The treacherous, dishonourable devils!!!
Almost immediately the order came through from the control position: “Range 4500, deflection 3 left—both turrets load with common—object—the Governor’s house”—followed quickly by “Commence!” The A.P. who worked the turret telephone gave the order “Stand by—Fire!” And about one minute later we heard from the battery that the Governor’s house had been hit and totally destroyed! Jolly good shot! Hurrah!
Now all guns which could be brought to bear on the town were firing rapidly.
About noon we heard that the tug had reappeared in the mouth of the harbour and was heading for H.M.S. “——.” She had a bad escape of steam from her boiler, and had signalled for assistance, reporting at the same time several wounded on board as well as twenty German prisoners. The bombardment continued the whole afternoon. Down in the Fore T.S. the heat was stifling—we were all stripped to the waist and streaming with perspiration.
At 4·30 we heard that the remaining steamboats were making for the ships under heavy fire from Maxims, pom-poms, and rifles.
Shortly afterwards the “Cease fire” sounded, and, hastily changing, we ran up on deck to see what damage had been done.
The town was on fire in two places, and the Governor’s house, which had stood out so conspicuously only a few short hours before, was now nothing but a mass of blackened ruins. But there was no time for any feeling of compunction or regret then, for a few minutes later our pinnace ran alongside with the Commander and the coxswain lying on the deck simply smothered in blood and barely conscious. They had both been hit no less than eight times in various places, and had stuck to their posts until they collapsed from loss of blood. Three others of the crew were wounded, though able to walk; and there was no sign of the demolition party and the other three officers. The wounded were carefully hoisted on board, and carried down to the sick bay, and we at once put to sea.
At 2 next morning we anchored in Zanzibar Harbour, and the wounded were transferred to the hospital.
By this time we had learned what had taken place while our boats were in the enemy’s harbour. They had no sooner entered the mouth than, despite the white flags, a heavy fire broke out from the shore. Nevertheless, gallantly proceeding with their duty, they had managed to destroy two ships, and had then run alongside a large hospital ship. Three of our officers, accompanied by the demolition party, had hardly boarded her before three Maxims were unmasked on her deck, opening a murderous fire on the boat, which was forced to retire.
One of our party—the surgeon—managed to fight his way back to the gangway; and, leaping into a small boat alongside, presented his revolver at the heads of two natives who were in it, and ordered them to row him back to the pinnace. They had only pulled a few strokes when the surgeon was hit in the head and fell down in the bottom of the boat, apparently dead. The natives at once turned the boat round and in terror of their lives rowed back to the treacherous hospital ship.