Monday, October 22

This morning the plane was drawn out of the water and into the commodious hangar so that the routine 20 hour check, which was done last time on Lake Geneva, could be carried out again. There was no lack of assistance and, in spite of the heat of this desert spot, the job went off well. The squadron here consists of six Short Brothers' airplanes; large, slow flying, three engine boats, cruising about 75 to 80 miles an hour. They answer the purpose splendidly, and are so roomy that the officers usually start off with a loaded icebox and several cases of beer, -- this climate is no joke, with its humidity of zero and temperatures in the sun of 100º to 120º.

One feels the delicate relationship between Persia and England. In the interest of peace and a protected trade with India, England continues to police the Gulf, both with cruisers and flying boats. This squadron makes regular runs down to Bahrein and Muscat, staying for the most part on the Arabian side where friendly tribes are found. It is perhaps this preference to Arabia which has caused the rift with Persia . . . . This morning Bob remembered that we have no Persian visas, so I went into town to obtain these from H.M. Nourzad, Consul Imperiale De Perse. He was a very decent chap and we had a good conversation over a morning cup of coffee, during which he mentioned that he had been Consul to the United States for several years . . . . Now back at headquarters. Squadron leader Barber (the flight surgeon) has just shown me some birds which he is training. He says that nearly everyone must take up some hobby here because the life is so monotonous. And at the end of two or three years of service out here most of the men are done up.