'Report on the operations carried out in the southern desert in connection with the Iraq-Najd borders, November 1927-May 1928.' [‎5r] (9/66)

5
from their bases at Shaibah or Nasiriyah in times when a raid
was believed to be imminent or was known to have occurred,
but, with the exception of the garrison at Abu Ghar no 'Iraqi
force or official penetrated the desert. The whole of the
work of rallying the tribes fell upon the Special Service Officers,
whose responsibilities increased with their experience. It
was not possible, however, for any single S.S.O. to give his
undivided attention to this problem except for a short period
during the winter months.
10. Subsequent to the re-occupation of Abu Ghar Post,
it became apparent that the construction of a new post further
south would offer considerable advantages both as an " intelli
gence " centre for tribal information, and for the more effective
control of the shepherd tribes during their annual winter
migration. In addition, the establishment of such posts in
the desert was undertaken by the Iraq Government in response
to a request from H.M. Government that they should consider
the best means of preventing raiders from Syria crossing 'Iraq
territory to raid into Xajd. Ibn Sa'ud had complained of such
raids and stated that he held the Iraq Government responsible
for them. After the raid into Kuwait on the 5th October,
1926, a small detachment of camel police was sent to camp
at the wells at Husaiya which had been used bv the raiders
on their return. In order to check further raids this detach
ment was maintained, and in February, 1927, the construction
of a small fortified post was commenced.
11. In September of the same year (1927), alarmist rumours
were in circulation south of the frontier relative to this new
post at Busaiya ; its size and strength were grossly exaggerated
and credence was given to the story that a branch line was to
link it with the Baghdad—Basrah railway. The resentment
aroused by this attempt to establish law and order in the
Southern Desert culminated in the fulfilment of Faisal ad
Dawish s threat to destroy the post and thus ensure the
freedom of the desert and the security of the Akhwan faith
from the insidious approach of a Western civilization.
ATTACK ON BUSAIYA POST.
12. On the night of the 5th/6th November, 1927, the post
was attacked by a party of Mutair estimated at 40 strong.
All the occupants of the post were killed with the exception
of one policeman who made good his escape and reported the
occurrence to the post at Abu Ghar, and one found wounded
next day. By the time the report got through to Shaibah,
it was too late to locate the raiders by air, though a flight was