File 53/1915 Part IV 'German War: Turkey; Caliphate etc' [‎126r] (248/481)

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In the name of the Merciful, the Oompaoeionate,
To the most noble His Excellency the Hi«h Conulsioner,
iay Cod protect him.
After compliments and resoeotR ^ ^
^ respects. \/ e received your Excellency ’ s
letter dated 35 habl al Awwal, and its contents filled u a with the
utmost pleasure/and satisfaction at the attainment of the required
understandii^ and the inti.'aacy desired, i ash God to : axe easy
out purposes and prosper our endeavours. Your Excellency win
understand the work that is being done, and the reasons for it
from the following
firstly: e had informed ybur Excellency that we had sent one
of our sons to Syria to command the operations deemed necessary
there. We have received a detailed report, from him stating that
tne tyrannies of the Government there nave not left of the persons
upon wnom they could depend, whetner of tne different ranks of
soldiers or of others save only a few, and those of secondary
| importance^and that he ia awaiting the arrival of the forces
announced i rom different places, especially from the people of
tue country and trie surrounding Arab regions as Al\eppo and tne
South of hosul, whose total number is calculated t not less than
100,000, by their estimate; and he intends, if the majority of the
forces mentioned are Arab, to begin trie movement by them: and if
otherwise, tiiat is,(i)i the lurks or others, ne will ooserve t:<eir
advance to the Canal, and when they begin to fight, his movements
upon tiiem will be different to what tiiey expect.
Secondly: V.e purposed sending our eldest son to edina with
suMicient forces to strengthen his brother (who is) in Syria, and
^ith every possibility of occupying tiie railway line, or carrying
cut such operations as circumstances nay admit. This is t/ie
beginning of tne principal movement, anu we are satisfied in its
beginning with what v/e had levied as guards to keep tne inte cior , . ^
; Of t .e country quiet; they are of the people of Hijaz only j for
l rflaii y reasoiis, whicii it would take too long to set forth j cniefly