Page 222 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

24
•* Tho difficulties of this march will unquestionably bo very groat; but should they bo
surmounted, all tho nocossaries of life tfill be found at El-flasa, aud thorc tho lroop3 may
ostablish thumsolvcs.
“ Thonoo, howover, to Riadh tho routo is muoh more formidable.
<! Tho whole distance occupios sovon or eight days’ marching from morning till night, and
of these four days and nights of constant wearisome exertion, with but small space of time
availnblo for rest and refreshment, must bo dovoted to crossing the Dahga or Rod Desort, a t ract
so difficult in consequcnco of tho extremely light nature of tho sand, in which no firm foothold
oan be obtained even by cnmols, and in which no trace of passers is loft; the entire absence of
water, and tho intense heat and glare is to ho dreaded, and, so far as possible, avoided even by
i
wandering Arabs.
“ But- across this all who go fr«m El-Hasa to Riadh must pass, and water, fuel, and every
noecssary must be carried, while it is absolutely necessary to take one particular line known
only to porsons constantly occupied in passing to and fro, an d any departure from which is
destruction.
“ This .maroh will probably prove a worse enemy to encounter than the hordes of Arabs
who may bo expcctod to hang about the line (except only in the Dahlia), and continually harass
tho troops without exposing themselves to the danger of an attack in forco.
° There will also probably be great difficulty in procuring trustworthy guides, and if they
be led by those bent on their destruction, their fate can bo scarcely doubtful.
; ,r The sufferings of the members of this expedition can scarcely, under any circumstan­
ces, be otherwise than very great, and it is a painful question how many may ever return.
“ And while these troops are being thus sent to almost inevitable destruction, it seems
that the Ottoman authorities, reckoning on success with somewhat overweening confidence, are
forming plans for their future operations, and, as I communicated to Your Excellency yester­
day by telegram, are 6aid to propose, after the capture of Nejd, to direct the expedition against
Bahrein, Muscat, and the Arab coast in its whole length. ”
92. The attention of the Secretary of State was drawn to the above letter
of Colonel Herbert, and he was asked by the Government of India to make a
representation to tho Porte of the folly and danger of tho expedition. This
request of the Government of India was communicated to the foreign Office in
England, and it was added—
“ If any further steps can bo taken to convince tbe Turkish Government of what tho
Viceroy describes is ‘ the folly and danger of the expedition,’ the Duke of Argyll trusts that
they may be taken with as little delay as possible. ”
The Foreign Office replied that it was not then considered necessary to do
so. Subsequently, however, Sir H. Elliot was desired to carry out the wishes
of the Indian Government in this respect.
93. On tho 10th May Colonel Herbert wrote :—
" Since writing on the 26th ultimo, I have paid a hurried visit to Bussorah for tho
purpose of seeing the preparations for the expedition, and found preparing to start with tho
troops the Steam Corvett Broussa, 23 guns ; tho hitherto unarmed steam ship Kiaone, in
which four guns have been placed ; and old wooden guard ship the Khojah Bey, 18 guns,
which was originally built at Bussorah and has long been d«emcd unseaworthy ; and three
brigantines, also hu.lt at Bussdrah, and carrying 4, U, and 12 guns, respectively, and in little
or no better condition tlian the Khojah Bey”
94. Colonel Polly telegraphed on the 31st May—
** My information is that expedition is already landed at Ras Canoora, a sandy point, 10
miles from Kateef, and that Arabs will give first impediment at watored date groves half
way. ’’
Observations of the Grand Vizier on the policy of the British Govern­
ment. Remarks of the Government of India thereon.

95. The substanco of a despatoli No. 12, dated 11th April, from Colonel Her­
bert to tho Ambassador at Constantinople
Stmt, Adguil 1871, No*. 41-71 (No.46).
(aide paragraphs 80-89), alluding to .the
merely nominal character of Abdullah's dependence on the Porto and doprecating
Turkish interference iu Nejd affairs, was communicated to Ali Pasha, the