File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎89v] (187/834)

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portion of the Arab army, under a Shenf Hassan, was moving
southwards to Dhabir, twelve miles north-east of Loheiyah.
On the 13th and 14th the “Fox” bombarded Atan, a lurkish
post some miles inland from Loheiyah, and commanding the
water supply of that place. Encouraged by this bombardment,
the Arabs, who had hitherto shown a disinclination to advance,
attacked Atan on the loth, but in a half-hearted manner and
without success. Ihe “Fox” bombarded the post again on the
16th and 17th, and some skirmishing took place on shore, in
which the Turks are said to have had fifteen men killed. The
enemy, however, had strongly fortified themselves in Atan, and
held a line of communication between Atan and /ahirah, which
was the main depot for Turkish supplies. The Arabs,
meanwhile, were complaining of lack of food and ammunition.
The organization was undoubtedly bad, and while the sheikhs
themselves were loyal to Idrisi, their men were said to be
deserting in considerable numbers.
Idrisi, however, was still hopeful, and on the 23rd his army
again moved southwards. Nasir ibn Mabkhut marched from
Gauda to a point south-east of Atan, cutting the line of
communication with Zahirah. The local sheikhs, of the Beni
Jami and other tribes, were now coming in to join Idrisi and
bringing hostages, and Sheikh Osman, one of the leading men of
Loheiyah, expressed his willingness to assist the invaders. He
reported that the Turks were anxious to evacuate Atan, and
were endeavouring to obtain camels for that purpose. On the
26th considerable fighting, in which the Arabs were successful,
took place in the neighbourhood. Thirty-three Turks and only
five of Idrisi’s men are reported to have been killed.
There is still a strong force of Turks under Ghalib Bey in
the Beni Abs country, where Sheikh Mohammed Tahar is Idrisi’s
commander. Idrisi himself was still at Midi at the end of
January. The Governor of Hodeidah has recently paid a visit to
this front, where the Turks are well supplied with ammunition.
The Situation at Hail.
According to the statement of a deserter, there are no
Turkish troops at Hail at present, and the town, which has five
gates, is practically undefended with the exception of a
delapidated wall on the north and east. The population numbers
5,000 to 6 , 000 , and some of the 10,000 rifles supplied by the
Turks have been issued to them. They donotlike either the Turks
or the Emir, but they fear the latter. Politically, they would
follow the lead of the Shammar, who are said to be going over
freely from Rashid to Ibn Saud. The latter is believed by the
people of Hail to be in league with King Husein, and, according
to informant, no supplies are reaching there from Kasim or
Koweit, nor are any sent thence to Syria. During the Emir’s
absence from Hail, his representative there is his slave, Said ibn
Mohammed.