Page 431 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

FOR THE YEAR IM«# 7
nptobor. Directly after his arrival the Governor-General took over the prison- -
U of whom thorc were 18 officers, mostly Germans, about 30 rank and file, ’
ers
Austrians, 8 Turks and about a dozen Indians, including Sufi
Ainba Porsliad, the notorious seditionist.
After the arrival of the Governor-General and tlio British Consul steps
were taken to try and unravel the tangle into which the affairs of the Gendar­
merie had fallen. Tho Imperial Bank of Persia and Telegraph Office -were
rc*opcncd and affairs in Shiraz soon became to all appearances almost
normal.
Various suggestions for getting away tho prisoners were made, but it was
not possible to send them down to Bushire on account of the hostile Khans.
On the 11th Novomber Brigadier-General Sykes with his column, consist­
ing of one section Indian Mountain Artillery, one Squadron Cavalry, the
Head-quarters wing of tho 1st Battalion 121th Baluchistan Infantry and the
Head-quarters and certain number of South Persia Rifles, arrived at Shiraz
from Ispahan.
General Sykes took over tho majority of tho Gendarmerie left iu Shiraz
and incorporated them in the South Persia Rifles, and the new force seemed
to bo making good progress.
On or about the 1st November " Consul ” Ssiler and three other prisoners
effected their escape from the citadel, and arrangements were made to transfer
the custody of the prisoners from the Governor-General to the regular Indian
soldiers of General Sykes’ column.
The Govemor-Geueral proposed to make a tour with General Sykes about
the cud of the year to Kazcruu and get the Bushire road question settled.
His Royal Highness had previously sent a special envoy down the road to try
and patch up some arrangements along the road pending His Royal Highness’s
arrival. But the envoy was not able to effect much.
On the 17th December the Nasir-i-Diwan, hereditary Kalantar of Kazerun,
who had previously made some trouble
Kazcnm rising.
there with the Swedish Gendarmerie,
suddenly rushed the Gendarmerie barracks and captured a gun and some
machine guns there. The Gendarmerie at Kazerun had been taken over by
General Sykes a short time before. Nasir-i-Diwan’s men subsequently captured
Miau Kotal and Dashtarjin. A small column was sent out from Shiraz,
taking with it Path-ul-Mulk to be Military Governor of Kazerun. It reoccu­
pied Dastarjin and Miau Kotal caravanserai, and made a reconnaissance
in force towards the Pir-i-Zan pass on the 25th December. The top of the
pass was, however, hold too strongly by Nasir-i-Diwan’s men, and the
attempt was abandoned. Captain Wittkugel of the South Persia
Rifles was unfortunately severely wounded and there were a few other
casualties.
Before and after this Nasir-i-D!wau sent pressing messages to the Khans of
Daliki, Borasjun, Chahkutah and Tangistan, (i.e., all the Khans who have been
actively hostile to the British since the beginning of 1915) for assistance.
It is understood that not very much was sent but the end of the year
foimd the main Bushire-Shiraz road again blocked, but with Kazerun the
chief centre of disturbance instead of Borasjun which had enjoyed that
distinction up to August 1916.
As a result of negotiations between the British, Russian and Persian
Governments it was decided, early in the
Sooth Persia Military Police.
_ year, to raise a force of Military Police
oiucered by British officers for service in Southern Persia.
Brigadier-General 8ir P. M. Sykes, KC.I.E, O.M.G., was appointed to
command tho force. It was decided that he should commence operations at
jtandar Abbas and move from there, as soon as he had sufficient force, to

. the 16th March General Sykes with a certain number of officers
arrived at Bandar Abbas, whoro he was received by His Excellency the Darva
" h’i Go!ernor °f the Gulf Ports and the Deputy Governor, H. M. S.
salute* el WQa also Prosent and supplied a guard of honour and fired