File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎10r] (28/834)

They are chiefly of a non-committal nature, and display a
conditional loyalty of a typically Arab description. For instance,
Nasir Mabkhut el-Ahmar says that we “ are bound to obey him
(the King) and execute his orders ” but stipulates that “assist
ance must be forthcoming from a strong Power which should
supply foodstuffs and ammunition.” Definite money payments
are made a sine qua non both by certain notables of the Hashid
and by Ali ibn Ihram : the former relate how they used to
receive monthly salaries from the Turks, but are now “ willing to
join the King providing they receive the same salaries,” while
the latter states that both the tribes, Hashid and Bekil “ are
anxious to serve the King, but in return he must fix salaries for
them.” Throughout there is no positive statement about action
taken or pledges given, and it seems from the letters as if it was
unlikely that the writers and their following would initiate any
military steps without financial and material encouragement.
Aden News.
A landing party from one of our warships was recently fired
on by Arabs at Khor Omeira (about sixty-five m. W. of Aden),
the result being two men wounded. This was an unexpected
event, since that coast is usually friendly : it may have been due to
the innate tendency of the Arab to let off his rifle on the slightest
provocation (which, owing to an accident, there was in fact), or
the men may have been a party of “ Milleh ” from Lahej. In any case
the incident need not be looked upon as serious.
In consequence of reports indicating the movement of
enemy guns northwards, a reconnaissance in force was made from
Aden towards Hatum, which was partially successful in forcing
the Turks to reveal their gun-positions : they appeared to be
occupying the same lines as before. Nothing heavier than a
Mantelli gun was used against our troops. The Turks do not
look like evacuating Lahej itself, anyhow for the present, though
a withdrawal of some of their advanced posts seems not improbable
in the near future owing to the steady pressure of our own forces.
On the strength of reliable information that the enemy was
sending, on October 9, a force of 300 Turks and 100 Somalis
against Shuqra with the object of capturing Abd el-Qadir, a small
party of infantry with some guns was despatched on a warship to
Shuqra on the 12 th. No sign of the enemy was, however,
found. (See p. 409 for a previous report.)
Shahtur Traffic on the Euphrates.
Supplementing the information given on p. 159 about
shahtur traffic from Jerablus, the Mesopotamian E.F. Intelligence
Summary of September 3 conveys the report of a man who
floated down stream all the way to Ramadi last July in twenty
days, his stages being Jerablus—Deir, seven days ; Deir—Anah,
six days ; Anah—Hit, four days ; Hit—Ramadi, three days.
His shahtur. winch had a crew of four and was coupled with