Page 242 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

u

Colonel Polly requests that the information given by him with regard to events
that had hnpponed so far back as three months previous to the date of his
letter must bo accepted with caution.
ICO. Colonel Herbert’s letter of the 21st Juno contains an account of the
operations of the Expedition after landing in Arabia. Ho writes :—
“ The Turkish account of tho proceedings of Iho expeditionary force is, that it reached
Kas-Tauureh on tho 13th Mais, agreeing to 25th May, and, landing on tho following morning
marched towards Katif.
“ That the people occupying the country through which it passed at first showed a disposi­
tion to hostility, but the object of tho Expedition being explained to them, they were satisfied
and expressed gratification at the prospeot of being rolioved by the preseuco of Turkish troops
from tho oppression under which thoy have been suffering.
"That on tho troops drawing near to Katif Sycd Mahomed Saccd Effendi, son of the
Nukoeb of Bussorah, and who had aocompanied tho troops, was, at the repeated written
request of Abd-ul-Aziz, commanding tho fort ou behalf of Saood, sont to bun to negotiate.
"That Abd-ul-Aziz stated to him his regret to be obliged to oppose the Imperial troops,
but pleaded the many favours he had received from, and the confidence reposed in him by,
Saood as bis oxcusc lor resistance, and deolared bis determination not to surrender the place
until compelled by superior forco.
" That he had levolled tho mosques and other buildings round tho fort with a view to
defence, and that he opened fire on the treops who surrounded the placo on three sides, while
the Turkish Steamer Assur and the boats from Koweit attacked it by sea, and that it fell
after a bombardment of three hours.
"That after taking possession of this place with the guns, ammunition, and stores it con­
tained, the troops marched to Damara, capturing en route a position oallcd Anuk, which sur­
rendered after a show' of resistance, and in which were found Ihreo guns, besides arras and
ammuuition and public stores, all of which were placed in charge of an officer and guard.
"That Abd-ul-Aziz, son of Saood. who was in Damaum, fled on the approach of the troops,
and the place was surrendered by lbn-el-Tcbooonoh, Mahomed bin Foysul, who had been con­
fined in it, being set at liberty.
"That Damaum was found to be well fortified with three strong lines of defence and to
contain eleven guns,—nino iron and two brass,—and a lar^c quantity of ammunition and
stores, of all of which possession was taken, proper measures being adopted for their safe keep­
ing. A guard of two companies of iufantry were placed in the fort, and the force returned to
Kateef, accompaincd by Mahomed bin Feysul, and taking with it Ibn-el-Tehnooneh and the
others who were captured at the fall of the place.
" It is now said that the force will proceed to-El Hasa, and lam glad to be able to
report that His Excellency Midhut Pasha _ ____ _ia has tcud me that there is no present intention of
their making any attempt to prooecd beyond that town. ”
101. The above account agrees very -well with that published in the Jeundee
Askerjee newspaper, a translation of
S«cret, Augmt 1871, Not. 147-301.
Not. 161-168 Ibid. which was forwarded by Sir H. Elliot.
Major Smith, tho Assistant Political Resi­
dent in the Gulf, wrote that Katif surrendered on the 3rd June, and that
Damaum was taken on the 6th. Colonel Pelly in telegrams of the 26th, 26th,
and 27th of June reported the Turks to he still at Katif, preparing for a
move to El Hassa or Lahsa, a fertile district, inland of which Hofoof is a
principal fort and chief town. The Arab sea contingent of the Expedition,
about 300 craft,* had returned to their homos. The Turkish force was esti­
mated by Colonel Pelly to be 3,000 strong
* FuroUbed by iho Chief of Kowc-lt.
with a contingent of 1,600 Arabs and
nine guns. In the meantime an engagement appoars to have taken place
between Abdullah and Saood. The latter despatched a force inland from
Lahsa which he then occupied against his brother. Abdullah was defeated,
and Saood was himself about to follow in pursuit.
162. In his letter of tho 16th June Colonel Pelly reported receipt of two
letters dated 16th May and 8th June, from Saood, the principal subject matter
of which related to permission to operate by sea:—
"The request," says Colonel Pelly, " was vaguely put, but I ascertained that the real object
wai to obtain from me a general permission or at least a promise that wo would not interfere