Turkish Expedition to Nejd [‎467r] (27/94)

Enclosure No- 9.
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No. 33, dated Bagdad, the 19th July 1871.
From-LiEUT.-CoLONEL C. Herbert, Consul General at Bagdad,
r ' To— Her Britannic Majesty^ Ambassador at Constantinople.
With reference to my despatch No. 28, dated 21st ultimo, I have the
honor to report that the Turkish troops of the Neid exneditinn
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No official report has been received by His Excellency Midbut Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. for
some time and the above statement is contradicted by Arab report; but unless
serious misfortune has befallen the expedition, it seems to be probable *7 th!
troops could not remain for any length of time in any spot between these two
places, and I think it possible that Saood, who is reported to be in Riadk with a
very large force, would not oppose their march so far, as lie seems desirous of
avoiding, if possible, any collision with the Ottoman troops, and he would
naturally desire to draw them away from their base of operations on the coast.
Whenever they may have established themselves in El-Hassa, they will if
he be really as strong as is said, be almost entirely at his mercy, as he will nos
sess the power of surrounding them and cutting off their communication with
the coast.
A report which seems to he reliable has reached me that the expedition
lost as many as four hundred men at Kateef from cholera and want of food.
Provisions were scarce and had been damaged in transit. The men are
said to have been living on rice and water, and it seems they were in a pitiable
condition when they marched from Kateef.
It is further rumoured that Saood had utterly defeated Abdoollah, and that
he has offered to pay tribute to Turkey, at the same time expressing his deter
mination to resist invasion of the country.
This seems to be generally believed to be true.
Enclosure No 10-
No. 35, dated Bagdad, the 1st August 1871.
From— Lieut.-Colonel C. Herbert, Consul General at Bagdad.
To—Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople.
In continuation of my letter No. 33, dated 19th ultimo, I have the
honor to report that the rumour of the Turkish troops having reached El-Hassa
and occupied that place, has been confirmed.
As I anticipated, the march of the troops was not opposed.
The forts were all given up without resistance of any kind, and the small
body of troops have been permitted to establish themselves in that locality.
It is stated that the force is much reduced in numbers by deaths from
sickness and want of food, and is much dispirited.
Sheikh Ealeh, son of Nasir Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Sheikh of the Moutifik, with the con
tingent of Arab horsemen which had accompanied the expedition to El-Hassa,
reached Kowait on his return on the 26th instant.
It is reported that, from the time of joining the expedition, he had only
received seven days’ commissariat supplies for his men and animals, and on his
applying for help to the General in command, Nafiz Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the latter stated his
inability to aid him, and recommended his return with his contingent; that
they marched accordingly, but without supplies of any kind, and that they lost
very many horses on the way to Kowait from want of food and water.
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