Page 538 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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Education (continued)
The re-opening of schools after the summer
holidays was delayed for lack of teachers.
In June, the merchants of the town formed a
committee, of which the Director of Education became
a member, to examine the prospects of improving the
condition of the schools of Khorramshahr. It was
decided that two new schools should be built. No
provision for teachers appears to have been made,
V,— MILITARY
Allied Forces.— The only British Military forces in
Iran are those stationed at Ahwaz and in this area,
and the end of the year saw the transfer of authority
from the British to the Persians in a very advanced
stage. This transfer process has been going on ever
since the end of the Japanese War, and is being
carried out gradually and systematically in- accordance
with pre-arranged and agreed plans so that the Persians
will be in complete control of the area at the time
when the British troops finally evacuate the country
through this port.

On the 30th December, the American forces
completed the evacuation of Persia by moving out of
Khorramshahr. They left behind a party of 20 men
attached to the American-Iraqi Shipping Company, and
70 in the Air Base at Abadan, all of whom now wear
civilian clothes. It is understood that the aerodrome
is now being operated by T.W.A. under a temporary
agreement arrived at between the United States Government
and the Persians, to facilitate the repatriation of
American troops from India and the Far East, along this
route.
No final decision as to the fate of the Karun
Hull Bridge has been reached, but it is expected that
it will be dismantled and towed away to Basrah. The
Persians wish it to remain, but the problem of its
maintenance arises, and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company
are not interested. Moreover, administrative difficulties
arise over its sale to the Persians by the British, as
the material was received under Lend-Lease.
Iranian Army.— In April, a battalion of about 400
officers and men arrived from Ahwaz as a permanent
garrison for Khorramshahr. Its Commanding Officer is
Major Rashid Nadirkhani. At present, the Garrison is
accommodated in the former Persian Naval Base at
Khorramshahr. .
Iranian Navy.-- The Naval Base at Khorramshahr, which
was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in August 1941 and
transferred to the British Military authorities in mid-
1945 for use as a hospital, was handed over to the
Persians on December 22nd. Owing to the non-existence
of a Persian Naval administration, the hand-over was
conducted with representatives of the Persian Ministry
of War.

At

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