'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎82r] (170/396)

PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR THE YEAR 19^.
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appendix i.
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PROCEEDINGS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS IN THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. FROM
1 st JANUARY—31 st DECEMBER 1916.
On January 1st, J9K), Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Squadron under Conuiiodore D St. A. Wake C. B.
consisted of "Juuo/' '* Philomel/' " Pyramus/' "Lawreuce/' " Dalhousie/' "Bramble/'
"Brit raiirt/' f ' .Muzaffrr' and armed launch "Azerbaijan." The distribution was, speaking
generally, to have half the squadron in the north with Bushire as Headquarters, the other
half being stationed in the south with Maskat as Headquarters. " 1 hilomel ^ worked as
Senior Otiicer of the southern port ion acting uiwier the orders of the Commodore, but with
practically a free hand. " Juno " with Commodore on board remained north.
1 here was a certain amount of unrest round Bus hire at the beginning of the year. An
attack by the hostile tribe was pos>ible and me.tsure< were taken to giv^ the necessary assist
ance to General Officer Commanding, Bushire, in case such an eventual ty occurred.
The general position of the ships in the north was one off No. 1 Post, Halileh, one off
Reshire and one off the busgian Consulate. Later on, one ship ("Bramble^) was taken up
Pooda Creek and moored off No. 10 post where she commanded the Mashileh. This is the
first occasion on which a vessel of any size has got so far inland and it created a great im
pression. Also a battery of thr-e naval 1-2-pr. guns on mobile mountings was stationed at
the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and from time to time a big naval force was on shore t n assist the troops. In
addition a certain number of mines were laid at various points, guncotton being provided by
the " Juno." Later on, these mines were removed as their utility was doubtful, the only
damage done by them being to blow up a few jackals and an old woman.
At the end of February Brigadier-General E iwardes, D.S.O-, was relieved by Brigadier-
General Doughs, C.M.G. From that time onwards scares were fewer and eventually General
Douglas came to the conclusion that he did not consider the presence of a ship up Pooda Creek
was nece -sary, nor did he require men to be landed from the ships. The ship was taken away
from Poodt.i Creek and gradually all seamen, with the exception of a small guard for the 12-prs.j,
returned to their ships and, except for a small party landed from "Euryalus" to take part in
the expedition against Sari Bast and Chakadak, in April, there has been no need to land parties
from ilis Majesty's ships since.
His Excellency Vice-Admiral Sir Bosslyn E. Wemyss, K.C.B., C.M.G., M,V.O,
Commander-in-Chief of the i .ast Indies and Egypt station arrived at Bu-hire on 8th Apr i
in H. M. S. " Euryalus ' and the same day left for .Mesopotamia in H. M. S. " Imogene. "
<f Juno " proceeded to Bombay for retit and ' f Euryalus ^ remained at Bushire until the
return of the Commander-in-Chief when she sailed south visiting Henjam, Jask and Maskat.
At the end of April a partial blockade was established off the Tangistani Coast at the
request of the Deputy Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. and all sailings to and from those ports were
stopped. This patrol was to prevent the possible escape of Wassmass to Arabia and to bring
pressure to b *ar on the hostile chiefs who were detaining British subjects at Ahram. The
patrol was withdrawn and blockade raised on 10th August when the release of British
subjects from Ahram was arranged.
A regrettable incident occurred in May when a friendly native of Salimabadeh was fired
and severely wounded by men from the hostile village of Karri while he was visiting H. M. S.
"Mozaffer." The Chief of Karri was given the option by the Deputy Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
of paying a fine and tendering an apology in person to the Commodore or having his towers
destroyed. Finally, after ample grace had. been given him, the latter course was taken and
" Juno " and <c Lawrence" demolished two towers and took away two dhows. The following
month he repeated and came round to Bushire and made a formal apology on board
" Lawrence."
During April occurred the murder of the native Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent at Lingah. H. M. S.
"Hardinge" was despatched from Bushire and " Philomel" and a Mozaffer" from Maskafc
to endeavour to intercept the murderers but without success as they had landed at Nabaud
and gone inland.
In June, partly as a punishment for the above and partly to assist the Darya Begi in
establishing his authority as Governor of the Gulf Ports "Juno''' and "Bramble" in
company with the Darya Bei?i in H. I. P. M. S. " Persepolis " proceeded to Azalu, Nakl Taki,
Chiru and Shiwu and destroyed the towers and forts. A party of tufangchis was landed
at each port, the local chiefs dismissed by His Excellency and loyal chiefs installed. The
whole affair was most successfully carried out and was only marred by a regrettable incident
»ome days later after " Juno " had gone south when fire was opened on the Darya Begi's
men at Chiru and three of his tufangchis killed and one man in " Bramble" severely
wounded. Hitherto care had been taken to do no damage to the houses in the various
towns, but on <f Junos" return to Chiru the town was shelled and set on tire. The result