ملف رقم ٤٦٨٤ لسنة ١٩١٣ "الجزء ١ التمرد في مسقط" [ظ‎‎٢‎٢] (٣٣٢/٥٣)

2
Again, in the issue No. 29—69, dated 16th May, it states:—
Sow were the scenes of battle at Barkah.
(By our learned correspondent.)
When the town of Kuriat was totally demolished and there remained no
inhabitants in it, the B-uler returned to Barkah as he found that the enemy *
had returned to attack it.
The readers must have noted from my previous letters as to how the
Ruler’s forces were dispersed and how the number of his men was diminished
as compared to the ever-increasing number of the rebels, but this did not
prevent the Ruler from persevering against his opponents.
It behoves me here to mention the extraordinary courage and bravery
displayed by Saiyid Nadir in fighting against the enemy despite the small
number of his men, so that it may remain as a lasting monument to him.
The enemy attacked Barkah in the afternoon and tried to enter it by force
of arms, but Saiyid Nadir stood as a barrier before him. Having divided his
party into two sections, he kept one between the town and the house of
Wali Sulaiman which had been occupied by the enemy, while he proceeded
with the other section to the right of the army, when a hot fight took place
between both sides. Saiyid Dhiyab, Saiyid Nadir’s uncle, used sometime
to go between the two sections and encourage them to persevere and some
time exposed himself to death side by side with Saiyid Nadir until they
compelled the enemy to retreat to the coast where he was a target to the shells
of the British ship, which played an important part in the fight. The enemy
stood between the fire of the ship’s guns and the volleys of Saiyid Nadir for
some time and then retreated as far as Balad Nakhl. He has not ventured to
resume war up to now. The number of the enemy’s killed and wounded is
great, but I have not learned the proper reckoning. This will come to light
of course, and I shall state it.
The section of Bani Abu Hassan, one of the tribes which have thrown in
their lot with the Ruler of Maskat, deserted from the army. The Sultan
ordered that they should be overtaken and fired upon if they refuse to return
to the army. This was done as they refused compliance, and three of them
were killed and many wounded.
The chief gunner of the Maskat Government contracted a severe fever
while he was in the front near Barkah and was brought to Maskat where he
died on the 6th Jamadi II, being mourned by all in view of his great services
in the war.
The Government have seized 13 notables of Barkah and imprisoned them
as there had appeared proofs of their treason, and it has been confirmed to the
Ruler that the Omanis do not desire to assist him much as he extends his
boundaries to them.
The Baluchis and Persians who fight in conjunction with the army have
received the favours of the Ruler in view of the proof they have given of their
sincerity. The British Government have made no condition for its assistance
to the Ruler, but it is sure that the advantage derived by Britain from this
assistance would be enormous even if it has not come to light.