ملف ٧٠٥/١٩١٦ الجزء ٢ "انتفاضة عربية: التقارير العربية؛ تقارير السير م. سايكس" [و‎‎٣‎٧] (٤٥٠/٧١)

On the 18th December the Arab Bureau telegraphed [A.B. 438] that since 12 th
instant following news had been received
Yambo Area. —Turks have evacuated Nakhl Mubarek, and said to be retiring in
direction of Hamra. Turkish mounted patrol penetrated to Kheif Hussein, but retired
(one group) Shaatha before Juheinah, who appear? once more to have plucked up spirit.
Yambo defences are proceeding steadily, but morale is still poor. Unlikely there
will be immediate attack. Strong reconnaissance being sent by Faisal to Nagneshl
Maberek, and he intends going inland in person on 16th. Aeroplane reconnaissance
showed 50 men at Bir Said, and several bodies of men, amounting to about 1 , 200 , in
district, all moving east.
Darb-el-Sultani Area. —Sherif Ali and Aziz-el-Masri, who has been given wide
power, are between Bir-ibn-Hussani and Masturah with 1,800 trained troops and 6,000
Arabs. They intend to make their forward base at Bir-ibn-Hussani, and to occupy with
mixed force hills north of Bedr-Honein. Turks are said to have retired to Hambra from
Easta. Subh are holding Shafia and Meliff.
Darb-el-Fura. —Turks have not advanced south of Ghayer. Bahalah said to have
looted 400 camels at Bir-Derwish.
Eastern Road. —Beported that Abdulla is making for Sabiyah and not Hanakiyah.
Situation on the whole is slightly easier. Indication that Turks are feeling strain on
their infantry, whose bread rations have been reduced by half. As yet there are no
signs of an advance on Babegh.
Turkish Forces. —Beported by two doctor deserters that there are 3,000 troops,
mostly Turks, at Maan. One mixed battalion of Turks, Arabs, Kurds, and Circassians
at Akaba, 1,500 Turks and Arabs at Tevuk with several German officers, and one
battalion at Medn Saleh whose composition is unknown.
Meeting with King Hussein.
The Sirdar telegraphed [No. 81] on the 14tb December that the Sherif was at
Jeddah on the 10 th December, "when he received, in a most friendly way, the British
and French representatives, whom he asked.to visit him at Taif. Colonels Wilson and
Bremond handed him identical replies to his proclamation. Later in the day he received
them again and explained his revolt in a long speech. He declared that he only desiied
to liberate his countrymen and attached no importance to titles. At 9 p.m. he handed
to Colonel Wilson a written request for the despatch of European troops, which he
withdrew next morning.
French Assistance.
Lord Bertie telegraphed on the 13th December [No. 1340] that, as soon as it had
learnt the decision of His Majesty’s Government in regard to Babegh (as described m
telegram 36 to the Sirdar), the French Government had instructed Colonel Bremond to
send the French units at Suez to Babegh to assist the British forces.
The Title.
The Secretary of State for India telegraphed to the Viceroy [P. 5235] on the
13th December informing him that Flis Majesty's Government had decided on Malik-el-
Heiaz with the honorific style Siyada.
The Foreign Office telegraphed to the Sirdar on the 12 th December [Mo. 39] that,
if necessary, Cffionel Wilson might explain to the Sherif that the agreement between
him and His Majesty’s Government will not be affected by the use of the somewhat
narrow designation of “ Malik-el-Hejaz.” And on the 15th December the Sirdar
telegraphed [No. 85] that Colonel Wilson had informed the Sherif personally of the
decision of His Majesty’s Government.
More Arab Prisoners for King Hussein.
On the 16th December Colonel Blair telegraphed to D.M.I. [No. 827] saying that
there were some more Turkish officers—prisoners in Bussia—ot Arabian nationality
who wished to join the Arabian army, and asking whether they might be sent to
^On the 19th December D.M.I. replied that these officers might be sent, provided
that it was certain that they were of Arab nationality.