File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎96r] (189/450)

3. Bir El Dervish (Sultani Road Force) :
a full division (3 regiments).
4 mountain quick-firing batteries of recent make.
7 field-guns (fairly modern).
12 machine guns.
1 squadron Cavalry.
1 company Camel Corps (about 500 strong).
The regiments have been brought up to full strength (3,000) by gendarmerie,
Arabs, and scallywags. Regular Army probably 60 per cent.
The morale of the force is not good, supplies are short, and transport increasing!v
diffacult for the enemy to obtain.
The luikish communications are daily harassed by Arab parties, many of whom do
not belong to the Sherif s forces, but are working on their own.
Nun Bey obtained this information ve the lurkish force from the Arab officers who
recently deserted from the enemy.
i
Turkish Mahmal.
Nuri Bey does not think the Mahmal has arrived at Medina ; its special escort
reached there about the 2nd September or earlier, which possibly accounts for the
report that it had actually arrived; if it arrives Ali Bey proposes to offer to take it over
and guarantee its safety to Mecca.
Ibn Saud.
Six hundred of his men have been some weeks with Ali Bey. I could obtain no
confirmation of the report that Ibn Rashid had sent a force* to attack the Harb.
/
Medina Railway.
Faisal Bey informed me that 3,000 Geheina are now north of Medina, near the
railway, between Bewat and Hadiyah, to prevent any Turkish force coming to Yanbo
b 7 a road from Bewat which runs north of the Sultani Road
Shaykh Assaaf (who went to Suez for instruction in the use of explosives) and his
men will work with the above force, and has been instructed to endeavour to destroy the
railway engines.
I handed over the gelignite, &c., to Sheikh Assaaf at Yambo, and he now has
everything he requires.
General.
One of the two Turkish guns sent on H.M.S. “ Dufferin ” had no elevating wheel.
Nuri Bey is only taking one with the spare parts of the other, as the ammunition
available is not enough for the two.
The second gun will be taken to Suez by H.M.S. “Dufferin” for delivery to the
G.O.C.-in-C., who, I think, expressed a wish to have them back if possible.
The full discussion between Ali and Faisal and the opportune presence of Aziz Bey
has, I think, done a lot of good and cleared the air.
Hussein of Rabegh.
Left Rabegh when he heard that Ali Bey was approaching._ He has written letters
to the latter to say that he cannot come into Rabegh, but that if the Turks advance he
will attack them.
Ali Bey has now refused to have anything more to do with him until Hussein goes
to Mecca and sees the Sherif. His action in running away, after taking the oath of
loyalty, instead of fighting Zeid Bey, has done much to discredit him.
Arabs desert him daily and a nephew of his, who is in Ali s camp with about 800
of the tribe, will probably be appointed Shaykh in Hussein s place, if he proves himself
loyal to the Sherif.
French Mission.
The mission had an excellent reception on their arrival at Jeddah, which included
two public dinners of eighty covers. i . .
Aziz Bey appears to be somewhat concerned as to the object of the mission. I told