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’ [‎105r] (214/692)

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About a week ago news was received here of an engagement between the Turks
and Aiabs in the Summara mountains near ^enm, in which the former had, amongst
other casualties, a major and two junior officers killed, and lost a Maxim, which fell
into the hands of the insurgents. Further, that assistance arrived from Sana’a and
Ahat the Arabs were put to flight.
T his information, however, has not as yet been confirmed. The local authorities
admit that some fighting recently took place with the rebels near Suk-el-Khamis, but
furnish no details of the result.
The veteran Nasir Mabkoth, who has on several occasions in previous upheavals
in this province defeated the Turkish troops in the kaza of El-Hujjeh, has, I also
learn, taken the field there once more and is busy engaged mustering the clans.
Telegraphic communication between the Yemen and the outer world has been
completely cut off since the beginning of this year. The Hodeidah-Sheik-Said line
has been cut by the Zereneek tribesmen near Beit-el-Fakih since November last, and
telegrams have been received and dispatched from Hodeidah by the Sana’a-Bab-
El-Mandeb line via Ta’iz and Mokha up to about a week ago, when the insurgents
interrupted communication between Suk-el-Khamis and Sana’a and between the latter
and Ta’iz. Since then telegraphic communication has been hopelessly interrupted
throughout the vilayet.
The post that left this for Sana’a some eight days ago under a strong convoy
has been unable to proceed further than Suk-el-Khamis, owing to the massing of the
rebels in great strength between that place and the capital.
It is freely rumoured here that Sana’a is actually invested in the Imam’s followers,
but the authorities here are remarkably reticent on the subject.
As far as I can ascertain, there are about eight battalions of infantry and nine
batteries of field and horse artillery and a number of big guns in the capital, which
is well provisioned and has an ample stock of munitions of war.
The situation in the province of Assyr continues to cause the local authorities
grave concern.
The capital, Abha, where there is a garrison under the mutessarif, General
Suleiman Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , is still under siege, and strong Arab bands professing allegiance to
the pretender Seyyid Mahomed El-Idrisee are active between the capital and the
littoral, as also in the Sabyeah district.
The above-mentioned seyyid, who, it may be recalled, came to an understanding
last winter with the Ottoman Government through their representative at Cumfuda,
General Seyyid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , has now become dissatisfied owing to the non-execution of the
reforms in both the sanjak of Assyr that were promised him, as well as in his sphere
of influence generally in the northern half of the Tehama in the ^ emen. He (the
Seyyid) has become suspicious of the motives of the Ottoman Government with
reference to Assyr.
General Seyyid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , referred to above, who has now been nominated Commander
and Mutessarif of the Assyr sanjak, reached Cimifuda about three weeks ago, but has
not been able to get up to Abha owing to the hostility of the tribesmen in the interior.
He (Seyyid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ) embarked on board of an Ottoman gun-boat at Cumfuda and
proceeded to Geezan with a view to interviewing the Seyyid Idrisee at Sabyeah. An
intermediarv, a certain Khoja Tewfiq, referred to in my despatch No. 23/E of the
29th November, 1909, was sent to the latter place to arrange a meeting with the
pretender, but who, I hear, has declined to receive General Seyyid I asha before the
acceptance of certain preposterous demands made by him.
Amongst the latter are, I am informed, one for the immediate demolition o the
Turkish forts and karagols recently established along the Assyr littoral, and anot er
for the withdrawal of the Ottoman forces from his (the Idrisee s) sphere of influence,
where he undertakes to maintain order and tranquillity with 1,000 Turkis roops
which he has asked to be placed at his disposal. . rn . . , ,
On the 11th instant General Seyyid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. arrived here in the lurkish gun-boat
“ Yozgat,” with the object of communicating by telegraph with the central authorities
at Constantinople. This however, he now finds is hopelessly impossible from
H ° d The kaimakam of Aboo Arisch has recently reported to the Hodeidah mutessarifhk
about the activity and restlessness of the tribesmen m that locality, and sum ar
accoimts have reached the same quarter from the Zaidyia kaza. . • f -.r
It is generally expected that thirty-six battalions o regu ar m an ry ' A1
proportionate artillery and cavalry units will shortly arrive from Constantinople to
establish tranquillity in this vilayet.