Page 123 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947_Neat

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The definite existence of a prepared landing ground for enemy air­
craft at Farrashband was also proved by aerial reconnaissance bv the
H.A.F. The Governor^Jeneral Prince Firouz disclaimed er.y knowledge
of any prepared landing grounds in ^ashgai territory. Unconfirmed
reports of other Germans in the neighbourhood of Shiraz were also
received from time to time.
COWUNICATIONS.
1. Much work was dene on the Shlraz-Isfahan and Shiraz-Bushire
road during the year. This work was taken over entirely by the
British military authorities acting through their agents the Kampcax
Consortium Ltd., (a Danish-llorwegian organisation already established
in Persia). British It.£.Officers supervised the work. Considerable
’Improvement has been done to the existing road, especially on the
'difficult Shiraz-Bushire section, but there was still much more to
bo done by the end of the year. Large numbers of Lease-lend lorries
jind trucks from the U.S.A. and of military supplies for the Soviet
Onion passed over this road t.o Russia during "the year.
IBCURITY.
During the whole of the year there has never been complete
Kiocurity of life ana property either on the main road between Isfahan
.^nd Bushire, or in the province of Para as a whole. Cn the other hand
riho state of insecurity has not been such as to prevent the movement
Jof traffic up and down the main road though it has militated to a
’treater or leas jxtent against the easy transport of goods and food­
stuffs to the main centres of population, fne ^ashgal tribal
district has not been under Government control and in the Mamassani
■jrea government control has been very limited.
* All through the year there have been periodical attacks
r, !$a labourers engaged on the roud work and holds-up by robber bands -
fjenetimes of tribal composition and sometimes of neighbouring
pillagers, in some cases believed to have been aided and abetted
jbjr irregular road guards.
t. Most of the trouble was experienced on the Shiraz-Kazerun
'lection of the road and chiefly at such notorious points as Chihil
Cheshmeh (31 miles from Shiraz) Tul-i-Duzd (20 miles from Shiraz)
Jeh-i-Shwikh, etc points where side tracks to the main road afford
• t
:in easy way of approach and escape for robbers.
These bandits aimed generally at holding up and robbing
i lorry drivers and travellers of their cash and clothes, but in certain
jues attempts were made to go off with loads, more especially in
■the case of tea and sugar.
Trouble of this nature was less frequent on the Shiraz-Isfahen
Section. In the spring of the year however a number of robberies
(occurred in the neighbourhood of the Sivana-Saadetabad loop(56 miles
/ran Shiraz) perpetrated by Farsi Arabs on the move of the tribe
lorthwards to their summer grazing grounds. The removal of the
officer (Captain Muhammad Hussein Arab) from the post of military
JOYernor of the Khamseh Arab Tribes and his replacement by Captain
lair Sadri soon improved matters, and on their downward trek in the
jiatunn these Arabs caused no trouble.
i One British R,*.Officer was a victim of a hold up towards
■the end of the yea^-when his car was stopped some 3 miles outside
Ihlraz and he received a bullet wound in the arm. On another occasion
jn American officer (Captain Wilson)travelling as a passenger on a
lorry terry from 5ushire'to Shiraz was a victim and was stripped
his revolver and kit. An American Agricultural Adviser, Professor
linsor, also experienced a hold up and was robbed. Similarly two
British officials of the Kcnuanshah Petroleum Company Limited travelling
/too Isfahan to Shiraz were held up and robbed of their cash and
Slothes.
k Ko lease-lend trucks or material moving from 3ushire to the
jttrth were seriously interfered with, though on one occasion three
bucks, forming part of a convoy driven by Russiun drivers were
Mopped by bandits and one Russian soldier lost his rifle and some
Suh, On a few occasions both United Kingdom Commercial Cor;oration
jtransport, and Kerraanshah Petroleum Tanker lorries were stoppea
Ifld the drivers robbed of their cash an 1 belongings,
fr; At the end of the year a British Reconnaissance Party from
n Indian Motor Brigade visited ;.};*• area and Brigadier Filose,
Ecompanicd by the Additional Military Attach^ and an officer deputed
ft C.I.C.I. Bagdad, was deputed by the Comnanaer-in-Ohief Paiforce to
examine
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