FATE OF MECCA.

Shannon News, 27 February 1925, Page 1

FATE OF MECCA.

HUSSEIN'S £8,000,000. EFFORT AT RECONQUEST. The alleged doings of ex-King Hussein since he left Jeddah in. his yachi Raematairi with £8,000,000 are the subject of discussions in England. Besides this sum, the ex-King is said to have important deposits in foreign banks, and his representative at Rome is reported to have withdrawn £500,000, while the Arab journals speak of the arrival at Jeddah of a large quantity of arms from Italy. It is suggested that the ex-King has resolved to mobolise this gold, and that he has gathered round him his old partisians. It is further reported that the forces at Medina have been withdrawn, and that the? co-operation of the tribes has been bought, and that an attempt will be made to reconquer Mecca as quickly as possible. Meanwhile Ibn Saud, anxious to consecrate his victory over the dynasty of Ali and Hussein, wants to hold in the Holy City of Islam a world Mussulman congress, which will be invited to give a definite status to the holy places. According to the "Temps," Hussein desires to prevent this demonstration and to enter Mecca as King and Khalifah, for he has in no sense abdicated, but bowed to force, at the same time protesting, The forces of the Hedjaz have already left Jeddah, and are reported to have advanced as far as Bahra, in the direction of Mecca, where they have established their general quarters. Three columns have been detached for encircling Mecca. The expedition has started in good conditions. In addition to the armament which the Hedjaz possesses, the Arab newspapers report that the consignments from Italy include five armoured cars, field guns, 200 machine guns, 30,000 rifles, and five bombing aeroplanes. Hussein is saiij to have left his yacht and to have taken possession of his territory, occupying quarters with his suite at Akaba.

Ibn Saud has massed a Mecca 10,000 lighting men under the command of Hamid Ibn Bedad. A further 15,000 combatants are concentrated at Djouf, ready to march on Medina.