Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎410r] (824/1028)

On 10th August Mohomed al Khalid (Zab Sahman) a brilliant young
Ajman leader cut up a Nejd detachment close to Nta in Hassa.
On 15th August news reached Kuwait that Amir Sand’s (the King’s son)
baggage train, whilst proceeding from Kitha to Hoffuf had been attacked by
the Ajman under Mohomed-al-Uthain and 14 motor cars destroyed. The
news was confirmed on 22nd August 1929.
Up to 15th August Duwish with the main rebel forces lay camped in the Tawal
al Janubi, the centrally situated rectangle formed by the SafaAVabra-Qaraa
and Haba wells. From this position he could strike into Nejd or Hassa at
will. Actually on 2nd August he had made one of his lightening raids to Qaya
or Gaiyeh near Artawiyeh and destroyed a force of Sbei and Sahool tribesmen
assisted by a small force of the King’s. This raid spread consternation far
and wide, though no camels were actually captured. It resulted in the with
drawal to Ritha of Bin Sand’s advance troops camped at ITafar al Atz. A
feature of this raid was the behaviour of the rebels towards their prisoners,
it was examplary, and marked a welcome change from their old methods.
August also saw the rebels everywhere successful, and Bin Sand acting
on the defensive. The latter’s avowed policy at this period was to hold the
Town still the cold weather set in. This was obviously the proper strategy
but it meant losing more and more of his Bedouin adherents. The great
Ataiba were really the masters of the situation about this time, and both rebels
and King strove hard to get them on their side. They were the most powerful
confederation in Arabia and it became clear that whichever side they joined
would eventually win.
On 22nd August ibn Mashur (alone) moved up to Kuwait and at an inter
view held 8 miles from the Town with 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. begged permission
for the rebels to camp at Subaihiyeh. The request was refused and ibn Mashur
was ordered to quit Kuwait territory at once. He tried also to be allowed to
visit Baghdad, this request was also vetoed.
On 29 th August “ al-Ribai ”, Bin Sand’s confidential secret Agent arrived
in Kuwait.
On 22nd August “ al-Duwish ” moved to Hafar al Batin and won the
great Braih section of the Mutair over to the rebels. The Braih, some 400
tents, thereupon marched into Hassa and joined al-Duwish s foice.
On 29th August some of the Braih entered Kuwait territoi\ and camped
at Jahrah, but on the representation of 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. they were ejected.
On 30th August driven by the necessity of having to find fresh glazing
grounds for their vast herds of camels and sheep, the rebels suddenly invaded
Kuwait territory from the South and settled themselves around Subaihiyeh
and the adjacent wells in one huge mob, The first messenger sent out to warn
them that they would be bombed if they did not withdraw was scornfully received.
To avoid what hight turn into a deplorable incident especially as there were sever
al thousands of women and children mixed up with he fighting men the Political
Agent went out alone to interview al-Duwislr At the last B ^ ) “® Ilt
Shaikh joined him with 4 armed slaves The interview took place pean
SUbaihiveh 3|4 hour before sunset and resulted m complete success , Th
promised to quit at dawn on the 1st September Duwish ^ word 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. estimated the rebel strength at Subaihiyeh at 5 0 Q 0 fighting
men, 3,000 tents, and 100,000 camels and the sight was a remarkable one.
On 4th September, a party of Dhafir raiders of
Araif sections from ’Iraq under the leadership of Shnlaivih al^bu ^
attacked and carried of some sheep close to Ja « immediately raised the
Bav. The Shaikh’s fidawiyeh camped at Jahrah el J n
alarm and pursued. They came up with the raiders at abQudh 1 engaged tl^,
and recovered the sheep, killing one man “ nc „ ,, evidence of the 3
patrol lost 6 mares, 1 camel and one man v°u • ™ , ,, capture of the
prisoners, the ’Iraq authorities wm’c a er a ,j Police are to be
whole band. Both the Shaikh’s fidawiyehs and the Iraq 1 ohce
congratulated on their smart managemen 0
On the 8th September the rebels suffered a sharp reverse. Azaiyiz a-
On the am sepru u f orc e of 200 rebels being destroyed by
“saadfhe Govenm/of Hail at Urn er Budhuma <S W. of the ’Iraq neutral
zone). ‘ Azaiyiz had successfully carried out a long raid to Lina north of Hail,