File 3300/1916 Pt 4 'Aden News-Letters. (1921-23)' [‎317r] (633/644)

(No. 6 . Secret.)
My Lord, Aden, January 27, 1921.
I HAVE the honour to forward, for your Lordship’s information, a copy of the
second Aden News Letter, dated the 27th January, 1921.
I tl£LV0 &C
T. E. SCOTT, Major-General
Enclosure in No. 1 .
Second Aden News Letter.
(Secret.)
THE following is a summary of the news reported since the despatch of my last
letter, dated the 12 th January, 1921 :—
Tihama.
The latest reports from Hodeida indicate a temporary Imamic occupation of
Hujjeila, which was subsequently reoccupied by the Idrisi. The report that certain
Quhra leaders were wounded and missing is now found to be incorrect. The Menakha-
Bajil agent writes that the Idrisi and Quhras are fully prepared to check any Imamic
advance on Tihama, strong rumours of which still continue. It would appear that the
pro-Imamic Party in Hodeida is responsible for the circulation of much false news of
Imamic victories. This party consists of Tahir Rajab and five other merchants who
have been assisting Mahmud Xadhim in his propaganda work. They are said to have
laid a scheme before the Imam, which has been strongly backed by the ex-Vali, for the
occupation of the Tihama by the Imam pending the return of t he Turks, The first
step is stated to be the despatch by the Imam of a big expedition to drive the Idrisi
out of the Tihama, as the latter, being our ally, is not considered by the schemers a fit
ruler for Hodeida. The Imam has been assured that the British evacuation of Hodeida
could easily be arranged once a big force entered the Tihama. It is said that under
this scheme it is provided that the ex-Vali with his lurkish party should administer
the whole of the Tihama with the exception of Hodeida, which is to be administered by
the merchants themselves under the supervision of the Vali. The Imam is said to be
sceptical about the scheme. . . • • j
I he Political Officer, Hodeida, states that with the exception of Tahir Rajab and
party, all the people in Hodeida, as well as the Tihama tribesmen, are willing to accept
the Idrisi rule in preference to that of the Imam.
Tahir Rajab and party are reported to have sent letters to Constantinople with a
Turkish official who recently left for Constantinople via Aden. No particulars as to
their contents are known. .
The Political Officer, Hodeida, reports the death of Munassar Haghir Maruf, the
sheikh of the northern Zaraniqs, at the end of last month.
One of our secret agents reports that Abdul Shakeer, the Italian agent at Khoka,
has been buying land and houses at Khoka and Kataba, and exporting and importing
goods to and from Italian ports by a weekly service of dhows.
The telegraph line between Zabeed and Hais is reported to have been completed.
Tbe line between Zabeed and Taiz is still under construction. ^
Our agent at Zabeed reports that the Imamic Inspector of Public \\ orks, bayed
Abdulla Ibrahim, referred to in previous letters, has returned to Sana, and that during
his stay at Khoka he built two military barracks at the public expense. The agent
states that the revenue of Zabeed last year amounted to 7,500 dollars, whereas this year
the people were forced to pay 25,000 dollars.
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