'Summary of the Hejaz revolt' [‎19] (21/32)

Fuad, commanding the Vlllth Army Corps, when he heard of the British advance, decided to withdraw
his troops* northwards from Kerak, though he was anxious regarding the safety of Kutrani, which he
regarded as the key of the Kerak supply area.
Amman was attacked on the 27th, on which date railway communication was cut. Jemal II.,
Commander of the 4th Army, who had now arrived at Amman and taken over the direction of operations
from Ali Kiza Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. (appointed Commander East Jordan Group as lately as the 23rd March), was very
S anxious about the situation.f He issued orders for certain^: troops, which had arrived at Kalaat ez Zerka
from the north, to take up the position behind the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. el Ilamman and reconnoitre the British, who were
west and south of Zerkn. He decided to withdraw the Amman Group and to hold the line of the
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Zerka, for which purpose he considered at least two strong infantry and two cavalry divisions were
On the 29th, the enemy had ascertained from prisoners that the whole Anzac Mounted division had
crossed the Jordan, and that there were in front of Amman at least two British cavalry brigades and
probably one infantry brigade of the GOth Division, as well as camelry further to the south., Althongn
Jemal II. reported that violent attacks by the whole Anzac Division, and at least one brigade of the
60th Division, had been repulsed with great loss during the last two days, he was sensible of artillery
inferiority, and was certain that British reinforcements were arriving from the rear and that their attacks
would be redoubled. He realized the importance of Amman both as regards the tribal situation as far north
as Deraa, and as regards the safety of Damascus itself. He still considered an immediate concentration at
Zerka was necessary to save " a terrible disaster."
Jemal's report appears to have created an impression in Constantinople, for on the 30th, Enver. who
had on the 27th March expressed his anticipation that the end would be attained shortly on the other fronts,
and that then the greatest assistance would be given to the Hejaz front, now informed Fakhri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. at
Medina that the situation at Amman had become critical. He advised him to withdraw, if necessary,
the largest possible number of men from his district into Medina, while those who could not reach Medina
must resist to the last man. Hail way material should also be brought into Medina.
On the 31st March, Fuad reported that the British had commenced to retire in a westerly direction
on the night of March 3U/31, and thai; the Turkish pursuit from Amman would commence on the morning
of the 31 St. Concentration of troops from the south of Jize was to continue as rapidly as possible. The
latter order was endorsed by Enver at Constantinople, who considered that all Hoops that could possibly be
spared from the Hejaz Expeditionary Force should be sent northwards since, if the Turkish troops at
Amman were reinforced as soon as possible, the defeat of the British troops there was very probable.
On the 1st April, Jemal II. reported that 300 British dead had so far been buried at Amman and a few others
still remained to be buried. The Circassians reported that the British had withdrawn in disorder towards
Salt and towards Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sir,|| while a convoy of wounded had moved from V\ adi Sir to Salihie. Natives
had taken a successful part in an advance guard action near Sir, in which 8 Circassians were killed and
30 wounded, while at Krrak about (500 loyal Bedouins had promised to serve with the Turks. On the
30th March, on hearing of the British repulse, Fakhri congratulated Fuul at Amman—" I have kissed the
threshold of the Prophet's Tomo, and am praying on behalf of you and your gallant troops. 1 kiss
your ey gs
The subsequent operations in the Es Salt area at the begitming of May gave further proof of the
Turkish determination to pre\ ent the British actually joining hands with the Arabs and establishing an
united front from the Medilerranean to the llejaz railway.
APPENDIX K.
KOWEIT BLOCKADE.
Owincc to reports having been received that large quantities of supplies were reaching the enemy
from Koweit, the General Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia, in consultation with Sir Percy Cox, proposed in
October, 1017, that this port should be blockaded. . , „ -r^ ,• . ^ cv, -i i«
In December, 1917, the Viceroy pointed out that the institution of a blockade might alienate the SheikhT
and simply divert illicit dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. traffic, and considered it preferable to offer inducements to the sheikh to take
adequate measures himself. Th : s course was eventually adopted, and early in 1918 the Sheikh undertook to
control the inland caravan traffic. Owing to the strong pressure put upon him by Koweit merchants
considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the Sheikh to consent to our superintending his blockade,
but after some straight talking he accepted our proposals, and from that moment met all suggestions of our
blockade officer without demur. In consequence of his friendly attitude, it was decided that the . heik j
should be given the C.3.I., and that we should forego the repayment of one lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees and 87,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
advanced Lo his father for the installation of a water plant.
In Apiil, Egypt reported that about 5,000 camels had arrived at Damascus with goods from koweit, and
at the beginning of May, Baghdad reported that it was impossible to enforce a strict blockade locally
(although two of His Majesty's ships had been sent), and considered that it should either be enforced by
the Government or allowed to fall in a' eyance.
• 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3/lo2nd Regiment, 1/I48th? (I4()th) Regiment, t amel Columns and \eteriiiarv
Hp., Q.F. Field Artillery Bu. and Wireless Station.
f Railway communication with Amman was cut off completely, from the south on the "J7th and from the
north on the* 28th March. The Turkish force in Amman, consisting of 1?50 ( ) rifle-*, wa.s heavily
outnumbered by the British attacking troops, who were able to be reinforced. 1 urkish artillery was
inferior to the British and ammunition was short There was only a few days supplj- of food. It was
impossible to retire bj night to Zerka. as the. line was swarming with Bedouin.
* 1 German Infantry Company, 1 Engineer Detachment, Circassian Volunteer Squadron, l/2ord Regiment,
1/191st Regiment (en route from Damascust, 12 officers and 900 men (ready to leave Damascus).
§ 3rd Cavalry Division, Independent (2nd Caucasus) Cavalry Brigade, 48th Division, 191st Regiment,
another Infantry Division.
11 A Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. in the Belqa, south of Es Salt, which enters the Jordan as the \\ adi Mmnn.
% The present Sheikh of Koweit, Salem Ibn Mubarak, succeeded Sultan Jabir, his brother, in
February, 1917.
(6144-19) C 2