'Memoirs and Recollections of An Officer of the Indian Political Service' [‎20r] (39/156)

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The Minister's intention became known last September, and the arrival
by night a few weeks later of the Sikh troops, with a certain and
justifiable amount of secrecy, was considered to be the best diplo
matic joke Addis has heard for a long time.
For many months Sir Sidney Barton, acting in part co-operation with
the rest of the Diplomatic Corps, has exerted himself in addition
to all his other onerous duties to consider and to take every con
ceivable precaution against the grave situation which has now arisen.
Under the command of British Officers, the Sikhs and Punjabis have
been trained since their arrival, for these particular conditions;
and for seven months they have been busy making the Legation safe
and snug for the present occupation. Their collective ability to
undertake work of any description from the first aid to excellent
cooking; their magnificent physique and training; their ability
with the rifle; and their appearance of complete dependability in
any circumstances, must indeed be a comfort and relief to the British
Minister and his fellow sufferers
Last year precautions were taken to ensure an independent and unassail
able water supply for the Legation, which I believe comes from a spring
or well on the hillside at the back of the Legation. Food was purchased
in abundance, without which the siege could not have lasted twenty-four
hours. It was reported during the weekend that the big stores of
Mohammed Ali, the Indian merchants, were assaulted by the mob. Had
they but known, most of the food and drink usually stored there had
almost certainly been in the possession of the British Legation for
some time. The Legation electricity is of course, independent, so
that the private radio transmitter and receiver, the search-light
and the interior lighting cannot be endangered. Big supplies of oil
and gasoline have been stored for a long time.
The Americans in Addis should indeed be particularly thankful to Sir
Sidney and his staff for, without the shelter of the British Legation
walls which they were forced to accept on Sunday, few of them would
have survived death or serious injury. The American Legation,
structurally and strategically, is one of the worst buildings in
Addis, and it is not surprising that it fell early prey to the rabble.
Unlike all the others, it is not in the sanctuary of the hills but
entirely isolated in the crowded western quarter of the town. Its