File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎57v] (112/450)

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IBN SAUD.
Sir P. Cox telegraphed on the 29 th November [6,451] that Ibn Sand,and theShaykh
of Mohammerah spent the 27th November at Basra. Ibn a tin e o'f
sword of honour on behalf of the army commander, anc on Q f - t
thirteen guns was fired. In the course of the day the two chiefs
batteries and aircraft guns ; they visited Shaiha, where t e roo P s 111 1(3 fc ’' j
paraded ; they then returned by motor to Basra, visited the aerodrome, w essed a
flight of aeroplanes, and finally were taken over the base hospita . n eicy^ ox a s
that both “ enjoyed their day thoroughly, and were highly impressed by and interested
in all they saw.’’
MASKAT.
Sir Percy Cox has sent the information that the Sultan of Maskat, in accordance
with his promise, has removed his brother Saiyid Salim from the post o a i of
Gwadur ; Saiyid Salim is a boy of 19, with a strong bias against Hindus.
PART II.
POLITICAL NOTES FROM THE FIELDS OF OPERATIONS.
Aden.
The Resident telegraphed on the 27th November [281 A. P.] that the Sherif had
deputed an envoy to Aden who came with a letter from Colonel Wilson: he was
formerly for sixteen years resident in Lahej, and a man of high repute. This envoy
would despatch up-country the Sherif’s proclamation backed by the Sherif s sign manual;
he was also writing letters to Imam Yahiya (through Idrisi) and to all friendly Arabs
in the protectorate. The Resident had seen all the communications, and had permitted
their despatch, as their object was the union of the Arab nation; the realisation,
however, of the object would depend on British help in money, arms, and ammunition.
In his weekly letter dated the 4th November, the Resident at Aden said that the
Imam w r as still closely watching the struggle of the Turks in the Yemen, and had not yet
shown his hand. He also said that the Upper Aulaki Sultan and the Upper Aulaki
Shaykh (both stipendaries) had made a formal agreement with the Sultan of Lahej that
they would concert with him against the Turks if the British moved out.
The Resident telegraphed [282 A.P.] on the 4th December that, writing on the
16th October, the Imam Yahya said that he could not, as a good Moslem, break his
pact with the Turks, whose attitude had been uniformly correct towards him. He said
that he recognised the resources and might of the British Empire, but, rather than pose
before the world as a traitor, be would lose many advantages. To build up the fortunes
of Yemen, badly ravaged for many years past, was, he said, his immediate work. From
four separate sources the Resident had learnt that the Imam’s son Mohammed had
captured Al Rauda, Shuaib, and A1 Tawila, and had laid siege to Sana; his action was.
believed to be anti-Turk, but, the Resident added, it might be that Imam Yahya was
working by proxy.
The Caucasus.
On the 4th December the G.O.C. Force D telegraphed that on the 2 nd
December tlm Minister at Tehran had wired that the Turks at Hamadan were very
short of supplies, and that the health of the Turkish Army Corps there was not good.
The Turkish Commander at Hamadan had spoken to Democrat Committee regarding
the possibility of the retirement of his force. Such an idea was opposed by Democrat,
and relations between the Turks and the people were strained, some chiefs threatening
to attack the Turks if they retired.
Lower- Mesopotamia,
r
I he G.O.O. force D telegraphed on the 4th December that it was reported
that Saiyid Mahomet Ah Eazvini, religious leader at Hillah, was recently murdered
by the Turks to the great indignation of the people; and that Saiyid Mahomet