Page 291 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

FOIl THE YEAR 1914. 1
Tko remarkable riso in both exports and imports in the month of 21st
November to 20th December 1914 is far more noteworthy than the falls of the
three previous months, which were only to bo expected. It is believed that the
advance will bo maintained as it is understood to be due to congestion on the
Russian railways and disturbances in Azarbaijan, which arc closing the Russian
Trade Routes, and British trade from the Persian Gulf Ports has a chance of
winning back some lost ground.
In last year’s report it was mentioned that the wing of the 102nd Grena­
diers was under strongth and barely suffi­
Indian Troop* at Boahiro.
cient to furnish guards to the houses of
Europeans and protect its own DepOt. This wing was further depleted to send
reinforccmcnts to Maskat in tho beginning of November, and its strength now
stands at 4 British officers and 200 men.
Towards the end of the year, slight and rather unexpected indications
from His Excellency tho Governor appeared to imply that, to His Excellency
at any rate, the presence of the force is unwelcome.
In February, the attitude of hostility adopted by His Excellency the
Governor-General towards all Europeans
General situation nod event* in F&ra.
in the employ of the Persian Government
at Sliiraz began to be reflected in the town and shots were fired one night at
Colonel Merrill’s personal servant. It was established that they wero intended
lor Monsieur Stas, the Belgian Einance Agent.
The Governor-General refused to take action or make any display of energy
in endeavouring to effect the arrest of the culprits and the Colonel of the
Gcndarmerio, at the request of Monsieur Stas and with the knowledge of His
Majesty’s Consul, deported a notorious Shiraz intriguer, named Nasir-ul-
Mulk, to Bushire, whence ho went on to Kcrbala.
Early in the year, Shiraz reports indicated that the situation at Kazeruu
was unsatisfactory. Robberies wore fre­
Kazernn episode and death of Major Oblsoo.
quent and, on the 6th February, the
Finance Agent was attacked by the men of Ali Muhammad, Kamariji; two
of his party were killed and three wounded.
On the 26th February, in the course of an attack on the house and tower
of Nasir-i-Diwan, the late Kadkhuda of Kazerun, who had adopted a menacing
attitude, Major Oh Ison, the Commander of the Gendarmes, was unfortunately
shot dead while he was endeavouring to lay a miue to blow up the tower. His
party wavered and withdrew to their barracks and the Gendarmes were sur­
rounded and besieged.
With rare courage, Madame Ohlson saved the situation and took com-;
mand until the arrival of Major Rimbaud, a Frenchman in the employ of
Colonel Merrill, who forced his way into the beleagured garrison and did much
to restore the courage of the men. In recognition of his bravery and initiative,
he received from his Government a well merited Cross of the Legion of Honour.
Reinforcements under Swedish officers were hurried up from Shiraz and
Bushire and, on the 2nd March, Colonel Merrill started from Shiraz with a
relieving force. On the 5th March the town was re-occupied and Nasir-i-
Diwan, with all the tufangchis, fled to the hills. Colonel Merrill acted as
Military Governor and did what he could to restore and maintain order. For
some days this was little enough, as he received no suppi ort from the Swedish
officers, while his- own force was too weak to restrain th e Gendarmes bent on
revenge and especially plunder. The town, including the bazaar, was entirely
looted by- them. Some 30 or 40 prisoners, including the principal merchant,
narrowly escaped death on the flimsiest charges owing to Colonel Merrill’s exer­
tions. It was some months before tranquillity was re-established, but eventually
in early June, the author of tho troubles, Nasir-i-Diwan, came to terms with
Major Hggla, Commandant of the Fare Gendarmerie, and entered their service \
The Kazerun episode shook even the faith of His Majesty’s Consul, Shiraz,
in the eventual success of the Gendar-
Finance of the Fart Gendarmerie.
merio and possibly lod to a close examine
*Jion of the cost of the forco, for, in March, he pointed out that it waa aboqt
*100,000 yearly, more than the entire revenues of tfce proyinoe.