Page 446 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

22 PERSIAN GTJLF AD MI ti I8TR A.TION HErORT
After this miscarriage the Germans, Democrats and the Saidar Zafar all
pressed the Sardar Nusrat to leave the town and lie withdrew to Rafeinjan.
The Bakhtiaris now hccamc more and more discontented with tho ascen­
dancy of tho Democrats and began to put pressure on tlioir unhcroic Chief,
tho Sardar Zafar. The only result appears to have been that I:c withdrew from
tho Government IIousc and took up his quarters outside tho town in the
house of the Adl-us-Sultan, and that the Democrats seized the Artillery Barracks
and appointed two of their number, Abul Qasim Shirnr and Ali Knku, to tho
command of the troops vice the Sardar Nusrat At this juncture liowcvor news
was received of tho defeat of tho Mujahidin in various parts of Persia and the
arrival of General Sykes’s Mission.at Bandar Abbas became generally known,
and the Democrats began to lose heart and think of flight and safety. Seiler
also decided to movo to Sirjan and Zugmeyer announced his intention of re­
luming from Bam. The Sardar Zafar advised him to proceed direct to join
8eilorot Sirjan. This he did, but apparently on (he instigation of the Sardar
Znfar his paity was attacked by the Bakhtiaris at Baft, with tho result that
ltizud-ul-Hazarat and others were killed, the party was looted and Zugmoyer
was fortunate enough to make his escape towards Sirjan.
Meanwhile relations between the Bakhtiaris and Democrats in tho town
had reached a crisis, hostilities broke out aud the Bakhtiaris captured the
Sarbazkanah an d arrested a Dumber of the Democrats whom they threatened
to kill. The Sardar Zafar, however, Intelvened and, persuaded by his son, Ali
Muhammad Khan and others, he ordered their release. The Bakhtiaris had, of
course, availed themselves of the opportunity afforded for pillage, and. though
restitution was afterwards promised by the Sardar Zafar, articles of no value
were returned to their owners.
Seiler now procured a safe conduct from the Sardar Zafar for himself
and his men and proceeded to Sirjan with a Bakhtiari escort under the
Shahab-un-Nizain. All the Democrat prisoners were released, and the
Nazira-ut-Tujjar and M. Ghulam Hussain, Editor of the “ Kerman,” accom­
panied Seiler in his retreat. The Sardar Zafar returned to'his official quarters
to the sound of 110 guns and devoted himself to the agreeable task of
arresting and fining persons of Democrat sympathies. He also summoned
back the Sardar Nusrat who returned after an absence of three weeks. It
appears that at some point he sent men after the Germans to plunder
them, who however found themselves forestalled, for when the Germans
reached Saadatabad in Sirjan they found it hold against them by the local
people, and a fight took place in which Muhammed Rafi Afshar waskilled (also
some Austrians ?) and the German’s property was carried off by the Bucbaq-
cbis. Thus, when the Bakhtiaris arrived, tbey found nothing left for them.
Report has it that the loot ircluded £16,000, in English gold, 27,000 tomans
in silver and animals and arms and ammunition of large value. The Adl-us-
Sultan and Shabzada Mufakbir-us-Saltaneh were sent out by the Sardar Zafar
to trace and recover the property bul no account of recoveries has as yet been
rendered by the Adl-us-Sultan,
Seiler and the .Democrats with the help of the Shahah-un-Nizam
succeeded in continuing on theirs ay beyond Saadatabad. They had intended
to establish a headquarters in Sirjan, bat learning that the Sardar Zafar had
sent out orders not to let them through, they changed their minds and
succeeded in escaping out of the Kerman province.
So exeunt the Democrats, or at least the chief of them, and tho Germans
from the Kerman stage.
No attempt has been made to describe their conduct in its minor details,
but their rule was marked by violence and oppression. To the Germans
Kerman was only a stepping stone, their object lay further afield, and they
were content to leave local affairs to their allies the Democrats and so keep
them bmppy &Ld occupied. But (hey cannot be acquitted of responsibility for
the misdeed* of their partners. There is no reason to believe that (hey wore
ignorant of tho plots to murder Farukh Shah and Iluss&inoff, and there oppoa*
to have been Austrians present at the socrot meeting at which the attempt on
the life of the Sardar Nusrat was planned, and indeed at the actual iconeof
fhe attempt.