File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎6v] (10/450)

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Turks joined in the present war they sank their differences, and for the most part
have assisted them. After the fall of Nasiriyah in July 1915 they allowed the defeated
Turkish force to withdraw by this route to Kut. It is estimated that they could turn
out some -SO,000 fighting men. who may be roughly divided into a northern group of 11,000
and a southern group of 19,000 rifles. After the taking of Nasiriyah and Kut by us in
1915 the principal Shaykhs made obeisance ; but their attitude soon changed with the
situation. When our cavalry recently reached Hai, about two marches below Kut,
they were well received; but on leaving they were attacked by the Arabs of the town,
and were also attacked throughout their march by irregular forces, probably belonging
to the Beni Babia, the strongest tribe at the north of the Hai.
At the southern end the majority of the El Ibrahim, Asachirah, and Hussainat
tribes, who had hitherto been hostile, made their submission early in December last.
The Albu Saad and Beni Zaid. who live on the Shatt-el-Bedaa, south-east of Shattrah,
are also friendly, but are held back from making submission by the hostile Khaffajah,
Abudah, and certain sections of the Azairich. This means that in the south the country
may probably be called friendly between Nasiriyah and Butuniyah.
PART II.
PERSIA.
N.-W. Persia and Kurdistan'.
At Kirmanshah (town) a Persian Democrat Committee (an offshoot of the C.U.P.),
under the leadership of Nizam-es-Sultaneh, is doing its utmost to assist our enemies,
without, however, having achieve'! much success. The bulk of the Lurs have openly
sided with the Turks, but their assistance has been of little military value. On the
other hand, the Sinjabis, a Kurdish tribe of the Kirmanshah district, have recently
left the Turks. ^ J
The Bakhtiari.
Several of the minor khans have joined the Turks, and on the 4 th January some
2 0 ° Bakhtuan were dispersed by Russian troops 17 miles south-west of Ispahan, sixty
ot them number being killed. A proposal is on foot to rnise a police force, with British
?r C ?y?u Y fc 7 as thou ? ht would greatly strengthen the hands of the chief khan
the Ukham, who has remained loyal to us, and avert the disaster of the Bakhtiari uoin^
over masse to the Turks. I he expressed intention of the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. to keep an armed
force of 2 ,o 00 men in the Chehar Mahal hills throughout the winter has caused s„me
misgivings.
Western Ears.
On the 17th and 18th December detachments of the South Persian Rifles at
Kazerun and Dashtarjm on the Bushire-Shiraz road, were captured by rebels, who
weie unsuccessfully attacked on the 25th December by a small column from Shiraz
Great scarcity prevails at Shiraz, where Sir P. Sykes has with bin, some 500 regulars
and a considerable force of Persian gendarmerie. Farman Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the governor-general'
claims that as we object to his ruling in Persian fashion and making up his deficit in
- ma,nnei usually adopted by Persian governors, we should make it up. The British
consul at bhiraz warmly supports this request. P 13 ltlsn
The Sarhad and Mekran.
Operations against the Damani tribe of the Sarhad who raider! iVio M 11 • cr .
complied with. Bah ram Khaf, the powerful Much Sird-m VBamn^ l ** 11 ^
close touch with the Geiman agents parlv v ' i ^ Bampui, wlio was in
refugees. Major K e yesX“h th^M^r^T^ I* bee ? ha >'bouring Damani
factory An East India Company trading post. settlement with ’him M,b8 ' 0n ’ 18 e “^avoumig to come to a satis-