Page 740 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

6 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE

and many smaller firms followed suit. Money was vory tight and trade slack
the Imperial Bank of Persia being considerably involved.
During the latter part of last year and till April of this year considerable
activity was shown by the Anglo-Persian
Oil Exploration at Dasht'I’Qil.
Oil Company in exploring the oil ‘ show *
at Dnsht-i-Qil, some distance North of Daliki. Two geologists Messrs Wylie
and Richardson and a surveyor Captain Anderson made several journeys in the
country round Dasht-i-Qil, the latter individual looking for a suitable road.
Later in the yoar a considerable amount of machinery for the test well and
boilers wore disembarked and taken by railway to Borazjun. In November
another engineer surveyer Mr. Sharpe arrived and proceeded to Dasht-i-Qil
accompanied by Hadi Khan Ivashquili who escorted the geologists last year.
The plans of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, however, are still unknown.
The railway continued to run throughout the year with the exception of
a period of three weeks in the spring when
Railway.
owing to engine trouble public trallic had
to be shut down. The receipts for the year are.
Paaienger Traffic. Goode Traffic.
Krone 191,276 and Its. 98. Krone 614,591.
It has been a great boon to the merchants and public generally and its
removal will be seriously felt. In Novembor orders came from Government
to dismantle the railway, as the negotiations with the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company for purchase had failed.
The Moin-ut-Tujjar in Teheran tried to promote a syndicate w ith the
Bushire merchants to buy the railway but as not a fifth of the sum asked for
by Government was forthcoming the dismantling of the railway continued.
As, however, the water for the railway comes from Borazjun, the main line
had to be left till the last and public traffic continued, while spare stores were
collected and subsidiary lines pulled up. No ship to transport material to
India had arrived before the end of the year.
During the year several aeroplanes on long distance flights passed through
Bushire. All the Italian competitors in
Atiation.
the Romo-Tokio race landed at Bushire
on their S. V. A. maohines viz., Messrs. Ferriaria, Masiero, Captain Gordesco
and Lieutenant Grasso and Captain Rauza Ferrucio. Captain Gordesco and
Lieutenaut Grasso flying together most unfortunately crashed on landing and were
instantaneously killed. They were buried next day with full military honours.
In addition Captain Mathews on his Sop with and Lieutenant Mackintosh,
both en route to Australia, landed hero. The former had a forced landing
20 miles from Bandar Abbas but was able to proceed in a fortnight’s time
having repaired his machine which was not badly damaged.
Air Vice Marshall Sir W. G. H. Salmond, K.C.M.G., Commanding the
Royal Air Force in the middle East, made a tour of the Gulf, after leaving
Mesopotomia, in R.I.M.S. Lawrence and landed at Bushire on 4th June.
The Royal Air Force flight here was recalled to Baghdad and left Bushire
in the middle of September.
In consequence of the disturbances in Iraq in the summer it was found
necessary to deport several seditious
Political Deporteei from Iraq at Henjaai.
ringleaders from Mesopotamia. The most
suitable place for these deportees was Henjam, where a small garrison of Indian
troops, water and other facilities already existed and a camp was established
there in June. The Indian Infantry detachment was increased, and a British
Officer placed in command and temporary mud lines were built and early in
July the first deportees arrived.
The greatest number of deportees at one time was 45. In December some
were released and sent back to Basrah,
Arms Traffic.
leaving 20 still at Hen jam.
In October when H.M.S. Triad and Espiegle were free from their engage­
ments in the Shatt-al-Arab due to the insurrection in Iraq, steps were taken to