6. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for India whether the local levies of Mesopotamia are recruited from the bedaween or the fellaheen or from what class or classes of the dwellers in Mesopotamia?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe local levies are in most districts recruited from the settled riparian tribes and from townsmen, the majority being tribesmen. The settled tribesmen are cultivators or fellaheen. There are, however, nomadic tribes approximating to the Bedouin type from which levies are recruited in areas where such a type predominates.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIs it not a fact that the riparian tribes form some of the best Arab troops that have served in the Turkish Army for 400 years?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI think that there is a subsequent question by my hon. and gallant Friend (Major Glyn) on which I shall be able to express my appreciation of the levies which have been recruited from the tribes to which the hon. Member refers.
§ Colonel YATEAre any efforts being made to recruit levies from the Chaldeans and Assyrians, who rendered such good service in the recent troubles?
§ Mr. MONTAGUPerhaps the hon. and gallant Member would give notice, or, if he prefers, I could refer to the documents and let him know.
§ Colonel YATEThank you.
§ 8. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for India what is the present strength of the local Arab levies in Mesopotamia; whether they were used by the Executive during the recent period of insurgence and with what success; whether steps are being taken to increase the size of the force; and what contribution is to be paid from British Army funds in respect of the military duties performed by the levies on behalf of the Army?
§ Mr. MONTAGUAs regards the first part of the question I regret that I have no information more recent than that given to my hon. Friend last Wednesday, but if he wishes I will make inquiries. Levies have ben used during the recent rising with varying success. In the defence of Shahroban, 14th to 15th August, levies behaved with great gallantry, and are believed to have suffered over 50 per cent, casualties in the defence of the Levy Barracks. The garrison of 50 levies resisted for four days attacks by tribesmen, whose numbers are stated to have been 5,000. They were overpowered when their ammunition gave out. In September the following report was received from Sir Arnold Wilson:
I continue to receive most satisfactory reports from Hillah, Nasiriyah, and elsewhere as to behaviour of Arab levies and police wherever they are employed with and under their own British officers whom they know.1159 As regards future increases to the Force, I have already expressed to the House the hope that the new Administration will take steps to create a Native Army as quickly as possible. A sum of Rs. 18,00,000 had ben asked for in the Civil Budget for 1920–21 as a contribution from Army Funds in respect of quasimilitary duties performed by the levies on behalf of the Army. But the recent disturbances will make a revision of the original estimates necessary.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENW0RTHYWould it not be much better rapidly to increase these levies instead of sending out more Rolls-Royce cars to Mesopotamia?
§ Mr. MONTAGUWe are anxious to increase the levies, but the policy which is being pursued, as I informed the House last week, is to train those whom we have already got in order to make them efficient units before increasing them further than the opportunities for training occur. The policy which the Government is pursuing is to maintain order by means of these levies.
§ Earl WINTERTONIn view of the fact that many of these levies have rendered good service during the War, and are entitled to recognition for their services, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that, if any of them are killed or disabled, proper reparation will be made to their widows and dependents?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIt is very difficult to give a definite pledge in answer to supplementary questions, but I will consider sympathetically the suggestion which the Noble Lord has made.