File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎287r] (582/834)

371 —
A letter from Sherif Hasan was received at Wejh on
November 24. The writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. states that hostilities have ceased in
Qasim. Meanwhile it was reported from Baghdad, under date
November 9, that Ibn Sand had written to say that fbn Rashid
has sent a deputation to establish friendly relations with him.
Khurma.
We print below a translation of the King’s version of
Shakir’s last defeat at Khurma. The passage quoted in No. 216
of the “ Qibla,” dated September 30.
“ Official Announcement.
“ The public is hereby informed of the truth of what befell
the expedition despatched to el-Khurma against those who have
violated the laws of Islam. Having dumped their heavy baggage
at the well el-Moya, the force marched into the valley to recon
noitre, and repulsed the enemy in two preliminary encounters.
When an estimate of the opposing force had been made, the
attack was opened and the enemy were put to flight. The troops
composing our left wing, whose duty it was to engage the Ruqa
tribe, left their station to pursue the enemy’s centre which had
given way. The commander of our forces suspected these people
of treachery and his suspicions were justified when they turned
on him and attacked the camp. The enemy thus freed from our
pressure was able to reform and escape from his serious plight.
Our main force thereupon returned to the place where the
baggage had been stored. The Markaz grasped the situation,
readied the commander, and gave him fresh instructions, where
upon the force resumed its activities. A narration of the casualties
and moral and material losses would be tedious and is dispensed
with.”
Captain Goldie reports from a trustworthy source that
Shakir lost over three hundred men killed. If this be true, the
engagement was an unusually sanguinary one and points to the
bitter animosity existing between the rival claimants to Khurma.
Captain Goldie’s informant states that the Ruqa seized Shakir and
stripped him of his arms ; they told him that, as he was one of
them, they could not take him prisoner, but they themselves
were determined to go over to Khalid. Another informant, whose
story Captain Goldie is disposed to credit, states that Arabs
loyal to the King have intercepted despatches from Khalid to
Ibn Sand, demanding that reinforcements be sent to Khurma.
Captain Goldie states that a report is current locally that the
Buqum and Taraba have asked help of the Sherifian force at
Asheira and also of the King. They appeal for aid against “the
heretics who are residing in our district. If you do not help us
we shall be obliged to submit to them. But, if you do send aid,
do not send any of the treacherous Ateiba.”