ملف ٧٠٥/١٩١٦ الجزء ٢ "انتفاضة عربية: التقارير العربية؛ تقارير السير م. سايكس" [و‎‎٢‎٠‎٦] (٤٥٠/٤٠٩)

The Political State in Hejaz.
All the people of Hejaz bear obedience to our Lord, and all are devoted to his
cause, as I told you before, and they are ready to give up their lives in his path, and
none would object to carry out his commands. Such a spirit is possessed by the people
in Yemen and Neja. All speak of the independence of the Arabs under the suzerainty
of our Grand Lord whom they call “ Our Lord ” and the “ Lord of All.”
All the Arabs are glad to learn of our Lord being an Ally to Great Britain, to have
in all their affairs. When they find themselves lacking something, they say : “ Our
true friends the English will send it to us.” They also say : “ If the Turks would
attack the Suez Canal before he attack them (Turks) in Syria, and drive them out of it,
we will take the side of the English and fight against the Turks. They really hate the
Turks.
The Turks who refuse to surrender to the Arabs, they call them infidels (Kafirs).
In short, if the Allies will use a better policy in dealing with the Arabs, they will find
the Arabs quite useful to them, and specially for the English, more than they got from
their Ally—Italy.
The War State in Hejaz.
All the Arabs are fighting men, together with their children and septuagenarians.
It is very easy for Our Grand Lord to levy from 160,000 to 250,000 fighting men from
the Hejaz alone, with the exception of Yemen, Nejd, Enez tribes, &c , and such fighting
people are devoted to our Lord’s cause; they are courageous, intelligent, contented, and
of good characteristics. They can bear all difficulties and hardships, and never taKe
them into consideration. They lack constructors and trainers.
If the Arab Officers would come and train them, I am sure they will make the
best of soldiers upon earth for courage, contentedness, and devotion to their ruler whom
they love intensely, and also for ability to stand hunger and thirst, and trust one
another.
I thought in such time there would be much looting and robbery, but, to my
astonishment, nothing happened of this sort, and security is established everywhere m
all Hejaz. _ ,
Our Grand Lord has used in this blessed rise about 15,000 men only, to fight
against the Turks in Hejaz. The number ot Turks here is as I told you before.
The Turks beseiged in Medina are under command of Fakhir Pasha, whom I was
the Aide-de-camp of, and was the Commander of the 12th Division.
Jeddah has surrendered, and plenty of ammunition, guns, and machine-guns were
c .ptured.
Taif is beseiged. Arabs won many a battle af Medina and Taif, and news comes
daily from there. Mecca Barracks is besieged strongly, and its quick surrender is
expected daily. ...
The Arabs who were among the Turkish troops shall join in our Lords service
with the Arabs. _ .
I took six soldiers of the captured battery in Jeddah for firing at Mecca Barracks,
after explaining to them how the Turks were and are oppressors.
“ Just see that great difference ” ; they were firing at us before long, and now they
are firing at the Turks. They are quite happy, and pleased to fire at them.
The Turkish forces in Syria number 35,000 to 40,000.
The things which we talked about long ago, concerning the organisation of the
Government and the Army, met our Lord’s approval, and he knows ^ everything He
told me to do what is necessary. Consequently, I shall come to Cairo, to settle all
about the things required when my Lord gives me permission.
Accept my salaams. , _
Mohamed Shenf,
EL-FABUKI.
APPENDIX III.
A Separate Slip from the Sherif of Mecca.
I CONSIDER that it is necessary for us to appoint an agent who can represent
me in intercourse with the British Government, and I should like him to be in Cairo>
as it is the nearest place.