'Handbook of Arabia. Vol. I. 1917' [‎198] (207/748)

198
ADEN AND THE INTERIOR
Sa'id Peninsula and that they were preparing to dispatch troops to
act against the Aden Protectorate. Consequently early in November
three Indian infantry battalions, then on the voyage to Suez, were
ordered to capture Sheikh Sa'id and destroy the Turkish works, arma
ments, and wells at that place. On November 10th the transports con
veying the force arrived off the coast of the Sheikh Sa'id Peninsula;
but adverse weather conditions prevented a landing at the point
first selected. Covered by the fire of naval guns,-a landing was
effected elsewhere, all opposition encountered was overcome, and
the enemy was driven inland, abandoning his field guns. On
November 11th Turbah Fort and other Turkish works in the neigh
bourhood were destroyed by the troops with the assistance of a
naval demolition party.
— For some time after these operations the Turks showed no signs
of advancing with a view to attacking Aden ; but their presence on
the northern boundary of the Protectorate rendered it desirable to
strengthen the garrison at Aden. Sheikh Sa'id was again occupied
by them, and on the night of June 14th-15th, 1915, they endeavoured
to effect a landing on the north coast of Perim ; but this attack
was successfully driven off by the garrison of the island. During
the latter half of that month reports indicated a possible Turkish
advance on Lahej from Mawiyah. On definite information being
received that such an advance was about to be made, the Aden
movable column was ordered to move out to Sheikh 'Othman on
the evening of July 3rd. Early the following morning the advance
was continued to Lahej, to which place the Aden troops had pre
viously been dispatched. The intense heat, sand, and shortage of
water rendered the march and the subsequent operations most trying,
but, in spite of these hindrances, the advance guard reached their
objective and engaged the Turks just beyond Lahej on the evening
of July 4th. But the desertion of the hired camels and the severe
climatic conditions so delayed and distressed the main body as to
necessitate, on July 5th, a withdrawal from Lahej to Khor Maksar.
After the withdrawal the Turks occupied Sheikh 'Othman, and it
was decided to increase temporarily the Aden garrison.
On July 20th, after reinforcements had been received, the Aden
troops with two batteries of artillery moved out of the town to
attack the enemy next morning. The Turks, completely surprised,
were expelled from Sheikh 'Othman with considerable loss, and
several hundred prisoners, mostly Arabs, were taken. In August
a small column engaged the garrison of the Turkish post of FiyufW)
eight miles north of Sheikh 'Othman, and forced the enemy to retire
on Lahej ; and a few days later another successful reconnaissance