TROUBLE IN ARABIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 7 May 1934, Page 5

TROUBLE IN ARABIA

HOSTILITY BETWEEN RULERS BRITAIN RESPONDS TO APPEAL (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) CAIRO, sth May. Owing to continuance of hostility between Yahya Muhammad Hamid-ud-din. Imam of Yemen, in the south-west corner of Arabia, and the King of Saudi Arabia, lbn Saud, Britain has responded to the appeal for assistance. A few weeks ago King lbn Saud ordered the Crown Prince to re-occupy a township on the hills of Terama, which the Imam of Yemen had seized. As a result of lbn Sand’s order the Wahaabis sweepingly invaded Yemen towards Hodeida, ' which Imam Yahya’s troops evacuated after looting an ammunition store and Customs shed. A revolution is reported in the capital city, Sanoa, due to lack of food. Prince Seiful Islam, heir-apparent, tied. Meanwhile the Imam asked King Faud of Egypt, to intervene and the British authorities at Aden dispatched the sloop Penzance, eight aeroplanes, and armed native police to Hodeida. A British cruiser has left Mombasa, in Kenya Colony, bound for Aden. A later message states that tho Penzance transferred British-lndian residents and three hundred foreigners from Hodeida to Kamarnn Island.

Ibn Saud is unlikely to accept the suggested mediation of King Fuad because Egypt hitherto has not recognised Sand’s Government. The Imam of Yahya movingly addressed the war council at Sanaa, after which it was decided to defend the capital to the last gasp. ITALIAN WARSHIPS DISPATCHED ROME, 6th May. A message states that three Italian warships were dispatched from the Red Sea to Hodeida to protect Italian interests.