File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎140r] (277/450)

that there seemed to be no obstacle to the proposed communication to Ibn Saud f? norl
to communicate [group omitted] of the Nejd treaty to the Sherif.
- he C.P.O. at Basra telegraphed on the 13th September I I.O. : P. 3745] that the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Koweyt had reported that Fahad Beg and Nuri Shalaan las to the
letter see “ Arabian Beport,” N.S-VI, 1] had been corresponding with Kerbela and
^ e]e , and had already joined the Sherif, but that the Anazeh were waiting for a
signal from Ibn Saud ; if he would move, the rest of Arabia would follow. He also
said that news had come from Kiadh that a brother of the Sherif had come to persuade
Ibn Saud to help, but that t he latter was reported to be hesitating and unwilling.
[See “ Arabian Report,” N.S. IX, p. 2.] Further, that it w 7 as reported that Ibn Saud
had written to the Turkish Government and was awaiting a reply. In regard to this,
the C.P.O. at Basra says that it very likely refers to Ibn Saud’s letter to himself,
remarking that news from Koweit relating to Ibn Saud is liable to be unfriendly.
MOHAMMERAH.
The C.P.O. at Basra reports that the Shaykh of Mohammerah has written a latter
of congratulation to the Sherif on his efforts for the Arab race.
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. .
The C.P.O. at Basra reports that the Shaykh of Koweit has written to the Sherit
in the same terms as the Shaykh of Mohammerah.
MASK AT.
[Nil.]
BAHREIN.
[Nil.]
PAKT II.
POLITICAL NOTES FROM THE FIELDS OF OPERATIONS.
The Caucasus.
An official report was issued in Petrograd on the 14th September, to the effect that
in the Kyghi region the Kurds, who are hostile to Russia, were displaying considerable
activity. [“Morning Post,” 15th September (Reuter).] And on the following day
another official communique stated that on the Russian positions, in the coastal region
of Gumishkhaneh, snow had fallen in places to a depth of over 2 feet [“Times, 16th
September (Reuter).]
Northern Mesopotamia.
The C.P.O. at Basra sends a note of information given by Nahya al Yahya, an Arab
of Mosul, on the 11th August, 1916. Miss Gertrude Bell, the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. of the note, says
that he is a man very well known in the desert. He has a special medicine or ointment,^
■which they call Hadid, for the curing of mange in camels. Miss Bell has often heaid of
him, with much vaunting of his skill. He has a son with Ibn Saud, and another with
Ibn Sabah.
Nahya al Yahya left Mosul three months ago and travelled by laknt to Ramadi
on the Tigris, and then by the desert near Shithathah to Shaqrah, where he found Ibn
Rashid and treated his camels. iiaia-
The northern Shammar, the Jerba, are wholly out of hand. Ihe old Shaykh Al Asi
is still alive, about 65—70. His son Zaid is the most notable figure among them. They
take blackmail from Mosul to Baghdad, and from Mosul most of the way to Aleppo.
They have been raiding the Anazeh this year Sba £ and Fadan. No soldiers along the
Mosul-Baghdad road, and you scarcely ever see a gendarme.