Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎79r] (158/802)

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373. It might iiave been thought that the appointment of a committee for
the improvement of the roads in the liejaz (paragraph 33 o) was mainly a pretext
lor the levy of a new tax on pilgrims, and tne appointment of a sub-committee to
look at the roads, and the issue of orders that the steam-rollers lying in tne work-
^^shops should be made ready did not necessarily mean that anything serious was
being done. But the Egyptian Government have been asked to nominate a road
engineer for employment in the Hejaz, and the sub-committee claim to have found
a better road from Rabigh to Medina (the Rafsa Road, which runs by Raisa to
Bir Anna, near Medina) and a small diversion by which the sandy patch on the
Jedda-Mecca road from Alam to Shamisa can be avoided. Mr. Twitched, of the
Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate, states that the Saudi authorities have shown
great interest in the work on the road to the Cot-of-Gold, and have been
attempting more or less efficient imitations in some places.
374. The concession for the supply of electricity to the town of Jedda,
which had been granted (paragraph 89) to two local merchants, is stated to have
been cancelled. It is difficult to believe that the concession was of value, except
as a speculation to people who wanted something to sell at a profit, for it is
unlikely that an electricity enterprise for the town would pay for itself, still less
earn profits. The foreign Legations and firms have private installations which
they would be reluctant to exchange for the vagaries of a Saudi plant; the State
and the municipality would expect electricity for nothing; and most of the local
population are too poor to pay the price which would have to be charged by a
commercial enterprise.
375. According to the Saut-al-Hejaz, two new short-wave wireless stations,
which are unaffected by atmospherics, have been established at Abha and Riyadh.
The authorities, the report continues, are trying to obtain a number of such
sets for installation in various places. Sharqieh (Limited), who represented
Messrs. Marconi when the contract for Marconi sets was obtained, state that the
new sets are not Marconi’s. It is believed that a German was here some time ago
trying to sell wireless sets to the Saudi Government.
376. The only aeroplane which has been seen in the air during the last two’^j
or three weeks of November is the American machine belonging to the Saudi ]
Arabian Mining Syndicate. It might be thought that Ramadan, which coincided I
with the second half of the month, had something to do with this inactivity, but \
other causes are believed to be responsible. Xhe only one of the three Italian
inst ructional machines which was in order at the beginning of the month ceased
tcTappear very soon afterwards, and it is understood to be disabled in some way.
On the 4th November a three-engined Caproni arrived as a present from the
Italian Government. The local press describes it as a Caproni DC 101 eight-
seater, and says that it flew from Rome via Tunis, Cairo, Asmara and Massawa,
travelling 7,000 kilom. in thirty-five hours—apparently including stops. A
reception to celebrate the arrival of the aeroplane was given at Kandara Palace,
near the Kandara aerodrome, which was used for the first time when the Caproni
arrived. The new machine flew every day for several days, often flying low over
the town as though to make the greatest possible impression, but a breakdown j
of some kind condemned it to immobility while spares were obtained from Asmara. ?
The Italian Minister related, with a mixture of chagrin and amusement, that
when the spares arrived the customs refused to admit them free of duty, while
the Italian mechanics are said to be complaining that it is only with great
difficulty that they can induce the authorities to give them even a little petrol for
cleaning purposes. Two foreigners in Jedda, who are expert pilots, state that
the Caproni is by no means of the latest type. They also say that while the
popular opinion that the machine is a bomber is incorrect, it could easily be
converted into a bomber. The machine is fitted with a wireless apparatus which,
according to the local press, enabled it to communicate direct with Riyadh on
arrival. T he Italians are supplementing their present of aeroplanes by
presenting ahcTerecting a steel hangar which is to be bought out in sections. This
must be the hangar which the Commandant of Jedda has spoken of as about to
be erected to contain fifteen or twenty aeroplanes. The Russian pilot employed
bv the Saudi Government, M. Naidyonoff, told His Maiesty’s Minister that the
Wapitis were in excellent order and “ good for another five years.” but that they
could not be used because it was a condition of Italian assistance in aviation that
none but Italian aeroplanes should be used. This information, which is considered
[881 ee— 1 ] b 2