Page 318 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

u PJJRSUN 0TJ1F ADMINISTRATION RETORT

Towards the end of Juno a disturbance broke out amongst tho Arabs of
the Dizful Mianab and Shaikh Ghazban
Sbftikh Gha7l»n.
of tho Bani Lam, who was evidently act­
ing in co-operation, appeared on the Kliarkah with a number of sowars The
Shaikh at once mobilised a large number of his levies and proceeded to Alrwaz.
A force was sont out under the command of Shaikh Hanzal Khan, tho
Shaikh’s nephew. 'J he operations were not an unqualified success as Shaikh
Ghazban was too elusive for the Shaikh’s troops. Eventually an arrangement
was arrived and a tiuco patched up, and the Shaikh returned to Mohammerah
on 10th August.
Shaikh Ghazhan was by no means disposed of as he made another raid in
September, but on this occasion ho was defeated by a section of the Chaab tribe,
which had been with him on the former occasion.
The outbreak of tho War in Europe at the end of July and the beginning
Tho War> of August was watched with interest here.
This interest became more personal as the
Turkish authorities at Basrah soon showed their hostility to tho Allies, and
began a policy of pinpricks. Tho Valis of Baghdad and Basrah were very
hostile, and, as soon as Turkey begaa mobilising early in August, at once seized
the opportunity to worry British merchants by requisitioning coal and oil and
stores and transport animals. On the nichfc of 19th August all British ships at
Basrah were recommended to leave the port by Hi3 BrUannio ilajesty’s Consul
there, and did so. The next morning, in view of the fact that the whole river
was claimed by Turkey, tho ships left the Shatt-cl-Arab Bor some time no ships
came up the river to Mohammcrah and no mail steamers- came between August
13th and September 13th. The oil tankers for tho Angio-Pcrsian Oil Company’s
Hennery at Abadan came up regularly however. At the end of September,
relations being apparently less strained with Turkey, several ships camo up tho
river to load dates and the mail camo regularly until October 23th, when all
steamers were again told to leave the river owing to War with Turkey being
imminent.
Directly the War in Europe began the Turks began to strengthen their
Turkish p opa-ations. position along the river and, in September
and October, considerable efforts were
made. Some more guns were sent to Fao ; detachments were placed at various
points along the river, including one opposite Abadan. On 22nd October a
detachment with two guns was placed immediately opposite the mouth of the
Karun. In October the old corvette “Kalid-el-Bahr,” the S. S. “John 0.
Scott/* “J'affari” and finally the Hamburg-Amerika liner S. S. “Ekbatana”
were successively sunk at “ Muffris ’* between Shamsummiyeh Island and the
right bank of the Shatfc with a view to blocking the channel. Eairly strong
detachments were placed at Baljaniyeh and at the Turkish boundary on tho left
bank to cover tho Block in the river.
In. tlie meantime, although it was not the policy of His Majesty’s Govern-
Arrengenenfs mule bj Hit Majesty'# Govern- ment to take any action which COuld bo
inm ana the Shaikh. ^ . interpreted by the Turks as a menace and
made an excuse for joining in the War, something was done on our side. On
the 16th September H M. S. “ Odin” arrived and remained anchored outside
the mouth of the Karun until relieved by H. M. S. “ Espiegle,” on the 2Slh
September, when she went down tho river and acted as guardship off tho Fao
Bar. H. M S. “Dalhousie” arrived on 23rd September and remained in the
neighbourhood of Abadan till the middle of October, when she left for Bushire.
The Vali of Basrah protested against tho presence of II. M. S. u Odin99 and sent
an officer to request the Commander to leavo. This was, however, disregarded.
In the case of the u Espieglo ” tho Vali was more threatening in tone and 6ent
a letter to the Commander saying that if he did not leave within 24« hours ho
would not be allowed to leave. The u Espicglo ” was actually anchored in the
Karun go that the Vali of Basrah had no grounds for intervening at oil- The
matter was referred to His Majesty’s Government, who decided to keep the ship
at Mohammorah.
When the Turks placod a post opposite Abadan, the Shaikh raised the
strength of his guard there first to 100 men and then to about 200 men. He
also collected a large number of levies at Mohammorah aad at his palace &