'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎166v] (337/470)

n
314
Assistant Political Officer, ‘Amarah.
Capt. J. M. G. Taylor - - - -
From 1 Jan.
1918
to
12 July 1918.
Major C. F. Mackenzie, C.I.E. {acted)
„ 13 July
??
99
20 „ „
Capt. A. C. Pearson - - - -
,, 20 „
99
99
14 Aug. „
Capt. Rivett Carnac - - - -
„ 15 Aug.
9?
99
31 Dec. „
Assistant Political Officer, QaVat Salih.
Capt. S. E. Hedgecock - - - -
From 7 Jan.
1918
to
20 Dec. 1918.
Assistant Political
Officer, "Ali Gharbi.
Capt. D. Willey -
From 1 J an.
1918
to
26 Apr. 1918.
Major C. F. Mackenzie, C.I.E. {acted)
,, 27 Apr.
99
99
2 May „
Capt. C. Milne - -
„ 2 May
99
99
H „ „
Lieut. G. T. Garrett - - - -
. „ 12 „
99
99
18 ,, „
Capt. C. Milne -----
„ 19 July
99
99
2 Sept. „
Capt. A. Campbell, R.E.
„ 2 Sept.
99
99
31 Dec. ,,
Military Governor, "Amarah.
Major H. Harvey- -
From 1 J an.
1918
to
11 Apr. 1918.
Major Scraftor -
„ 12 Apr.
99
99
20 May ,,
Major C. F. Mackenzie, C.I.E.
,, 20 May
99
99
21
Deputy Military Governor, "Amarah.
Capt. A. C. Pearson - - - -
From 22 May
1918
to
6 Dec. 1918.
Assistant Political Officer {Town).
Capt. A. G. Griffith - - - -
From fi Dec.
1918
to
31 Dec. 1918.
It will be seen that Division and Districts, more especially the ‘Ali Gharbi
district, have suffered many changes, and if they have changed into something
strange and new, there would have been sufficient excuse. But we have good
friends among the Shaikhs and their staunchness has not diminished under the
strain of adapting themselves to changing temperaments. The Shaikhs of the
‘Amarah Division are an unusually reasonable lot, and the Division generally has
rendered signal services to the Government in the shape of supplies and orderly
behaviour. The system of joint responsibility for thefts introduced by Major
Mackenzie in May 1917, has worked well, and few thefts, of any significance have
occurred. The roads have been secure to travellers and traders, and tribal
fighting may be said to have ceased. Petty thefts there will always be so long
as the ‘Amarah tribes harbour offshoots or outcasts of the Hai, and so long as the
marsh Arabs exist on their borders. The scheme of joint responsibility has
induced Shaikhs to practise some control over their criminal elements, while
Captain Hedgecock’s admirable efforts at Qahat Salih have rendered the marsh
Arabs of that district comparatively innocuous. In the ‘Ali Gharbi district the
existing Muqata‘ah holders owe the British Government so much that they have
conspired with us to control and almost stamp out marauding elements.
One theft of considerable proportions may be recorded.
A serious theft of 30 wooden sleepers from three railway culverts took place
between Qal‘at Salih and Majar Kabir Canal in June 1918. With the sanction
of the Deputy Civil Commissioner, Basrah, an amount of Rs. 5,000/- was recovered
proportionately from Majid, Muhammad, ‘Usman and Falih as security pending
further inquiries. From further inquiries it was quite clear that all the sleepers
did not disappear in one night, but had been moved during the past three months,
since the highest flood, either by thieves or “ acts of God,” the rapidly rising floods
shifting the sleepers from their loose position under the culverts. Hence their
absence was not detected till the waters subsided and the canals were reblocked
(a few days before the discovery). As the thieves were never discovered, the
security was converted into a fine.