Chapter IX: Romanov's In Dongolo

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EXPEDITION TO ALEXANDRAPOUR
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Date: 6 August 1900
Location: Legation City of Dongolo
Situation: Romanov Arrival and Departure
See Chapter VIII posted 22 January 2012 here:
http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2012/01/chapter-viii-hm-gunboat-zanzibar.html

Map {3rd. photo down}:
http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2011/07/chapter-vi-spy.html

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Previously in Expedition To Alexandrapour

Chargé d’affaires, Brigadier (ret.) Graham Day{cigar} "...after some refreshment and a tolerable curried chicken, we'll talk about the mission versus those infernal Romanovs."

Mr. Jitters: "Excuse me General but...."

Day: "Yes Mr. Jitters."

Jitters: "I'm terribly sorry Sir, but luncheon will be delayed near half an hour. The help here Sir, it's not like back in Dakla."

Day: "That's alright Mr. Jitters. The gentlemen and I will speak more."

Jitters: "Very good Sir."

Day: "I beg your pardon gentlemen. To the Romanovs then. Let us move to the other side of the veranda for the story of their arrival here.

Day: "Their jingling column I'm told arrived on Chapel Road two weeks ago."

Wyatt: "There Sir?"

Day: "So I'm told. A fortnight ago led by Colonel Villainovich and his niece, Countess Alexandra, they passed by the old Iberian Catholic Chapel. Imagine if you will...."

Day: "The two leaders followed by a troop of white-coated horsemen, a company of infantry and supply animals. They marched in style looking none the worse for their long journey."

Day: "Word is, she looked stunning and serenely composed in a tropical ensemble. The Colonel's military bearing was calm and confident."

Day: They marched by here proceeding to the Romanov compound over the bridge. Later that evening...."

Day: "Villainovich and Alexandra met my counterpart, Consul General Kuragin to dine."

Day "What they discussed at dinner, we do not know."

Colonel Lawford: "At the restaurant at the harbour side I saw when we disembarked from Zanzibar?"

Day: "That's the one. Unfortunately none of our people gathered information of any sort aside from exchanged pleasantries and remarks about the march inland from the coast. Then five days later...."

Day: "They marched out to the northeast."

Day: "The same lot but reinforced from the local Romanov garrison too."

Day: "Well gentlemen, that's all we know.

Day: "What their inscrutable plans are --- remain a mystery."

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Closing Remarks

(1) Thank you for looking in.

(2) There are eleven more chapters in Expedition to Alexandrapour. Chapter XX will end the story tentatively before 2013.

(3) Chapter X appears 19 February, 2012. Return again for Colonel Lawford's dramatic final hours in Dongolo. Later in Chapter XI he presses on into the interior pursuing the Romanovs and Alexandra encountering more danger, drama and surprises than anyone ever imagined. Steady on everyone.
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