ملف ٧٠٥/١٩١٦ الجزء ٢ "انتفاضة عربية: التقارير العربية؛ تقارير السير م. سايكس" [و‎‎٤] (٤٥٠/٥)

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SECRET.
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appreciation of the attached akabian be port, no xxvii
(New Series.)
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Military Situation in Hejaz.
j . n the situation is noticeable, the Arabs are
T lr A ^/r 0 j S 1S an rl ^ carn p ai g n suitable to their habits and resources, and the
• U V ^ Medina . a ^ showing signs of fatigue resulting upon isolation or at least
imp ire cominunica ions. There are indications of the Arab movement spreading to
the north. I he only point which is unsatisfactory is the presence of eight Turkish
aeroplanes at Medina Command of the air is all important in guerilla warfare, and the
Arabs are discouraged if they find their movements observed, as it cancels such con-
dence as they may have in a hope of surprising their enemy, which is their only
chance of successful military action. ..
The cypher used by thie Arab Bureau is very faulty, and leads to many errors in
transmitting proper names. The report of the capture of 20 , 000 L in o-old may be an
error m cyphering for 2,0001 . if it is not it is probably true ; it would not be in the
inteiests of an Arab commander to exaggerate the quantity of loose cash in his possession,
as the booty has to be shared out among a good many people. The presence of
Oppenheim and twenty-two Germans in Medina might be given due publicity in the press.
Syria.
The murder of the Catholic (Uniat) Syriac Patriarch at Mardin is of somewhat
sinister import. Hitherto the Syrian Christians (both Uniat and Jacobite) have
escaped the general persecution. It may be that the Turks fear that, in the event of
a Russian advance down the Bitlis Pass, the Arabs and Kurds may make common cause
with the Christians against them, and have decided to produce massacres in order to
inspire a fear of Russian reprisals in the minds of the Moslems. This is the usual
policy.
Arab Propaganda.
The success of the “ Kawkab ” is to be noticed.
British Correspondents and the Turco-Arab Question.
Fn this report is published the singular observation of Mr. Ward Price on the
sportsmanlike qualities of the Turks referred to in the last report, XXYI. Further,
there is added, by way of contrast, Mr. Candler’s references to the Marsh Arabs.
It is perfectly true that the individual Anatolian soldier is frequently per se a
decent stolid fellow, and as frequently per accidens the most effective instrument in the
hands of ruthless officials. The aboriginal inhabitant of the Mesopotamian swamps is
equally truly a wild, treacherous, lawless savage, while the mixed riparian tribes of
[898—27]