Page 457 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

p

fou Tnn iea.ii 1010. 3&
g jjic fact that lie was a claimant of many Kerman properties on the
".‘"tli of a document nearly 200 years old, or at least, an it is said, a forgery
S urporting to ho such. Bis .Majesty’s Consul strongly opposed the appoint-
*\cut, and Jlis Majesty’s Minister was able to get orders sent down that, while
1*0 was allowed to return to Kerman, he would hold no official position. It
•L said now that fio is in fact exercising the functions of several officers
including those of Rais-i-Muarif, but the fact has not come officially to His
Majesty’s Consul’s notice. The Majd on arrival climbed off his fenco with
niuch empressement on the British side, and has been blandishing Ills Majesty’s
Consul with much assiduity. The latter has assured him that he will not in­
terfere with him as long as lie does not behave so as to create disturbances.
The Majd is a potentially dangerous man with a plausible tongue and a
pleasing sense of humour. He defends himself from the malicious tongues of
enemies by pointing proudly to his spotless past record.
In August, when the public mind was dangerously affected by tbe news
of the Russian reverses, and the bidden
The Public safety.
activities of the Democratic party were
at their height, variuus measures were concerted by the Commandant, South
Persia Rides, the Governor-General, Sardar Nusrat and His Majesty’s Consul.
Arrangements were made for the Officer Commanding, South Persia
Rifles, to take over effective charge of the dilapidated collection of artillery
reposing in the town. Breech blocks were found missing, carriages wheelless,
saddlery in shreds, and horse teams non-cxistcnt. So far as practicable these
defects were removed but it remains that there is only one gun (9 cm) which
is even now lit to take the field. The question of the supply of breech blocks
(7 cm) and amm unit ion is at present under reference by liis Majesty’s Consul
to Tehran.
At the same time His Majesty’s Consul considered it advisable to take
steps to prevent tbe districts, as far as possible, from falling into the hands of
hostile forces whether of an anti-Brirish or a purely predatory nature, and at
the same time to secure some hold on the more important and more dangerous
tribes. He therefore discussed with the local authorities the question of tem­
porarily raising bodies of local levies in such potential centres of danger as
Sirjan Baft and Zarand. The financial side of the matter was considered and
assistance to the extent of 10,000 Tomans was placed at the disposal of tho
Consulate by His Majesty’s Minister. At this point, however, tbe South Per­
sia Rifles came forward and expressed their readiness to undertake the pay­
ment, and, as far as practicable in face of the deficiency of officers, tho control
of the proposed forces of Local Levies. Captain Merrill, when he was sent to
Sirjan in August to arrange for the forwarding of the prisoners, was also
commissioned to stay on in Sirjan and raise a force of local tribesmen. When
the prisoners had resolved themselves into a Will-o'-the-Wisp he set about the
work and succeeded in raising a force of nearly 400 men. They did not prove
very helpful, but their presence, nominally on our side, and their acceptance
of our money had undoubtedly a political value which was not without effect
on the Military situation. Since the arrival of the British Column they were
gradually reduced to a strength of 185 men. A force of 100 Afshar, assembled
ia Baft as cart of the general schcmo, have proved very useful in work on the
Bandar Abbas road and have fully justified their entertainment.
Levies were also raised at Zarand hut, in November, when it became
evideut that danger was not to bo anticipated on that side, they were disband­
ed. A number of them are believed to have enlisted in the regular South
Persia Rifles.
Another 8tep taken was to introduce a censorship. All the Persian tele­
graph offices on the Kerman and Yezd line were cut off and all messages had
to pass through tho Indo-European Telegraph Department offices at Kerman
^d Yezd whore they were examined.
The Telegraph Master in Kerman (a trustworthy man, Mirza Ahmad Khan)
fell in with these arrangements and ho was provided with accommodation and
allowed to work for a month or so in the Indo-European Tolcgraph Department
f