File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎21v] (40/450)

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and three days later, on the 29th, the commanding officer of H.M.S. “ Lunka ” hoisted
the British flag on Jebel Katah, as was reported by the Resident at Aden on the
SOth December. The naval commander then proceeded to the north island to hoist the
flag there, but the Shaykh refused to allow this to be done without written orders from
Idrisi [Telegram 304 A. P.]. On the 2 nd January the Resident at Aden telegraphed
that the commanding officer of H.M.S. “Lunka” had reported that Idrisi had refused
to give him an interview; and that in reply to his written request for a letter to the
Farsan Shaykhs had entirely evaded the issue. The commander thereupon informed
him that as he would not answer he, the commander, intended to leave at daybreak,
and that the responsibility would rest on Idrisi himself.
_ The Viceroy had recommended, in a telegram sent on the 26th December, that the
British flag should be hoisted by a British ship and a small Indian guard left in posses
sion. I he India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. replied on the following day saying that the Admiralty had
already instructed a ship to hoist the flag, and that an Indian guard might be left if
the admiral agreed. On the 30ih December the Resident at Aden telegraphed that
Colonel Jacob was leaving on the 1 st January and would call at Kamaran to pick up an
Indian infantry guard, which he would drop at Farsan. .On the 1 st January the
Resident telegraphed [305 A.P.] that a military detachment had been landed and the
flag hoisted. He recommended that Colonel Jacob should be empowered to with
draw this detachment when he visited the islands. There were 100 of Idrisi’s men
permanently stationed in Farsan village.
* i
PART LI.
POLITICAL EVENTS IN THE FIELDS OF OPERATIONS.
Aden.
TheG.O.C. telegraphed on the 26th December that it was reported that the
closing of the Abyan road was imminent; also that Fadli Sultan had arrived at Lahei
on the 25th December,—this was considered to be reliable.
t r/i He telegraphed again on the 2 nd January saying that it was estimated that
150 lurks had been transferred from Lahej to Mahatt, and that, according to an
unconfirmed report, the bulk of the infantry at Fiyush had also been transferred to
i.lahatt. Aushaki was reported to have refused payment of taxes, and fighting was
going on Another report (considered to be reliable) stated that two Dankali chiefs
were at Shaykh Seid trying to obtain arms, and that they had been promised 90 rifles
and 15,000 rounds of ammunition from Moza.
Lower Mesopotamia.
Hillah.
Sir P. Cox telegraphed on the 31st December [T. 229] that the wanton severity
and treachery which had accompanied the recent Turkish punitive action at Hillah
[Arabian Report, N.S. XXII, p. 5] had created deep and widespread indignation*
urgent appeals had been received from several notables for active assistance in prompt
retaliation, together with a call to arms issued by the “ Shaykhs ” Neief, exhortino* the
Iraq tribes to nse to avenge themselves on the apostate and treacherous Turks^ In
this document the King of Hejaz is held up as an example to be followed but the
colouring is too Shiah ; therefore fresh propaganda from the standpoint of Arab race
TS&S&'JBKtJ! r “ 5' -" ,h *“••- k 4 - «.—*
Ihe Gr.o.c. Force D telegraphed on the 31st December as follows
Euphrates line.—Friendly Dhafir, Shaykh Hamud Ibn Suwait reuorts Sand Thn
!»t E “ hiA 1 “* I-— 1 ™ J-r .S
«•*- v h * E "f h r* <5.s tissnrs
or KOT.odu. «... New y eooi.tmg eili™], rf A [u .'i.