File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎150r] (310/995)

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When Colonel Mac Yean arrived he also had no knowledge of the imme
diate necessity for some form of action if we were to hope to keep Shamiyah
quiet. He proposed to wait a day or two in Diwaniyah till he knew how the
land lay. Asked my opinion I could only reply that the delay which had
already occurred had had serious results and I thought that the Political
situation required very early action to be taken. Whether this was militarily
feasible was not for me to say, nor could I know.
Colonel Mac Yean pushed on a day earlier than he at first intended.
During these last few days (1—5) the situation in Dagharah district had
been very delicate. Haji Mukhif, just before his arrest had bribed Saiyid
Kadhim, who is related by marriage to Shalan of A1 Shabanah and Sadun
A1 Rasan, and managed to patch up a truce with them and to form a body
for aggressive action later, but not until affairs had developed. After his
arrest Saiyid Qata £ of Hillah took it upon himself to carry on the work and
toured the Dagharah stirring up the tribes.
On the night of the 4th, Sadun A1 Rasan a notorious firebrand (see Per
sonalities) having heard of the disastrous sortie of the Rumaithah Garrison,
hoisted his war flag and announced his intention of cutting the line above
Diwaniyah. With MacYean’s Column in front and the remainder of the force
yet to concentrate this won 1 d have seriously embarrassed us. On my own.
responsibility I therefore asked for and took out two Squadrons of Cavalry and
destroyed Sadun’s village. He fled to Bani Huchaim and did not for some
time interfere with us. After the concentration at Diwaniyah I advocated one
day’s action against the Dagharah tribes (they did not at that time exceed 500
rifles though they have now purchased up to 1,500) rather than leave a hornets
nest on our L. of C. and because again the delay in dealing with this handful
of insurgents was tending to upset Afaq. The need to relieve Rumaithah made
it impossible to deal with them and again on the return of the column, it had
to withdraw to Hillah without having punished these tribes.
As a result they continually harrassed our L. of C. and several times cut
the Railway. After our retirement, Sadun A1 Rasan and Haji Sallal, nephew
of Haji Mukhif followed up to Hillah and attached themselves to Albu Sultan.
The remainder of the' tribes from Dagharah returned to their homes after loot
ing Diwaniyah. _ , ^ ^ ^ r .
n • C. DALY, Majoe, I. A.,
26-8-20.
No. I. 1656 of 28th August.
General Headquaeters,
Bated 28th August, 1920.
COPY OF EXTRACTS DELETED FROM REUTERS 28-8 : 20.
Interviewed by representative of Daily News Colonel T. E. Lawrence
expressed optimism as regards early important and far reaching developments
in Mesopotamia. He said he believed that departure of Sir Percy Cox and St,
John Phil by one of big four in Arabian affairs would do more to restore peace
than all the troops in world. He thought problem was personal one only
requiring right persons to solve it. He asserted that Governments mistake had
been employment of men at head of administration who rgarded Arabs as
Indians and who applied Indian,mode of government as they knew no other.
Lawrence described military dispositions as absurd but no British so idler
would be responsible for anything so feeble or unscientific. He said that
militarv were children in hands of civil authorities and that they would have
to act under their authority. He thought that whole thing could be adjusted
bv siiHit change in British personnel. He was convinced that Arabs would
implore retention of advisers at Baghdad when self-Government was granted
He doubted if Feisul whom he described as personally unambitious would
accept kingship of Mesopotamia. .
Consequence of situation in Mesopotamia, Sir Percy Cox s Mission accord-
in«- to Daily Graphic is being expedited, original intention was that he should
return to Baghdad in Autumn where he would create a Provisional General
Elective Assembly freely elected by population it is understood however, that
this process will be shortened.
Telegram—R.
From—Foreign, Simla.
To—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
No. 1045S.
Dated 27th and received 28th August, 1920.
Following question will shortly be asked in Imperial Legislative Council
begins. ^ ^ f a et that order was issued beginning of last year in connection
with Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force to effect that no
Eastern rank and file need apply for post after war—in Civil
employment in Mesopotamia.