File 705/1916 Pt 1 'Arab revolt: reports' [‎300r] (147/494)

THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT.
(1) The Arab Prisoners of War.
The Indian Government have, subject to the approval of His Majesty’s.
Government, agreed to send the Arab artillery officer prisoners to
Egypt, with a view to their being used to aid the Sherif of Mecca. The
difficulty, however, that has arisen, is that the Indian Government cannot
identify accurately any of them, not knowing their antecedents. They
therefore suggest that the whole of the personnel should be despatched to-
Egypt for selection. There are in India 16 commissioned officers, 39 non
commissioned officers, and 86 men.
2. —fa) The Arab Bureau.
“ From Viceroy, Foreign Department, 20th .June 191(5.
“ (Addressed to Secretary of State, and. repeated to General Officer Commanding
Force “ D ” and Cairo as 804 S.)
“ Secret. Arab Bureau. Your telegram of the 14th June. After experience of past few
months, we think procedure would be simplified and better co-ordination secured if, so far as
India, Mesopotamia, and Aden are concerned, functions of Arab Bureau were confined to
original scope contemplated, viz., collection and distribution of Arab intelligence, and
suggestion of propaganda to be used or not as we think best. lo make Arab Bureau
mouthpiece of policy and principles of His Majesty’s Government in regard to Arab questions
appears to us after our experience unsuitable. We never know the authority behind their
communications, and we should prefer to receive important orders of this kind either from
yourself or from High Commissioner, Cairo, who would indicate previous approval of His
Majesty’s Government.”
2.— (b) Draft of a Telegram to be sent in Answer to the above by His
Majesty ’s Government.
“ Forei<-n Secret. Your telegram dated 20th June. Arab Bureau. There has been no
enlargement of original scope as described by you. My telegram of 27th May meant that
views on Arab questions which His Majesty’s Government desire to have propagated will be
communicated by Bureau to General Officer Commanding Force “D” for that purpose, but
as explained in my telegrams of 27th May and 14th June, he must have authority subject to
y o Ur and my directions to use his own discretion as to their suitability in local conditions.
He should, however, report to you if he decides not to act on Bureau’s suggestions and repeat
to Bureau and me. Outside sphere of propaganda all decisions o/ orders of His Majesty’s
Government will be communicated to you by mA
MESOPOTAMIA.
Ibn Tiashid.
Ibii Rashid after his hasty flight was reported at Chabda. No attempt
has been made to pursue him. It is reported from Force “ D ” that two
tribes, bitterly hostile to us, have fallen out conveniently amongst them
selves’, i.e.. the Abudah tribe, near Shatrat AlMuntafik, and the Khaffaj tribe,
their neighbours. Two smaller tribes to the east are joining the Khaffaj.
Force “ D ” and the Hejaz Revolt.
Force “ I) ” has made no communication referring to the Arab revolt in
Hejaz.
Disturbances at Kerbela.
The details of the recent disturbances at Kerbela are now available. It
ppears that on 22nd April a quarrel began between the inhabitants of
verbela and the local Turkish garrison, which usually numbers lot)
.endarmes but had recently been swelled by 400 Turkish cavalry from
l a drab. On the first day the conflict was undecided, but 0(H) 1 urkish
roops were sent from Bagdad in driblets.
On 14th Mav the Turks who occupied the new part of the town v ere-
1 coded out by a sudden rise of the river. They made a sortie, using bombs
md supported by artillery. i • ■ i + n
They killed about 130 of the inhabitants of both sexes and incidentally
jombarded the minarets and sacred domes, doing them much damage.