THE TROUBLE AT KOWEIT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12622, 3 October 1901, Page 4

THE TROUBLE AT KOWEIT.

The cable messages of the past day or two have thrown a new light en.the trouble at Koweit, in the Persian Gulf. The quarrel.. between Bin Rashid, Amir of Nejd, in Central Arabia, and Mabarouk, Sheik of Koweit, had all the appearance of a purely local disturbance. Bin Rashid, or, as he is sometimes called, Abdul Aziz, has the reputation of being an ambitious, meddlesome chief, and since 1897, when he succeeded, his father, Nejd Iras "been m'ore or less in a state of turmoil, owing to his schemes. Last year he gathered a considerable army and invaded Koweit, intending to secure the subjection of that territory, and to depose" the Sheik. But Mabarouk, who is"a peaceful man, of some sense, allowed Bin Rashid to cross the desert behind Koweit, and then routed his army. Finding the season opportune, Mabarouk retaliated by invading Nejd, carrying war even to the gates of ; Hail, a considerable city, which he occupied with his troops. Mabarouk, however, had no mind to play Napoleon, and' thinking the Nejd l tribes had had a sufficient lessen, he withdrew Ons victorious army, laden, with spoil, towards the sea coast again. On the route the army was ambushed by a " neutral" tribe, and reached Koweit in great disorder. Hostilities were then suspended for a few months, to allow the combatants to refit. It appears now that the Turkish Governor of Basra was backing Bin Rashid against Mabarouk, because the Sheik of Koweit is a sturdy, independent individual, and has shown r.io disposition to pay tribute to the Sultan. He appreciates the weakness of his little ccuntry, however, and on several occasions has made overtures to. Britain for the establishment of a British protectorate. This friendliness to the controlling Power in the Persian Gulf lias already proved us - ful to him. Bin Rashid has renewed his attack, evidently by arrangement with the Vali of Basra, for .Turkish troops were tent to Koweit in July to hold the town while the Nejd tribes advanced from inland. It ; must not be supposed that Mabarouk ia fighting this campaign alone. He has useful allies in the Ineizi and Montefik tribes of the desert, and Bin Rashid's war of conquest is, therefore, likely to prove a stiff one. Moreover, we learn this morning that the British have landed big guns at Koweit, probably to defend the town, and half a dozen British warships are anchored in the bay, or patrolling the coast, to guard against a third attempt to land Turkish troops from Basra. Britain's interference in the quarrel may bring her into conflict with Turkey, but the commander of the Perseus must have been acting on instructions when he ordered the Turkish transport to the rightabout so promptly. The story is still incomplete, however, because British officers dc\ not as a rule interfere in purely tribal disputes. Possibly Britain may contemplate declaring a protectorate over Koweit, and the action of the Vali of Basra was intended to forestall Sjer.