'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎63v] (131/470)

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APPENDIX V.
Report on Najaf Police.
January Isi to December 31st, 1918.
I personally took over charge of the Najaf City Police on June 15th, 1918. These men, I
understand, came in drafts of 25 and 30 from Baghdad and Kut respectively, in January, 1918. All
these men voluntereed to come to Najaf on the outbreak of the riots, and, although I was not in
charge at the time, I have good reason to believe that they did splendid service. They suffered severe
hardships, including the loss of all their personal property, and I am sorry to say that two of them
lost their lives.
The information given below was obtained from Qamr Beg, the present acting Bash Chaush, who
was in charge during the riots and did splendid work. He came with the Kut draft, and all the Kut
men were promised by Captain Wilson, the A.P.O. Kut, that they would be sent back again on the
termination of one year’s service in Najaf. This promise was not kept, and several of the men
complain, that, had they been sent back to Kut, they would invariably have obtained promotion and
increased pay; but since the sanction to Col. Wilson to give them all the privileges of the Baghdad
Pohce, no complaints have been received and they are more satisfied.
On their arrival they were quartered in a building which is now the Civil Hospital, which they
vacated for a more roomy and habitable place, of which I will speak later.
Their first duty was to supply a guard on Thompson’s Tower of one N.C.O. and 19 men. After
seven days trouble arose in the city amongst the population, threatening law and order. The chaush
in charge (Qamr Beg) immediately reported same to the P.O., but owing to the shortage of police,
sufficient precautions could not be taken to avert further trouble. Captain Balfour came from
Kufah, and ordered police guards to be posted at Mishraq bastion, Main Gate and Buraq bastion, and
also gave orders that no one was to be allowed to enter or leave the city. These duties were
performed with good results until the arrival of British troops. One unfortunate and fatal incident
occurred in the bazaar owing to the fact that a large mob of Arabs attacked the police then on duty,
and the pohce, being outnumbered, reluctantly withdrew to the Serai at the orders of Captain Balfour]
but unfortunately two of them were shot.
The guard at Thompson’s Tower was also attacked and outnumbered, but, thanks to the kindness
of Saiyid Mahdi, they were conducted safely to his house, where, without any casualties, they stayed
until the British troops gained control of the city.
At the orders of Captain Balfour all the police, with the exception of the 20 men that were
befriended by Sayid Mahdi, went to Kufah and thence to Abu Sukhair. This sudden withdrawal
and the fact that the city was in an uproar and looting was being carried on in an unscrupulous
manner, the police lost all their personal property, including money, and w r ere left without any clothing
but what they stood in, in spite of the repeated requests to Baghdad for a renewal of clothes.
After several days the remaining 20 men, with the exception of eight (who were left behind to
supply a guard on the main gate), were also sent to Abu Sukhair; here they remained for at least six
weeks, and then were ordered to return to Najaf, where they took up quarters in the house of Haii
Sa‘ad, and continued the guard on Thompson’s Tower, and patrolled the city day and night. These
same duties were being carried on when I took over charge, and were continued for a month; but
owing to the excessive nature of these duties, arrangements were made whereby the British troops
took over the guard on Thompson’s Tower, and the patrols were reduced. All these duties had to
be performed in addition to the daily parades, and although, as I say, the duties were excessive no
complaints were received from any of the police.
Owing to an abnormal shortage of water it was necessary to find a picket on Huwaish Gate to
control the equal distribution of water to the various quarters of the city. A further picket had to
be found at the entrance to the Temple, to assist the Inspector (‘Abdul Wahab Effendi) to arrest or
disperse likely agitators of further trouble; and also one in the Borah Khan, to prevent Arabs from
stealing wood, etc. In cause of all these duties, and owing to sickness, the daily parades had to be
discontinued.
Shortly afterwards the pohce were transferred to the Borah khan, the present barracks. When
the Shabanah took over the quarters at Thompson’s Tower, and relieved the police guard at Huwaish
gate and the entrance to the Temple, I was able to resume my daily parades. At the time when all
the guards before mentioned had to be found, I was asked if some police could be spared to heln in
the distribution of Government barley, which was put on sale in the city at a much cheaper rate than
private barley. This caused numerous people to congregate at the various shops in the main bazaar
at which the barley was being sold, thereby causing great trouble and also blocking the traffic each
way. These crowds at times were at least 2,000 strong, and great tact was needed and exercised under
these trying conditions, which lasted quite a month, during which time the police did good work in
controlling the people. This state of affairs continued until I was able to obtain a largt seef from a
large gram merchant which enabled me to draw the crowds to another quarter, therebv keeping the
mam thoroughfare clear. This still daily occupies the time of myself and eight police" P g
Further praise is due to the police at the time when the water supply was practically stopped
and, owmgtotheir coolheadedness and tact, the distribution of water was carried out splenLlv thus
SrStlu™ dlStUrWeS ’ Which WOuld have undoubtedly been caused had they not taken over
owing to certain difficulties, I had to iffi^nig^
mov^f’ron^thtThtm^^f’Haji^Sa^adl^Since^aking^over^these^prem^s in^ 1 Au'gu 8 t°I^av ^ 1 P°^P e '
g ° od qua r f “
I should at the same time like to propose that, if possible, some of the confiscaSw" to tamed toto