§ 57. Colonel DAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any further Reports from the Iraq Government of the impending attack or the movements of Sheikh Feisal-ed-Dowish; and can he give the particulars?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The Acting High Commissioner for Iraq reports the receipt of a message from the King of the Hejaz and Nejd to the effect that serious trouble has broken out in Nejd and that he has heard, to his regret, that a force of Akhwan is marching north contrary to his orders. He wished the Iraq authorities to have warning of this movement. The latest reports show that Akhwan raiding parties have recently been active in the neutral zone, which is between Iraq and Nejd territory. On the 9th December a British aeroplane reconnaissance was fired upon, one wireless operator being wounded. Later on, the same day, British aircraft located a strong raiding party in this area and attacked them with good effect. There is also a report of a raid by Akhwan further north in Iraq territory, but this is not yet confirmed.
§ Colonel DAYCould we know whether the raiding parties are in very large numbers?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENot, I gather, very large, but it would seem that loot and marauding were the main objects of the raids.