Page 736 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

2 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE

the scene ns such when the latter loft. There were no signs of the advent of
XIis Excellency Mowaqqar-cd-Dowlch up to the end of the year.
Salar Mufakliam, Finance Controller, loft in March and was succeeded by
Salar Nusrut who was in turn succcodcd by Misrop Khan on Juno 5th.
Tho scrutiny by the Residency of Local Government accounts, which
started during the war when wc wero financing tho Local Government, was
discontinued during tho year.
Relations with the Local Government wore a6 close and cordial as usual.
His Royal Highness Farmau Farina held this position till the middle of
September. Ho camo down to Bushiro to
Ciovoruor-Gcnornl of Fan.
receive His Imperial Majesty the Shah in
May accompanying him to Mohammcrah and was absent from Shiraz about a
month. Tho resignation of His Highness had been anticipated as his unpopu­
larity in Fars had been growing daily moro pronounced. Ho sent in his resig­
nation to Teheran openly on September 16tli and retired from the Ark. His
Excellency tho Qawam-ul-Miilk and Kasir-ul-Mulk took upon themselves the
duty of keeping order until another Governor-General was appointed. Early
in October Musaddiq-us-Sultaucli, Minister of Justice in Mushir-ed-Dowlek’s
Cabinet, arrived in Bushire from Europe and proceeded up-country en route for
Teheran. On arrival in Shiraz he was approached by a committee of local
habitants who olfered him the Governor-Generalship.
Strong representations to the Cabinet in Teheran resulted in his appoint­
ment and he took over charge on October 9th. His Highness the Farman
Farma left Shiraz shortly afterwards for Teheran and was given a great send-
off, the South Persian Bides parading at full strength to honour him.
The remains of the Bushire Field Force were withdrawn during April
and May. The concentration of the 127th
Busblre Force.
Baluchis, 1 squad 15th Lancers and 35th
Mountain Battery from Shiraz and the 117th Mahrattas from Knzerun was
completed on 1st April and they embarked during the month.
On May 4th Brigadier-General A. H. Drew, C.I.E., handed over to
Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. B. Wright, 71st Punjabis, the remnants of the Force
consisting of headquarters and 1 wing 71st Punjabis and necessary Supply and
Transport and Works personnel in Bushire, and the remainder of the 71st
Punjabis in Bandar Abbas, Lingah and Bahrain. Muscat was garrisoned by
two companies of the 117th Mahrattas relieving the 2-lst Brahmins in May,
and the detachments at Jask and Charbar were found by Muscat.
The 71st Punjabis were relieved by the 2-112tk Infantry in December.
The beginning of the year found the two rebels Sheikh Hussain aud Zair
Khidher still defiant in the field. The
Builiire Hinterland.
Khans of Dashti had met .Asaf-ul-Mulk, the
Deputy Governor at Kkormuj,. and promised obedience, but when it came to
the point they refused to listen to his suggestion that they should fight Sheikh
Hussain and Zair Khidher. Asaf-ul-Mulk then captured three of them,
Hussain Khan, Abdul Humaid and Karim Khau, his method of doing so
undoubtedly being not far short of treachery. Then followed a desultory form
of warfare between tofangchis assembled by Asaf-ul-Mulk and the Khan’s
followers, which was supported by bombing from our aeroplanes on a few
occasions at the special request of tho Deputy Governor.
Meanwhile plans for concerted action by the Bushire Force aud the South
Persian Rifles were made to enter the tangled hilly country behind Abram, the
objective of which was cither to capture or completely expel Sheikh Hussain
and Zair Khidher from the country. The acting Inspector-General, South
Persian Rifles, and the Brigadier Major visited Bushire in January, in order to
discuss the matter with tho General Officer Commanding. The plan was for
converging columns from Shiraz to concentrate near Kliawiz, tlio haunt of the
rebels, supported by a mixed force from Bushire who were to occupy Abram.
Asaf-ul-Mulk was to draw a screen round the rear of the rebels from the direc­
tion of Dashti.