Page 700 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

44 ANNUAL REPORT OH TEE PER8IAN GULP POLITICAL BEBIDENOT.

CHAPTER VII.

ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE AHWAZ
VICE-CONSULATE, 1919.

Mdjor A. H. Napier acted as Officiating His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-
Consul and Assistant Political Officer,
P«t*ou»L
during the absence of Captain E. G. B.*
Peel on tour from the beginning of the year until his return on the 30th
January 1919.
Captain E. H. O. Elkington, M.C., 36th Sikhs, -was appointed Assistant
Political Officer on the 2nd June 1919 and acted as His Britannic Majesty’s
Vice-Consul, during the absence of .Captain E. G B. Peel on tour from 16th
Juno till- h.18 return on the 26th October, and again from the 2nd of November
till the end of the year, during the absence of Captain E. G. B. Peel on leave.
Mr. A. J. Sequeira, head clerk, was relieved by Mr. K. K. Som on 31st
March 1919, on being transferred.
Mr. K. K. Som was relieved by Mr. K. M. Sahani, c n proceeding on leave
bn 18th November 1919.
S. A. S. Atta Mohammed continued to be attached to the Civil Hospital
daring the year.
The escort of the 34th Poona Horse attached to this Vice-Consulate were
relieved on the 25th July 1919 by an escort of the 26th Cavalry. Tho former
escort had been in Peraa just under six years on account of the difficulty of
relieving them during the war. I am of the opinion however, that escorts
shoold ou no account be permitted to serve for more than three years, if pos­
sible this period being reduced to two, as lengthy absence from their regiments
is more than likely to have an adverse affect on their chances of promotions,
eto./ when they return.

Northern Ae^istah.

The beginning of the year 1919 found the situation extraordinarily fcran-
PolitieaL quil. ^w*no fhe support afforded by
our troops stationed in Ahwaz, Shosb,
JBandiquir, Derakhazineh and the Oilfields to the Sheikh of Mohammerah,
thefts, attacks on the caravans, and lawlessness generally, had become a thing
of the past.
The months of January, February and March were completely uneventful.
In April, orders were issued for the withdrawal of troops at Shush, the
Oilfields, Derakhazineh, and Bandiquir. The effect of this was at once appar­
ent, a wave of unrest seemed to sweep through the whole country, caravans in
Ahwaz refused to proceed to Dizful and Shushtar and vice versa, and it was
generally understood that we were about to withdraw our support and that
the regimb of law and order would shortly end.
Later on these orders being modified, to the extent that it was decided
for the present to retain garrisons in &hu8h and Ah wax, the pendulum swung
back, and affairs resumed their normal bourse.
In May, it was considered that the Sheikh of Mohaznmer&h was now
capable of resuming control of the tribes of Abdul Khan, Surkbeh, and Chaah
Dubois who are situated on the Northern part of the vicinity of tho Ahwaa-
Shusli Road. These tribes had previously been administered by the Assisted
Political Officer, Dizful, owing to the inability of the Sheikh of Mobammersh
to do to.