'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎40r] (84/470)

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included the four Shu bahs of Abu Sukhair and Mishkhab on the Mishkhab Channel
and Umm al Ba rur and Ghammas on the Shamiyah Channel. At Najaf was an
A.P.O. who controlled only the town of Najaf and who, in matters affecting the
district, was under the P.O., and, in matters affecting the town, only directly under
Baghdad. The desert was under a Government Agent controlled by the Political
Officer, Desert, whose headquarters were Bamadi. It soon became apparent, however,
that this system, though admirable as a temporary measure after the blockade,
could never be efficient as a permanent establishment. Najaf and the district are
inextricably bound up. The interest and work of the Kufah. district was centered
in Kufah, which is only a suburb of Najaf. The district work of this A.P.O. is
insignificant. At the same time unity of control bjr the A.P.O. Abu Sukhair for
the whole of the actually district work was imperative. The Political Officer was
unable effectively to perform his work without a complete knowledge of Najaf
affairs. Najaf is the largest town of the Division and from every association,
religious, commercial and administrative, regarded as the capital by the people.
On the first of August, therefore, the headquarters of the P.O., Shamiyah, were
transferred to Najaf, which was now placed under his direct control. The iLP.O.,
Kufah, became A.P.O. of the municipal area of Kufah and Najaf, with headquarters
also at Najaf, and the two Shu‘bahs of Kufah and Hor al Dukhn were added to the
charge of the A.P.O. Abu Sukhair, who remained at Abu Sukhair. To assist the A.P.O.
and to decentralise administration as far as possible, a gazetted officer (Part II.),
Sarkis Effendi, was posted under the A.P.O. Kufah-Najaf at Kufah as Municipal
Officer, and two Deputy A.P.O.s also gazetted officers (Part II.) were posted,
one on each river, at Umm al Ba‘rur and Abu Sukhair respectively, to work directly
under the A.P.O., Abu Sukhair. Each of these D.A.P.O.s was in administrative
charge of the three Shu‘bahs on his river.
The Political Officer is assisted by a personal assistant, a Gazetted Officer
(Part II.), for Najaf political affairs.
Early in August the new administration suffered a serious set-back in the death
of Captain Prothero, who had been a whole-hearted supporter of the new plan
and upon whose assistance the Political Officer had relied for its successful inception.
Ghawi Effendi, however, efficiently carried out the arduous duties of A.P.O. during
this critical time till the arrival of Captain Lyell from Qizil Pobat.
The celebration of the Armistice also brought Al Qasur (the desert) again under
the control of Shamiyah. This is administered by a Government Agent directly
under the P.O.
On the 1st August Lieut. MacWhinnie took over charge of the Division
shabanah, and in October Lieut. White was sent to assist him. Another officer
had also been asked for. The Najaf city police, recruited from Baghdad and Kut,
are in charge of two British N.C.O.s and are under the A.P.O., Shabanah, for discip
linary purposes. From 1st January 1919 they mil, however, form a separate
police force subordinate to the Political Officer, but distinct from shabanah.
Below is a sketch of the present administration of the district, the figures I.
and II. denoting Gazetted Officers, Part I. or II., respectively.
Political Officer, Shamiyah, at Najaf (I.).
P.A. to P.O., Shamiyah, at Najaf (II.).
Government Agent in Charge of Al Qusur
(the desert and oases).
A.P.O., Kufah-Najaf at Najaf (I.)
P.A. to A.P.O. for Najaf (II.).
Municipal Officer, Kufah (II.).
A.P.O., Abu Sukhair, at Abu Sukhair (I.)
D.A.P.O., Western Shamiyah at Abu
Sukhair (II.).
Mamur and Sub-Mamur, Kufah.
Mamur and Sub-Mamur, Abu Sukhair.
Mamur and Sub-Mamur, Mishkhab.
This scheme has so far worked well. The work of the Division has become
co-ordinated, and decentralisation has made possible improvement in Bevenue
collection, in municipalities and administration generally.
F 2
A.P.O., Shamiyah, Shabanah and Assist
ant (I.) at Kufah.
D.A.P.O., Eastern Shamiyah at Umm al
Ba‘rur (II.).
Mamur and Sub-Mamur, Hor al Dukhan.
Mamur and Sub-Mamur, Umm al BaTur.
Mamur and Sub-Mamur, Ghammas.