File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎70v] (149/834)

— 524
that to quarrel with Nuri would be to seal his own fate.
Cessation of the supplies brought to Misurata by submarine
would necessitate the disbanding of his forces and whilst depri\ -
ing him of the main source of the authority and prestige he now
enjoys would further cause his own people to revile him for
killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.
fn the Western Desert of Egypt the latter days of November
were marked by a strange, and as yet unexplained visit of an
enemy dirigible which was seen over Dakhla and Faiafia Oases
and was subsequently seen crossing the Mediterranean on its
return journey. About the same time a strange seaplane was
reported over Matruh and later a machine said to be an aeroplane
was seen going north to sea over Bagbag. The Sudan Govern
ment has also reported an aeroplane with a black cross seen by
natives of Dongola during the same period. Whether there is
any connection between the various machines reported is not yet
discernible.
As regards the present unsatisfactory situation in respect of
reliable intelligence from Tripoli and Cyrenaica, the Italian
Government has now been approached with a request for per
mission for the establishment of a British Intelligence officer at
Benghazi.
D.B.
NOTES.
Asir.
According to Aden Weekly Letter No. 33, dated December
8 , Idrisi is making active preparations for his attack on Loheiya
and Zeidiyah and is confident of success. He has established
H.Q. at Madaya, half-way between Jeizan and Midi, and has
collected about 2,000 Hashid and Bekil tribesmen. It is said
that Sheikh Ahmed Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of the Beni Jami has come over to
him, and that Hadi ibn el-Heij will join also if Loheiya falls.
There were four minor engagements with the forces of Ghalib
Bey and Ibn Thawab of the Abs during November. The Turks
are reported to be negotiating with the pro-Idrisi sections of the
Rijal el-Ma, who like all the Asiri Highlanders, are suffering
from want owing to locust devastation.
Yemen.
Though cereal crops on the Highlands have been unusually
abundant this year, and prices of native foodstuffs rule very low,
the Yemen 'Burks are reported by a Jew merchant, who has
come through from Sana to Aden, to be in very low water.
Their treasury is empty, and the Zeidi districts have refused
taxes. The civil and military officials of the vilayet are at
loggerheads—probably a recrudescence of the original jealousy
manifested by the G.H.Q. Staff towards the vali, Mahmud Nadim