File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎219r] (446/834)

NOTES.
Ibn Sand's Mobilization.
A telegram from Mr. Philby at Riyadh, under date June 25,
informs us that Ibn Saud, has gathered under his son, Turki, a
strong raiding force to attack the Shammar. It is drawn from
the Dhruma, Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hanifa, Kharj and Sedeir districts, but it
also includes a large Akhwan contingent from Ghat-Ghat and
another place (name lost in transmission), perhaps Artawiyah.
Ibn Sand himself proposed to take the command early in the
current month and Mr. Philby was to accompany him. Turki
estimates his total muster at 10,000 men: but Mr. Philby
suggests the half of this figure as probably about the truth. We
hope the presence of Mr. Philby will help to keep a force,
containing so considerable an element of fanatics, within bounds,
more especially as its activities will coincide more or less with
the moving of pilgrims towards Mecca. With Turkish propa
ganda as active as it is in the peninsula, the gathering less than
two months hence will not be free from danger and anxiety for
King Husein : and although we do not credit the story, which
comes to us from Yemen, that a Zeidi force is to go up in pilgrim
guise with hostile intent, it is far from unlikely that both Yemeni
and Yejdi pilgrims will give trouble.
Incidentally Mr. Philby’s message shows that he has returned
in safety from his Dawasir expedition (see p. 227).
[Since the above has been in type, a letter has arrived from
Mr. Philby from Riyadh, under date May 5, which reassures us
about Ibn Saud’s intentions at anyrate. Being short of money,
he is going out against the Shammar, in uncertain hope of
bringing about the fall of Hail by cutting its communications.
Should he succeed, he looks for pecuniary reward from us.
Turki is to operate from Qasim. The whole plan has been cut
and dried, evidently, for the last two months. Abdah Shammar
sheikhs have been sending messengers to Ibn Saud to beg supplies :
but Majid ibn Ajil, Aqab’s brother, was told roundly that, while
Shammar were welcome to settle temporarily in Hasa as Ibn
Saud’s guests, any of the tribe found between Ibn Saud and Hail
would be treated as enemies. Mr. Philby thinks business is
meant this time.]
Tdrisi Affairs.
The Yam mercenaries (see p. 228) duly returned home
about May 21, their contract with Idrisi having then expired :
but it is reported that some of their ulema, who went on ahead,
were captured by the Turks. Idrisi is said to be trying again
to recruit Hashid and Bekil tribesmen, while a Zeidi force under
the Abu Ras sheikh is reported to be on its way to co-operate
with him. If this last news is true, it indicates that no satisfactory
result of the Abu Ras murder trial (see pp. 7, 18, etc.) was ever
arrived at.