Coll 6/88 'Intelligence: Military Report on Arabia (C.B. 1892).' [‎21r] (46/133)

15
(C43043) B *
Cables
At the present time (September, 1941) cable communication is maintained between
MUSCAT and BUSHIRE, BUSHIRE and BAHRAIN, and between BUSHIRE and FAO,
thence to universal system.
In the Red Sea, JEDDA is connected to PORT SUDAN and thence to the universal system
There is extensive cable communication from ADEN and PERIM.
Certain secret work is being carried out on submarine cables and when this is completed
the position will be as follows :—
PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
FAO—BUSHIRE (1).
FAO—BAHRAIN (1).
BAHRAIN—MUSCAT (1).
MUSCAT—KARACHI (1).
RED SEA
JEDDA—PORT SUDAN (1).
PERIM—ADEN (1).
PERIM—SHEIKH SAYED (1).
ADEN—PORT SUDAN (4).
ADEN—PERIM (1).
ADEN—BOMBAY (3).
ADEN—PORT VICTORIA (SEYCHELLES) (1).
ADEN—ZANZIBAR (1).
ADEN—COLOMBO (1).
Genera! Notes on the Arabian Wireless System
The wireless system of Arabia centres around the two capitals of the Hedjaz and Nejd,
namely, Mecca and Riyadh. The main link is, therefore, naturally between these two places
and is" of the utmost importance, because for the greater part of the year the King resides at
Riyadh, while the Foreign Office and other Government Offices are in Mecca. Thus all
questions of international and internal interest are passed on this route. The remaining
stations divide themselves into two groups'. those in the Hedjaz, controlled by Mecca , and
those in Nejd, controlled by Riyadh. Apart from the internal system there are also external
links working to Syria, Iraq, Yemen and occasionally to Port Sudan.
In recent years there has been a considerable development in Arabian wireless communica
tions and new stations and links are put into operation fairly frequently. This is due to
the development of H/F apparatus, which is now taking the place of the old M/F equipment.
During May, 1939, experiments were made between certain main stations in the use of
R/T. These experiments were not very successful, chiefly owing to incompetence on the
part' of the Arab operators ; on 24th June > 1939, however, H.M. King Ibn Saud performed
the opening ceremony of the R/T link between Mecca and Riyadh. It is not known to what
extent R/T is now being used in Saudi Arabia.
The main channel of communications is between Mecca and Riyadh and operates on both
M/F and H/F. Since Taif is linked with Mecca by landline, traffic is also passed between
Riyadh and Taif and then from Taif to Mecca by this means.
The majority of stations in the Hedjaz are able to work direct to Mecca, but some of the
northern ones, which still use a spark transmitter, work in a local group. Traffic for Mecca
from this group is passed-either by Dhaba or El Weijh on H/F. The second group consists
of stations imNejd, and is controlled by Riyadh.
Of the stations in the Southern Hedjaz and Tehemah those of Jeizan, Dhahr and Kunfudah
work direct to Mecca while Abha and Machlaf work either Riyadh or Mecca, all operating
on H/F. It is not unusual for some of these stations to work Taif for onward transmission
to Mecca by landline instead of direct to Mecca.
The transmitters at Riyadh and Mecca are 6 kw. and manufactured by Marconi. Some
of the H/F equipment was made by the Radio Corporation of America, the power of these
being about 100 watts.
It is possible that future apparatus may all be Marconi, as the engineers have expressed
a preference for it.
The receivers in use are very varied, Marconi, Eddystone and Philips are among the
makes mentioned.
The officer in control of the wireless organization throughout Saudi Arabia is one Ibrahim
Silsila. The same man is likewise assistant director of Posts and lelegraphs. He is an
Egyptian by origin.