WAR ON THE HILLS.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18640, 19 May 1932, Page 2

WAR ON THE HILLS.

AIR FORCE IN KURDISTAN. SUPPRESSION OF A SHEIK. AN EIGHT MONTHS’ CAMPAIGN. (From a correspondent). LONDON, April 5. Imagination-stirring facts about the part played by the Royal Air Force in an eight months’ campaign among the plains and mountains of Southern Kurdistan against an insurgent chieftain are contained in a detailed report of the operations which has been placed at my disposal by the Air Ministry. The Ancient and the Modern. The story is fantastic in its mingling of the antique and the new. On one side the tribesmen, clad in garments not .differing by a single thread from those worn by their forefathers since the days of Abraham, but armed indeed with rifles rather than swords or spears; against them the twentieth century counterpart of the mediaeval knight—the air pilot in his flying machine. The setting is the grim territory along the borders of Persia, Kurdistan and Iraq, a land where rugged mountain ranges domina'te the scene, where great heat in summer alternates with deadly cold during the winter months. Among the mountains moved Sheikh Mahmoud and his warriors eternally doubling to escape the pursuers, turning every now and then to the swift capture of an outlying post, only in the end to be defeated and obliged to sue for peace by the ever-growing pressure exerted from the skies against them. The Sheikh emerged from three years of unusual peacefulness in September, 1930. when he took advantage, of nationalist unrest in Kurdistan to advance with a strong force across the frontier into Iraq. Operations against the Sheikh were based largely on the existence of the newly-formed Iraqi army: the original scheme provided that” the Royal Air Force should only take positive action against 'the enemy if the Iraqi troops were attacked and in need of assistance. The course of events obliged modifications -of this plan and the operations eventually were resolved into three distinct phases, in the last only of which did the air force co-operate fully. Sheikh Mahmoud’s first success was the capture of the important polioe post at Penjvin, on the PerslaIraq border. Ain action was taken against the investing rebel plcquets and local tribesmen, encouraged by the arrival of the aeroplanes, attacked the Sheikh’s men and drove them from Penjvin before the Iraqi column reached the scene of action. Nearly in the middle of winter, the Shellch captured another police post, this time at Surdash, nearly thirty miles inside Iraq territory; an air demonstration enabled a ground column to turn the flank of the rebels and relieve Surdash a few days after it had fallen. At that moment the first phase of the operations ended, the onrush of winter enforcing a temporary, lull. Aeroplanes Break Rebel Attack. Barely one month later ‘the tireless sheikh reappeared with his forces In the Talib.ia Plain, an area particularly difficult for troop movements at that time of year. The scope of air action was accordingly extended to include operations against any bodies of definitely hostile tribesmen seen in the open. A third police post fell to the Sheikh, who resisted all efforts to dislodge him for some time. Relief columns were moved out from Sulelmaniyah and aeroplanes went with it. On one occasion a flank attack on the Iraqi column was spoiled from 'the air and dispersed by bombing and machine gun fire. Just about then a favourable opportunity of rounding up the rebels was lost because the ground forces failed to reach the objective In time, and the second phase ended early in February with the balance decidedly in Mahmoud’s favour. The next month was spent in grappling with the problem of bringing this wary and elusive enemy to action. A special mobile force of 350 mounted police was raised, one Iraqi cavalry regiment was trained in mountain warfare, supply dumps were established through the anticipated operational area, and full aerial cooperation was decided. These measures were scarcely completed when the Sheikh re-opened the ball with a successful attack oh a convoy taking stores to a police post. Immediately afterwards he led his wild tribesmen into tho hills and valleys of the Qara Dagh region, where he owns much property and which' is the home of tho turbulent .Taf tribes- from whom he might expect support. Instigated by the Sheikh these tribes began to refuse payment of taxes. Troops were sent and aeroplanes made frequent reconnaissance and demonstration flights over the area. By the middle of March revolt had spread to the large Sheikhan district on the left bank of the Diyalah river. Parties of rebels Altered into the region and the only police post was oloselv invested. At this time the situation was grave, and the effect of the Sheikh’s propaganda among the villagers was sufficiently marked to oblige the dropping of proclamations which declared that any villages known to be sheltering rebels would he liable to aerial bombardment after hair an hour’s warning. Energetic action was taken to entrap Sheikh Mahmoud in tho Qara Dagh valley, but the wily chieftain contrived to slip out of danger twentyfour hours ahead of the sweeping ■movement. Without a moment’s delay a similar sweep was made of the south-western side of the Qara Dagh. There tho aeroplanes located large numbers or rebels and attacked them, forcing them to seek refuge in caves. For some hours ilie aeroplanes held them imprisoned, creating an opportunity for action by the cavalry column which was lost because the commanding officer did not think the occasion suitable. i

Swift Conclusion. Tlmnro onwnrrl the tempo of the campaign quickened. Early in April the ground forces made a forced march of thirty miles lo meet the Sheikh's men. Air reconnaissance, located the rebels at Awa Harika. "While the Iroops moved up rapidly to the attack relays or aeroplanes maintained ceaseless harassing of Ihe rebels with bombing and machine gun flee. Unfortunately the ground column failed in dislodge Ihe rebels from a strong point before nightfall and during the hours of darkness Ilia Sheikh and his men again escaped. (dire more lurk favoured the Sheikh, when for some reason a pass nn the south-weslern side of the Oara p.sgh was lefl unguarded: Now the Sheikh, who got -through the pass j im | across Ihe Halib.ia plain .lust before he eould he intercepted t> y' armoured cars, moved north to territory wiiere Ihe ground column could not (GonV-nua.l In nest column.)

-hope to come up with the unhampered rebels, who fight and move “light." That spelled -the end of the Sheikh’s adventure. The operations developed into a series of air attacks. His men were kept under close aerial observation and hornbed at every opportunity while the ground columns moved up behind the aeroplanes to restore government authority. On April 23 Sheikh -Mahmoud, sorely embarrassed and -tired of the conflict, crossed into Persian territory and-intimated his desire to surrender. Twenty days later he accepted at Pen.jvin the • terms placed before him, which granted him his life, an allowance from the income of his estates, and permission to resile with his family a-t, some place to lie selected by' the Iraq government. Ironically enough lie was down two days afterwards from Suleimaniyah to Ur, where lie was given temporary accommodation. Though the limitation of air support in (he early stages prolonged the war it resulted' in the Iraq army gaining much valuable experience and training. From first to last the policy against indiscriminate bombing of villages enabled the. operations to ho conducted with the least, possible disturbance of Kurdish life and prosperity and avoided the bitterness and distress which a more, drastic use of air power might have caused. Tims Ihe aeroplane proved its worth in active service over .Mine of ihe most hazardous flying country in the world. Once full aerial action began the Sheikh’s maraudings were ended within a few days. Without, the Hying, machine Ihe suppression of Hie revolt would have cost. inllnilely more in lime and iroisnro. And the story of Ibis ’’ 1 illl •"* war" is surely HI to rank in its lualilies of glamour and high adventure with any of -the frontier struggles that recur so frequently in the Umpire's history.