necessity for the gunboats patrolling it having their tops fitted for machine-guns to fire over the banks. When there I happened to say to Sir Cooper Key, the First Sea Lord, "Should the admiral want a spare foretop man, I am ready." Next day I again went to the Admiralty to explain in every detail my scheme for the proposed landing at Ramleh, taking over with me from the U. S. Institute the account of Abercrombie's expedition, which had an excellent plan of the Alexandria peninsula. The first words Sir Cooper Key said were, "You had better go down to the War Office at once; we have applied for you to be attached for duty with the commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet." On going into the details of the proposed scheme for capturing Alexandria, I pointed out that Arabi would have a number of leading Europeans in his power, and that he would have to be somehow informed that he had to answer for them with his own life. "Ten for one, commencing with Arabi," was the

SERVICE UNDER THE PENNANT.

261

answer Sir Cooper Key gave. I could have given a cheer, so delighted was I with the strong naval backbone showing itself as usual. At the War Office I first of all saw the adjutant - general, Sir Garnet Wolseley, and went again with him very fully into the details of my proposed scheme for the capture of Alexandria.

From the adjutant-general I went to Mr Childers' room, who informed me what I was required for. H.R.H. then came in and also told me that I was to report myself to Sir Beauchamp Seymour, commanderin-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. I said I had better at once take the first train to Portsmouth to get my things. H.R.H. said, "You have not time; it is now two o'clock; your train for Brindisi leaves at eight." So I wired to my wife that I was off that night to join the Mediterranean Fleet, and to send up my servant at once to meet me at Victoria Station, with my blue patrol-jacket uniform, sword, revolver, and some underclothing. I then went to Cox's for money and to the Opera Arcade for sponge, toothbrushes, shirts, collars, &c., in case my servant did not arrive in time. Fortunately he got up just as the train was starting and threw my little portmanteau into the carriage. In forty-eight hours I was at Brindisi, and three days afterwards reported myself to the admiral in my Piccadilly suit, black hat, and umbrella, just as I had left London. The world did not contain a happier individual than I was at that moment. No officer of my standing ever before could have had a grander appointment, and that regularly under the pennant I loved so well.

The massacre had produced a general stampede of the Christians in Egypt. Greeks and Italians by the

thousand, with their wives and children, were pouring into Alexandria, and being shipped off to Europe by us, that energetic naval officer, Charlie B. of the Condor, superintending the embarkation arrangements. After an interview with the admiral, I went at once to the British Consulate to see if everything in the way of defence was right. The consul had been badly wounded, and barely escaped with his life on the afternoon (massacre commenced about 3 or 3.30 P.M.) of the 11th June, which proved fatal to so many. I found a marine officer in charge, and everything ready. A telephone wire and cable connected the Consulate with the flagship in the harbour, the barracks and forts were full of troops, and it was very evident that Arabi and his crew meant to make the place too hot for us. Passing the low sea-battery of Mex on our way into the harbour, I noticed that it was in a different state from when I last saw it in March everything was ready for action there. I was not long in getting, so to say, behind the scenes: it was really war now, and I did not hesitate to use all means in my power to get the information I wanted. I had full authority to draw for any sum I required for the special service I was on. Amongst other matters, I found an agent for torpedo-mine exploding material had just left for Europe after a conference with Arabi & Co. I put salt on that individual's tail by a wire that he bore a striking resemblance to one of the Phoenix Park murderers, for whose apprehension there was a reward of £1000. The agent was not seen again in Egypt.

The morning after my arrival an amusing incident occurred which put me at once en rapport with the fleet. At daybreak, when the decks were being

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