Page 320 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

SO PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT

During tho year the Arabistan lines were rc-crcctcd by the Indo-European
Telegraph line. Telegraph Department. In August and
again in November great inconvonicnce
was experienced by tho total collapse of the old lino at vory critical times. The
Mohammorah-Ahwaz section was renewed in December.
Tho Consulate was joiuod to tho Basrah-Eao lino and an offico opened for
Government work by tho Indian Expeditionary Eorco “ D ” on tho 1st
December.
Owing to the disturbed 6tate of the country no progress was made with tlio
Hospital. proposal mentioned in last year’s report.
The dispensary maintained by Govern­
ment and worked by tho Quarantine Medical Officer continued to do good
work.
This was completed in a rough way as far as funds would permit. Brick
Now Rond.. bridges over the canals are badly required
and will bo erected if monoy can be raised
for tho purpose.
Tho Anglo-Persian Oil Company continued their business thoughout the
British iuteroits. year. In the months of September, Octo­
ber, and early November there was con­
siderable anxiety lest some attack should be made by the Turks, or by Arabs
at their instigation, on the Abadan Refinery. Great credit is due to the
Manager, Mr. Neilson, and the other officials that no scare arose among the
etn ployees. Admiralty and ocher tankers came up and took cargoes practically
without interruption.
Shipping business after the beginning of the War was much handicapped,
and the export of dates was curtailed,
Messrs. Lynch Brothers suffered a good deal of loss by the seizure of
several of their steamers and tugs by the Turks.
The firm, of Messrs. Robert Wonckhaus and Company was represented by
Foreign intemts. Mr. Randall until July, after- which hlr.
Holst and for a short time Mr. Neilson
represented it. During the early part of the year the firm made a strong bid
for the carrying trade on the Karun and had some success. Messrs. Lynch
Brothers seemed to he holding their own just before the War started; after that,
of course, the German business practically ceased.
In August, the newly appointed Royal Italian Consul for the Gulf passed
through Mohammerah en route to Tehran on leave. Ho expressed his inten­
tion of trying to got away from the Gulf and has not returned.
The Shaikh had a meeting with Sirdar-i-JaDg and Sirdar Bahadur on the
10th May. The meeting was a friendly
Shaikh and BakhturU.
one, the only grievance of the Bakhtians
against the Shaikh was his loyalty to his friend the Amir Mujahid, who is very
unpopular with the other Khans. The Amir Mujahid stayed with tho Shaikh
in June on his way to Europe.

A. P. TREVOR, Major,
Hie Britannia Majesty's Consul for Arabistan,
Mohutnmerah.

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