Basra, Mar. 9.
It appears that the disturbances along the southwest frontier of Iraq are mere serious than ordinary tribal forays but, thanks to the Air Force operations, which are now being carried far into the desert, and the fact that the settled popula: tion of the country is not yet retreating, thers is no sign of apprehension in the towns.
'A few Indian troops were recently moved to Shaiboh but the Iraq Army remains in barracks.
Casualties include an Air Force pilot whose machine was shot down, He managed to set fire to it before he himself was shot.
Another pilot whose machine was shot down jumped into a rescuing.
The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Amery, speaking in the House of Commons at question-time to-day, said he was glad of the opportunity to deny the report that Indian troops were being despatched to Koweit, and added that there was no confirmation of the report that Ibn Sand, King of the Hedjaz, declared 'n "Holy war" or was in any way identified with such a movement, Communication with Sand was possible but slow.
Mr. Amery said he still considered it unnecessary to send a British representative to the Hedjax Court.
The Colonial Secretary mentioned that the total cost of the subsidy paid to Ibn Sand from 1917 to 1923 was approximately £542,000, "No subsidy had been paid since 1923.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.