'PERSIAN GULF AND GULF OF OMAN. RESOURCES AND COAST DEFENCES.' [‎81] (91/114)

;
APPENDIX. g]
p ^ e ^ ara is forced, a retirement to be made on Koweit; the
armed dhows to be towed over and their guns transferred to field
carriages and mounted in emplacements already prepared outside
the town. 1 1
The retreat of the land forces to be covered as long as possible
by the gunboats in Duhat Kathama, and then by the " Sphinx "
anchored m Bandar-ash-Shuwaik, and by a gunboat anchored in
3 fathoms N N.W. of the S. end of the town (both vessels
commanding the S. approach to Koweit with their fire).
3. Koweit to be defended by entrenchments and gun emplace-
ments previouslv prepared, supported by the fire of the " Sphinx "
in .Bandar-ash-Shuwaik, and the gunboat off the S. end of the
town (the two positions indicated being the only ones which would
be of use to ships defending the town).
The scattered wells E.N.E. of Bandar-ash-Shuwaik and S.W.
of Koweit, to be defended by fire from the " Sphinx" (directed
from aloft) at 4,000 to 5^000 yards' range, crossing with that from
the gunboat at 2,600 to 4,000 yards' range.
Other wells with abundance of water, about 3 miles S.S.E. of
Koweit, which would be useful to an enemy, would have to be
defended by the land forces, possibly assisted by a lio-ht draught
vessel anchored in three fathoms to the E. of the wells, and^A
miles S.E. of Ras-al-Ajuza.
4. An entrenched camp to be prepared at the wells near
Kas-al-Ajuza, to which the inhabitants of Koweit could be rapidly
moved if it were necessary to abandon the town, it not beino-
considered advisable, for political reasons, to remove them to
-tauaka Island.
. The defence to be supported by fire from the gunboats pre
viously in the Duhat Kathama—one anchored off Ras -al-Aiuza
five cables S.E. of Fasht-el-Haduba, and the other in five fathoms
Jiu of Kas-al-Ajuza.
ihe enemy to be shelled out of Koweit if thev occupy it.
. In December 1901, Koweit was again^threatened, and
it was proposed to defend it in the manner described above,
except that two Maxims were to be mounted in Jehara in addition
to the two Nordenfelts. The vessels then at Koweit were the
" ^ ox?" " I 3 erseus," " Sphinx," and " Redbreast."
A ho wever, arose with the Sheikh of Koweit, who
(although he had_approved of the original scheme) now insisted
on making the chief defence at Jehara, which he stated was the
trading centre for his tribesmen. He refused to retire on Koweit
if Jehara were taken, as he preferred, in that event, to make terms
with the enemy.
Owing to the great range from navigable water to Jehara
-tort (6,000 yards), it was considered that fire from ships could
not effectively support the defence, and that Jehara would
inevitably be captured, unless the land forces of the Sheikh could
be reinforced by troops with field guns.
No further steps were taken in the matter, as the threatened
danger was averted by other means.
I 26291.
P