'Report on the operations carried out in the southern desert in connection with the Iraq-Najd borders, November 1927-May 1928.' [‎10v] (20/66)

16
was still at Lussuf. On 24th March, a section of armoured
cars was sent to Lussuf and remained with Mahrut for a week,
carrying out reconnaissances of the surrounding country.
48. The month of March passed without further evidence
of a Jehad materialising. At the end of the month, however,
persistent rumours of an impending raid by 'Ataibah, possibly
supported by Mutair and Harb, were in circulation. There
appears no doubt that a large party of 'Ataibah under ibn
Humaid advanced as far as Niqqa el Jarrab, where they were
probably visited by emissaries from the Mutair and Harb.
This party did not finally disperse until after the meeting with
Ibn Sa'ud (see para. 49). Messengers from Riyadh had
previously attempted to persuade ibn Humaid to disband the
party, and it was probably their intervention which prevented
its advance beyond this point. Air reconnaissances on the
31st March and 1st April reported the Lina area to be deserted ;
the few tribesmen seen stated that the tribes had moved
westward on receipt of warning of the approach of a large raid
which was to water at Lina. Information from other sources
pointed to the possibility of a raid developing against the
Anaizah. Aircraft visited Shaikh Mahrut at Lussuf on the
2nd April, and warned him of this possibility.
49. On the 4th April information was received that Ibn
Sa'ud had agreed to meet a representative of H.M. Government
at Jeddah. It was also reported that he had summoned the
leading representatives of the 'Ataibah, Mutair, and Harb to
meet him in the vicinity of Buraida before leaving for Jeddah.
By the 10th it was evident that, had there been a general
concentration of Akhwan in preparation for a raid, it had now
dispersed. Air reconnaissances had reported a gradual
filtration of tribes back to the Lina area. In view of the general
improvement of the situation air reconnaissances were cut
down to a minimum and a gradual reduction in the detachments
in the desert was commenced. On the 11th April, a newly
formed Armed Ford Company of the 'Iraq Army arrived at
Lussuf, where it remained with the Amarat up to the end of
the period under review. This company was left under the
orders of the Ministry of Defence until such time as there was
evidence of the intention of the Akhwan to attack the Amarat
further north, when they would have been brought under the
orders of Air Headquarters.
50. In the middle of April, an incident occurred which,
although of small significance in itself, provided a useful
example of the value of our desert organisation in controlling
the tribes. On the evening of the 21st April, information
was received by the police at Busaiya that a minor Shaikh of