– 34 –

Wednesday Nov 25th 14

Arrived at Aden at daybreak & anchored
in the stream. H M S
Sydney left port at 6-30 am
said to be in pursuit of Turkish
gunboat in Red Sea. I reported
at Manganui at 9-30 am
with returns as ordered. No
shore leave allowed to anyone.
Shot from fort gun was fired
over bows of “Arawa” as we did
not drop anchor quite soon
enough this morning. The
projectile struck the water just
ahead and rather scared some
of the men. Thirteen English
Transports with Territorial
troops for India are also
in stream here. The fleet at
anchor is therefore 51

– 35 –

transports — 4 warships and
a number of merchantmen, a
very imposing spectacle.

The slower squadron of our
ships arrived during afternoon.

Aden from the sea is a
sandy rocky desert waste
especially on such a hot day,
but the harbour scene at
evening was magnificent.

Received copies of Reuters'
cabled war news of the
last ten days.