'Report on the operations carried out in the southern desert in connection with the Iraq-Najd borders, June 1928-May 1929.' [‎9] (11/32)

^een sent down A1 Batin to endeavour to cut off the raiders'
retreat received information of the direction of their retirement,
and proceeded with Captain Glubb to Umm Rus. On arrival
there it was discovered that the raiders had left about hv e hours
previously. Pursuit was impossible owing to the soft going and
shortage of petrol. The section, therefore had to go into
Kuwait to refuel, and then returned to Shaibah ln th ®
meantime the raiders made good their escape across the r ajc
border, and were able to distribute their spoils unmolested.
28 At this time rumours were current that Sultan ibn
Humaid, Paramount Shaikh of the Ataibah, was at Artawiyah
on his way north to raid 'Iraq tribes. Two sections of armoured
cars were, therefore, maintained in the Ruhail-Abu Khuwaimah
area where Captain Glubb was camped with the majority of
the Iraq tribes, and daily air reconnaissances were carried out
over this area and a few miles into Kuwait territory, ihis
procedure was kept up till 4th February, when one car section
was withdrawn to Basrah, and air reconnaissances were
considerably curtailed.
29. The situation in the north-western area remained quiet
•during the latter part of January, and the flight at Karbala
was withdrawn to Hinaidi on the 26th, one Armoured Car
Section remaining out at Nukhaib.
30 At this time the greater part of the 'Iraq tribes were
immediately west of the Batin, with a portion of them along
the northern frontier of Kuwait, having evacuated Kuwait
territory after the raid on 21st January. Grazing, however
was not plentiful in either area; it was good in and to the north
of the neutral zone, and better in Kuwait. Accordingly,
whilst many of the 'Iraq tribes were allowed to gravitate
towards the neutral zone under recognised protection, those
north and west of Kuwait were forced by economic pressure to
commence a gradual movement into Kuwait territory, ihis
movement could not be controlled on political grounds for,
although warned that their defence could not be guaranteed,
the shepherds considered that the threat of an Akhwan raid
was in itself less to be feared than the inevitable starvation of
their flocks should they continue to remain in areas compara
tively immune from attack but devoid of the essential grazing.
31 Nothing of interest occurred during the early part of
February, but on the 11th, reports, which subsequently
strengthened, were received that Ibn Hithlain again intended
to raid 'Iraq tribes in Kuwait territory. Consequently, on
the 13th and 14th air reconnaissances were carried out over
Kuwait territory as far south as Jahrah, and an Armoured Car
Section, on being relieved at Adhaibah, returned to Basrah