Page 267 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND TIIE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1007-1908. 83
Major Nool Smith’s party of marines with one Maxim gun and crew
occupied the Persian fort from the 21st to 29th April, embarking on the even­
ing of the latter date. The Proserpine's marines wero meanwhile posted on
the roof of the main building, one Maxim being mounted on the roof of the
Superintendent's house. This party remained on shore till the 14ili May.
Lieutenant J. V. M. Biscoe, I.A., arrived at Jask by mail steamer on the
23th April with a detachment of 53 men of the 112th Native Infantry from
N a sir a bad. Lie occupied the Persian fort the same evening that Major Noel
Smith’s marines were withdrawn, and this occupation was maintained until the
23rd May, when it was known that all the Afghans who were on the coast
near Jask had reached a point nearly 2<)0 miles up-country.
Early in April 190S, enquiries were instituted regarding the route by
which the Afghans intended to travel back to Afghanistan. About the end of
March some 200 Afghans went up-country accompanying the consignment of
rifles landed at Gabrcg and Habt on the 3rd March. They halted at Kamshao-
lak near Ramisk in the Bashkard district, which placo was considered to be their
rendezvous, and remained there till they wore joinod about the middle of May
by an escort party of 500 Afghans, who came down from Afghanistan, arriving
at Ennoch about the 15th April. These two parties were joined later near
Ramisk by 70 Afghans from the Dashtyari district.
Of the Afghans operating on the Biyaban coast, 305, accompanying about
12,000 rifles and much ammunition, left the coast near Bunji on the 30th
April. They travelled northwards to Sarzhai (12 miles north-east of Sirik)
where they waited some days for provisions from Minab, and later continued
their journey north, leaving Sarzhai on the 10th May.
Another small party of 45 Afghans remained on the coast near Bunji to
receive the last consignment of arms landed at Gawah on the 2nd May, aud
afterwards joined tho party of 305 Afghans. Mr. New did his utmost to follow
the movements of these fivo bodies of 5U0, 200, 70, 305 and 45 Afghans and
was able to trace them to points rather more than 100 miles from Jask. Their
first intention was that all parties should meet somewheie near Ramisk and
travel together via Bampur, but this route was afterwards abandoned in favour
of the Regan route.
Patrols and special kassids were sent north from Rapch and Soorug to
Fanoch and Ramisk to watch tho Bampur routo and also to Anguhran in Bashkard
to follow tho movements of tho 305 Afghans proceeding in that direction.
Mr. New was thus able to keep well posted in regard to the movements from
place to place of these bodies of Afghans, but tho chief difficulty lay in fixing
their route northwards from points about 100 miles from Jask. The know­
ledge of tho tract north of Ramisk possessed by patrols and kassids, was very
limited, and as they persistently returned from up-country with information
denoting the location of parties only, it was not only most difficult to accurately
determine their northward route, but usually necessitated the despatch of another
kassid and greatly delayed tho receipt of reliable information. Fortunately
news reached Jask in time for Mr. New to report definitely that all five bodies
of Afghans had met aud were travelling towards Regan, and their movements
were about this time picked up by the Inspector in charge of the Central
Persia Telegraph Line at Bam.
Meanwhile on the Baluchistan border timely arrangements had been
made by the Government of India for the interception of smuggling caravans
should they impinge on British territory, the small garrison at. Robat being
reinforced for this purpose by the despatch of somo 600 men from the 12Gth
and 127th Regiments of Native Infantry with threo Maxims. The Persian
Government had also been pressed to take concurrent action, and two forces
were simultaneously organised in Seistan and Bam, respectively, with a view
to operating in Persian territory.
The final chapter of the season’s record does not properly fall within tho
limit of this year’s report, but in order to complete the narrative it may be
mentioned that after their oxporience of last year tho Afghans wero caroful
to keep clear of British territory and had no difliculty in dealing with the
Persian detachments sent out.
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