File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎94r] (183/508)

S372ED
4
4. I propose that the Aden troop should act in support of the Abdali and
Haushabi forces to police a belt of country 35 miles from Sheikh Othman. I
fix that distance for two reasons. Eirstly, because I regard it as necessary that
they should have posts at Nohat Dakim and Am Eiga which command the
principal routes entering Abdali territory and, secondly, because 70 miles (to
Sheikh Othman and back) is more than a tribesman can cover in one day, so
that with good communications there is a chance of our cutting off a raider
before he can get past our posts. At present this is quite impossible.
5. Assuming that the 35-mile radius from Sheikh Othman is agreed to, I
desire to place detachments of the Aden troop at Nobat Dakim, Am Eiga and
Bir Am Mukhnuk with a support at Lahej. I would arrange with the Sultan
of Lahej that all these posts should be held by levies on whom we must greatly
rely at first for intelligence and at all times for co-operation. It may hereafter
prove advisable to have a post at Zanzibar in Eadthli territory, but 1 do not wish
to establish it if it can be avoided. I could probably secure suitable accommo
dation for the men without extra cost at Nobat and Lahej. I therefore do not
desire to actually make over to the Abdali the buildings at Nobat till this mat
ter is settled. At the other two posts some slight expense will probably be ne
cessary. I will report on this separately when I have visited the post in ques
tion. The strength of the several detachments should be left to me to fix with
reference to training and duties at Khormaksar, but they should be no stronger
than is absolutely necessary. The post should, if possible, be connected by visual
signalling.
The main duty of these detachments will be to organise a system of regular
patrols by tribal levies of the trade routes within the 35-mile limit, so that
prompt notice should be taken of any outrage occurring on the trade routes and
the offenders arrested. They will not be allowed to operate beyond the 35-mile
limit whether in Subaihi territory or elsewhere, but within that limit it is ab
solutely necessary that I should be able to order them anywhere without refer
ence.
6. To ensure succees it is necessary to enlist the sympathy and co-opera
tion of the Chiefs concerned, and I thick they will readily agree to the course
I propose.
7. I now turn to the future composition of the force. The detached duties
I propose will be the reverse of popular in the Aden troop. I therefore consi
der it highly inexpedient to attempt to do too much at once, and I trust that no
alteration be made in the composition of the Aden troop, until they have se -
tied down for some months at their new duties ^ and we can see how^ things
work out. The Arab guide element consisting as it does of only 7 men is, how
ever, too weak and I would therefore, for the present, attach to the troop e
4 extra sowars of the Sheikh Othman Mounted Police which now form part ot
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , D’thala’s escort making no change whatever in their conditions
of pay or service. Untill l have some experience to guide me in the wording
of the system I propose, I do not feel prepared to lay down the ^ture stiengt
or composition of the troop which, even with the aid of the Shei
Police, will he none too strong for the work they will be called upon ^ •
due course I will put forward proposals on this head, chief of whie
the troop should he commanded by an officer who must
a taste for political rather than strictly military duties. Until this « done, w
cannot, I think, hope for any great measures of success. But for the p ^
I propose to utilise the services of the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , I) tha a, 1
mile limit to help and direct the activities of the troop.
8. In this connection I desire to refer to paragraph H/ Government of
India despatch No. 74, dated 25th April 1907, and the F 01 ' 1 ^^ ®°1 a “e I
paragraph 6 of Secretary of State’s Secret despach No. > without pre-
have no wish to depute the Political AgenUo the Turkish ™ territory,
vious reference except in the case of Amin and possib y ^an
In neither of these cases is there, in my OP 11 ^ 0 * 1 ' ^ ^ l l ea , , Nobat Dakim/
exists at,(present moment. And I think that during his s y , A^ent
while watching the effect of our withdrawal from D thala, the Po o