File 52/1912 Pt 3 'Persia Diaries' [‎445r] (900/1128)

Intelligence Summary Number 24 for tbe week ending tba
10tli June 1917.
Khorasan and North-East Persia.
294. Russian force. —Owing to forage and water difficulties Colonel
Gustchin is considering the advisability of the recall of the 4 Cossack posts on
the road between Meshed and Turbat-i-Sheikh Jam.
295. Punitive expedition. —JalaPi-Nizam with his men has returned to
Meshed bringing with him ten Zushki hostages who, in the meantime, have been
set to drill with the Persian savors here. Muhammad Zahibullah Zushki is
reported to be lying sick in the hills. Apparently only distrust in the good
faith of the Persian authorities prevents him from availing himself of the preferred
amnesty.
296. CWtfrtfY—Rumour mongers are again active in the city. They
announce the re-capture of Baghdad and Kirmanshah by the Turks.
297. Democrats. —The hands of the democrats are considerably strength
ened by reports of events in Tehran and Tabriz. Several members of the
Kumita-i-Mujazat or Committee of Punishment have arrived and a programme
of reform not unaccompanied by personal violence is outlined. Among other
measures is said to be the replacement of the Persian Cossack Brigade by
Gendarmerie under Swedish officers.
Herat and Afghanistan.
29S. Germans and adherents. —Both Wagner and Kazim Beg have been
making enquiries as to the rates of exchange of English gold and Russian rub ! e
notes. Nasrullah, Wagner’s confidential servant, has purchased one 500 ruble
note and was on the look out for others. Apparently they had not yet heard
of the miscarriage of their messengers to Meshed, which make some difference
to their reputed plan for escape ' through Russia. The search for Russian
currency lends colour to the probability of the latter, and the attention of the
Russians has again been directed to the necessity of the observation of the
frontier and railways.
A reconciliation appears to have taken place between Wagner and Bayerl.
The arrival of an old man, either a Turk or a Persian who had served with
the Turks, and apparently a fugitive, is reported. He has been quartered with
Kazim Beg.
The Naib Salar has dismissed a cavalry dafadar A Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Cavalry. for speaking vehemently and
disrespectfully regarding the infidel guests”. The dafadar A Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Cavalry. , whose horse died
in consequence of galloping after the German party when taking horse exercise,
appears to have had some justification for his indignation, especially when it is
remembered that the escape of Paschen occurred under very similar circum
stances.
299. Cavalry. —An inspection of the cavalry arms resulted in the discovery
of the deficiency of several carbines and swords. These were said to have been
lost as far back as the Jamshadi affair in 1908*09. The Naib Salar directed
that a fine of 1,000 krans be deducted from the pay of the officers of the
Chaharyari regiment and 16,000 krans from that of the officers of the Turki
regiment. The latter were more severely punished for having failed to report the
deficiency to the officer commanding the regiment.
300. Taimanis.—'l'at Naib Salar has posted the Taimani recruits who have
completed their drills to the Khaki and Ghaznichi infantry battalions. As these
men were specially enlisted for the Sappers and Miners this action would appear
to indicate a shortage of infantry recruits.
301. Frontier /w/.—With reference to paragraph 260, Kala Chah is
between Muqur and Shor Islam.