'Kurdistan and the Kurds' [‎41r] (81/122)

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the situation and even compelled us to abandon our new allies. The
situation brought about by the Russian debacle in the Caucasus had long
been causing serious anxiety and in the early spring a mission had been
sent there under General Dunsterville; this had now to be followed up
with military support; owing to this and the difficulty of maintaining our
advanced posts in Mesopotamia and of making proper provision for the
forces in Persia, Kirkuk had to be abandoned. Sheikh Mahmud was
appointed our representative at Suleimaniyah and the British forces were
withdrawn to Kifri and Tuz. On re-occupying Suleimaniyah, the Turks
at once proclaimed martial law and exacted retribution from all who had
befriended us, Mahmud himself being removed to Kirkuk ; he was, how
ever, well treated and soon set at liberty. Simultaneously some minor
successes achieved by the Turks increased the apprehensiveness of the
Kurds. Consequently our endeavours to raise a force of Kurdish levies
met with small success, whereas the enemy had formed a body of Kurdish
cavalry to operate against us in northern Persia. A number of small
tribes, such as the Merivan, were coerced into joining the Turks, but the
Avroman remained consistently hostile to them, i The lack of initiative
shown at this period by the Turkish leaders, combined with the change on
the front in France and the overwhelming victories in Palestine, played
into our hands, and the withdrawal of every available Turk to defend vital
positions nearer home once more turned the tide of public opinion in
Southern Kurdistan in our favour. ,
The general plan of operations was an advance on Mosul in force,
while a smaller column advanced towards Altun Koprii to prevent any
troops in that district from being utilised in the defence against the main
attack up the Tigris. 'On the 25th of October the northern force entei'ed
Kirkuk land on the following day the Turkish Army on the Tigris was
surrounded.’ On the 80th the entire force surrendered. The other column,
in the meanwhile, had driven the enemy across the Lesser Zab; on the 1st
of November, when the news of the armistice arrived, troops were sent
forward to occupy Mosul; by the 10th of the month the whole viZdt/aft
was clear of Turkish soldiers.
To obtain control over the Kurds, Major Noel was immediately
despatched on a. mission to Suleimaniyah, where he arrived in the middle
of November. He had been authorised to appoint Sheikh Mahmud as
British representative in SuleimaniyahJ if he considered this expedient,
and to make similar appointments at Chamchamal, Halabja, and other
places, at his discretion; he was also to endeavour to arrange with local
chiefs for the restoration and maintenance of order in areas outside the
limits of our military occupation. \ It was especially to be explained to
tribal chiefs that there was no intention of forcing on them an adminis
tration foreign to their habits and desires ; that they were to be encouraged
to form a confederation for the settlement of their public affairs under the
guidance of the British political officers ;\ and that they would be called