File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎280r] (568/834)

Ibn Rashid, ignorant of his adversary’s intentions, left Hail
about September 7 on a raid against the Harb whom he attacked
at Humeiliya about September 11. His capture of thirty camels
cost him ten men killed. Learning of Ibn Sand’s approach, he
hastily returned to Sabaan to collect his baggage. Meanwhile
Ibn Sand, waiting three days at Farafia for a contingent from
Ghat Ghat, did not reach Quseiba till September 13, whence he
marched next day to the Ajfar wells, one day’s journey east
of Hail.
A force of Shammar, who had been watering at the es-Sidr
wells, one day east-north-east of Hail, decamped, and Ibn Sand
learned through patrols that Ibn Rashid was keeping the Eid '»©n
September 16 at Sabaan. On September 17, Ibn Sand marched
to es-Sidr, whence he sent out two parties under Lahad ibn
Muammar and Feisal ibn Hashra, himself following with the
main body. (For the dubious antecedents of the former'worthy
see Bulletin No. 91, page 180.)
From his scouting parties Ibn Sand learned, first, that Ibn
Rashid had returned hurriedly 7 to Hail, leaving Ibn Shureim
with the baggage in qasrs at Sabaan ; and, secondly, that the
Beni Yasraf Shammar, with great herds of camels and ^heep,
had occupied the line Hhaba-Akass-Sefaila : the latter place is
about a mile east of Hail. Meanwhile, leaving a garrison to
defend Hail. Ibn Rashid took up his stand in the hill-stronghold
of Maaiwij Baqa, about three hours north-east of Hail. Ibn
Sand first turned his attention to the Beni Yasraf. The Ikhwan
killed thirty of them, and captured one thousand five hundred
camels and three thousand sheep. The Nejdian losses amounted
to only two men and three horses killed. Their cavalry then
rode round the walls of the Shammar capital challenging the
defenders to come out and fight. The garrison replied with
rifle fire.
Ibn Sand then held a council of war at which it was decided
that no attack should be made on the Maaiwij Baqa stronghold,
and withdrew his force to es-Sidr, intercepting en route a small
convoy of camels conveying ten thousand rounds of ammunition
from Hail to Maaiwij Baqa. He reached Ajfar, and on the
morning of September 22 set out for Quseiba. On September 26
Mr. Philby reported that Ibn Sand’s force there numbered six
thousand of whom five thousand were Ikhwan. All, save nine
hundred horsemen, were mounted on camels. Orders have been
issued for a general mobilization of the forces of Central Nejd,
which are estimated at twenty thousand or more, though it' is
doubtful whether they are all equipped with modern rifles. Ibn
Sand’s plan is to throw out scouts to watch Ibn Rashid’s every
movement and to use Tarafia as a base for continual raids. If
Ibn Rashid leaves Hail, Ibn Sand will at once advance on it.
Mr. Philby considers that the honour of the Shammar is at
stake, and that Ibn Rashid is bound to collect the Shammar
forces and accept the challenge.