Page 226 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

214 Records of Bahrain

Telegram R.
From Resident, Buohiro.
To Foreign, Delhi.
Ropoatcd Political, Bahrain, by post.
No. 229.

Dated 7th February 1924.

Your telegram Ho. 222-S. Lovieo for Bahrain.
I havo authorized Commandant, Muscat Levieo,
to commence onlisting and training men, but on recent visit
to Bahrain I diocusoed quostion with Political Agent and
Shaikh JIamad, and havo come to conclusion that it is essent-
-ial t.o have British Officer for two or three years, and

raise and train corpB at Bahrain, Hamad, as stated in my
telegram No. 169, is very keen on levies as corps will give
him independent backing and make his pooition much stronger.
,
Even before it is trained, the actual visible presence of
men under training will have good effect and strengthen
Hamad'8 position. It is in my opinion essential to success

; of reforms to get oorps started forthwith There is
plenty of money availabler so I earnestly truot Government
will sanction deputation of an officer for two or throe
itears to raise corps. Aftor this, if an Assistant Polit-
-icttl Agent is sanctioned, and the oorps has a good Indian
officer, such as Subodar Nlaz All from Muscat,whose services

can be lent, the former can easily supervise it. As force
will have to have fairly strong, detachments in Uuharraq,
Budalya and Silrah and possibly other places, it is necessary
to have 150 as minimum - probably 200 will ultimately be
necessaryr Capt. J. Eccles-Holmes, 10th Baluchi Regiment,
(referred to in your 1229-S dated 11th October), who happens
to be in Bahrain, would like to get appointment of Commandant.

I do not know his military, qualifications or whether military
authorities would consider him suitable or Regiment bo able
to*