File 3498/1912 ‘Aden News Letters’ [‎291r] (592/598)

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32nd Weekly Letter.
Dated Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , the 10th (received 19th) August 1912.
From Major H. F. Jacob, Acting Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Aden
T °~ C - C - V - 0 " t0 the G ° Vernm “ t of - Bomb ^ Special
The Abdali Sultan, Sir Ahmed Fadthl, returned from Cairo on the 4th indtfm*
and proceeded to Lahej, his capital, on the 6th idem. He halved lett e “from
the frnam and from one of his emissaries informing him that the Imam’s forces have
inflicted a heavy loss on the Ednsi in the vicinity of Asir, capturing 2 pieces of
* Satara. cannon. The Imam’s capital * is now said
against the Edrisi in case the Turks fail to e s u hl,e 0 ^m° P Tl!e te r!f Cd S - rVice
further states that, owing to the troubles with the Edrisi, the proposed^xpedition
tl .'?- dtobe P ost P on «l- He says that an expedition consisting^! some
fnswZns t 7 n t0 besentshor % against the Yafiis and that he hTfreceived
rveUo oi lette^otT^ 8 ^*^ 01 0a ? pS ’ etc -’ We have received no reply 1
last * ® Ove rnor-General of Yemen despatched on 27th June
, 2 ' The Sl’fifof Behan sends me a letter addressed to him by Sharif Abdur
rahman of Marib informing him that the Imam’s forces were advancing asa imt
Ahri b ’ I* ’ A ’ aS a ?; Hubab and that they had already'reached Al-Jouf Sharif
Abdurrahman sa,ys that he is determined to fight them and presses the Sharif
of Behan and other Shafts to join him as the laidis (the Iman?s followers) had
as their objective the total suppression of the Shafai creed. ad
vr J, hiS f le p te , r was ';' rit ‘, en in Marc]l Iast - Subsequent news received from the
Kadthi of Behan and other sources tend to show that the Imam has withdrawn ,
Etei itltterTf 11 ^ sL B t a f M he h iS at p r nt tryin 8 conclusions wfrh Z /
fi t ‘ i • letter of the Sharif of Manb may be an exaggeration. Marib flieq
the Turkish flag but has no wish to be friendly with the Turks’ new friend doubt
ess because this spells double taxation, Manb is of the Zaidi persuaHcm ls l
in th^ M he b e rv°f S v ba , mel ' 18 not stron 8 ln tbese P arts of Arabia. Earlier
m March the Marib Chief, had written to the Sharif of Behan, threatening ex-
termma ion if he failed to jom the Turks, and this volte-face as now d sdosed
lends color to the truth of his apprehension of an inroad by the Imam. d
■ , A’ ocalne ^ sc o™spondent reports that the Edrisi has captured the Fursan
island with the aid of 500 Arabs and that 300 Turks, who were there, abandoned
their arms and fled ; that the Edrisi is at Maidi with 4,000 soldiers ready for an
emergency , that he gets all his requirements from Massowa and deceives^his fob
owers by saying that he indents on the Muhammadan Community at Cairo.
4 . Our news correspondent Saiyid Muhammad Taha reports that there have
een some disturbances between two sections of the Amiris and that a Sheikh on the
urkish side has taken away a camel and some rifles from one of the Amir’s villages
I had an interview with the new Amir on the 3rd instant. He reports that things
are quiet almost everywhere and that he has made settlements with most of “he
ri esmen who were eternally at logger-heads with his father. He disclaimed
the rumoured friendship between him and the Imam, but admitted that there had
been correspondence between them with a view to the settlement of some outstand
ing disputes between him and the Sheikhs on the Turkish side. He confirmed the !
general report regarding the power and influence of the Imam and of the latter’s
desire *0 gain Yafa. I was not a little impressed with the activities of this young
Tt Tu rked £r Md m 80 8llort a time t0 clear tJle Augean Stable he inherit
ed from his father He promises well. I am addressing Government officially
regarding his request for honours and assistance. ^
Dated Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , the 10th August 1912.
Endorsed by Major H. F. Jacob, Acting Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Aden.
Copy forwarded, with compliments, to the Deputy Secretary to the Go vc my
ment of India, Foreign Department, Simla. J
G. M. Press, Simla.—No. C-359 F. D.—21-8 12,—U.—H,C.S,L,
9 SEP1912