File 57/1905 ‘Arabia: - Situation in Yemen (1905-11). Arab revolt against Turks. Imam of Sanaa’s letter to the King. Fighting in Yemen 1911. Agreement between the Turks & the Imam’ [‎56r] (116/692)

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[This Document
g_the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government,!
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
[May 22.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 6.
[19379]
No. 1.
ftlV Cr Tsmitflipy* fn Til sisui . / 7"> V 7 Tf \
I have, &c.
GERARD LOWTHER.
remarks on tlie probable course of the intended operations in Assvr:—
The first object of the operations in that province must lie the relief of Abha,
where the garrison has been besieged for some six months.
Between Abha and the sea lies Sabyeah, the Pretender’s stronghold, which
threatens the flank of any force advancing direct on Abha either from the north or
Abha, while battalions are landed at various points on the coast to protect their flanks.
I he northern force is that of the Shereef of Mekka, and consists of Arab tribesmen,
of whose numbers there is no reliable indication, supported by two or three Nizam
battalions of the Hejaz Division and some guns. For the protection of his march as
far as Confuda, the Fekke redif battalion, embarked at Mersina on the §th April, has
been disembarked at Lit about the IGth April, and three battalions (1/79 from Beyrout,
and 11/78 and the Missis redif battalion from Mersina) were disembarked at Confuda
about the 17th April.
fhe southern force is probably that of Said Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who, as mentioned in my
previous report, was sent from Hodeidah, via Zeidiyeh, to operate in the district of
Hujjeh. lie probably had with him the battalions which arrived in Hodeidah too late
to take part in the relief of Sana’a, and is said to have had eight or nine battalions
altogether. It appears that the pacification of Hujjeh, with the co-operation of the
columns from Sana’a, has already been accomplished, and that Said Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. is now
marching north.
For the protection of his left flank the redif battalions of Sis and Yarpuz were
landed at Loheia early in April.
The redif battalions of Marash and Bazarjik, which passed Port Said on the
1st May, should also have arrived some days ago. Their destinations are said to be
one for Confuda and one for Loheia.
Above we have eight of the twelve battalions previously reported by me to the War
Office as forming a reserve division for the Yemen expeditionary force. The other
four are, the Minister of War tells me, all of the old IV Ordu, and are at the present
moment at Aleppo, but that they are on the point of being dispatched.
A few days ago a battery of six guns was also sent from Aleppo to be shipped at
Beyrout for this expedition.
south.
I he general plan of campaign seems to be the convergence of two such forces on
I have, &c.
G. E. TYRRELL, Major,
Military Attache.
[2028 y—6]