File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎164v] (326/450)

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On the 26th August Sir H. McMahon again telegraphed [No. 728], saying that.
1 . The Sherif had repeated to him a telegram from Faisal stating that he had
gained a great victory over the Turks, who had lost two complete battalions,
these having been exterminated. Faisals telegram was dated the
25th August, and he was expecting another encounter on the following day.r
2. Faisal reported that the Turks were much stronger than had been expected in
artillery.
S. Colonel Wilson was to have left for Yambo on the 25th August.
The Sherif and Idrisi.
Colonel Wilson’s forecast has proved correct. The differences between the Sherif
and Idrisi have been arranged, and Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 29th August
[No. 731] that he had received a telegram from H.M.S. “ Dufferm ” notifying him
that Idrisi’s troops had withdrawn from Comfida without friction on the 25th August.
The Prodamaiion.
On the 16th August Mr. Chamberlain telegraphed to the Viceroy asking for his
views as to the publication of the Sherif’s proclamation. Tne Viceroy replied on the
19th August, but his reply could not be given in the last report, as it was only received
on the 29th August.
The Viceroy said [P. 3316] that they considered the Sherif very ill-advised not to
have expunged from his proclamation all reference to the violation of the Holy Places,
still, as India was so comparatively quiescent, if it was thought expedient to publish the
original proclamation in Egypt there appeared to be little risk in letting it filter
through to India in the ordinary course by post, provided that it bears no official
information and is published by the Sherif’s own agents.
On the 28th -August the Resident at Aden telegraphed to Simla that he had
received a copy of the proclamation from Sir H. McMahon, and proposed to circulate
it, as nothing but good could accrue from so doing.
The proclamation was published in full in the “ Daily Telegraph ” (London) of the
28 th August.
The Sherif s Stamps.
Lord Bertie telegraphed on the 26th August [No. 882] that the French
Government agreed to the proposals of the English Government [see “ Arabian
Report” VI, N.S., p. 2], and was giving the necessary instructions.
The Haj.
General Clayton telegraphed on the 23rd August [I. G. 1247] that the sanitary
and police provisions at Jeddah were reported to be good, and that preparations were
being made for the pilgrimage next month.
Opinion in Afghanistan.
An extract from the “North-West Frontier Provincial Diary” for the week
ending the 15th July has been received from the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. . Information is given
therein of the attitude in official circles towards the Sherif’s revolt, and of preposterous
reports circulated in regard to ourselves. But as the news is six weeks old it is hardly
worth while to reproduce it in detail.
Opinion in Baluchistan.
An extract of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Confidential Diary for the month ending the 15th July
shows that the news of the revolt caused very little comment in Baluchistan, though
sympathy appeared to be on the side of the Turks.
French Mission to the Sherif.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 23rd August [No. 719] that the French
Minister had handed him a note verbale in regard to the mission of the Sherif to the
following effect:—