File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎51v] (111/995)

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10,000 of them are said to have taken 4 part. This was their main effort and
they seriously expected it to succeed. From the hour when they realised that
it had failed their cause began to decline. From this time, though the leaders
stood fast, the lesser men began to think of surrender and the contingents in
the field, having consumed the date harvest on the trees, began to dwindle in
numbers. Punitive action in the vicinity of Hillah was resumed, but had to be
interrupted at the end of August for the re-opening of the Diyalah railway.
It was not until this had been effected and the trqops had returned to Hillah
that really valuable results began to accrue. On the 12th October Tuwairij was
re-occupied and Hamid Khan, who had been kept there as a close prisoner but
not otherwise ill-treated, was released. As an instance of the manner in which
the tribal leaders kept up the spirits of their followers and of the lies with which
they fed them, Hamid Khan relates that only two hours before his rescue, lie
heard the people begin to dance and shout with glee in the streets of Tuwairij.
He asked his guards what had happened and one replied that news had come of
the capture of Mahmudiyah by the Turks and of the victorious advance of a
Sharifian force from Ramadi. The occupation of Tuwairij was immediately fol
lowed by the surrender of Karbala. Under instructions from the High Commis-
missioner, the members of the provisional Government were summoned into
Baghdad and terms of submission there dictated to them. A copy of these is
attached as an appendix to this report. Of the 17. persons, whose surrender was
demanded, all except four have been given up, but the tale of rifles not
having been completed within the stipulated time, troops advanced to Kar
bala on the 2nd November. The houses of four insurgent tedders, who have so
far evaded capture are being formally razed to the ground, but no other damage
is to be done. These operations and the punitive action taken by the troops near
Hiliah, Musaiyib and Tuwairij have had their effect on the tribes. A statement
is attached showing those Shaikhs and tribes who have surrendered up to date,
and the Urms accepted by them. Fakhr-al-Din Kammunah, who had been
appointed Governor of the town by the Civil Commissioner after the departure
of the A.P.O., but had been quite unable to make good his position, and whether
willingly or otherwise, had given some support to the insurgents, remains as
Governor of the town until more satisfactory arrangement can be made.
Meanwhile another and stronger column had been advancing in the face of
considerable opposition, chiefly from the Shamiyah tribes, from Hillah towards
Kufah. Kifl was occupied on the 14th October and a bridge thrown across; the
river. Kufah was entered on the 17th and the garrison relieved after 92 days’
siege. The casualties sustained during the siege amounted to—killed B.O.’s 2,
B.O.R.’s 1, I.O.’s Nil, l.O.R.’s 12, Arabs and Persians 5; died of disease B.O.R.
1, I.O.R. 1; wounded B.O.R. 1, l.O.R.’s 22 and Arabs and Persians 3; missing
l.O.R.’s 2, Persian 1. The Political Department sustained a grievous loss in
the death of Capt. J. S. Mann, who was killed on the 22nd July by a bullet from
a sniper. This officer had not been long in the country but his tact, ability and
personal charm had made a deep impression on all who came into contact with
him and had he lived, he must have gone far. A word of special praise is due
to the Persian Police and to the Arab Levies, who formed part of the garrison,
and resisted all appeals of the enemy to desert and join what for long must have
seemed the winning side. In this connection the Hillah Levies (2nd Euphrates)
must not be forgotten. Their fidelity has been admirable and their military
skill has been acknowledged by more than one General Officer Commanding in
the field. The chief credit for this satisfactory state of things is 1 due to Major
Boyle, Inspecting Officer, Levies, and to Captain W. McWhinnie, their per
manent Commandant.
On the occupation of Kufah a deputation from Najaf appeared before the
G.O.C. and formally surrendered the town. The British and Indian prisoners
of war were also brought in, largely through the efforts of Saiyid Ali, son of the
late Saiyid Kadhim Yazdi, and Haji Abdul Muhsin al Shallash. They had
been removed from Najaf to Umm al Barur a few days before Kufah was re
captured, but were brought back through the influence of these two men. On
the whole they had been well-treated.
A draft of terms to he given to the town of Najaf was prepared and
approved by tlm High Commissioner. These terms were on the same lines as
those given to Karbala, but less rigorous. The behaviour of the Najafis, who
had huti their ‘esson in 1918 and bore a grudge against the tribes for not
having helped them then, had compared favourably with that of the people, of
Karbala. The terms approved for Najaf have however so far not been
announced, as the people of Najaf are making themselves very useful in coun
selling the insurgents to surrender, and they may be regarded as now in abey
ance.
Whether as a result of the Najafis’ good advice or of local punitive opera
tions the Shamiyah shaikhs have in point of fact been surrendering wholesale
and unconditionally, since the occupation of Kufah. The same policy of rifle
fines is being pursued here as elsewhere and the time seems at hand when a
general amnesty may be offered in this region to all except a few ringleaders
and those who have committed specific crimes.