IN THE EAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1920, Page 2

IN THE EAST.

(Reuter's Telegrams.) BRITISH IN MIDDLE EAST. LONDON, November 3. A Reuter message from Delhi today asserts that lately the trend of affairs in Arabia has been attracting British attention. This lias primarily been owing to spread of what is called the Akhown --movement. This is a Bedouin Society for tlie promotion of religion. It is of the extreme Washabee order. The members of tlie Society recently came into a conflict with neighbouring principalities of Hail and Koweit. The trouble arose firstly regarding the possession of certain holy wells. Subsequently on the 10th. of October the Akhown force attacked Sheikh of Koweit, who fought back, and there were many casualties on both sides. The Akhown party then sent a de-( putation offering peace apparently on ; condition that the Sheikh and the inhabitants of Koweit should accept the Akliown tenets. Forthwith the Sheikh of Koweit returned an evasive answer. Meanwhile he recently invoked tlie British to come to his assistance with military aid. The British authorities in Mesopotamia at once sent tivo aeroplanes to Koweit. They warned the Akliwon party that if they attacked, the British would be obliged to intervene.; The latest is that the British warships “Espiegle and Lawrence, *’ have been stationed at Koweit to intervene.