File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎46v] (90/450)

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by the Arabs themselves on their extended line of communications. Present informa
tion, however, indicated that those considerations might no longer deter the Turks from
undertaking a resolute offensive which, having regard to the nature of the^Arab forces
in the field, would almost certainly result, within the space of a few weeks, in the entry
of a Turkish force into Mecca.
On the following day, the 8th December, the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. further telegraphed [No. 66]
that he had received a report from Yambo to the effect that the Harb tribesmen had
been driven back by a Turkish patrol which had entered Wady Safra near Hamra,
10 miles east of Kheif. The Harb were unable, being without artillery support, to
face the Turks, and would not rally for a week. Zeyd, with Egyptian artillery, tried
to assist, was forced to retire to the neighbourhood of Yambo. Humour stated that
Jemal and perhaps Enver, with his staff officer Kazim, arrived at Medina ten days
ago with reinforcements ; also that the Turks had supplies for a month and the mahmal
with them. If this is true presumably the Turks intended to go to Mecca. Faisal
had 5,000 Arabs with him at Nakhl ; he begged for a British diversion from Sinai to
help relieve pressure. Full details of the aeroplane reconnaissances had not been
received, but apparently the wadys immediately east of T ambo were all clear.
On receipt of this the Foreign Office telegraphed [No. 34J to the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. asking
whether he could do anything at Babegh to prepare position in advance of the possible
landing of troops, so that defences might be ready for them should they be sent. To
this he replied [No. 69] that the personnel of the Egyptian batteries, the guns of which
had been handed to the Arabs, and the Egyptian aeroplane escort were at Rabegh
with a certain number of entrenching tools. They could do some of the preliminary
work, and, pending instructions from the Foreign Office to begin defensive works for
a brigade of British troops, he should instruct Major Jouce to make all preparations.
The water difficulty was not yet solved, but he was in communication with the
Admiral and with the chief of the Egyptian force, and hoped that some satisfactory
arrangement might be devised.
This telegram was despatched on the 10th December, but on the previous day the
Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. had, in continuation of his telegram No. 65 of the 7th December, telegraphed
[No. 68j to the following effect. That the Turks really meant business, he had but
little doubt. Colonel Parker, who had just come to Egypt from Rabegh, reported on
the 6th December that the Turks had succeeded in separating the Arab forces under
Ali, based on Rabegh, from those under Faisal based on Yambo ; that the situation of
Abdulla was unknown; and that the Arabs were acting against the Turkish flanks in
a desultory manner, but could not be relied on for the defence of Yambo, Rabegh, or
any other position against Turkish troops with artillery.
The Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. continued by saying that his then information indicated that the
immediate effect of the Turks was to brush aside Faisal and his 5,000 Arabs to the
north and then to occupy Yambo. In that case Yambo would have to be evacuated,
the stores and foreign personnel being transferred by sea to Rabegh ; the admiral
commanding-in-chief had informed him that he had sent a monitor to Yambo which, in
that contingency, would be of invaluable assistance. In regard to Rabegh all military
opinions agreed that, even with naval assistance, the local Arab forces were incapable
of defending it against a determined attack by the Turks.
Consequently, there were onlv two alternatives :—
1. To despatch from Egypt to Rabegh at least one regular brigade with the
necessary artillery; if the Turks should go first to Yambo these troops
would still arrive in time to put Rabegh into a state of defence and so
keep it from them.
2. Jo make preparations to remove aeroplanes, stores, and foreign personnel from
Babegh as soon as information should be received that the Turkish advance
to that place had actually begun ; the effect of which on the morale of the
Arabs would be very bad.
On the following day, 10th December, he telegraphed [No. 70 again. Jeddah
d reported that messages had been received by the Sherif from Faisal and Zeid.
The former said that the bulk of the Turkish force in Hejaz appeared to be operating
agamst him : he begged that Rabegh might be held, to enable him to achn the
> 500 'sYr el T h T ( P r fT ab k 01 i the Turklsh flanks a “ d rear). Zeid asked for
500 soldiers, to go to Yambo ; his plans were uncertain
Rth nY f a p reP r rt r d foC? b 6 ni 2 ht of the 7th December and the day of the
December Faisal s force had had an unsuccessful encounter with a strong Turkish