95' This success led immediateljy to an opportunity for co-operating with the French Government in an expedition into the country north of Darfur to deal with the marauding Guraan tribe whose leader, one Monammed Erbeimi, had been for some years a nuisance both to the French and to ourselves. Erbeimi’s men were dispersed and he became a fugitive.

Good progress has since been made with the settlement of Darfur, which now ranks as one of the provinces of the Soudan-. The new administration has proved acceptable to the inhabitants.

The western frontier of Darfur has been settled bj the Peace Conference, but the settlement has at the moment of writing yet to be ratified. Preparations are being made for the occupation of the territory assigned to the Soudan and for the commencement of the work of the Boundary Commission which will delimit the frontier. It will be satisfactory both to the French local authorities and to ourselves to have our respective spheres finally settled. The present indefiniteness gives rise to many minor difficulties, d it speaks well for the tact and good sense of officers and officials of both- nationalities that points of difierence are so amicably disposed of.

Another of the side issues of the war which involved the Soudan Government was the revolt of the tribes in Arabia against the Turks. The Soudanese were interested and sympathetic, but did not seem specially concerned, looking on the Holy Places of the Hedjaz as beir.g religious rather than political centres.

The movement broke out in 1916, and a small force of Egyptian troops was sent in June of that year to co-operate with the forces of the King of the Hedjaz.

The troops were first employed in the operations against Taif, and providing garrisons at Yembo and Rabegh. Afterwards, when these places were evacuated in consequence of the advance of the Shereefian army, they were transferred to Wejh and Akaba.

Mobile columns were also organised which carried out frequent raids on the Hedjaz railway and telegraph lines, and were successful in causing considerable damage to those services.

In addition to the above troops, the Egyptian- army provided officers and noncommissioned officer instructors to assist in training the Shereefian forces, and also large quantities of supplies, guns, rifles, ammunition and other war material. .

The troops were withdrawn from the Hedjaz in December 1918. The campaign in Palestine concerned the Soudan in that it made large demands on our resources in millet, cattle and camels, which are referred to later in this report.

Certain units of the Egyptian army were lent for service in Palestine and on the lines of communication.

Externally the war did not touch the Soudan at any other point, except indirectly in the south, where a garrison was provided at one time in 1916 for the northern districts of Uganda, all the available troops in Uganda having been drawn off to the south to meet a possible menace from- German East Africa.

Meanwhile the administration proceeded smoothly and without interruption. There have been local disturbances, which may have bn instigated or encouraged by intrigue of enemy origin. A short account of the incidents of this nature at have taken place is given in the section on administration.

Apart from this the country has been peaceful arid contented, and has made considerable progress.

The Soudan received the honour of visits from their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught in 1916 and 191 respectively. These visits were very warmly appreciated by the people. They served once more to mark the sympathetic interest of His Majesty the King and the Royal Family in the concerns of the Soudan, and were on that account of high value to the administration.

An account of the general events of the war which affected the Soudan would be incomplete without a reference to the death of Lord Kitchener. By reason of his long connection with the Soudan, his outstanding personality, and his well-known sympathy for the country, his name was a household word among the people, and the news of his unhappy loss was received with unaffected sorrow. A memorial service was held in the Cathedral in Khartoum and was attended by a large gathering representative of every class of the native community. * The chief preoccupation of 1919 was the unrest in Egypt, which broke into open disorder in March. For a time considerable inconvenience was caused to the Soudan Communication with Cairo could only be effected by the Red Sea cable to Suez, and House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.