Page 610 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

30 ANNUAL BErORT OF TUB PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

per cent) from cholera and influenza, tlio Brigade lost nearly all the numerical
progress it had made. The strength and composition of the Brigade on
January 1019, was as foliows:—

British British Persian Porainn
Unit. Ofiicora. ranks. ofliocra. rani #. Total.

Brigade Hwidnaarh-ra 6 7 7 48 68
Ordnanoe Corps • • os 6 2 7
2nd P. M. Corpo • . 1 1 1 226 229
let Cavalry . . , 1 4 27 497 629

2nd Infantry . 2 3 U 438 457
2nd Artillery . • 1 3 6 194 203

field Ambulance 4 2 14 167 177
2nd Engineers • 1 4 119 124
2nd M. G. Squadron 1 1 4 82 83
6th Infantry . • 2 2 19 605 528
Miscellaneous Establishments
} 1 8 4 77 90
Yeteriuary

Total 19 37 99 2,345 2,500

Lieutenant-Colonel G L. Farran, D.S.O., M.C., commanded the Brigade
throughout the year. Major C. L. Fitzgerald, D.S.O., was Brigade Major
until April when he was transferred to Shiraz; Captain (local Major) C. C.
Crick, LA , who arrived on 3rd June held the post from that dato till the end
of the year. From 21st June till the middle of July, Colonel Farran acted as
General Officer Commanding, Operations and Troops in South Persia, while
communications between Shiraz and the rest of the world were cut by the
Qasbgaw.
At the beginning of June, the 2nd Regiment of Infantry at Kerman and
the 6th Regiment at Saidabad changed places. A detachment of Cavalry
JicretMnt^ and Infantry under a British Non-Com-
missioned Officer was posted at Anar
(five stages.along.the Yezd road) until the beginning of June, when it was
withdrawn owing to cholera. At the end of October, a squadron of the 2nd
Cavalry under a British Non-Commissioned Officer was sent down to Sarzch,
three marches from Bandar Abbas along the Tarum road, for the cold weather.
A remarkable march was performed by Captain Preston with a troop of
cavalry in the middle of the not weather. Leaving Kerman on 26th June
at 12 hours* notice, the party marched to Meshed vid Naiband and Tabas (611
miles) in 25 days. Captain Preston visited Tabaa in order to capture three
supposed Turkish agents, who however on arrival at Meshed turned out to be
harmless Tabrizi Turks, Persian subjects. The return journey was. performed
via Turbat-i-Shaikh Jam and Kam, a total of 1,212 miles being covered.
Captain PresU n is probably the first European who has ever crossed the Lut
twice during the same hot weather.
The relations of the South Persia Rifles with the Governor-General aud
other local authorities have been all that could be desired. Thanks to the
broad-minded and conciliatory attitude of the Commandant and his subordi­
nates, no friction worth speaking of came to the ears of Hia Majesty's Consul*
Complaints against members of the Brigade were tried by Courts of Inquiry*
while complaints brought by the Brigade or unit commanders against Persian