WAHABIS ADVANCE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 190, 10 May 1934, Page 9

WAHABIS ADVANCE

Forces Invade Yemen GRIM BATTLE EXPECTED Cairo, May 8. Tlie Wahabi forces are steadily advancing from Hodeida toward Sanaa. I lie capital of Yemen, where a grim battle is expected.- Another Saudi army, under the Emir Ahmed El Slioweir, is harassing tlie Yemenis, capturing a caravan and camels conveying ammunition; also two Italian gunnery instructors. Ibn Saud is described as an Arabian Bismarck, credited with tlie ambition io create a Greater Arabia. He. is claiming possession of Yemen, which is tlie richest territory in Arabia. Possession would give Ibn Saud control of all tlie cultivated laud on tlie Red Sea coast, besides the desert railways ttnd routes from Mecca seaward.

Ibn Saud rules by far tlie largest part of Arabia, including the Nejd, or plateau, of Central Arabia, with an area of about 800.000 square miles, and a population of about 1.275.000. the majority being Mohammedans, of tlie Wahabi, and the Hedjaz, including Mecca and Mejlinn. extending to the Red Sea. with a coastline of 800 miles and a population of about 400.000, In the south-west corner <>!' Arabia is the Imamate of Yemen, with an estimated population of 3.500.(100 in nil area of some 74.000 square miles. This is fa) the most fertile part of Arabia, and. among many other products, grows the finest coffee in the world. The rule of the present Imam. Yahya Muhammnd Ilamid-nd-din. is reported to lie very unpopular.