Page 268 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

Q4 ADMINISTRATION RErORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY)

They (lid indeed come in contact with the latter, ono caravan of 200
onmols and 100 men exchanging shots with tlio Sci>tan force, but eluding them
by negotiating a dilQoult pass under cover of darkness; while the main body,
consisting, it is said, of an enormous caravan of 2,700 camels, escorted by 750
men, on passing Dashtak, came into brief contact with the force sent out from
13am, but the latter were unable to tackle such a strong body, and the
Afghans after capturing two Persian officers passed unchecked northwards, and
having negotiated tho ltud-Mahi river at Gurg, eventually made good their
entry into Afghan territory after doing all the injury they could to the
Indo-European Telegraph Line en route.
The grave risks to which this important section of the Central Persian
Line and the personnel in ohargo of it arc becoming exposed as the result of
British efforts to place a check on the arms traffic, and tlio means which
can* best he employed for safeguarding their interests, have become a new and
difficult factor in tin's extremely complex problem which doubtless occupies the
lively attention of Government.