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Catalogue Reference:CAB/24/136 Image Reference:0036
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[This D ocument is the Property of His Britannic M ajestys Government ]
Printed for the Cabinet. April 1922.
S E C R E T .
C P 3 9 3 6
T H E C A B I N E T .
T H E S O M A L I L A N D D I S T U R B A N C E S .
I CI RC UL A TE a se r ies of te legram s dea l ing wi th a recent d i s turban ce in
Somali land and the successful Air Force demonstra t ion by which order was restored.
w s c
Colonial Office April 11 , 1922.
No .
1.
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Somaliland Protectorate to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies dated 25th February.
Rece ived Colonia l ffice 12*20 I\M. 26 th Fe br ua ry , 1922.)
Fe br ua ry 25 . I deeply reg ret to report th at d ur in g affray a t Bura o yesterday
be tw een Rers egul leh and Ak i l s of o ther t r ibes C apta in Gib b was shot dead. Hav ing
cal led out camel corp s compan y to quel l dis turb anc e he wen t forw ard himself with
his in te rpre te r , whereupon f i re
was
opened on hi m by some R erse gu lleh rif lemen and
h e was ins tan t ly k i l led . Sho ot ing las ted for about ten m inutes , and Gib b was only
casua l ty . M iscreants then d isappeared un de r cover of da rk ness , which
was
falling.
T ro ub le is s t r ic t ly local ised, and i t is mo st unl ik ely tha t i t can spread beyond three
sec t ions of Ha br Yu nis , o ther p eople be ing wi th us Am wai t in g a rr iva l of F ind er
before dete rm inin g nece ssary act ion, and will te legr aph a gain
later.ARCHKB
9 7 1 5 / 1 9 2 2 . N o . 2 .
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Somaliland Protectorate to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies dated 27th February.
Received Colonial Office 910
.M. 28th F eb ru ary , 1922.)
Fe bru ary 27. In order to mee t s i tua t ion c rea ted by m urd er of Gib b requ i re two
aero plan es for abo ut fourteen c lays. I hav e arr an ge d with Re side nt , Ad en, for these ,
and have to-day m ad e form al appl ica t ion, which please confirm. I t is propo sed they
fly via Pe rim , confin ing sea cro ssin g to .12 mile s. Pro pos e to inflict fine of 2,500 cam els
on im plicated sec t ions, who are pract ica l ly isola ted, and at same t im e deman d sur ren de r
of man who ki l led Gibb.
He is know n. Fin e to be dou bled in event of fa i lure to com ply with la t ter
condi t ion and ae ro planes used to bom b stock on gra z in g gro und s . Gen era l s i tua tion
is ent i re ly sat isfactory o ne, indicat ion being tha t twenty -eigh t Ak ils of H arga isa
district have already collected their riflemen and come forward with offer of assistance,
ant ic ipa t ing poss ib le spread of rouble to Habr Yunis general ly.
No furth er assis tan ce wil l be req uire d. I ho pe you wil l sanct io n a t an early date
m ainten ance perm anen t ly two aeroplanes in Somal i land P rotec to ra te as recomm ended
in my me m or an du m , as 1 bel ieve tha t this is abso lutely essent ia l an d only solut ion of
M ijerte in difficulty, as to wh ich no agr eem ent with Ita l ian s was reached. Chan ce
of f a i lure to inflic t pr om pt pu nis hm en t necessary in this instan ce is tha t sect ions
conc erned wil l get aw ay into Go rahai before we can str ike , and ra in y season is now
[8241] B
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breaking, which
is
unfavourable.
But I
hope that this will
not be
case,
as two
Akils
and
three
of
section most implicated have surrendered voluntarily. Ful l report
by post in due course.
RCHER.
No 3.
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Somaliland Protectorate to the
Secretary
of
State
for the
Colonies.
(Received Colonial Office G 35 I\M. 2nd March, 1922.)
-March 2. Two aeroplanes arrived Berbera to-day. All Habr Yuuis elders are
reported
on
their
way in and
arriving to-morrow
to
receive Government order,
and
outlook now is entirely favourable. No movement has been attempted fa r south.
RCHER
N o 4.
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Somaliland Protectorate to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies dated 3rd March.
(Received Colonial Office 7 30
P M
3rd March, 1922.)
March
3. It is
reported that Dolbahanta have looted dump
at
Ainabo under
irregulars, in which were 12,000 rounds of ammunition and twenty-six rides, intended
for distribution to them forprotection against Mijertein. If report is true a favourable
situation has been complicated. J fear that report is correct, an d if so; it will hearten
disaffected Habr Yunis sections. Ttrules out also contemplated employment of camel
corps at Garero with Dolbahanta as a potential enemy in their vicinity. Moi-eover, on
the evening Gibb was killed B Company proved unreliable at Burao, being unwilling
to fire into body of riflemen implicated, thus paralysing prompt action, which might
have settled matter on the spot. Both Piuder and 1, however, believe that three other
companies here and elsewhere are all right.
In
any
case
our
view
is
that
it is
unwise
at
present moment
to
take
any
risks,
and
I consider time
has
come when
I
must
ask for one
company
of
British regiment
in
Aden
to be
held
in
readiness
to
embark immediately
if
required
to
garrison Sheikh,
on
which we could fall back in emergency. There are both motor transport and wireless
communications.
Aeroplanes
are now
ready,
and
the ir flight this afternoon over Burao will have
very steadying effect.
I have communicated copy
of
this telegram
to
Resident, Aden,
and
feel that
if
I have
to ask for
this further
measure of
assistance
you
will
confirm my
action.
You
will appreciate that under
no
circumstances
do I
contemplate moving Bri tish troops
beyond Sheikh, where there
can be no
chance
of
their being involved seriously
whatever emergency arose.
All the country around Burao is qu ie t
ARCHER
No
5.
Paraphrase Telegram from the Resident at Aden to the Secretary of State
for the Colonies.
(Received Colonial Office 11-30 I\M. 3rd March, 1922.)
No 147 of 3rd March, .1922.
With reference to telegram of 3rd March from Governor of Somaliland
Protectorate repeated to me. Th e 2nd
Royal Fusiliers here
are
only
500
rifles
strong,
and it is
therefore
not
possible
to
spare
a
full strength com pan y/ About
the
16th instant
the
Royal Fusiliers will
be
relieved
by
Bulls, when former proceed
to
England.
I
have
not yet
been informed
as to the
strength
of
Buffs however.
In
connection with sudden movement
of one
company
of
British infantry
40
miles
inland from Berbera without reserve
at
coast, supply
and
other questions would
of
course arise.
The
strength
of
British infantry should
not be
reduced
in
view
of
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pre sen t s i tuat ion he re, and any ass is lai ice now sent from Aden to meet emergency in
Som ali land Pro tec tora te could only be Ind ian infantry.
Th e 2n d- 19 th Pun jab i s cou ld be spared , wi th approva l of Gove rnment of Ind ia ,
if grave em erge ncy , suc h as ret i re me nt on Sheik h, i s possible, provided a bat tal ion
from India is sent immediately to rel ieve them.
Rep eated Governor , Somal i l and Pro tec tora te ; addressed Se cre tary of Sta te fo r
Colonies.
N o. 6.
Paraphrase Telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the
Governor of Soma liland Protectorate.
(Se nt 3 45 P.M. 6t h Ma rch, 1922.)
March 6. Ad dres sed to Govern or of So m ali l an d; repeated to Re siden t , Ad en.
Yo ur teleg ram of 3rd March. See teleg ram s from Ad en, 3rd and 4th Ma rch, which
we re rep ea ted to yon . It is impo ssible for B rit ish troo ps to be spa red from Ad en,
bu t a com pan y of 2/19th Pu nja bis will stan d by in Aden to be called on by you d irec t
to Aden. If in the me anw hile you consider extra garr ison in Soma li land may be
necessary for some t ime, I am prepared to consider despatch of a company of
6th K in g s African Rif les from Dar-es-Salaam to Som ali land. Bu t in any case the
comp any of Pu njab is wi ll s tan d by un t i l 1 he ar from you. 1 pre sum e that Ad en will
not requir e repla cem ent of this company from India .
N o.
7 .
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Somaliland Protectorate to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies dated 6th March.
(Received Colonial Office 5 20
P.
6th. M arc h, 1922.)
March 6. Effect of aeroplane dem onstrat io n on cou ntry has b een elect r ical , an d
i t i s unl ik ely now tha t I shal l req uir e t roo ps from Ade n as an em ergen cy mea sure.
Aki ls of al l H ab r Tu nis sect ions have come in and ha ve u nd ert ak en to pay with out
dem ur Gov ern me nt t ine of 3 ,000 camels . I. have given them fourteen days to comply,
half of fine to be paid w ithi n seven day s, an d I believe they will m ak e gr ea t effort to
satisfy this dem and . I t seem s prob able also that Dolb ahan ta wi l l volun tari ly res tore
looted rifles an d wh at am m un ition can be reco ver ed. As a m at te r of fact , i t is now
clear that Do lbah anta act ion ha d no serious pol i t ical s ignif icance, and was not , as I
suspe cted, resu l t of un de rs t an di ng with impl icated R er Aina sect ion of H ab r Yun is ,
bu t i rresp ons ible act ion of t r ibes me n una ble to res is t chan ce of loot. Cam el
cor ps ar e m ov in g forw ard to G are ro to-day to com plete effect, and I feel tha t si tu atio n
is wel l in hand.
At same t ime, my opinion that a company of Bri t ish t roops should be s tat ioned at
She ikh, if and when prac t icab le, and th at two aerop lanes shou ld be ke pt in the cou ntry
pe rm an en t ly is in no way al tered, bu t only s t re ng the ned by r ecen t even t s . Ind ian
troops have l i t t le moral effect in Somaliland.
I have communicated copy of this telegram to Resident , Aden.
KCHER
N o .
8 .
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Somaliland Protectorate to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(R ec eiv ed Co lon ial Office 11 JO :I.\M. 11 th M ar ch , 192 2.)
Add ressed Sec retar y of State for the Colon ies ; rep eate d R esident , Ad en, 11th
March. Yo ur telegram of 6th Ma rch. At pres ent I do not thi nk I shal l req uire
Pun jabi com pany as emerge ncy measu re, bu t grateful ly no te th at in case of necessi ty
they are at my disposal.
As to future the re can n o longe r be any doub t in my mind that a non-Somali
[8 2 4 1 ] JJ2
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garri son of 150 to 200 infantry is required in Somaliland Protectorate , and 1 consider
that they should be either Brit ish t roops or King 's African Rifles.
A strong consideration in favour of Brit ish troops is t ha t, while it should be of
mutual advantage to Somaliland Protectorate and Aden to post one company of Brit ish
reg iment stationed in Aden at Sheikh, littl e extra expendi ture would presumably be
involved by this step when once initial outlay bad been covered vide
paragraph 10 of
combined report of Resident, Aden, and myself of 18th Januar y. Would this arrange
men t not be possible independent ly of amalgamation quest ion after a rrival of Buffs
company temporarily going under canvas at Sheikh? Station ship makes inter
communication rapid and economical.
Employment of Km g' s African Rifles involving maintenance permanent ly of
additional native troops has drawback that it will create heavy recurrent charge which
cannot be met by Somaliland Protectorate and falling presumably against Exchequer,
and day when revenue and expenditure can be made to balance will thus be postponed
indefinitely. Furthermore, conditions of life in Somaliland Protectorate will not be
congenial to East African natives, and comparatively frequent change of detachments
necessi tating over a ten to fourteen days ' sea route will be expensive , part icular ly if
detachment bas to be accompanied by their women folk as original ly proposed. But
for these financial considerations, I agree that employment of King's African Rifles in
Somaliland Protectorate would be entirely
sat isfactory RCHER
N o
1).
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Somaliland Protectorate to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies doted ISth March.
(Received Colonial Office
11-If, I\M
13th March, .1922.)
Addressed to Secretary of Sta te for the Colonies. Copy to Res ident, Aden.
March 13. Reference to your telegram of I 1th -March and my telegram of same
date. I am satisfied tha t neither King's African Rifles nor other troops will be required
to deal with the present situation, which has been solved by the threat from the
air. (?) under fine imposed are str eaming into Burao in great num bers without a shot
being fired to date.
As to future, I assume you will take a decision on my telegram of 1.1th March, to
which I should add that if later Br it ish troops can be posted at Sheikh it may be
forgotten that they are avai lable to be withdrawn in. case of emergency at Aden.
Meanwhile, more pressing than the quest ion of non-Somali garr ison is the matter
of the permanent retention of two aeroplanes here. Under ar range ment with Resident
the aeroplanes lent must re tu rn to Aden on 22nd March. This provides a very short
ti me for the fulfilment , in every respect of the conditions imposed on tribesmen, and i t
will be realised that the departu re of aeroplanes deprives me at once of a powerful
moral and material factor exercising enormous influence and control, over Somalia.
Can they be replaced here at an early date from Egypt or Aden flight st rengthened to
admit of their continued presence in the Somaliland Protec tora te ? Nothing else could
have produced such rapid and general compliance with Government orders, and as the
unit is now const ituted thei r use is thoroughly economical. Special measures adopted
to date have not involved addit ional expenditure exceeding 30UZ. or 400L, which will
be covered many times by proceeds of fine.
No
10.
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Somaliland Protectorate to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(Received Colonial Office 3'o4 I\M. 14th March, 1922.)
March 14. My telegram of yesterday, in which I reported tha t aeroplanes will be
required to re tu rn to Aden on 22nd March. Flying officers assured me that the flight
from Berbera to Aden can be accomplished without- any undue risk , as there is only
12 miles sea, and rest of journey is along sea-shore, more favourable to forced lauding,
if necessary, than most of route. Possibly Air Ministry do not appreciate tha t there is
an excellent aerodrome at Zeyla, so journey can be taken in th ree stages : Berbera
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to Ze la, to Per im , to Aden. Th ey landed on ou tward journ ey a t J i bu t i , where they
had most cordia l recept ion f rom French.
In these c ircu m stan ces I propo se to agr ee to aerop lanes bein g flown back, un less
you te le gra ph it, is con trary to Air M inistr y s wishes. Ad dres sed S ecre tary of Stat e for
th e Colonies ; repe ated Re siden t , Aden.ARCHER.
12287 . N o . 11 .
Paraph rase Telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the
Governor of Soma liland Protectorate and the Resident at Aden.
(Sent 3-45 I\M. loth March, 1922.)
March 15. Ad dressed Govern or , So m al i la nd ; repea ted Res ident , Aden. W i th
re fe rence to you r te legram of 13th March. As reg ard s imm edia te a rr ang em en ts , Ai r
M inis t ry have ins t ruc te d Eg yp t to send two aeroplan es to Aden to replace those sent to
Berbera and you may there fore , unt i l fur ther not ice , re ta in the two aeroplanes in
Somal i land.
As reg ard s fu ture a rran gem ents , your propo sa ls as to Bri t i sh a rm y gar r i son a t
Sheik h and as to a pe rm an en t Som ali land air base are un der con sidera t ion, and I wil l
communica te fur ther la te r .
No. 12.
Para/phrase Telegram from the Governor of Soma liland Protectorate to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies dated 25th March.
(R ece ived Co lon ial Office 12*35 P.M. 26 th M arch , 19 22.)
M arch 25. Posi t ion here is dev elop ing ent ire ly sat isfactori ly. T rib e s peop le are
fr ightened and thoroughly in hand, and there i s no s ign of oppos i t ion in any quar te r .
Of fine of 3 ,009 came ls f inally impo sed, ab ou t 2,200 hav e been sur re nd er ed a t
Bu rao by Akils to da te wit ho ut any pu ni t iv e act ion or a shot being fired by t ro op s or
aerop lanes , except in the or ig ina l dem onst ra t ion a t th e bu rnin g of Bura o town a f ter
town peop le had bee n orde red to evacua te . One sec t ion of Rer Ainashe has surre nd ered
5
cam els, and an oth er 200 of 250 ord ered . Fin e wil l obviously be com pleted in a
few days.
Only one of l ive rin gle ad ers wa nted ha s bee n cau gh t , bu t th is wil l tak e t im e.
It is real ised th at th e sur est way to effect ca ptu re is to m ar k them clown and ar res t
the m ourse lves . W i th th i s end in v iew, nam es have not been d ivulg ed.
The Dolbahanta have restored 20 of the 30 ri f les and about 7,000 or
8 000
r o u n d s
of 12,000 ro un ds am m un it ion looted. Im po si t io n of a m od erate fine wil l se t t le this
ma t t e r .
Th ere i s no fur th er need for anxie ty , and I am le t t in g Macla ren re tu rn 2 8th M arch
to Ad en, but 1 do not thi nk th at t im e ha s come to s tr ip wi ng s off aerop lane s as
dir ecte d from Cairo, an d I am keep ing one rea dy to use in case i t m ig ht be requ ired .
A
RCHER.
N o.
13 .
Paraph rase Telegram from the Governor of Soma liland Protectorate to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(Received Colonial Office 4*5 A.M. 28th March, 1922.)
M arch 27. To tal cost of em ploy m ent of two aerop lanes in Som ali land Pro tecto rate
for m on th of March is ,500 inc lud ing pay and ra t io ns of officers and other ran ks , a l l
o i l, pe t ro l , am mu ni t ion , s tores , t ranspo r t , in c lu din g one spec ia l sa i l ing of Cowasjee
s
boa t . Ac tua l exper ience proves tha t two aeroplan es can be m ainta ined in comm iss ion
wi th staff of two officers au d five oth er ra n k s, no t nin e as sh ow n in M acL aren s
es t imate submi t ted wi th my conf ident ia l memorandum of 18th January .
An nu a l recu rre nt charg e should thu s be less than th e 5,5 00 est imated .
A
RCHER.