'A strategical study of Persia and the Persian Gulf' [‎89] (97/150)

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The 1st and 2nd Caucasian Army Corps might, therefore, con
centrate at Tabriz by the 40th and 55th day of ^Russian mobiliza
tion respectively.
79. A subsequent advance would either be —
(i) via Binab-Bijar on Hamadan or Kirmanshah, route 4,
paragraph 12, Part I;
(n) by the post road via Kazvin on Tehran, route 5 idem.
By (i) Hamadan is 291 and Kirmanshah 343| miles from
Tabriz, the route is only fit for pack transport and is liable to be
blocked by snow in winter. Though it might be used by small
bodies of troops the passage of large bodies would be a slow processr-
By (n) Kazvin is 351 miles and Tehran 437|. This route joins
the Kazvin-Hamadan route at Siahdahan, making the total dis
tance from Tabrlz-Hamadan 470 miles. As the Kazvin-Hamadan
road is bridged and metalled throughout and sivpplies more plenfful
it is probable that this route would be more suitable for an advance
than the shorter road (t) above.
Both Hamadan and Kirmanshah are, however, easier reached
from Enzali, distances 297 and 400 miles respectively via Kazvin ;
the road is fit for any form of wheeled transport as far as Hamadan
and thence to Kirmanshah 103 miles fit for wheeled artillery.
It is probable, therefore, that a Russian advance on these places
would, under existing circumstances, be based on Enzali, and that
the advance from Julfa would be confined to the occupation and
subjugation of Azarbaijan, A further argument in favour of such
a course is that the line of communication from Enzali, in addition
to being shorter, would be relatively immune from attack, while
the long line from Julfa via Tabriz to Hamadan would be liable
to interference by the warlike Kurdish tribes through whose terri
tory it passes and could also be threatened by the Turks from Van.
The development of Russian forces at Hamadan and beyond will,
therefore, be considered with reference to an advance from Enzali.
80. The first objective of a Russian force based on Enzali
/i>\ a j t -d t would be Tehran 234 miles bv a road
(6) An advance from Enzah. . . , . ^ j-wau.
nt tor any form of wheeled transport,
route 6, paragraph 12, Part I. Enzali, Rasht 17 miles and Kazvin
152 miles are already occupied by Russian troops. The necessity
for collecting supplies would delay movement, but from Kazvin to
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