Page 287 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

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rOB TUB YEAR 1014. 3
It had been known for somo time that German ships plying in the Gulf
smuggled arms and ammunition inf-o Basrah concealed amongst materials for the
construction of the Baghdad Railway. It was suspected also that large consign­
ments were transhipped from these vessels into dhows in unfrequented parts
of the Gulf. On the surface these appear to bo merely commercial enterprises
without any particular significance, but when the case of the German ship
jiicoinedia arose, quite a new construction maybe placed on these transactions.
In view of what follows it may bo well to state here tho details connected
with the case.
Tho following telegram was received from tho Admiralty, dated 6th April
1914:—
Begins.—“ Information received that German ship Nicomedia loft
Antwerp on 31st March probable destination Basrah with 37
cases “Granite” marked:—
K.S P.C. 0892,1-22
and
S.K.C. 168-182
Consigned Bushirc by firm Walford and Co. First lots are
known to contain rifles and probably second lots consist of car-
tridges.”—Ends.
The Nicomedia arrived at Rushire, on May lOlh, at noon, and she remained
till after sunset on the 11th. On the 13th, the Provisional Director of Customs
at Bushire, whom the Resident had taken into his confidence, reported that
these cases had not been landed at Bushirc. It was further ascertained that !
they did not appear on the Bushirc manifest. The fact that Herr Wassmuss,
the German Consul at Bushire, left Bushire in the Nicomedia and proceeded to
Basrah, is regarded with extreme suspicion. Indeed it would almost seem to
point to the fact that German Government officials not only had knowledge of,
but actually aided this traffic in arms. In connection with this it may he
noted that reliable information was received to the effect that the Germans
were importing lilies into Baghdad, making use of the railway as far as possible
in doing so, and further, that these rifles were being sent to the Lur Chiefs to
help them to resist the advance of the British railway survey party in Luristan.
Information was received also from a reliable source that the Germans were
concerning themselves in the trans-Arabian Arms Traffic. Anns were brought
out in German steamers, presumably belonging to the Hamburg-Amerika Line,
and landed at the port of Yanbo, situated on the Arabian coast of the Red Sea
rather south of Al-Madinah in latitude.
From this evidence it seems that tho German venture was not only confined
to commerce but that it had a political significance, the extent of which, if it
had continued, it is impossible to gauge.
And so the first phase closes with the Arms Traffic in a more or less flouri­
shing condition in the northern part of the Gulf, while in the south and on the
Mekrau Coast it has become an almost negligible quantity for the first time
in its history.
Second Phase.

As has been enunciated at the beginning of this report, this phase is one
of almost complete collapse.
During this period there has been no Naval blockade and no Arms Traffio
preventive measures whatever have been taken. The coast was clear, the seas
^ore open to all and sundry who might desire to cross them with their boats
ladon with arms and ammunition without fear of capture or even hindranoe.
The same system of intelligence, however, has been maintained and all landings
have been reported as usual. Those have been few but with one or two com­
paratively large ones, which there is reason to believe have been exaggerated,
laost of these arms have been brought from Katr, and by Afghans who had
°iado the journey thither to prooure them.
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