Page 61 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

FOE THE YEAE 1012. 61
heart entirely, declared tliat lie could no longer be responsible for the safety of
5.e flank treasure and of Europeans, and, early on the morning of May 16th, fled
the city and sought the protection of the British Consul, encamping * m a
arden adjoining the Consulate. 8
g
“ The Bank treasure had already been removed to the Consulate, a tele­
graph lino had been run thither, and all Europeans had been warned to be
pared to take refuge at Bhort notice.
“ At midnight, oh May 16-17th, the Consul was called to the British tele-
raph office by His Majesty’s Minister, with whom was the Minister of the
Interior, and was told to bring the Governor General with him. The Persian
Government at length promised to support the Governor General, to supply
kuu with the necessary funds, and to approve all measures necessary for the
restoration of order. On the strength of these promises the Consul was able,
though not without difficulty, to persuade Amir-i-Azam to promise to return
to tQjvn in the morning. At about 9-30 a. m. he returned to the town, pre­
ceded by the Consul, who had certain preliminary arrangements to make, and
took up his quarters in the Persian Telegraph Office, within the citadel. * The
Superintendent, who was in league with the rebels, and was the channel of
communication with the Minister of the Interior, was suspended, the leading
» democrats ” were arrested, and other measures necessary for the restoration
of order were adopted. The rebels on this day cut all telegraph wires on both
sides of the town and, as no payment of money had, up to this time, been
sanctioned, the Consul- obtained 5,000 tomans from the Imperial Bank of
Persia for immediate needs.
“ The Governor .General still hesitated to attack the rebels and, on May
19th, the Consul found it necessary to visit them, as they appeared to be de­
luding themselves with the belief that it would be possible to detach him from
Ainir-i-Azam and obtain his support. In the course of two prolonged visits,
on May 19 and 20, they were convinced that this was impossible, but they
refused to send in representatives to negotiate with the Governor General.
The Consul succeeded, however, in detaching from the rebels and bringing
into town Muhammad Khan of Jiruft and between two and three hundred
Afskars under Sowlet-ul-Mulk and two other leaders. The Governor General
still remained inactive and continued negotiations after the time for them was
past, hut at length, on May 25th, was induced to attack the rebels. They had
already begun a retrograde movement towards Bagliin, and sent off all their
plunder, but he attacked and defeated them, capturing one of their guns.
They fled into Bardsir ( where they still are ), and in the course of their flight
cut the telegraph wires at Baghin. The Governor General, however, failed to
follow up his advantage and waited in the hope that a split might occur in the
rebel camp, and that some might come in and submit. Some of the leading
democrats were, in the meantime, banished from the town, and Basharat-ul-
Mamalik, the Telegraph Master, was sent off to Tehran.
“ On the afternoon of June 6th the Governor General, after much un­
necessary delay, marched from the town in pursuit of the remnant of the rebels.
His movements were very leisurely. A few days later Bahadur-ul-Mulk
submitted to him and was followed by Ghunj Ali Khan, ex-Iikhani of the
Afshars. The latter was later imprisoned for the purpose of enforcing payment
of arrears of revenue and of compensation for the damage done by the rebels.
Agha Murad Khan, chief of the Buchaqchis, afterwards submitted and was told
that he must surrender Mirza Husein Khan and Mirza Kasim. He requested
that their lives might be spared, but was told that this was impossible. They
yere surrendered to the Prince at Mashiz, on the afternoon of June 17th, and
^ged on the morning of June 18th. This was satisfactory as there had been
■joason to fear that the Prince would commit the fatal error of sparing their
lives. Both Kerman and Bam were illuminated to celebrate their execution.
“ The Prince then moved on to Turushab and engaged in endeavouring
collect arrears of revenue and compensation from the rebels. He was said
to have received 10,000 tomans from Bahadur-ul-Mulk.
■p. " Several fugitives from the rebel camp, chiefly Baluch followers of
Hifat-i-Nizam, were intercepted in and near Rayin and taken into Bam, where
thQy were stripped of their plunder and imprisoned.”
■ ft