"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٢‎١] (٣٩٦/٤٩)

^2 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT
Ahwaz the Bawi and Beni Turf had openly revolted against the Shaikh, while
the attitude of the Ohaab and the Arabs of the Mianah was ^
nication with Mohannnerah was maintained by H. * '4. a ? mi
" Comet " patrolling the river, hut that with the fields was cut off. The pipe
line was at the same time breached and fired m several places, and the Od Com
pany's dep6t at Mullasani was wrecked.
The European inhabitants of Ahwaz had been sent down to Mohammerah
at the end of January, while the Bazaar was practically deserted.
Great efforts were at this time made to induce Shaikh Hanzal to throw in
his lot with the enemy, but without success.
The Turkish column with Ghazban crossed the Karkeh about the middle
of Pebruary and came in contact with our patrols. On the 19th, the awi,
Tvho were moving towards Ahwaz, were repulsed by Shaikh Hanzal s torce, but
the Chaab, under the guidance of the Mullah Saiyid Jabar, shortly aftei joined
them and threatened Ahwaz from the South-East.
To guard against an attack on the refinery by the Chaab, a detachment of
100 rifles was posted at Abadan.
Bv the first week in March a force of about 4,000 Turks with a large
o-athermg of Arabs had established itself about 10 miles west of Ahwaz. The
disaffected Bawi had occupied Wais, and a mixed force of Chaab, Bawi, and
Mirs from Jarrahi threatened Nasiri. On the 3rd March a reconnaissance made
in force from Ahwaz met with an overwhelming body of the enemy and though
inflicting 500 or 600 casualties, themselves suffered severely.
The following month, after the battle of Shaiba, the Turkish force withdrew
from the neighbourhood of Ahwaz and the situation began to impiOAe. ^ A
strono" column was sent to operate in the country w r est of the Karun which
inflicted severe punishment on the Beni Turf. The Shaikhs of this tribe were
exiled and others appointed. The Bawi made their submission to the Shaikh's
representative, on the 5th May, and an agreement was taken from them for
the protection of the pipe-line. Repairs to the latter were forthwith commenced
and were completed by the 17th. Europeans returned to Ahwaz on the 9th
May. Early in June, the Shaikh sent an expedition under Shaikh Chasib.
against the Chaab and another one with the same objective up the Khor Buzia.
These were successful and inflicted considerable losses on the rebel tribes. The
latter then made submission, with the exception of an insignificant number,
w ho together with some of the Mirs of Jarrahi fled to Eamuz under Bakhtiari
protection. M ost of them have since returned. Said Jabir, the instigator of
the Chaab rebellion, finally made his personal submission in December.
In August the Shaikh prepared and embarked a force to be sent to the
assistance of Haidar Khan of Haiyat Daud. Their despatch was eventually
found to be unnecessary. The Shaikh however during the course of the year
despatched two large consignments of arms and ammunition of his own for the
arming of friendly tribes in connection wdth disturbances about Bushire.
In October, in consequence of a religious agitation at Behbehan, instigated
by Saiyid Isa and financed with German money, there was a gathering of
Mujahidin whose intention it was reported, w as to march on Lirawi. The
Shaikh of Mohammerah dispatched a strong force cf Arabs to his frontier at
Jarrahi and Hindijan, and owing to this and internal dessensions amongst the
agitators, the matter came to nothing. ^
A squadron of cavalry was detached from the Ahwaz garrison to remain at
Band-i-Qir in August, its object being to act as a deterrent against petty raids
by Arabs on the pipe line and Anglo-Persian Oil Company's camps, and inci
dentally to guard against the approach of German Agents from Ispahan to
Shushter.
In October, Agha Rahim, Arshad-ud-Dowleh, arrived in Dizful, nominally
in charge of Bakhtiari sowars, but actually to usurp the functions of Deputy
Governor on behalf of the Bakhtiaris, and he at once started a provocative anti-
British policy. This individual subsequently came to Mohammerah on a mis
sion to undermine the Shaikh's loyalty which it is needless to say ipet with no
success.
The Waqar-ul-Mulk arrived in Dizful on 18th November as Deputy
Governor on behalf of the Governor of Arabistan. He was however effectively