File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎134r] (265/450)

APPENDIX (F).
Miscellaneous Cuttings from the Press.
Egypt: The Port Said Air Raid.
As i sit down to v.rite this letter tne two main topics of conversation are the
cotton bour« e onsis and the last air raid on Port Said. There is no disguising the fact
that ,he latter has come as an unpleasant surprise, and has made a very bad impression.
It was certainly thougnt that the defeat of the Turks at Katia and Bir-el-Abd would
have meant the cessation of this kind of warfare, and that, even though it had been
considered inadvisable for the present to extend our line further east, the air service
would have had the situation well in hand, and would have put it out of the power of
the enemy any longer to indulge in these little joy-rides. Apparently, although we
have unven back the Turks, they are still in possession of strategic points whence
they can with impunity raid the Canal. To the ordinary person it would seem that
the next sensible plan of action to follow would have been systematically to bomb and
destroy all these stations as soon as any attempt was made to make them an aerial
pied a^ terre by preference to attacking points in Syria, where it may be true the
enemy’s communications are vulnerable, but the destruction of which does not in any
way relieve the Canal from the danger which it runs from air raids. Our air service
must by tms dme be fully aware of the position of the enemy aerodromes, and it is to be
hoped that energetic steps will xorthwith be taken to prevent a recurrence of these
incidents, for, as was demonstrated on this last occasion, the danger is not confined to
buildings, &c., but extends also to shipping, the destruction of which might well have
serious consequences.
Apart, however, from the fact that these raids are an upleasant reminder that we
are^ still not completely masters in our own territory, there is the local political effect
which ought to be taken into account. So long as these raids continue, so long will
certain elements of the population persist in believing that the Turks are unbeaten.
The manner in which this last raid has followed the recent fighting in the Sinai is
regarded as significant by many Egyptians, and as confirming the statement in circulation
at the time that the story of our victory was a pure fabrication. With the Oriental,
especially the Egyptian, seeing is believing, and, though I am far from being alarmed,
yet I will go so far as to say that the air raid on Port Said, on the 1st instant, which
was the largest that has taken place so far, has largely counteracted whatever good
effect our recent defeat of the Turks had in this country.
[The “ Near East,” 15th September, 1916.]
The “ Reasonable Programme ” of Italian Nationalism.
The “Idea Nazionale” of the 10th September sums up in an editorial leading
article what it has set forth in previous articles as Italy’s reasonable claims to territorial
compensation in consideration of her voluntary intervention in the war.
These may be further summarised as follow T s :—
1. Adjustment of Boundaries of Existing Colonies.
Libya .—Inclusion on the west of the caravan route between Ghadames and Ghat;
on the east of the oasis of Jarabub. Agreements securing freedom to trade with
Borku and Tibesti and free use of the Chad caravan route, fhe Tripolitan would
thus recover part of its “ hinterland ” and its former trade, while the possession of the
Senussite capital would facilitate the pacification of Cyrenaica.
Ethiopia. —Return to the Treaty of Uccialli, which recognised Italy s exclusive
right to influence in Ethiopia without the limitations imposed in the hour of misfortune
by the triple accord of 1906.
Somalia.— -Cession of the valley of the Juba and the northern extremity of
British East Africa as far as Lake Rudolf, and the British teomaliland coast and
French Somali (regions of small importance to our Allies, and only claimed to the
prejudice of Italy in the days of rivalry in Africa). Ti 1 ^ ~ ^ T t •
Arabia. —Exclusion of all European influence from the Holy Places of the Rejaz
and the recognition—avoiding any form of direct dominion—of Italian influence over
Yemen—the necessary complement of Erythrea.