Operations of Ottoman Military and Naval Forces in the Persian Gulf [‎562r] (21/34)

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be somewhat aTfollows under stand the present posture of affairs seems to
i^.-lhejurkish force ^ in occupation of the fertile district and
the Command® of L p q “i ^ d'scussed between
' to whether the exneditfo 01 '^ "n f the Turkish authorities as
Lahsa, or whethe/^ * t v ® houl T f 01 the . Present remain at
operations Tif, constituting Lahsa an intermediate base of
P s, tiie expedition should advance into Nejd.
2^._Th^Co^mander of the forces would seem to be in favour of halt-
fall Tut d? i’ • ^ a11 even ts, until the weather cool and rain
n he qheTurklsb authorities, on the other hand, would seem
Neid by a m fm a r ad J anCe ’ and contem P la ting an invasion of
ratlnr, c c °™ bmed movement of the forces now in occu-
and Red ^ 0rtl0ns ° f tbe Arabian Littorals of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
successful 1 v ^ • a Il0U + M S* aUeged COmbined °P e ration be
. stully carried into effect it might have important results •
and wouW seem to indicate an intention permanentiv to
Peninsular Arabia as a Turkish province 1 Py
3rrf._The expedition appears to intend strengthening its sea base by
Kuteef while fh r S ° jalr and m the neighbourhood of
v et while the line of communication between those ports
“age " M t0 ^ SeCUr6d by f0rtified P° sts every M,ravan
Arrangements appear to have been made for the occupation of
ittur. Put this region continues as yet in a distracted state :
Sic in oris. Passed on by the Turks; and harassed by the
bin Pv-snl , ed ° uins ’ wb ? appear, at the instigation of Saood
flank of tL T i m Tl U m ? ° r a @S ressi Uo all along the southern
anic oi the Turkish line of communication.
5^—The respective positions of the contending brothers, Abdullah and
oaood bin Fysul, do not seem to be certainly known. Neither
seem to be m great force, while the tribes and the inhabitants of
,,,. )hl!ti' a r I lad l /ti 1,eal ' be awaitin g either the imprisonment
oi death of one of the aspirants.
ii <b - + - rPbe l Preedom ^ f 'o ard t° social life, which is permitted by the Turkish
authorities, has as yet been found beneficial to their political and military
views. Por the trading community in Lahsa and on the Wahabee Littoral have
n No P ^5 a f5thMay 1 S’l& fmyIlep0rt - reflfionnf the pl f ed ° n tbem ^ tbe
however, that if the Turkish expedition advance into Nejd proper, it will find
the religious feeling stricter than at Lahsa.
,, x tv n b Ex 0611 ™ 0 / iu Council will have learned from others of my renorts
that Her Majesty s Ship Magpie, now at Bahrein, is suffering much from the
heat, and that her Commander apprehends that he will have to remove her from
the Gulf.
8. Her Majesty’s Ship Bullfinch also suffered, and her Commander found
himself compelled to leave the Gulf in view to replacing his European by
Native firemen at Muscat or elsewhere. This ship, however, will thus be
present at the recognition of His Highness Syud Toorkee.
9. I he Gun-boat Hugh Hosb is just returned from Bahrein with Assis
tant Hesident Major Smith on board, and the condition of this officer’s health
will not permit of my again deputing him to the Arab Coast at present.
10. Captain Grant, the 2nd Assistant, is on the sick list, hut so soon as he
recovers I purpose sending him in Hugh Hose to Bahrein, in view to watching
affairs and keeping up intelligence.
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