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PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY, 1920. 77
The High Commissioner discussed the matter with Sheikh on the 30th
September, and warned him that his war-flag and forces at Jahrah were
merely incitement to the Ikhwau to attack, and that he had far better
demobilize and trust to our poaccful iuterveniton. Sheikh Salim did not see
things in the same light.
On the 8th October a report was received in Kuwait that a large force of
Ikhwau, which subsequently proved to consist of about four thousand men
under Faisal ad-Da wish, had left Wa frail for Subailiiyah the previous
evening.
Sheikh Salim was at Jahrah at the time, and, as soon as he received this
information, made preparations for the defence of the village, and also ordered
the newly-built town wall of Kuwait to be manned.
At 6 a. H. on the 10th October the Ikhwan attacked Jahrah. Shaikh
Salim’s force was holding the south-west face of the village, with Ibn Tawalah’s
mounted Shammar on the right flank and Da’ij’s horsemen on the left. The
Ikhwan launched their attack on the western end of the position, and, after
routing the Shammar, turned the position from the north-west.
13y 9 a. m. the entire village was in the hands of the Ikhwan and Shaikh
Salim, with the other Sheikhs and about six hundred men, was shut up in
the fort to the south-west of the village, the rest of his force being dispersed.
In the afternoon Faisal ad-Dawish sent a message to Shaikh Salim offer­
ing him peace if he would evacuate the fort forthwith and renounce all claims
to the camels, etc., which the Ikhwan had taken, but Shaikh Salim refused.
During the night the Ikhwan made three determined attacks on the fort,
but failed to take it.
Meanwhile very great nervousness was evident in Kuwait, and the wildest
rumours were current. An immediate attack on Kuwait was feared, and
erery available man was sent teman the wall.
On the morning of the 11th October Sheikh Ahmad al-Jabir, who was
in command in Kuwait, organized and despatched a relief force. About six
hundred men were sent by sea in the Sheikh’s steam launch “ Mishrif ” and
a few sailing boats, and at the same time, Ibn Tawalah and a party of mounted
men went out by road.
Before these reinforcements arrived, however, Faisal ad-Dawish sent an
‘aim, named Sulaiman, to Shaikh Salim with definite proposals of peace.
He demanded that Shaikh Salim should put down all smoking, drinking,
gambling and prostitution in Kuwait. Shaikh Salim replied that he too disap­
proved of all these things and that he was quite willing to prohibit their being
done openly by his subjects. He could not, however, answer for what people
did in their own houses, nor could he be responsible for the action of foreigners
who were not under his control. He then raised the question of the camels
and other plunder, and said that if the Ikhwan were willing to withdraw, and
leave everything they had taken behind them, he would not interfere with
them. Ibn Sulaiman maintained that the Ikhwan had a right to keep what
they had taken in battle, and said that he could not agree to leave it without
reference to Dawish, but that he would refer the matter to him. He then
withdrew, and went off towards Dawish’s tent, which was on the far side of the
village. Shortly after this the Ikhwan withdrew' without further fighting,
but taking everything with them. They marched for three hours that day, and
®n the 12th October moved on to Subaihiyah.
The Kuwait casualties were comparatively small, and*amounted to about
two hundred in all. The Ikhwan on the other hand, who attacked in the
open with the most fanatical disregard for their owm safety, lost enormously.
It is estimated that their killed alone amounted to eight hundred, while they
are said to have had more than that number severely wounded, of whom some
four hundred died before they reached Subaihiyah, and more than a hundred
after that.
On the 14th October Faisal ad-Dawish sent a letter to Shaikh Salim from
Subaihiyah, demanding that Hilal al-Mutairi, wrho is one of the biggest mer­
chant in Kuwait, should be sent out to treat with him regarding a settlement