File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎102v] (202/450)

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Colonel Parker s Appreciation of the Situation.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 6th October [No. 852] a report on the
situation which Colonel Parker, at Rabegh, had made to Colonel Wilson on the
3rd October.
Colonel Parker said that, in brief, he appreciated the military situation as follows:
If Mecca be denied to the Turkish force, the Arab cause will be successful; and,
probably, the Turks will not be able to send more than one division south from Medina!
According to all reports the Turkish force must pass by Rabegh ; therefore, if this
place be held^ the Arab cause is won. The opposition to be offered to such a Turkish
force before it reached Rabegh, though of the nature of a guerilla, would be con
siderable ; if a Turkish division were successful in pressing through it would probably
be able to take Rabegh from its present garrison. Two battalions of British troops
entrenched at Rabegh would probably deter the Turks from making the advance ; and
a British brigade landed two days before an attack should be sure of beating off the
Turkish force. As to aeroplanes, though a valuable addition to a British, they would
not be of material assistance to an Arab force. Moreover, the landing of a flight of
aeroplanes commits us to co-operation in land operations of which, unless troops were
laiided, we couM not ensure the success, and, without an advance, seaplanes are only
slightly less efficient than aeroplanes.
f orwarding this, Colonel Wilson asked whether there was any chance of the
batteries asked for by the Arabs being sent. In his opinion they were most necessary.
Sir H. McMahon added that, having regard to the conflicting views as to the need
of them, he and the Commander-in-Chief were agreed that the despatch of the proposed
flight should be held up for the present.
On the 7th October Sir H. McMahon [No. 854] transmitted another telegram from
Colonel Parkei of the same date. Faisal, with the greater part of his armv, was to
have left Khshef or Beduna on the 6th October. To facilitate Faisal sending com
munications, a ship was going to Bureika for the next few days. Faisal did not wish
to fight a decisive action. Colonel Parker strongly recommended that Edallah should
go to Rabegh if the Turkish advance should prove to be serious.
Colonel Parker added that Ali Bey was asking when he might expect some
quick-fiimg mountain guns ; one battery he said was promised long ago, and three more
were asked for on the 22nd September. This matter is again referred to in another
report of Colonel Parkers, telegraphed by Sir H. McMahon on the 10th October
[No 875], in which it was mentioned that Ali was asking that the mountain batteries
and barbed wire be expedited.
The Prisoners of Taif.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 9th October [No. 866] that the Sherif was
sending to Egypt the Turks captured at Taif, including Fesalil Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Governor of
Hejaz, the late Cadi of Mecca, the Director of Finance, the Director-General of
Posts and telegraphs, and the Secretary-General of the Hejaz Government. These
weie to arrive on the 10th October, together with the Governor’s civilian staff
eighty-one women and children, seventy-seven officers, and 690 rank and file The
remainder were to follow in batches.
The Haj.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 9th October [No. 873] that Colonel Wilson
had reported that the pilgrimage had been concluded by the safe return of the piWims
from Arafat to Mecca. r s
Supplies sent to the Sherif.
Sir H. McMahon has forwarded [No. 230] the following list of
munitions sent to the Sherif up to the 7th September :
supplies and
(A.) Money.
528,000Z. in gold.
In addition, about 8,000Z. has been spent locally on his behalf.