'Military report on Iraq. Area 9 (Central Kurdistan)' [‎11v] (27/394)

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During the next four months comparative peace prevailed
except for occasional raids by Surchi and Zibari tribesmen.
A small column proceeded through their country, bringing tran
quility into the neighbourhood until an outbreak occurred at
Rowanduz, following upon an attack on the Political Officer,
Arbil, in the Rowanduz gorge. Nuri Bawil, the assailant, took
refuge among the Aqra Surchi, and from there engineered the
rising, which resulted in the evacuation of Rowanduz and Batas.
Most of the Shaikhs of the Aqra Surchi joined the Dasht-i-Harir
sections, who had also the support of the Khushnao. At one time
Arbil was threatened with investment, but the despatch of columns
from Mosul and Kirkuk averted the danger. The bulk of the
Surchi then crossed the Zab, and proceeded to attack the Assyrian
camp at Jujar, only to be beaten off and driven across the Zab
again.
At the end of the year the Surchi Shaikhs, with the exception
of Shaikh Ubaidullah, having rejected the offer of peace, departed
to outlawry in the mountains.
A conference was held in March to consider the question of
the repatriation of the Assyrian refugees, who were then at
Baqubah. A suggestion for settling five to ten thousand of these
people in the Mosul area was rejected, and a repatriation scheme,
put forward by Agha Petros, was adopted. The essence of the
scheme was that by arming eight thousand of the men, it would be
possible to push through to Neri, Diza and Ushnu, and, after
strong garrisons had been established there, to bring up the
women and children and push through to Urumieh and other
parts of Kurdistan, which they had formerly occupied. The
mountaineers, Tiari and Tkhuma, etc., who were the fighting
men of the people, were to accompany this movement, and, having
installed their compatriots, were to make their way back westwards
to their own parts of the country.
The route chosen was via Aqra, and it was hoped it should
begin by June. Agha Petros laid stress on the friendly relations
existing between him personally and most of the Kurdish chiefs
affected, and agreed that the success of the project depended on
amicable relations being established between the Assyrians and
the Kurds. In view of the behaviour of the Tiari battalion, and
more particularly its deserters, in the Amadia area in the operations
of the previous year, apprehensions as to their possible behaviour
were put forward, but Agha Petros was convinced of his ability
to hold them.
The move up from Baqubah to Mosul was begun very shortly
afterwards, and by the beginning of May a very large number
were established at a camp at Mindan, on the Khazir river, about
half-way between Mosul and Aqra.
During the summer there were indications that the moun
taineers had no wish to proceed to Urumieh, but were likely,