File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎83r] (163/450)

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The Resident at Aden telegraphed [271 A.P.] on the 26th October that on the
17th H.M.S. “Clio” had shelled the Turkish camp 4 miles from Comfida [see Arabian
Report, XV, N.S.].
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed [No. 941] on the 27th October that Colonel Parker
had reported that on the 23 rd Faisal had retreated towards Hamra : and that on the
26th Colonel Wilson had telegraphed [No. 412] that he had received a private letter
from Abdulla and a telegram from the Sherif. The latter stated that Faisals retreat
was expected ; but Abdulla says that the Sherif was very much worried about it and
was awaiting with impatience immediate British military help to garrison Rabegh and
stop the expected Turkish advance. Under instructions from 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. , Colonel
Wilson was replying that, for reasons explained to Abdulla at their meeting, it was
impossible to send British troops, but that their needs had been fully represented
to His Majesty’s Government, whose decision would be communicated as soon as
possible, McMahon tele g ra ph e( } 0 n the 30th October [No. 943 ] that Colonel Parker
had reported that the situation did not improve, and that the Rabegh force was entirely
unready either to defend that place or to advance. Aziz Masri had been trying to get
Al i to approve his various schemes 5 the latter generally approved m principR and then
hindered passively. Aziz is approaching Ah again for a measure of control, if letused,
he threatens to return to Egypt. Colonel Parker thought Aziz right, and said that he
would press Ali when matters ripened. He added that the Egyptian artillery was
Printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence.
For Reference only.
ARABIAN REPORT.
N.S. No. XVI. November 2, 1916 (night).
Contents.
PART 1.
PART II.
Political Events in the Fields of Operations.
Aden.
The Sherif of Mecca.
The Sherif s Operations.
French Troops for the Sherif.
Request for Pecuniary Assistance.
Proclamation as King of the Arab Nation.
Visit of a French Warship to Jeddah.
An Agent’s Report on the Situation and Feeling in
Syria.
The German Society, Islam Kultur.
PART III.
Miscellaneous.
Ibn Saud.
Maskat.
Koweyt and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates.
Bahrein.
Press Cuttings.
Huns in Palestine.
Aden Defence Secure.
APPENDIX.
PART I.\
THE SHERIE OE MECCA.
The Sherif s Operations.
0 urkisli side. Intormution Iid lieen i eceived thut 1
regard to the situation on
[898—15]