File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎213v] (435/834)

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The Sherif now sent against them a very ragged force,
comprising Hamarja, Biyasha, Sbei, Mowalid, Hedhlan (Hudheil)
and other Meccan sweepings, with two brass saluting guns and
two automatic rifles, under the incompetent Sherif Ali, brother of
Shakir ibn Zeid. They were surprised by night on Bir Goreish
by an inferior force of Kahtan, and fled without resistance,
losing fourteen killed, and their artillery.
Khalid then repented of his action, and went off to Ibn Saud
with fifty-four riders and his trophies, to beg for help. On his
way he crossed an Ateibah raiding party, under Fajir ibn Shelawih,
on its way to Dawasir. The two parties fought, and Ibn Shelaiwh
took thirteen camels, four horses and the artillery, killing four
of the converted, and losing only one himself. Khalid fled
towards Riadh.
The Kahtan are not likely to remain long in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Khurma,
and Naif ibn Elwi cannot hope, with only the Beni Thor, to
keep the other Sbei indefinitely out of their properties. If
Khalid fails in his mission in Aridh, the complete collapse of his
movement may be expected.
The Sherif hopes to enrol a new force in Mecca to retake
Khurma, but is trying to conscript the town Bedouins at half
wages, and in consequence has made no progress.' Should
he make further attacks upon Khurma, with the materials
at his disposal, he may reasonably be expected to suffer further
reverses. If, however, he acquires wisdom enough to accept the
temporary loss of the district, and if Ibn Saud maintains his
present correct attitude, then no extension —or prolongation—of
the rising need be feared.”
At rash Family.
The Turks are reported to be courting the Hauran Druses
assiduously through the Atrash sheikhs. One of the latter,
escorted by 200 horsemen, was at Damascus early in May,
and was entertained at a great dinner in a hotel. The festivity
was marred by the collapse of a balcony which resulted in
nine deaths. According to the Journal de Beirut of May 11,
the Ottoman Government has offered the following decorations
to members of the family. To Sheikhs Nesm, Mutidh and
Faraz, the Osmaniyeh 2nd class : to Sheikhs Nesib, Mustapha
and Abdul Ghaffar, the Mejidieh, 2nd class. We should conjecture
that the first three names represent the section of the Atrash which
actually presented itself at Damascus : the other three sheikhs,
vvho represent the ruling houses of Suweida, Salkhad and Umm
Roman, have long been pro-Sherif, and their decorations, no
doubt, are bread cast upon the waters by the Turks, rather
than rewards whose acceptance was assured.
Libya.
rr . ^ } Limoured that Nuri (see p. 222) has come back to
1 ripolitania, and will supersede once more Ishaak Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who