'Report on the operations carried out in the southern desert in connection with the Iraq-Najd borders, November 1927-May 1928.' [‎7v] (14/66)

10
eastwards up to the Kuwait frontier. The general attitude of
the tribes at first was to act in accordance with instructions.
After a few days, however, it became necessary to show more
forcibly that we were in earnest. Consequently, when tribes,
who had been warned one dav to move were found in the same
place on the following day, warning bombs were dropped clear
of their encampments. If this was insufficien , : n ; lire d
stock were shot. In no case was any personnel injured.
Between the 18th and 28th warning bombs were dropped on
fifteen occasions. These measures considerably heartened the
'Iraqi tribes who began to move out again towards the frontier
where they could get better grazing.
28 In addition to the tribes in the area mentioned above,
the Akhwan menace had exerted considerable influence on the
powerful^ Amarat Section of the Anizeh tribe, whose norma
habit is from the south-east corner of the Syrian IJesert
bordering on the Euphrates from Karbala to above Hit an
iTsummer as far westwards as the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hauran. At the
end of December, Mahrut. the Shaikh of the Amzeh, approached
the High Commissioner with a request that armoured cars
and aeroplanes should be sent to be with him for sometime
tribe wtsiu., to
beinu raided In view of the operations being undertaken by
Akforce it was impossible to comply with this ^
officer was sent to visit Mahrut, however, on the ^ January
to explain to him the action which was being tak
restored a certain amount of composure in him, ™th the result
that his people began to move down to the Lussuf area. \ isi
by a Flight of No. 30 (B) Squadron from Hinaidi to Lussuf on
the 13th and 28th January provided further evidence that th
interests were not being overlooked.
29. On 22nd January, Air Commodore Higgins handed over
command of Akforce to Wing Commander E ^ J-^nson.
D.S.O., A.F.C., and resumed his duties as Chief Staff Omc ,
Air Headquarters.
SECOND PHASE.
30 Early in the morning of 27th January, a party of Akhwan
estimated at two to three hundred strong, carried out a raid
on Kuwait tribes in the vicinity of Shiqqat ar Ruwaisat. a
70 miles S.W. of Basrah. News of this raid was received in