Chapter VII: The Gauntlet

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EXPEDITION TO ALEXANDRAPOUR
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Date: 31 July 1900
Location: Dakla River
Situation: The Gauntlet
Recommendation: See Chapter VI posted 24 July 2011 here:
http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2011/07/chapter-vi-spy.html
The map shown here will be singularly helpful in following the journey
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Clicked Images Are Extraordinarily Better
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We resume the story of Lt. Col. Lawford's Journey Up The Dakla River.

The Dakla River near the city of Azrou. A pilot boat....

Leads HM Gunboat Zanzibar up river.

On the main deck amidships we see Nazim at the ladder, Colonel Lawford in the blue shirt, Politico Mr. Albert Wyatt in khaki and the enigmatic Colonel Boyle at his cabin door.

Zanzibar's crew exercises the forward gun while others observe adjacent hills. Her speed is only four knots in this narrow and safe section of The Dakla but....

The serenity of the river passage is shockingly altered when shots are fired from the eastern ridge top.

Zanzibar's crew swings around the forward gun and fires, sailors armed with rifles shoot and the Gatling peppers the hillside. Lawford ducked whilst Wyatt and Boyle  moved out of sight.

The Gatling suppresses enemy fire.

But Colonel Boyle is hit and lying on the main deck as....

Zanzibar increases speed moving out of range of enemy fire.

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CLOSING REMARKS

1. Readers are kindly reminded this is Part VII of a second serial story on the Campaigns of General Pettygree blog. Part VI, The Spy, appeared here on 24 July 2011. This story and General Pettygree's Surajistan Field Force (Chapter 55 recently posted) are occurring at the same time.

2. Col. Lawford was detached from Gen. Pettygree's command due to his unique knowledge of whom he is pursuing. Tally-Ho Colonel!

3. The map mentioned at the very beginning is here: http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2011/07/chapter-vi-spy.html

4. Gunboat: A Houston vessel bought from The Virtual Armchair General. http://www.thevirtualarmchairgeneral.com/500-houston.html

5. Crew: Mostly Perry Sudan Naval Brigade painted by John Preece.

6. The water product from Scenic Express is terrific. See: http://www.sceneryexpress.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NH60851 

7. Ahoy there lads! Your remarks are entirely welcome.

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