'File 61/14 XVI (D 67) Relations between Nejd and Iraq' [‎244r] (506/538)

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The cars encircled the rebels on the north, while Ibn Sand with Ids
main army attacked from the south. Ibn Ashwan,' and his devoted fr,i
lowers, surrounded and outnunibered ten to one, now walked round their
flocks, and fired steadily inflicting considerable casualties, until they were
overwhelmed by numbers, and all, except the women, were put to death.
A halt was made after the action, and at sunset, two other cars which
had been scouting to the west, returned to report that another section was
, on the move south-west of the army. This was the Barzan, who had
crossed m front of Ibn Sand's army, ahead of Ibn Ashwan, and were
making for Janya. Orders were issued for a pursuit next morning
Meanwhile, however, the Barzan had apparently become aware of the
presence of Ibn Saud s army, and possibly of the fate of Ibn Ashwan
All Abu Shuwainbat and Mutlaq ibn Hanaiya left their tribes at dusk'
and riding through the night, broke into the tents and fell at Ibn Saud'»
feet soon after midnight, before they could be prevented or recoo-nized^
Having reached the tents, their lives were spared.
These actions delayed the advance of Ibn Baud's army, and it was
not until 5th January 1930, that he reached and camped A1 Eiqai Prom
the Barzan prisoners, he received the first news of Mnhsin al Firm's raid
On reaching Riqai, he found no rebels south of the frontier. His ad
vanced guard, consisting of some forty horsemen and two hundred camel-
men under Mashari ibn Busaiyis, the loyal Mutair Shaikh, penetrated
into Kuwait as far as Mahazul. Near Ash Shuqaiya,. they located three
Iraq tribesmen, two Shammaris and a Dhafiri. The two former were
killed, with rifle fire and dagger wounds, their riding camels and rifles be
ing looted. No compensation was ever received from Ibn Saud for this
outrage.
On 7tli January 1930, a party of horsemen from Ibn Sand's camp
raided the Said Section of the Dhafir near Shaihiyyat, looting forty-five
camels. * Two police cars which were in the vicinity, took np the pursuit,
but owing to pours of heavy rain and soft mud, were unable to overtake
the raiders, and reached Shaib al Aujah in time to see them drive their loot
into Ibn Sand's tents. A strong protest was instantly despatched to.Ibn
Saud, and, on the following morning, a written letter of apology was re
ceived, accompanied, however, by only thirty-seven camels. The remain
der have not been returned.
The incident, troublesome as it was at the time, caused the present
writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. , in a manner, some amusement. At Jidda and elsewhere, Ibn Sand's
minions have been inclined to look down, their noses at Government repre
sentatives, saying rather superciliously that Ibn Saud is the only man who
can govern wild bedouins., The boot would appear to be somewhat on the
other leg. ^ Though in the past years, tribes camped in Iraq may have
raided ^sTajd contrary to Government orders, there is no record of bring
ing their loot back to a G-overnment post, as these did in broad dav light
to Ibn Sand's tents.
On the following day, another Iraq tribesman near Shaib al Auja,
was approached by a party of Najd camelmen. On being asked who he
w as, the Iraqi foolishly replied " Min ashair* Abu Hunaich ", an answer
^ Inch elicited a volley of musketry, and only luck and a fast camel saved
•uis life.
.Other minor incidents of the same kind occurred, and it was therefore
witii some relief that, on, 8th January 1930, we observed Ibn Sand's
311001l t of the Batin past Riqai towards the East. The water
U tne latter well was insufficient for his army, and he was compelled to
ttove to Khabari Wadha, where large rainpools had been reported. u God
save us from oux friends".
32. Intercourse mitji Um Sand's Messenger at Al Ubaid. —On 5th
• amiary 1930, a party of three cars arrived at the post of Al Ubaid, con-
^ ining Yusuf al Yasin, a Syrian lawyer and journalist, Ibn Sand's sec-
£rary x0r pro paganda, the press, and: foreign Governmental affairs, Turk!
lc239FD
*" From tiie tribes of Gapt. Grlubb