Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎369r] (742/1028)

VII. —AkJiwan Rebellion (Final Phase).
In this Agency’s Administration Report for 1929 a detailed account of the
Akhwan Rebellion and the subsequent combined operations of Bin Saud and the
Royal Air Force agai nstthe rebels was given step by step from the battle of Sabilla
down to the end of 1929. In order to complete the story of this desert drama which
was so closely connected with Kuwait, it is proposed below to continue the account
from the point left off in December 1929. When the rebel forces lay camped on
both sides of the Batin depression from Hafar up to Rigai, the point where the
Kuwait-’Iraq frontiers joint at their Southernmost extremity.
At sunset on 28th December Muhsin al Firm, Commanding Bin Saud’s Western
force or left wing, advanced from Shaib Fulaij with a strong mixed force of Harb,
Shammar and Dhafir tribesmen, and fell upon the rebels at dawn on 29th December.
The latter reduced to a shadow of their former strength by desertions to the King
were completely surprised. They had been expecting to receive letters from Bin
Saud offering them terms of peace in reply to Faisal al-Duwish’s messengers who
had several days previously gone in to the Royal camp, begging to be allowed to
surrender. They had therefore stupidly taken no precautions against and attack
from the West.
Not much harm was done, however, for the'kebels quickly rallied and drove off
the attackers. They however sustained 50 casualties and lost some 4,000 camels.
The attack was made without orders from the King, but nevertheless has been
made out to be a great battle and the decisive victory of the campaign, by Mecca
historians. On the 30th December, the Mutair who had borne the brunt of the
attack joined the Ajman at Um Amarat al-Mahazul, a point just inside Kuwait
territory, and there met the chief staff officer, Royal Air Force, whose force was
concentrated near Rigai, its rule being to prevent the rebels crossing into ’Iraq or
Kuwait. The Chief Staff Officer ordered the rebels to surrender and be interned,
or recross the border.
On 31st December, Ibn Ashwan and the Braih group of the Mutair tried to
escape South East round Bin Saud’s right flank. They were intercepted South of
Musannat ridge and destroyed.
On 3rd January after prolonged conversations the rebel leaders decided to move
South across the border, after rejecting the Chief Staff Officer’s terms. They had
no news of the near proximity of the King’s army at this period, but only that
Muhsin al Firm had retired to the West again.
On the 5th January Bin Saud appeared at Rigai and the rebels changed direc
tion North East again and made for Jahara by forced marches, leaving several
thousands of sheep and camels dying by the way.
On 6th January the Royal Air Force combined armoured car and aeroplane
force overtook the rebels near al-Atraf 10 miles West of Jahara, and found them
completely disorganized and fleeing in all directions. They obviously feared
an immediate attack by Bin Saud’s army and were not aware that the latter could
not cross the frontier.
On 7th January the rebels moved to Jahara, where they were promptly pinned
in by means of bombs dropped from the air round the village at regular intervals.
On the 8th January some Jiblan and Rashaida sections of the Mutair, also a
few Ajman attempted to make a dash South, and reach Jarriya in rear of the King’s
force. They were intercepted by Bin Saud’s car force and nearly all destroyed
in the Shaqq South of Manaqish.
On 8th January, Faisal al-Duwish handed over the women of his household
including his wife, 3 sisters, two small children and 27 other ladies of the Dooshan
clan for safe keeping to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , who throughout these latter operations
had kept in close touch with the rebel leaders, and had latterly brought all his
influence to bear to get them to surrender to the British. All the ladies were taken
into the fort at Jahara, and subsequently to Kuwait where they were carefully
cared for at Government expense.
On 9th January, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. persuaded Naif ibn Hathlain to surrender
to the armoured car column, and he was followed by Faisal al-Duwish and Ibn Lami