File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎50r] (108/995)

3
Abdullah Agiia exercised the chief influence. Even before the Batas
reverse the position at Itawanduz had become so critical that at the request
of the inhabitants and with the assistance and advice of Shaikh Muhammad
Agha, chief of the Balikh Kurds, the small garrison withdrew. It reached
Arbil via Barband without serious loss or adventure. After its departure
Rawanduz was actually attacked by the Surchi and Bawil Agha, father of
Kuri. After some disorder a holy man named Kaka Amin was appointed,
or appointed himself, Governor, a position which he still holds.
The period from the 1st September to the 14th, when troops arrived in
Arbil, and the Surchi were defeated by the Assyrians, was highly critical
in Arbil town. The anti-British party in the town, headed by Haji Rashid
Agha, Ataullah Agha, his son, Ahmad Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and Haji Pir Hand Agha of
the Dizai were doing all they could to stir up the tribes and in constant
correspondence with Qadir Beg whom they were endeavouring to persuade
to attack the town and make the P. 0. prisoner. Fortunately the two
strongest men in the Division, Mulla Effendi, a religious dignitary of the
highest order, and Khurshid Agha, who had recently succeeded Ibrahim
Agha as chief of the Dizai, were unwavering in the support which they gave
to Major Hay, and they were just strong enough to stem the tide. 1 Occa
sional visits of aeroplanes especially on the 8th September when Col. Wilson
visited Arbil on his way from Sulaimani to Mosul—were also not without-
effect. Since the 14th September the danger in Arbil is over. Haji
Rashid Agha has been arrested and sent to Baghdad and Qadir Beg has
repented and been forgiven. The A.P.O. has returned to Keui, as a tem
porary measure, and order has been restored throughout the southern part
of the Division. The Surchi however remain in possession of Batas and
Rawanduz is in its native state of independence. It is probably inadvisable
to make any attempt to hold the latter place, but Batas, which is in the
plains, will have to be re-occupied and the Surchi will have to be taught a
lesson.
It seems abundantly clear that Arbil, like Mosul, cannot be kept quiet
without either the presence or the occasional vigorous use of troops.
Kirkuk Division.
An admirable account by Major Longrigg of the causes of the rising,
as seen by him in his Division, was sent to you under cover of my No. 20414’
dated 28th October, 1920.
It remains to trace the course of events during the period under review.
In this Division, fortunate in the possession of a modicum of armed
force under a determined Commander acting in admirable accord with an
alert and vigorous political officer, active measures had been taken with the
insurgents from the beginning and the crisis was really oyer when Kifri
was re-occupied on the evening of the 30th August. Since then punitive
operations have been carried out where required, but sufficient forces to
create the right impression were not available and the situation, though
steadily improving, remained somewhat unsatisfactory for some time.
Ibrahim Khan of the Dillo tribe and the other murderers of Capt. Salmon
have not been captured and the roads in the Division were for long infested
by marauders. However on the 15th September three hostile politicians
were arrested in Kirkuk town and during the month the disorderly elements
among the tribes have been repressed. Husain al Ali chief of the Ubaid
Arabs did his best to restrain his tribe, but as the P.O. remarks “where
there is a chance of easy loot, few Arab Shaikhs could restrain their men.”
the terms offered to the tribes and towns in Kirkuk and Kifri and
accepted by them are as follows: —
—
Cash.
Rifles.
Rs.
Tuz town fined
17,500
Daudi
35,000
130
Kifri
10,000
Baiyat tribe
13,000
220
Karwiyah tribe
10,000
100
Jubar „
4,000
30
B. Zaid „
1,000
20
Gezh „
500
15
14 non-tribal villages ...
6,000
55