File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎97r] (191/450)

Quadima, September 6, 1916.
To His Highness the Sherif of Mecca.
After salaams, &c.
about Eabegh St ^ ^ pleaSUre ° f meetin g T our 80u ^ Zeid Bey, and had a talk with him
'\ith\h^ takmg 400 ° r 500 men there to ' morrow and z eid Bey is sending a chief man
I understand from Zeid Bey that the majority of his force remains here at Quadima.
ave told him that at least 2,000 men of your Highness’s army should be at Babegh,
ana faisai Bey was very insistent on this which is most important. I would strongly
recommend that your Highness sends orders as soon as possible to your son Zeid Bey
that 2,000 men must be at Babegh and not at Quadima. Babegh must be strongly
occupied by your Highness’s troops. This is most important for your son Faisal Bey
and toi your cause. 1 trust, therefore, your Highness will give the necessary orders
WILSON PASHA An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
His Highness’s Letter to his Son Zeid Bey.
Just after finishing my letter to you I have received the enclosed letters from
Hussein-ibn-Mebeirik, which are sufficient for you to peruse. I gathered from them
that suspicion related to him does not exist at all, and if anything that you should go
to Babegh to prevent any danger which may appear in case of rebel. The way will
be smoothed. The communication will be safe and the result desired by Faisal will
take place. Consequently you should proceed to Babegh with the blessing of God.
This is indeed a sign of prosperity.
If possible you can give a letter to Hussein Buhi to inform him all about the
matter, telling him that he may come to meet you at Babegh for the purpose of
salutation, and that he may stay one day or two with you there. If he has some work
to do he can go and come back to you. This is what I thought satisfactory and no
better opinion than that
Try to let Beni Bishr and Beni Hussein to avoid such mendacity and other things
that may happen.
Bead this letter to Mohammed-ibn-Hamaadi, warning against such things, and
tell him that such this must be of the elusion of Bishr.
W rite a letter to Hussein Buhi and leave it with a special man whom Ahmed or
El Sayid may choose, and he is to wait at the harbour. You can tell him the
matter is prosperous without fighting, and that there must be a ship to frighten the
people.
Be very careful in this matter, and write to your brother Faisal, either by wireless
or by a special messenger, that you have occupied Babegh, and that you are there
with your troops.
Tell Hussein Buhi to send you the gun with its men, ammunition and mules,,
which we had sent to Yambo with the troops, and to bring you also the guns which
were sent to Suez for repair. Faisal shall have other guns.
[Unsigned. ]
[Undated.']
His Excellency Zeid Bey. Quadima, Septeynber 7, 1916.
After salaams, &c.
Shaykh Mohammed Ihn Oreifan has giveu me your Excellency’s letter.
I am sorry that my offer to carry some troops a good way to Babegh is of no use
to you, and I also much regret that it is quite impossible for.me to leave a warship till
Saturday. I am already late for meeting your bra\ e brother, Faisal Bey, and must get
to Yambo as soon as possible.
I only want to know the result of your meeting with Shaykh Hussein, and for this
reason I am sending Hussein Effendi Buhi ashore, and would be obliged if you would
inform me in writing if Shaykh Hussein takes the oath of loyalty to his Highness the
Sherif, and that you are quite satisfied or not. If all is satisfactory I shall proceed tc
Babegh and Yambo as soon as I receive your Excellency’s reply.
WILSON PASHA An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .