TOP SECRET GUARD bin Abdulla Hassa. He raised large forces of ruthless dervishes and operated from various bases in the eastern and south-eastern areas of the Protectorate and from Somali areas under Italian and Ethiopian control and plundered mercilessly loyal Somali tribes. Several military expeditions (British, Indian and African troops) were undertaken against these rebels, but transport and communication difficulties prevented any decisive victory. In 1910, the British Government decided to withdraw to the coast, chaos followed, old tribal feuds were re-opened, and raiding took place on such a scale that between 1910 and 1913 about one-third of the male population were killed.