Page 672 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

16 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY

After the exeoution of Rais Rasula, Kalantur of Fin, in February 19X8
by the Inspector-General, 8outh Persia
Bandar Abbu-KermM C*nnn Bead.
RifleB, there were only two raids *
on the
Bandar Abbas-Korman Road up to April 1919, when some of the post main*
tained by the 8outh Persia Rifles wore removed. This appeared to bo the
sienal for fresh depredations on the part of robber bands, chiefly belonging to
tribes subject to His Excellency the Qawam-ul-Mulk and from April to the
end of the year there were six robberies on the road in the Qawam’s territory
Owing to representations made to the Base Commandant by His Majesty's
Consul some of these posts were subsequently re-established, when robberies
ceased.
The recently reported drastio measures taken by His Excellency the
Qawam-ul-Mulk, will, without doubt, have a salutary effect for some little
while.
In the Report entitled “ Trade with Persia: Outlook after the W ar •* aup^
plied by the British Legation, Tehran, and
Bandar Abbca-Kormau Motor Road.
printed in the “ Indian Trade Journal ’*
for 17th October 1919, under the heading “ Communications,” it is stated that
the Bandar Abbas-Kermau Road has been made “practicable for wheeled
traffic "rand in a recent issue of “The Near East ” a conespondent actually
slated that automobiles were now running between Bandar Abbas and Kerman.
With all due respect, both these statements need to be contradicted. The
motor road was never finally completed; and instead of being started from one
end or both ends simultaneously, in which case a great deal of the distance
between Bondar Abbas and Kerman could have been traversed by cars, it was
apparently taken up at different points of varying lengths, with impassable
sections in between left unmade; the consequence being that the road has
been practically useless, except for a few miles out from Bandar Abbas and
roughly about 169 miles out from Kermau, where it is possible for motors to
run, but with great difficulty.
Constructed by the Military authorities and work suspended in 1919.
The pier is a substantial piece of work,
Bandar Ahbai Pier.
hut might, with advantage, have been ex­
tended another 20U yards or more. As it stands at present, it is only useful
at high water.
The garrison at Bandar Abbas was very considerably reduced during the
earlier part of the year. On 4th June
British and Indian troop*.
the Base office was closed, and from
roughly 75 the number of British officers was alone reduced to about 6. Two
double companies of the 120th Rajputana Light Infantry remained in the
station.
With the exception of some 300 rank and file, the remainder of the force
was transfeired to Kazerun, where the
Booth Peru* Rifles.
Headquarters of the force now is.
There were very frequent changes in the command of this force in Bandar
Abbas during the year, and many of those who held, command did not speak-
or understand a word of Persian. The result of this cannot but tend to nave:
a very bad effect generally, as officers with no- knowledge of the language'
cannot possibly be expected to get to know their units thoroughly. Besides
this, matters of general welfare, etc., must of necessity fall into the hands of
one or two Persian officers speaking English, with the very worst results; for
when men in the force have to go through their Persian officers, whom they
themselves do-not trust, to air their grievances, eto., the result must be dis­
content and might even engender a mutinous spirit.
(a) Tberewas no quarantine against 1st and 2nd cla^s saloop passengers
during the year. One or two suspected
Oosnotfoetad XodkaL
plague cases' were landed here from the
n?afl steamers, but the disease did not"spread.
(5) Assistant Surgeon H. C. Berlie, I.S.M.D., held charge of the
Charitable Dispensary and the Quarantine duties of the port throughout
the year.