Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎411v] (827/1028)

amount of damage calculated to have been done to her by Nejd action. This
comes to approximately Ks. 11,150,000.
As things are, Kuwait possesses the following forces for her defence :—
(a) Fidawiyeh .—Strength 300. These are paid men, all Bedouin and
have their headquarters at Jahrah. Their particular charge is
the camels, horses and sheep belonging to the ruling family. In
winter the Fidawiyeh move about over the grazing grounds
between Jahrah and the Batin. In the summer they all camp on
the wells at Jahrah. The Fidawiyeh consist of Ajman, Mutaii^
Rashaida, Awazim, elements, and have their own Amir. The
Fidawiyeh can be counted on to repel any fairly strong raid on
themselves, and can always follow up and deal with petty raiding
parties. Their role however is rather to protect the ^Shaikh’s
property than guard the frontier.
{b) Araibdar .—Strength 700. These are unpaid Bedouins who roam
about the state with their camels and sheep in winter keeping
always more or less near the “ Fidawiyeh ” for protection. Thev
consist largely of Kuwait “ Hathar ” Arabs, of Ajman, Awazim,
Rashaida or Mutair stock who have settled in Kuwait during the
past century. In summer they leave their camels and sheep in
charge of a few men with the Fidawiyeh at Jahrah, and themselves
engage m pearl diving. Their tents, women and children are
brought into Kuwait, and form the large camps which one sees
round the walls of the Town and near the various wells in the
vicinity. For the purposes of repelling organized raids or
guarding the frontier, these Araibdar are of little use, though
being well armed they can always defend themselves and their
nocks at a pinch.
[C) 1 own Defence. Strength 4,00015,000. This figure represents the
number of riflemen who could man the walls of Kuwait Town in
case of a grave emergency. This force would consist of towns-
men shopkeepers, etc., pure and simple and would be called up
by the Ruler if the town itself were menaced and the country side
m the possession of the enemy. In no sense would such force be
of use for defence purposes outside the city.
Hon°-hL Cr ZVTr h tV t ■? U T a - it “L 1 23 " d June unt,er Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. of the
MlS 2! Sldent ln ^ PerSlan Gu ' f > BusWre at whicb were
n. bhaikh Alimad al-Jabir as-Subah, C.S.I., C.I.E.
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. , Kuwait.
Wing Commander D. A. Oliver, D.S.O., O.B.E.,
to discuss what further steps could be taken by the Euler to improve the
defensive ” arrangements of the State. improve tne
On behalf of the Air Officer Commanding, Iraq Command Wine- Pom
mander Oliver laid down the policy that the Royal Vir Force based on Traa
r- tr 6 / 0 the A f istance of Kuwait if she were ever in danger of serious
attack, by strong and organized forces from the direction of Neid ^nd which
she could»obviously of herself not keen nnt Vmf j v an -A 1 ™
ordinary Bedouin Lids lar/e lL°f Vpltro* ng ^“fer W sh
tta" a sma'll hkhC moMffo^ T™ 68 ;, ^ this P-P-Twas deeded
advTsed 0 *: 0 - metll ° d ° f dealing with the P r otlem. The Shaikh was therefore
(a)
(b)
(c)
id )
0 purchase 12 Ford Vannettes, and arm them with Lewis guns
mounted on tripods. The Air Officer Commanding Crhdad
pfyment. Pr<mde the neCeSSary Lewis and a—itfon on
To purchase 2 complete wireless sets and mount fhpm ^ r
as is done by the Royal Air Force Armoured LXen-eboree"’
Tomrgage an ^British Officer or N. C. O. to organize the above
To send at once 3 Lewis gun teams to Basrah to
o± training with the Armoured cars.
undergo a course