'Summary of the Hejaz Revolt' [‎77v] (6/30)

Q |Vfore doslixr the summnrv of this pt-rioil mention should be made of t!ie
TnrkUh -.ilv Ibn Hashid* Emir of'flail, who, after a profitless journey to the LoO
district in June, 1916, had returned to Ilail.t In Anril. 19!?, he w iu(
defeated near Hanakiyah; (see note to paragraph 24) bv a ShenfiaT h.rce, aud, losing
H k -(nvaier part of h^strength, fled to the Turks at Medain Saleh, where he amW
Witb about 1.000 men on the 17t.]> August, while Teima, his most westerly possession.
fVll to Shprlti.-d forces. His presence at Medain Saleh at once became a source of
:i nnova n ee to the Turkish commander at Medina, owing to Ibn Rashid's exorbitant
irequent remonstrances to headquarters, Fakhri Fasha at Medina was instructed that
Ibn Knsiiid was to be looked on as a trusted Ally and should be treated in all respects
an honoured tr U ,vst ; and at the end of 1^17 he was stdl in his camp east of the
railway, "near Medain Saleh.
Though thev were unable to make any real headway against the Arab movement
the Turks^at German instigation were not altogether idle in their efforts to deal with
i I k 1 situation politically during the above period.
The ex-Khedive returned from Switzerland to Turkey in October, 1917, and
proceeded to Syria. About the same time Maurice§ visited Berlin and Syria before
emerging at Akaba. He gave information indicating that the Germans were
endeavouring to reconcile the Turks with the Arabs {see Appendices E. and F). The
Germans also formed an " Arab Bureau" under Yelder em at Damascus and there were
signs that their efforts were not entirely devoid of success {see Appendix A).
Period Isi January, 1918, to date.
10. January. —As above stated, the cold weather in December, 1917, had interfered
with active operations in the northern area, but in January, 1918 , Feisal s Arabs based
on Akaba were able to begin an advance towards the country south-east of the Dead Sea.
On the 1st January, 1918 , armoured cars raided Tel s Shahm station (6 stations
south of Maan) damaging buildings and destroying several trucks. On the 3rd, Feisal s
troops occupied the Turkish position of Aba Lissan (15 miles south-west of Maan), and,
about the same date, Sherif Nasir, with Abu Tavyljj and Belli Sakhr,^ tribesmen, occupied
Shobek in the Hlshe area, while Arabs also occupied railway bridges south of Maan near
Ghadir el Haj. Between the 3rd and the 7th, Sherif Nasir s force occupied Jurul ed
Derwish station (3 stations north of Maan), remaining in occupation for 3 days during
which rolling stock and a bridge were damaged. Some 80 Turks were killed, while -00
with a gun and machine gun were captured. A separate attack between Juruf ed Derwish
and K1 llasa (4 stations north of Maan) resulted in 25 Turks being killed and manv
wounded, and a further 50 prisoners were taken in a raid on Kalaat Aneiza (2 stations
north of Maan). On the 14th, the Arabs occupied Tafilah (20 miles north of Shobek),
capturing 150 prisoners, including the Kaiinakam, Negib Bey. On the 15th January,
14 Turks were killed near Kalaat es Zerka, and on the 22nd an Arab force, in conjunction
with .) Hntish aeroplanes and a motor 10-pr. gun section attacked the line south o* Maan
near Mudowere (8 stations south of Maan) capturing or killing 20 'lurks. On the.
wMii Jannarv an attempt by the Turks to recapture Tatilah failed, their force, numbering
some 800 men, 27 machine guns and 2 guns, being severely defeated in the Seil el Hesa.
*' S V« Vjtpendix C.
. wh en Turkish prestige jn Mesopotamia was hi^h after the capture of the British garrison
a i n ^ WRS near Zubair ■with a small followiDjr; His Wazir Minister. , Saleh Ibn Subhan had alreach
TntT 0 ' /''f" u J 0 !"'" 1 ^ le '^'ish camp m Mesopotamia. Ibn liashid openly stated he was friendlj to t •
I 1 ie y^ dva,lCe<1 towards Zubair would join them, but if thev did not advance he was prepared f
J "n " Tc ^ ^ h!3 ai ^ r « iU( ily attitude the British cavalry at Shaiba were reinforced by a column
Ton Pasii'iV W1 ' r ? ^9 attack him unless he moved forthwith from that neighbourhood. On the 25th une
Askm slLmn r ^ W1 ? nilles of Khamsieh, on the Euphrates, and there attacked Ibn Towila, of the
nSat,m * by a detici ' mi:nt thc i - 11, " ,dian Cavalry '
+ miles north-east of Medina.
§ 6ee Appendix E.
" b S ,; ^ of the HweiUt tribe.
^Beni Sakhr inhabit from .lebel Dfuze—(nearS Maan
Mi:!;^;:^ Uarya rl^ eforCeof Twks from kerakattacked the Arabs at Seil al where
and captured 250 in Y ^' t! Is resu ^ ;€ ^ in a brilliant victory for the Arabs, who killed 50'* of ' E , •
the direction of Kcr-ilf' ln ^ n ^r ^^ Cer ^ omma nding 4<!th Division. Only about 50'! urks escftp*
mounta^ ^na offi ^ — ^Ued or captnfed. The booty consisted of 2 powerfu Ausman
200 ma fi r,e ^ nS ^ ludi ^ 15 tier man Maxims) and 800 nties. About
were also taken and distributed among the Bedouin.
1
**
severe