Page 432 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

8 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT
After a short fcimo it was found that it ■would be impossible to movo
up to Kerman without a stiffening of regular troops and accordingly ono sec­
tion of the 23rd Indian Mountain Battery, ono Squadron of tho 15th Lancers,
and tho Headquarters Wing of tho 121th Baluchistan Infantry wore despatch­
ed to Bandar Abba* from Bushire.
Some little time was spent in raising a few mon for tho South Porsi*
Military Police, and then considerable difficulty was experienced in col­
lecting sufficient transport for the column. It, however, started for Kerman
in two echelons, on th^ I7th and 21st May, and reached Kerman after a quiet
march on the 11th Juno. At Kerman General Sykes received an onthusiastio
welcome. Energetic measures were taken to punish people who had helped
the Germans, and to get the town into somo sort of order.
After a short time at Kerman, General Sykes received orders to proceed
to Shiraz, and left Kerman on the 26th July vid Yezd and Ispahan, leaving
Major Farran in charge of the South Persia Rifles (this designation having
been adopted instead of South Persia Military Police) at Kerman.
Major D. L. R.Lorimer, who had becu appointed Consul, had in tho mean*
time arrived at Kerman (on 21th July) and had taken over the Political and
Consular duties. Tho Column reached Yezd on the 11th August and left on
the 28th August having had a very cordial welcome there. It reached Ispahan
on the 10th September and remained there somo time, as at this moment Ispahan
was threatened by tho advanco of the Turks from Hamadan, and it seemed
possible that the co-operations of the column would be required. This, however,
was not found necessary and General Sykes left Ispahan with the column on
October 2Otli arriving at Shiraz on the 12th November. On its arrival at
Ispahan the column received a most enthusiastic welcome from the Russians and
Persians, and during its stay the officers and men were most hospitably treated.
After the arrival of the column at Shiraz, General Sykes took up the
question of the disposal of the remains of the Pars Gendarmerie, and in the
end decided to take over nearly all the officers and men available.
At the beginning of December the Gendarmerie posts down to Kazerun
were taken over by the South Persia Rifles and things seemed to be shaping
well for dealing with the Bushire road question when the revolt of Nasir-i-Diwan
of Kazerun above-mentioned up.set everything. After the affairs of the 25th
December, when it was found that the rebels meant business, it became evident
that the position of tho small column in Shiraz was not very secure and
General Sykes asked for reinforcements. It was finally decided to send these
cid Bandar Abbas, as to do so by the Bushire road would involve operations
which had not been decided upon up to the end of the year.
On the 6th April the tufangchis (riflemen) of the Deputy Governor’s
guard (the majority of whom were Tangi-
Harder of tie Beridcncy Ageat, Lisgah.
fitanis) mutinied, and attacked and killed
the Residency Agent, Khan Bahadur Agha Badr and his two brothers Agha
Ali and Agha Ibrahim. The dotailsare given in the Lingah Report. It is only
necessary to mention here that His Excellency the Darya Begi, Governor
of the Gulf Ports, proceeded down the coast in the “ Persepolis ” and did his
best to secure the capture of the murderers but without success, as they were
assisted to escape by the Shaikhs of Chiru, Shiwii, Gaobandi and Gallaaar, and
succeeded in effecting their escape to Tangistan.
His Excellency suggested that, as a punishment, it would be advisable
to turn the Shaikh of Chiru out of the place and the brother of the Shaikh of
Gaobandi out of Shiwu, and appoint another Shaikh to take charge of the
port of Asalu instead of the Khan of Gallndar. This was done in June with
the assistance of the Commodore, Persian Gulf, who accompanied the Dary*
Begiona trip down the coast. Shaikh Muhammad Ahmed Khalfan wa*
installed at Asalu and 'Nakhl Taki, and Shaikh Abdullah Obeidali was turned
out of Ohiru and Hindarabi and replaced by Shaikh Ibrahim HammadL
After the murder of the Residency Agent it became necessary to appoint
a Vice-Consul at tyngab as Mr. Howson, the former Viee-Oosul, was fully
era ployed at Bandar Abbas. Mr. G. A 0. Mungavin who had aoted as Vioe*
Consul iu 1913, was aocordingly appointed and took charge of hia oflloooa
7th August

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