"تقرير عسكري عن شواطئ الجزيرة العربية المطلة على الخليج الفارسي، البحرين، الأحساء، قطر، عُمان المتصالحة وعُمان" [‎١‎٢‎٦] (٢٢٦/١٤٠)

CHAP. V. ARMED FORCES KUWAIT.
CHAPTEE V.
ARMED FORCES.
Kuwait.
nf kJ^Sl er Ci'~~ e A J ahnla ^ ed staternent of the Armed Forces
ot the Sheikh of Kuwait is given below:
The policy was laid down in 1929 that the Royal Air
Force based on Iraq, would come to the assistance of
Kuwait if she were in danger of serious attack by strong
organized forces from Nejd- but that for dealing with
ordinary raids, large or small, and for patrolling her
frontier, she would have to depend on her own resources.
For this purpose it was decided that a small highly
mobile force of armed Ford cars would be the only satii
factory method of dealing with the problem.
The Sheikh was advised: —
(a) to purchase 12 Ford Vanettes and arm them with
Lewis Guns,
(b) to purchase 2 complete Field Wireless Transport
bets and mount them on lorries,
(c) to engage a British Officer or Non-commissioned
Umcer to organize the above force,
(d) to send 3 Lewis Gun teams to Basra for a course
of training.
The State finances (May 1932) have permitted the pur
chase of 5 \ anettes and 1 lorry only complete with 6 Lewis
Uuns. One Lewis Gun team has been trained by the Royal
A it *orce ; and there exist as spare one Vickers and one
Lewis Gun.
The complete scheme is being introduced as finances
permit.
2. The Fidawiyah or paid mercenaries The role of the
Fidawiyah is primarily to protect the Sheikh's property, his
camels sheep, horses, etc., but they could be counted on
to repel any fairly strong raid. They are paid and armed,
and are under the orders of their Amir. (Haif bin Hasan)
working under the direction of Sheikh Abdulla bin Jabir al
ba bah, the latter acts as commander-in-chief of the Kuwait
h orces. The Fidawiyah number some 350 men.