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’ [‎66v] (137/692)

^ ^ . L jA P-t** '
afterwards forced to retrace his steps to the former place, owing to the concentration of
the jod^ut.^ „ ; d from tl E j Hajjeh
yn or auuut sheikh reporting that the kaza was hard pressed
byTey y rd Yahya’s^le^es under the‘veteran leader, Nasir Mabkoth; further that the
Turkish outposts at Dhuffir, Shamir, and other places had already fallen into the han<r
of the rebels, who had invested the town of Hajjeh, which they were battering witn
cannon^cap^tv^recl f already^dispalched two battalions to the relief of
E1 H xSffa f ct ofSSl Seyyid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who returned here yesterday from Menekha and
starts to-day for Ha^jeh, having been ordered to the latter place suddenly, points to the
gravity of the situation there. . , i j u j j
^ Five other battalions with some mountain guns have already been moved to
Zeidyia and will accompany Seyyid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who has now been deputed to operate
against the insurgents active in the above-mentioned locality. . .
° The neighbouring kaza of El Hajjur, it would also appear is not in a good
position, where it is rumoured that the military outposts of Shalnl and El Jahile[.]
hci.V6 surrGQ-d 61*0(3.
Not much is heard of late of the activity of Seyyid Idrisee’s bands infesting the
Wayidat district. , , n r i. i
The Kaimakam of Loheia, who not long ago proceeded with a small force to a place
called Zahra, seven or eight hours’ journey to the westward of his head-quarters, where
the rebels had captured a convoy, has been unable to return, being more or less
besieged there. The Hodeidah authorities, on the other hand, cannot spare troops to
send to his assistance. .
We have practically no news whatever here of the progress ol the rebellion in the
south-eastern frontier of the vilayet, although the intelligence received some time ago
that most of the garrisoned towns had fallen to the onslaught of the rebels under
Seyyid Abdulla Ibrahim, the Imam’s principal lieutenant, daily gains credence.
About a fortnight ago the Kaimakam of Cunfuda reported to the Mutessarif of
Hodeidah that the° rebels in Assyr under Seyyid Mustapha had captured a Turkish
position in the vicinity of, and to the south of, Abba, where severe fighting had taken
place in which both sides lost heavily.
It is feared that Abba itself will succumb unless relieved very soon, but there
appears to be no immediate intention to dispatch reinforcements thither or to undertake
the offensive against the insurgents there professing allegiance to the Pretender,
Seyyid Mahomed-el-Idrisee.
Rumours are current here that the Grand Shereef of Mecca will shortly leave
with a strong force of tribal levies from the Hedjaz to co-operate with the Turks in
suppressing the rebellion in the sanjak of Assyr and in crushing the influence of the
Idrisee Pretender.
Ottoman gun-boats have shown great activity during the past month in patrolling
the Yemen littoral, with the view to suppressing the arms traffic.
About three weeks ago information by telegraph was received by the local
authorities from the Minister of War at Constantinople to the effect that a German
steamer called the “ Louise ” [?] had sailed from Europe with a consignment of arms and
dynamite apparently bound for Bussorah, but possibly destined for the Yemen rebels.
The gun-boats “ Rafahiya,” “ Bafra,” “ New Shehr,” “ Ordu,” “ Yozgot,” and the
torpedo-destroyer “ Pek Shevket” have since been distributed over the eastern littoral
of the Red Sea between the Straits of the Bab-el-Mandeb and Ounfuda, and are cruising
about on the look-out for the above-mentioned steamer.
The cruiser “ Hamidieh ” is at Camaran, and will shortly return to Constantinople.
I have, &c.
G. A. RICHARDSON.